Cassville, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Cassville is a village in Grant County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 1,085 at the 2000 census. The village is located along the Mississippi River
within the Town of Cassville
.
, governor of Michigan Territory
at the time. After the creation of Wisconsin Territory
in 1836, Cassville was viewed by many as a likely candidate to be the territorial capital, owing to its central location in a territory that stretched from Lake Michigan
to the Missouri River
. Land speculators built up the site, but the city of Madison, Wisconsin
was selected as capital instead. This caused Cassville's developers to go bankrupt.
Eventually Nelson Dewey
, who had moved to Cassville in 1836 and later served as the first Governor of Wisconsin
, bought up most of the village. Hoping to profit from this, he encouraged settlement at the site to turn Cassville into a metropolis. In the meantime, Dewey was able to establish a large estate for himself outside the city. The estate, which he named Stonefield
, is now a state historic site. Dewey himself was unable to occupy it for long. A fire destroyed his home in 1873, and financial misfortune forced him to sell the property shortly later. Cassville never became the major city that Dewey had envisioned. Today the city is primarily known for the Stonefield Historic Site, Nelson Dewey State Park
, and the Cassville Ferry
, which runs between Cassville and a nearby landing in Iowa
.
Throughout the American Civil War
, 110 men from Cassville volunteered to serve the Union in the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 17th, 20th, 25th, 31st, 33rd, 35th, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, and 49th Regiments of Wisconsin Infantry, the 2nd and 3rd Regiments of Wisconsin Cavalry, the 1st Regiment of Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, the 12th Regiment of Illinois Infantry, the 12th Regiment of Iowa Infantry, and the 6th Regiment of California Infantry. Out of these 110 men, 20 were killed or died of disease or wounds, 21 were wounded, and 2 were captured.
The Steamboat era saw the foot of Frederic Street as the activity center of Cassville. Riverboats moored along the riverfront to unload goods, transfer passengers, and load lead from nearby mines. Riverside Park was established in the 1890's.
An eagle effigy mound found here was built by Native Americans around 1000 A.D.
and the E. J. Stoneman Generating Station
are in Cassville.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.92% is water.
of 2000, there were 1,085 people, 488 households, and 302 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,005.1 people per square mile (387.9/km²). There were 572 housing units at an average density of 529.9 per square mile (204.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.17% White, 0.46% Native American, 0.09% from other races
, and 0.28% from two or more races. 0.37% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 488 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,179, and the median income for a family was $35,625. Males had a median income of $29,271 versus $17,014 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,010. About 10.3% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 23.3% of those age 65 or over.
Grant County, Wisconsin
Grant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 49,597. Its county seat is Lancaster. Estimates for 2008 show a population of 49,238...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,085 at the 2000 census. The village is located along the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
within the Town of Cassville
Cassville (town), Wisconsin
Cassville is a town in Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 487 at the 2000 census. The Village of Cassville is located within the town.-Geography:...
.
History
Cassville was first settled in 1827 and was named for Lewis CassLewis Cass
Lewis Cass was an American military officer and politician. During his long political career, Cass served as a governor of the Michigan Territory, an American ambassador, a U.S. Senator representing Michigan, and co-founder as well as first Masonic Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan...
, governor of Michigan Territory
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
at the time. After the creation of Wisconsin Territory
Wisconsin Territory
The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin...
in 1836, Cassville was viewed by many as a likely candidate to be the territorial capital, owing to its central location in a territory that stretched from Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
to the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
. Land speculators built up the site, but the city of Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
was selected as capital instead. This caused Cassville's developers to go bankrupt.
Eventually Nelson Dewey
Nelson Dewey
Nelson Dewey was a politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin; he was the first Governor of Wisconsin, serving from 1848 until 1852.- Early life :...
, who had moved to Cassville in 1836 and later served as the first Governor of Wisconsin
Governor of Wisconsin
The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
, bought up most of the village. Hoping to profit from this, he encouraged settlement at the site to turn Cassville into a metropolis. In the meantime, Dewey was able to establish a large estate for himself outside the city. The estate, which he named Stonefield
Stonefield
Stonefield, located at 12195 County Road VV outside Cassville, Wisconsin, United States, was the 2,000 acre estate of Wisconsin's first governor, Nelson Dewey. Much of the original estate has been separated into Nelson Dewey State Park and the Stonefield historic site, an expansive museum operated...
, is now a state historic site. Dewey himself was unable to occupy it for long. A fire destroyed his home in 1873, and financial misfortune forced him to sell the property shortly later. Cassville never became the major city that Dewey had envisioned. Today the city is primarily known for the Stonefield Historic Site, Nelson Dewey State Park
Nelson Dewey State Park
Nelson Dewey State Park is a Wisconsin state park on the Mississippi River. The land was once part of the Stonefield estate of Nelson Dewey, the state's first governor.-External links:* official site...
, and the Cassville Ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
, which runs between Cassville and a nearby landing in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
Throughout the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, 110 men from Cassville volunteered to serve the Union in the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 17th, 20th, 25th, 31st, 33rd, 35th, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, and 49th Regiments of Wisconsin Infantry, the 2nd and 3rd Regiments of Wisconsin Cavalry, the 1st Regiment of Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, the 12th Regiment of Illinois Infantry, the 12th Regiment of Iowa Infantry, and the 6th Regiment of California Infantry. Out of these 110 men, 20 were killed or died of disease or wounds, 21 were wounded, and 2 were captured.
The Steamboat era saw the foot of Frederic Street as the activity center of Cassville. Riverboats moored along the riverfront to unload goods, transfer passengers, and load lead from nearby mines. Riverside Park was established in the 1890's.
An eagle effigy mound found here was built by Native Americans around 1000 A.D.
Economy
The Nelson Dewey Generating StationNelson Dewey Generating Station
Nelson Dewey Generating Station is a base load, coal fired, electrical power station located in Cassville, Wisconsin in Grant County. The station is owned by Wisconsin Power and Light Company , an Alliant Energy company....
and the E. J. Stoneman Generating Station
E. J. Stoneman Generating Station
E. J. Stoneman Generating Station is a coal fired, electrical power station located in Cassville, Wisconsin in Grant County.Purchased by WPS Resources in 1996 from Dairyland Power Cooperative, there have been a few attempts to repower the facility, but the site is located next to the Cassville...
are in Cassville.
Geography
Cassville is located at 42°42′52"N 90°59′18"W (42.714517, -90.988377).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.92% 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 1,085 people, 488 households, and 302 families residing in the village. 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 1,005.1 people per square mile (387.9/km²). There were 572 housing units at an average density of 529.9 per square mile (204.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.17% White, 0.46% Native American, 0.09% 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 0.28% from two or more races. 0.37% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 488 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% 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, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,179, and the median income for a family was $35,625. Males had a median income of $29,271 versus $17,014 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 village was $16,010. About 10.3% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 23.3% of those age 65 or over.