McFarland, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
McFarland is a village in Dane County
, Wisconsin
, United States
, on the eastern shore of Lake Waubesa
. The population was 7,808 at the 2010 census. Its ZIP code is 53558.
A suburb
of Madison
, McFarland is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.0 km²), all of it land.
of 2010, there were 7,808 people, 3,200 households, and 1,735 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,839.3 people per square mile (709.8/km²). There were 2,491 housing units at an average density of 714.1 per square mile (275.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.21% White, 0.34% Black, 0.39% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races
, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 2,434 households out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the village the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 1.0% from 25 to 44, 6.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $62,969, and the median income for a family was $71,218. Males had a median income of $43,208 versus $31,133 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $26,625. About 1.2% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
. Later a small resort industry developed in an area called "Edwards Park" near the lake. After World War II
, the village became a bedroom community for Madison. In the 1960s, Lloyd Schneider, a local lawyer, led an effort to have petroleum tank farms north of the village that were connected to the Koch pipeline. Because they became part of the village's tax base, their construction enabled the McFarland School District
to fund a new high school
. In 1989 a major highway project on the nearby Madison highway called the "Beltline" made commuting to the village much easier and enabled rapid residential growth.
On June 17, 1992 an F3 tornado destroyed several dozen homes and injured several people in Waubesa Heights, a nearby housing development in the Town of Dunn
, in the McFarland School District. At $18.0 million in damage this was the third costliest tornado in Wisconsin's history behind the Oakfield and Barneveld F5's.http://books.google.com/books?id=LxajGKR4ZKkC&pg=PA216&lpg=PA216&dq=mcfarland+tornado+%22june+17,+1992%22&source=bl&ots=0abNECh0qc&sig=IJ8mkyea9_i3n52crWmchLTCOgM&hl=en&ei=OfSuS-LXH5G0sgPXtJT3Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CAwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=mcfarland%20tornado%20%22june%2017%2C%201992%22&f=false
The village celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2006. Among the festivities were banners on light poles, activities such as the Taste of McFarland, and live music at the Gazebo near downtown McFarland. Plaques of "Then and Now" covering McFarland's 150 years of history were placed at the McFarland High School
, the local Culver's
restaurant, the E.D. Locke Public Library, and other public locations.
serves the village of McFarland. It operates Conrad Elvehjem Early Learning Center (K), Mcfarland Primary School (1-2),Waubesa Intermediate School (3-5), Indian Mound Middle School (6-8) and, McFarland High School
, which is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
and had a 2007 enrollment of 700 students.
, and many competitions. The three-day festival takes place at McFarland High School parking lot.
Dane County, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
, 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...
, on the eastern shore of Lake Waubesa
Lake Waubesa
Lake Waubesa is one of the four lakes in Madison, Wisconsin. The lake has a surface area of slightly over ....
. The population was 7,808 at the 2010 census. Its ZIP code is 53558.
A suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Madison
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....
, McFarland is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area
Madison metropolitan area
The Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in Wisconsin, anchored by the city of Madison. As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 568,593.-Definitions:...
.
Geography
McFarland is located at 43°1′7"N 89°17′28"W (43.018480, -89.291116).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 3.5 square miles (9.0 km²), all of it land.
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 2010, there were 7,808 people, 3,200 households, and 1,735 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 1,839.3 people per square mile (709.8/km²). There were 2,491 housing units at an average density of 714.1 per square mile (275.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.21% White, 0.34% Black, 0.39% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.50% 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 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 2,434 households out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the village the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 1.0% from 25 to 44, 6.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $62,969, and the median income for a family was $71,218. Males had a median income of $43,208 versus $31,133 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 $26,625. About 1.2% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
History
McFarland was founded in 1856 by William H. McFarland. Early industries in the village included harvesting winter ice and fish on nearby Lake Waubesa for rail shipment to markets in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Later a small resort industry developed in an area called "Edwards Park" near the lake. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the village became a bedroom community for Madison. In the 1960s, Lloyd Schneider, a local lawyer, led an effort to have petroleum tank farms north of the village that were connected to the Koch pipeline. Because they became part of the village's tax base, their construction enabled the McFarland School District
McFarland School District
McFarland School District is located in McFarland, in Dane County, Wisconsin, USA. It operates McFarland High School and the Wisconsin Virtual Academy, a charter school.- McFarland schools :...
to fund a new high school
McFarland High School (Wisconsin)
McFarland High School is a high school located in McFarland, in Dane County, Wisconsin. It is administered by the McFarland School District, and had a 2007 enrollment of 700 students. The school is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools...
. In 1989 a major highway project on the nearby Madison highway called the "Beltline" made commuting to the village much easier and enabled rapid residential growth.
On June 17, 1992 an F3 tornado destroyed several dozen homes and injured several people in Waubesa Heights, a nearby housing development in the Town of Dunn
Dunn, Dane County, Wisconsin
Dunn is a town in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,270 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.4 square miles , of which, 28.6 square miles of it is land and 5.8 square miles of it is...
, in the McFarland School District. At $18.0 million in damage this was the third costliest tornado in Wisconsin's history behind the Oakfield and Barneveld F5's.http://books.google.com/books?id=LxajGKR4ZKkC&pg=PA216&lpg=PA216&dq=mcfarland+tornado+%22june+17,+1992%22&source=bl&ots=0abNECh0qc&sig=IJ8mkyea9_i3n52crWmchLTCOgM&hl=en&ei=OfSuS-LXH5G0sgPXtJT3Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CAwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=mcfarland%20tornado%20%22june%2017%2C%201992%22&f=false
The village celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2006. Among the festivities were banners on light poles, activities such as the Taste of McFarland, and live music at the Gazebo near downtown McFarland. Plaques of "Then and Now" covering McFarland's 150 years of history were placed at the McFarland High School
McFarland High School (Wisconsin)
McFarland High School is a high school located in McFarland, in Dane County, Wisconsin. It is administered by the McFarland School District, and had a 2007 enrollment of 700 students. The school is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools...
, the local Culver's
Culver's
Culver’s is a privately owned and operated fast casual restaurant chain that operates primarily in the Midwestern United States. The first Culver’s opened in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin...
restaurant, the E.D. Locke Public Library, and other public locations.
Education
The McFarland School DistrictMcFarland School District
McFarland School District is located in McFarland, in Dane County, Wisconsin, USA. It operates McFarland High School and the Wisconsin Virtual Academy, a charter school.- McFarland schools :...
serves the village of McFarland. It operates Conrad Elvehjem Early Learning Center (K), Mcfarland Primary School (1-2),Waubesa Intermediate School (3-5), Indian Mound Middle School (6-8) and, McFarland High School
McFarland High School (Wisconsin)
McFarland High School is a high school located in McFarland, in Dane County, Wisconsin. It is administered by the McFarland School District, and had a 2007 enrollment of 700 students. The school is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools...
, which is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
and had a 2007 enrollment of 700 students.
Crime rate
The number of violent crimes in McFarland recorded by the FBI in 2003 was 3. There were no homicides, and the violent crime rate was 0.4 per 1,000 people. McFarland's overall crime rate in 2006 was 156.3, compared to the U.S. rate of 176.7.Events
Since 1985 McFarland has held an annual fall Family Festival. The festival has carnival rides, train rides, a paradeParade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
, and many competitions. The three-day festival takes place at McFarland High School parking lot.
Notable people
- Realf Ottesen BrandtRealf Ottesen BrandtRealf Ottesen Brandt was an American Lutheran minister.-Background:Realf Brandt was born in Rock River near the Jefferson Prairie Settlement in Rock County, Wisconsin. His father, Nils Olsen Brandt , who had been born Slidre, Valdres, Norway, served as President of Luther College...
, noted Lutheran minister - Al EpperlyAl EpperlyAlbert "Tub" Paul Epperly was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played in nine games for the Chicago Cubs in 1938. While he was with the Cubs, Epperly was number 56 had eight at bats, two hits, one double, and two runs. He pitched five games for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950 wearing number 11...
, MLB player - Brad FischerBrad FischerBradley James Fischer is a major league baseball coach who was most recently the third base coach for the Milwaukee Brewers...
, Third Base Coach for the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League... - Theodore G. LewisTheodore G. LewisTheodore Gorman Lewis was an American jurist from Wisconsin.Born in McFarland, Wisconsin, Lewis graduated from the University of Wisconsin and received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He served in the United States Army during World War I. Lewis was district attorney of...
, jurist - Jana SchneiderJana SchneiderJanet Ann Schneider is an American actress and photojournalist.Jana studied at the University of Wisconsin...
, Actress and Journalist - Barbara ThompsonBarbara Thompson (Wisconsin politician)Barbara Thompson was an educator and the Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin from 1973 to 1981....
, Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction - Steve Lacy (Runner)Steve Lacy (Runner)Steve Lacy is a two-time American Olympic athlete. He was born and raised in McFarland, Wisconsin. He went to college at University of Wisconsin–Madison where he was the first UW runner to break the 4-minute mile.-References:...
1980, 1984 Olympic Runner, University of Wisconsin Hall of Fame