Big Flats, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Big Flats is a town in Adams County
in the U.S. state
of Wisconsin
. The population was 946 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Big Flats
is located in the town.
, the town has a total area of 48.1 square miles (124.6 km²), of which, 48.1 square miles (124.6 km²) of it is land and 0.02% is water.
of 2000, there were 946 people, 402 households, and 270 families residing in the town. The population density
was 19.7 people per square mile (7.6/km2). There were 797 housing units at an average density of 16.6 per square mile (6.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.36% White, 0.53% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.53% from other races
, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.11% of the population.
There were 402 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 109.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,800, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $31,583 versus $21,806 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,629. About 6.9% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
tornado. It touched down at 8:41 P.M.
CDT and was on the ground for 16 minutes. The tornado's path was 10.5 miles (16.9 km) long and 850 yards (777.2 m) wide.
This tornado killed 2 people when their home was destroyed and 22 people were injured. It also destroyed 24 homes, caused major damage to 8, and 160 had light to moderate damage. In addition, it destroyed the Big Flats Fire Department, the Town Hall, and a thrift store. Seventy cows were also crushed when a barn roof and an upper floor containing 16,000 bales of hay collapsed. This tornado caused $1 million in damage.
dispatch center received a call reporting an out of control fire at 972 South Chicago Court. Thomas Barnhart lit a fire within a fire ring
constructed of concrete blocks, attempting to burn off dead grass. The fire jumped out of the ring and began burning the grass in the surrounding area. He called for a friend, Dorothy Clark, and they unsuccessfully attempted to suppress the fire. They requested the help of a neighbor to report the fire. Smoke from the fire was spotted by the fire tower in Rome's
Dyracuse Park and his call came in about 30 seconds prior to the first 911 call.
After the fire escaped, it spread in a north to northeast direction, following a six mile (10 km) stretch along the east side of Roche A Cri Creek. By the time it was contained 11 hours later, the flames had spread about 10 miles (16.1 km) north to the area of Badger Avenue and east to about Sixth Avenue. This forest fire burned approximately 3410 acres (13.8 km²). There were 30 residences destroyed, 9 of which were permanent and 21 of which were seasonal. There was also approximately 60 other out-building structures destroyed. These other out-buildings varied from garden sheds to two car garages.
About 177 firefighters from 20 fire departments responded, not counting the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) firefighters, who came from as far away as Hayward
. Two DNR planes used to drop foam had to fly in from Minnesota
. The firefighters were put in charge of protecting buildings, while DNR personnel handled the burning trees and vegetation. The DNR estimates that the efforts of the firemen saved 300 buildings.
Smoke from this fire was visible from 60 miles (96.6 km) away. It was the biggest forest fire in Wisconsin since the Ekdall Church and Oak Lake Fires burned more than 16000 acres (64.7 km²) in Washburn
and Burnett counties from April 21–22, 1980.
Thomas Barnhart was charged with setting a fire which becomes a forest fire, a misdemeanor
punishable by a fine not more than $1,000 or imprisonment not more than 90 days or both. On January 6, 2006, he pled no contest
to the charge and was sentenced to a local jail
term of 90 days, which was stayed, 2 years of probation
, 100 hours of community service
, and $150 per month of restitution
which is applied to uninsured expenses of the victims.
On November 13, 2006, the total amount of restitution owed was set at $1,436,504.
Adams County, Wisconsin
Adams County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Sources differ as to whether its name is in honor of the second President of the United States, John Adams, or his son, the sixth President, John Quincy Adams. As of 2000, the population of Adams County was 18,643. Its county seat is...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. The population was 946 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Big Flats
Big Flats (community), Wisconsin
Big Flats is an unincorporated community located in the town of Big Flats, Adams County, Wisconsin, United States. Big Flats is located at the junction of Wisconsin Highway 13 and County Highway C north of Friendship....
is located in the town.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 48.1 square miles (124.6 km²), of which, 48.1 square miles (124.6 km²) of it is land and 0.02% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 946 people, 402 households, and 270 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 19.7 people per square mile (7.6/km2). There were 797 housing units at an average density of 16.6 per square mile (6.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.36% White, 0.53% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.53% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.11% of the population.
There were 402 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 109.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,800, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $31,583 versus $21,806 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $14,629. About 6.9% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Big Flats Tornado
On the evening of August 27, 1994, the Town of Big Flats was hit by an F3Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
tornado. It touched down at 8:41 P.M.
12-hour clock
The 12-hour clock is a time conversion convention in which the 24 hours of the day are divided into two periods called ante meridiem and post meridiem...
CDT and was on the ground for 16 minutes. The tornado's path was 10.5 miles (16.9 km) long and 850 yards (777.2 m) wide.
This tornado killed 2 people when their home was destroyed and 22 people were injured. It also destroyed 24 homes, caused major damage to 8, and 160 had light to moderate damage. In addition, it destroyed the Big Flats Fire Department, the Town Hall, and a thrift store. Seventy cows were also crushed when a barn roof and an upper floor containing 16,000 bales of hay collapsed. This tornado caused $1 million in damage.
Cottonville Forest Fire
Big Flats was the site of a devastating wild fire, named the Cottonville Forest Fire, on May 5, 2005. At 1:32 P.M. CDT, the Adams CountyAdams County, Wisconsin
Adams County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Sources differ as to whether its name is in honor of the second President of the United States, John Adams, or his son, the sixth President, John Quincy Adams. As of 2000, the population of Adams County was 18,643. Its county seat is...
dispatch center received a call reporting an out of control fire at 972 South Chicago Court. Thomas Barnhart lit a fire within a fire ring
Fire ring
A fire ring is a device used to contain campfires and prevent them from spreading and turning into wildfires.A fire ring is designed to contain a fire that is built directly upon the ground, such as a campfire. Fire rings have no bottom, and are simply circles made of forged metal, stones,...
constructed of concrete blocks, attempting to burn off dead grass. The fire jumped out of the ring and began burning the grass in the surrounding area. He called for a friend, Dorothy Clark, and they unsuccessfully attempted to suppress the fire. They requested the help of a neighbor to report the fire. Smoke from the fire was spotted by the fire tower in Rome's
Rome, Adams County, Wisconsin
Rome is a town in Adams County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,656 at the 2000 census. The census-designated places of Lake Arrowhead, Lake Camelot, and Lake Sherwood are located in the town.-Geography:...
Dyracuse Park and his call came in about 30 seconds prior to the first 911 call.
After the fire escaped, it spread in a north to northeast direction, following a six mile (10 km) stretch along the east side of Roche A Cri Creek. By the time it was contained 11 hours later, the flames had spread about 10 miles (16.1 km) north to the area of Badger Avenue and east to about Sixth Avenue. This forest fire burned approximately 3410 acres (13.8 km²). There were 30 residences destroyed, 9 of which were permanent and 21 of which were seasonal. There was also approximately 60 other out-building structures destroyed. These other out-buildings varied from garden sheds to two car garages.
About 177 firefighters from 20 fire departments responded, not counting the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is an agency of the state of Wisconsin. Its purpose is to preserve, protect, manage and maintain the natural resources of the state. The WDNR has the authority to set policy for itself and to recommend regulations for approval by the State Legislature...
(DNR) firefighters, who came from as far away as Hayward
Hayward, Wisconsin
Hayward is a city in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, United States, next to the Namekagon River. The population was 2,129 at the 2000 census. The city is surrounded by the Town of Hayward.-Transportation:U.S...
. Two DNR planes used to drop foam had to fly in from Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. The firefighters were put in charge of protecting buildings, while DNR personnel handled the burning trees and vegetation. The DNR estimates that the efforts of the firemen saved 300 buildings.
Smoke from this fire was visible from 60 miles (96.6 km) away. It was the biggest forest fire in Wisconsin since the Ekdall Church and Oak Lake Fires burned more than 16000 acres (64.7 km²) in Washburn
Washburn County, Wisconsin
Washburn County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 16,036. Its county seat is Shell Lake.-Geography:According to the U.S...
and Burnett counties from April 21–22, 1980.
Thomas Barnhart was charged with setting a fire which becomes a forest fire, a misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
punishable by a fine not more than $1,000 or imprisonment not more than 90 days or both. On January 6, 2006, he pled no contest
Nolo contendere
is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I do not wish to contend." It is also referred to as a plea of no contest.In criminal trials, and in some common law jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of...
to the charge and was sentenced to a local jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
term of 90 days, which was stayed, 2 years of probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
, 100 hours of community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
, and $150 per month of restitution
Restitution
The law of restitution is the law of gains-based recovery. It is to be contrasted with the law of compensation, which is the law of loss-based recovery. Obligations to make restitution and obligations to pay compensation are each a type of legal response to events in the real world. When a court...
which is applied to uninsured expenses of the victims.
On November 13, 2006, the total amount of restitution owed was set at $1,436,504.