Nekoosa, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Nekoosa is a city in Wood County, Wisconsin
, United States
. Its name derives from the Ho-Chunk
(Winnebago) word, "Nakrusa" which translates to "running water." The population was 2,590 at the 2000 census. The 2007 population estimate was 2,501, a -3.6% change since 2000.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which, 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) of it is land and 0.29% is water.
of 2000, there were 2,590 people, 987 households, and 702 families residing in the city. The population density
was 763.5 people per square mile (295.0/km²). There were 1,063 housing units at an average density of 313.4 per square mile (121.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.72% White, 0.12% African American, 1.27% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.97% from other races
, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.81% of the population.
There were 987 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples
living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,375, and the median income for a family was $44,583. Males had a median income of $36,308 versus $22,361 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,063. About 6.7% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
web site. It is a letter written by a resident to Nekoosa High School students to support them writing a history term paper.
Point Basse
. In 1908 it merged with a paper company in nearby Port Edwards, Wisconsin
, forming the Nekoosa Edwards Paper Company, or NEPCO. In 1970 NEPCO merged with the Great Northern Paper Company, forming Great Northern Nekoosa Corporation, or GNN, which was purchased in a hostile takeover by Georgia-Pacific
in 1990. In 2001 the mill was sold to Canadian paper company Domtar
.
The Nekoosa mill is noteworthy for being the original home of a cutting-edge paper machine first shown at the 1893 Columbian Exhibition. The machine was moved in 1923 to a sister mill in Port Edwards.
Stock certificates from NEPCO and GNN are popular Scripophily
items.
heritage and history has been added to the district.
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...
. Its name derives from the Ho-Chunk
Ho-Chunk
The Ho-Chunk, also known as Winnebago, are a tribe of Native Americans, native to what is now Wisconsin and Illinois. There are two federally recognized Ho-Chunk tribes, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska....
(Winnebago) word, "Nakrusa" which translates to "running water." The population was 2,590 at the 2000 census. The 2007 population estimate was 2,501, a -3.6% change since 2000.
Geography
Nekoosa is located at 44.319081°N 89.899937°W (44.319081, -89.899937).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 city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which, 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) of it is land and 0.29% 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 2,590 people, 987 households, and 702 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 763.5 people per square mile (295.0/km²). There were 1,063 housing units at an average density of 313.4 per square mile (121.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.72% White, 0.12% African American, 1.27% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.97% 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 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.81% of the population.
There were 987 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% 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, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,375, and the median income for a family was $44,583. Males had a median income of $36,308 versus $22,361 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 $17,063. About 6.7% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
History
An article dated March 16, 1916 from the long defunct newspaper The Nekoosa Tribune detailing the early history of Nekoosa may be found at the Wisconsin Historical SocietyWisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society is simultaneously a private membership and a state-funded organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of North America, with an emphasis on the state of Wisconsin and the trans-Allegheny West...
web site. It is a letter written by a resident to Nekoosa High School students to support them writing a history term paper.
Point Basse
"Five rapids covering a distance of about three miles in this area were referred to as Nekoosa (swift water) by the Chippewa Indians, who made their campground on high Swallow Rock overlooking the rapids. Wakeley's tavern served as a rendezvous and resting place for the river traveler and lumber raftsman. Wakeley's was the nucleus for the development of a settlement named Point Basse (low point). The name was later changed to Nekoosa.
The settlement became a key town during the colorful era when lumber was rafted down the river from the pineries of the North to Mississippi River markets.
Daniel Whitney built the first sawmill on the Wisconsin River here at Whitney's Rapids in 1831 making Nekoosa the birthplace of Wood County. From this first harnessing of the river's power developed scores of power facilities making the Wisconsin River the hardest worked river in the world." [Point Basse historical marker, erected 1963]
Paper Mill
Employment in Nekoosa has long been dominated by paper making. The Nekoosa Paper Company, incorporated in 1893, constructed a mill on the Wisconsin RiverWisconsin River
-External links:* * * , Wisconsin Historical Society* * * *...
. In 1908 it merged with a paper company in nearby Port Edwards, Wisconsin
Port Edwards, Wisconsin
Port Edwards is a village in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,944 at the 2000 census. The village is located northeast and adjacent to the Town of Port Edwards.- Geography :...
, forming the Nekoosa Edwards Paper Company, or NEPCO. In 1970 NEPCO merged with the Great Northern Paper Company, forming Great Northern Nekoosa Corporation, or GNN, which was purchased in a hostile takeover by Georgia-Pacific
Georgia-Pacific
Georgia-Pacific LLC is an American pulp and paper company based in Atlanta, Georgia, and is one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of tissue, pulp, paper, packaging, building products and related chemicals. As of Fall 2010, the company employed more than 40,000 people at more...
in 1990. In 2001 the mill was sold to Canadian paper company Domtar
Domtar
Domtar Corporation is the largest integrated producer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity, and is also a manufacturer of papergrade pulp....
.
The Nekoosa mill is noteworthy for being the original home of a cutting-edge paper machine first shown at the 1893 Columbian Exhibition. The machine was moved in 1923 to a sister mill in Port Edwards.
Stock certificates from NEPCO and GNN are popular Scripophily
Scripophily
Scripophily is the study and collection of stock and bond certificates. A specialized field of numismatics, scripophily is an interesting area of collecting due to both the inherent beauty of some historical documents as well as the interesting historical context of each document. Some stock...
items.
Education
Nekoosa has four schools: Humke Elementary School, Alexander Middle School, Nekoosa High School, and Nekoosa Academy. A new school designed specifically to teach Ho-ChunkHo-Chunk
The Ho-Chunk, also known as Winnebago, are a tribe of Native Americans, native to what is now Wisconsin and Illinois. There are two federally recognized Ho-Chunk tribes, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska....
heritage and history has been added to the district.
Notable people
- Chief OshkoshChief OshkoshChief Oshkosh was the chief of the Menominee Indian tribe from 1827 until his death. He played a key role in treaty negotiations as the Menominee tribe tried to protect their lands in Wisconsin from the resettling New York Indians and the American pioneers...
, Native American leader - Ed 'Strangler' LewisEd Lewis (wrestler)Robert Herman Julius Friedrich , was a professional wrestler best known by his ring name Ed "Strangler" Lewis, whose career spanned four decades.-Wrestling career:...
, professional wrestler - Edgar ManskeEdgar ManskeEdgar John "Eggs" Manske was a former professional American football player who played six seasons in the National Football League. Manske was the last NFL player to play without a football helmet...
, professional football player - Frederick C. PeerenboomFrederick C. PeerenboomFrederick C. Peerenboom, better known as Fritz the Nite Owl , is a radio and television personality in Columbus, Ohio.-Early career:...
, radio