Medford (town), Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Medford is a town in Taylor County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 2,216 at the 2000 census. The City of Medford
lies mostly within the town boundaries.
, the town has a total area of 37.8 square miles (97.8 km²), of which, 37.7 square miles (97.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.19%) is water.
in 1847 by a crew working for the U.S. government. That west edge of the town is on the Fourth Principal Meridian
, the first north-south line surveyed up through the forests of Wisconsin, from which all the towns, sections and forties are measured. In late 1861 a different crew of surveyors marked all the section corners
in the township
, walking through the woods and swamps, measuring with chain
and compass
. When done, the deputy surveyor filed this general description:
of 2000, there were 2,216 people, 821 households, and 637 families residing in the town. The population density
was 58.8 people per square mile (22.7/km²). There were 846 housing units at an average density of 22.4 per square mile (8.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.24% White, 0.09% Black or African American
, 0.14% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.27% from other races
, and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.23% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 821 households out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were married couples
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 105.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,912, and the median income for a family was $51,188. Males had a median income of $30,680 versus $23,935 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,261. About 3.4% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Taylor County, Wisconsin
Taylor County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 20,689. Its county seat is Medford.-History:The earliest recorded event in Taylor county probably occurred in 1661, when Wisconsin was part of New France...
, 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 2,216 at the 2000 census. The City of Medford
Medford, Wisconsin
Medford is a city in Taylor County, in north-central Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,326 at the 2010 census. The city is located mostly within the boundaries of the Town of Medford.- Geography :Medford is located at Medford is a city in Taylor County, in north-central Wisconsin,...
lies mostly within the town boundaries.
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 37.8 square miles (97.8 km²), of which, 37.7 square miles (97.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.19%) is water.
History
The western edge of the six by seven mile rectangle that would become the town of Medford was first surveyedSurveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
in 1847 by a crew working for the U.S. government. That west edge of the town is on the Fourth Principal Meridian
Principal meridian
A meridian is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface from the North Pole to the South Pole that connects all locations with a given longitude. Each is half of a great circle on the Earth's surface...
, the first north-south line surveyed up through the forests of Wisconsin, from which all the towns, sections and forties are measured. In late 1861 a different crew of surveyors marked all the section corners
Section (United States land surveying)
In U.S. land surveying under the Public Land Survey System , a section is an area nominally one square mile, containing , with 36 sections making up one survey township on a rectangular grid....
in the township
Survey township
Survey township, sometimes called Congressional township, as used by the United States Public Land Survey System, refers to a square unit of land, that is nominally six miles on a side...
, walking through the woods and swamps, measuring with chain
Gunter's chain
Gunter's chain is a measuring device used for land survey. It was designed and introduced in 1620 by English clergyman and mathematician Edmund Gunter long before the development of the theodolite and other more sophisticated equipment, enabling plots of land to be accurately surveyed and plotted,...
and compass
Solar compass
The solar compass, an astronomical instrument, was first invented and made by William Austin Burt. He patented it on February 25, 1836, in the United States Patent Office as No 9428X. It received a medal at the Great Exhibition of 1851...
. When done, the deputy surveyor filed this general description:
The Surface of this Township is rather(?) gently rolling or Level. Timber mostly Hemlock with (?) Birch (?) SugarSugar MapleAcer saccharum is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of northeastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas...
Fir(?) SpruceSpruceA spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
and White PineEastern White PinePinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
. Soil 1st & 2nd Rate and of good quality for agricultural purposes. The Township is well watered by numerous(?) Small Streams which flow in a Southerly direction.
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 2,216 people, 821 households, and 637 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 58.8 people per square mile (22.7/km²). There were 846 housing units at an average density of 22.4 per square mile (8.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.24% White, 0.09% 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...
, 0.14% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.27% 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 0.86% from two or more races. 0.23% 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 821 households out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% 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, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 105.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,912, and the median income for a family was $51,188. Males had a median income of $30,680 versus $23,935 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 $20,261. About 3.4% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.