Lake Holcombe, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Lake Holcombe is a town in Chippewa County
in the U.S. state
of Wisconsin
. The population was 1,010 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Holcombe
is located in the town.
The original Little Falls dam was built in 1878 by Elijah Swift and Joseph Viles for the Chippewa River Improvement and Log Driving Company. It was big for the time, a wooden dam 625 feet wide and 16 feet high with 32 floodgates
. Its main aim was to provide reliable water for floating logs downstream, even when natural water levels were low. With its gates wide open it could raise the Chippewa three feet one hundred miles downstream. Parts of the dam were washed out by floods in 1880 and 1884. After the second washout, a dam-building specialist named Billy "the Beaver" England was brought in. He and his crew rebuilt the dam in the winter of 1884-1885 and it survived the floods for many years after. The journal of the dam's keeper from 1882 to 1890 still survives, briefly describing log drives
and jams
and the flood of 1884. A terrible accident occurred in 1905, when eleven log drivers drowned trying to get to a log jam near the dam. The dam functioned until 1910, when logging operations ceased. It washed out in the 1920s.
The current hydro-electric dam was built in 1950 by the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light and Power Company, producing the current Holcombe Flowage
. The flowage is a popular recreation area, and the shores are thick with homes and cottages.
Holcombe has also had its share of famous individuals who have chosen the beauty and lake as a prime vacation spot. Holcombe has seen the likes of the owner of "Temptation Island" and also the former owner of "Tombstone Pizza."
, the town has a total area of 30.6 square miles (79.4 km²), of which, 26.9 square miles (69.7 km²) of it is land and 3.7 square miles (9.7 km²) of it (12.20%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,010 people, 413 households, and 292 families residing in the town. The population density
was 37.5 people per square mile (14.5/km²). There were 548 housing units at an average density of 20.4 per square mile (7.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.71% White, 0.50% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.
There were 413 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples
living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% h ad someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,083, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $26,905 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,900. About 5.5% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Chippewa County, Wisconsin
Chippewa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 55,195. Its county seat is Chippewa Falls. The United States Census Bureau's Eau Claire Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Chippewa County...
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 1,010 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Holcombe
Holcombe, Wisconsin
Holcombe is an unincorporated census-designated place located in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States. Holcombe is located on the Chippewa River north-northeast of Cornell, in the town of Lake Holcombe. Holcombe has a post office with ZIP code 54745. As of the 2010 census, its population was...
is located in the town.
History
Originally called Little Falls in the 1870s, the community was established by the Union Lumbering Company along the Chippewa River and came to be known as Holcombe years later.The original Little Falls dam was built in 1878 by Elijah Swift and Joseph Viles for the Chippewa River Improvement and Log Driving Company. It was big for the time, a wooden dam 625 feet wide and 16 feet high with 32 floodgates
Floodgate
Floodgates are adjustable gates used to control water flow in flood barriers, reservoir, river, stream, or levee systems. They may be designed to set spillway crest heights in dams, to adjust flow rates in sluices and canals, or they may be designed to stop water flow entirely as part of a levee or...
. Its main aim was to provide reliable water for floating logs downstream, even when natural water levels were low. With its gates wide open it could raise the Chippewa three feet one hundred miles downstream. Parts of the dam were washed out by floods in 1880 and 1884. After the second washout, a dam-building specialist named Billy "the Beaver" England was brought in. He and his crew rebuilt the dam in the winter of 1884-1885 and it survived the floods for many years after. The journal of the dam's keeper from 1882 to 1890 still survives, briefly describing log drives
Log driving
Log driving is a means of log transport which makes use of a river's current to move floating tree trunks downstream to sawmills and pulp mills.It was the main transportation method of the early logging industry in Europe and North America...
and jams
Log jam
A log jam is an accumulation of Large Woody Debris that can span an entire stream or river channel.-Effects on stream/river geomorphology:...
and the flood of 1884. A terrible accident occurred in 1905, when eleven log drivers drowned trying to get to a log jam near the dam. The dam functioned until 1910, when logging operations ceased. It washed out in the 1920s.
The current hydro-electric dam was built in 1950 by the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light and Power Company, producing the current Holcombe Flowage
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
. The flowage is a popular recreation area, and the shores are thick with homes and cottages.
Holcombe has also had its share of famous individuals who have chosen the beauty and lake as a prime vacation spot. Holcombe has seen the likes of the owner of "Temptation Island" and also the former owner of "Tombstone Pizza."
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 30.6 square miles (79.4 km²), of which, 26.9 square miles (69.7 km²) of it is land and 3.7 square miles (9.7 km²) of it (12.20%) 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 1,010 people, 413 households, and 292 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 37.5 people per square mile (14.5/km²). There were 548 housing units at an average density of 20.4 per square mile (7.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.71% White, 0.50% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.10% 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 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.
There were 413 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% 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, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% h ad someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,083, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $26,905 versus $18,750 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 $15,900. About 5.5% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.