Hudson, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Hudson is a city in St. Croix County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 18,937, making it the principal and largest city of the Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area (Wisconsin suburbs). The Hudson area however had a population of 39,713. The village of North Hudson
is located directly to the north of Hudson.
Hudson was settled in the summer of 1840 by Louis Massey and his brother in-law, Peter Bouchea. William Steets arrived at about the same time. Later that same year, Joseph Sauperson (commonly known as Joe LaGrue) took up residence. These four are considered Hudson's original inhabitants. Massey and Bouchea settled at the mouth of the Willow River, near the present-day First and St. Croix Streets. They had been part of the group who lived for some time along the river below Fort Snelling, which appears on some old maps as "Massey's Landing". The 1840s saw a few settlers making their appearance here — Captain John Page, the Nobles brothers, Dr. Philip Aldrich, Ammah Andrews, Moses Perrin, Colonel James Hughes, Daniel Anderson, and others.
Hudson was at first called Willow River and later named Buena Vista by Judge Joel Foster
, founder of River Falls
, after returning from the Mexican War where he fought in the Battle of Buena Vista
. Alfred Day petitioned for the name Hudson because of his impression of the similarity between bluffs along the river and the Hudson River
in his native New York.
A large number of settlers arrived in the 1850s and 1860s, many of whom were ancestors of today's residents. The lumber industry was the prime attraction of the area, and over time sawmills were established throughout the St. Croix
Valley.
In 1852, A.D. Gray, Hudson's first mayor, petitioned to change the name of the city to "Hudson", because the St. Croix reminded him of New York
’s Hudson River
.
U.S. Highway 12 once crossed the St. Croix River on a toll bridge from Minnesota to Wisconsin, which provided revenue for the town. The notorious gangster, John Dillinger
, once crossed state lines to escape arrest by way of the toll bridge . With the construction of Interstate 94
, the toll bridge was removed, though the long causeway
extending to the former bridge location is now open to the public as a pedestrian walkway.
Hudson has grown as a tourist destination in recent years with many shops and restaurants on the St. Croix in its historic downtown. Hudson also has many hotels and other businesses that serve traffic on Interstate Highway 94.
Hudson was home to a greyhound racing track, St. Croix Meadows, which closed in 2000 and now sits empty.
US President George W. Bush visited Hudson during the summer of 2004 as part of his re-election campaign. A large campaign event was held at the town entry arch overlooking the St. Croix River.
, the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.2 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14.0 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (13.88%) is water.
Interstate Highway 94
, U.S. Highway 12
, and Wisconsin Highway 35 are three of the main routes in the community.
of 2000, there were 8,775 people, 3,687 households, and 2,271 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,624.5 people per square mile (627.4/km²). There were 3,831 housing units at an average density of 709.2 per square mile (273.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.87% White, 0.22% Black or African American
, 0.26% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.22% from other races
, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 3,687 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% 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 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,991, and the median income for a family was $63,953. Males had a median income of $42,108 versus $31,268 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $26,921. About 1.7% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
St. Croix County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 84,345. Its county seat is Hudson. St. Croix County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area . It is the fastest growing county in Wisconsin.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, 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...
. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 18,937, making it the principal and largest city of the Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area (Wisconsin suburbs). The Hudson area however had a population of 39,713. The village of North Hudson
North Hudson, Wisconsin
North Hudson is a village in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,463 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.1 square miles , of which, 1.3 square miles of it is land and 0.8 square...
is located directly to the north of Hudson.
History
Hudson was at first called Willow River and later named Buena Vista by Judge Joel Foster
Joel Foster
Joel Foster was born the youngest of eleven at Meriden, Connecticut, December 15, 1814. He was liberally educated. He came to Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1830, and to Hudson, Wisconsin, then known as Buena Vista, in 1848...
, founder of River Falls
River Falls, Wisconsin
River Falls is a city in Pierce and St. Croix counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 15,000 at the 2010 census, making it the second largest city in the Twin Cities Wisconsin suburbs, which is the eighth largest metropolitan area in the state...
, after returning from the Mexican War where he fought in the Battle of Buena Vista
Battle of Buena Vista
The Battle of Buena Vista , also known as the Battle of Angostura, saw the United States Army use artillery to repulse the much larger Mexican army in the Mexican-American War...
. Alfred Day petitioned for the name Hudson because of his impression of the similarity between bluffs along the river and the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
in his native New York.
A large number of settlers arrived in the 1850s and 1860s, many of whom were ancestors of today's residents. The lumber industry was the prime attraction of the area, and over time sawmills were established throughout the St. Croix
St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota)
The St. Croix River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The lower of the river form the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The river is a National Scenic Riverway under the protection of the National Park Service. A...
Valley.
In 1852, A.D. Gray, Hudson's first mayor, petitioned to change the name of the city to "Hudson", because the St. Croix reminded him of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
’s Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
.
U.S. Highway 12 once crossed the St. Croix River on a toll bridge from Minnesota to Wisconsin, which provided revenue for the town. The notorious gangster, John Dillinger
John Dillinger
John Herbert Dillinger, Jr. was an American bank robber in Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations...
, once crossed state lines to escape arrest by way of the toll bridge . With the construction of Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
, the toll bridge was removed, though the long causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
extending to the former bridge location is now open to the public as a pedestrian walkway.
Hudson was home to a greyhound racing track, St. Croix Meadows, which closed in 2000 and now sits empty.
US President George W. Bush visited Hudson during the summer of 2004 as part of his re-election campaign. A large campaign event was held at the town entry arch overlooking the St. Croix River.
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 city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.2 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14.0 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (13.88%) is water.
Interstate Highway 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
, U.S. Highway 12
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12 or US 12 is an east–west United States highway, running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean, in the state of Washington, to downtown Detroit, for almost . As a thoroughfare, it has mostly been supplanted by I-90 and I-94, but remains an important road for local travel.The...
, and Wisconsin Highway 35 are three of the main routes in the community.
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 8,775 people, 3,687 households, and 2,271 families residing in the city. 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 1,624.5 people per square mile (627.4/km²). There were 3,831 housing units at an average density of 709.2 per square mile (273.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.87% White, 0.22% Black or African American
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...
, 0.26% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.22% 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 0.98% from two or more races. 1.04% 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 3,687 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% 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, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% 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 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,991, and the median income for a family was $63,953. Males had a median income of $42,108 versus $31,268 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 city was $26,921. About 1.7% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Moses E. ClappMoses E. ClappMoses Edwin Clapp was an American lawyer and politician.He served as the Minnesota Attorney General from 1887 until 1893. In 1900, he entered the special election for Minnesota's seat in the United States Senate that was made vacant by the death of Cushman Davis. He won that election, and was...
, U.S. Senator from MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota 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... - Otis ClymerOtis ClymerOtis Edgar Clymer was an American Major League Baseball player who was primarily a right fielder for four teams during his six season career...
, MLB player - Richard H. CosgriffRichard H. Cosgriff-External links:...
, Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient - Thomas Cleland DawsonThomas Cleland DawsonThomas Cleland Dawson was a career United States diplomat. After an early career as a lawyer and a newspaper publisher, he entered the diplomatic service in 1891, when he was appointed Secretary of Legation in Brazil. He was U.S...
, United States diplomat - Davis DrewiskeDavis DrewiskeDavis Anthony Drewiske is an American professional ice hockey player currently with the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, Professional hockey player, Los Angeles KingsLos Angeles KingsThe Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... - James A. FrearJames A. FrearJames Archibald Frear was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.Born in Hudson, Wisconsin, in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, Frear attended the public schools, and Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1878....
, U.S. Representative - Phil GallivanPhil GallivanPhilip Joseph Gallivan was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. Born in Seattle, Washington, he pitched for the Brooklyn Robins and then for the Chicago White Sox in and . He died in St. Paul, Minnesota on November 24, 1969....
, MLB player - James B. HughesJames B. Hughes-Early life and education:James was born October 12, 1805 in Prince Edward County, Virginia to Simon Hughes and Betsy Colman Bigger. He was raised just outside Farmville near Hampden-Sydney...
, Politician, abolitionist, lawyer - Frank NyeFrank NyeFrank Mellen Nye was a Representative from Minnesota; born in Shirley, Piscataquis County, Maine; moved to Wisconsin with his parents, who settled on a farm near River Falls, Pierce County, in 1855; attended the common schools and the local academy in River Falls; taught school for several years...
, U.S. Representative from MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota 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... - Ted OdenwaldTed OdenwaldTheodore Joseph Odenwald was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for two seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians for ten games during the 1921 Cleveland Indians season and one game during the 1922 Cleveland Indians season.-External links:...
, MLB player - Bobby ReisBobby ReisRobert Joseph Thomas Reis , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher and outfield from 1931-1938 with the Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers and Boston Bees....
, MLB player - Barry RoseBarry Rose (American football)Barry Rose is a former wide receiver in the National Football League. Rose was drafted in the tenth round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills and would play with the Denver Broncos during the 1993 NFL season...
, Professional football player - Bjørn SelanderBjørn SelanderBjørn Kristian Selander is an American racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . He is from Hudson, Wisconsin.-External links:*, CyclingNews...
, Racing cyclist - Kraig UrbikKraig UrbikKraig Urbik is an American football offensive guard/tackle for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
, Professional football player