Ruby, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Ruby is a town
in Chippewa County
in the U.S. state
of Wisconsin
. The population was 446 at the 2000 census.
Very little remains of what was once Ruby. The large country store on the corner of County Highway G and County Highway W struggled on into the early 1970s but finally closed. There is no longer any concentration of population in what was once the hamlet of Ruby.
About a mile to the south of where Ruby was located is a local supper club and a new country store selling fuel to nearby rural customers.
, the town has a total area of 53.6 square miles (138.8 km²), of which, 53.5 square miles (138.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.22%) is water.
of 2000, there were 446 people, 152 households, and 120 families residing in the town. The population density
was 8.3 people per square mile (3.2/km²). There were 197 housing units at an average density of 3.7 per square mile (1.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.55% White, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.22% of the population.
There were 152 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.8% were married couples
living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.4% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,208, and the median income for a family was $33,125. Males had a median income of $27,750 versus $22,813 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,587. About 12.4% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Chippewa County
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 446 at the 2000 census.
History
The unincorporated community of Ruby began as one of many small logging towns in the forests of northwest Wisconsin, where loggers worked in the company town and ran a sawmill. At one time it was a fairly large settlement with many businesses, a post office, a rural school, country store, and a boardwalk. However, as the forest was depleted, Ruby lost its basis for existence. Some of the loggers resettled the area as farmers in the newly exposed open fields that were once forest.Very little remains of what was once Ruby. The large country store on the corner of County Highway G and County Highway W struggled on into the early 1970s but finally closed. There is no longer any concentration of population in what was once the hamlet of Ruby.
About a mile to the south of where Ruby was located is a local supper club and a new country store selling fuel to nearby rural customers.
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 53.6 square miles (138.8 km²), of which, 53.5 square miles (138.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.22%) 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 446 people, 152 households, and 120 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 8.3 people per square mile (3.2/km²). There were 197 housing units at an average density of 3.7 per square mile (1.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.55% White, 0.22% Native American, 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...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.22% of the population.
There were 152 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.8% 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, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.4% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,208, and the median income for a family was $33,125. Males had a median income of $27,750 versus $22,813 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 $12,587. About 12.4% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.