Little Wolf, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Little Wolf is a town in Waupaca County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. Little Wolf is also the name of a former unincorporated community at the southern edge of the town.
The Town of Royalton
separated from Little Wolf in 1853. The towns Town of Union
was separated from Little Wolf in 1857, with the Town of Dupont
separating from the Town of Union in 1864.
The area grew fairly quickly in just ten years. Goldberg and the Mores built a sawmill there in 1849. Andrew Van Adestine fired up a smithy, Dan Smith and A.P. Jones opened groceries, and Jack Brickley bridged the river. Although Peter Meiklejohn set aside a room in his house for the village's first teacher, Miss Fortner, to use as a class room in 1853, the village raised a school house in 1857, the same year that Meikeljohn opened a grist mill on the southwest bank of the river. A two-story hotel, also operated by the Meiklejohns, stood near the grist mill.
Little Wolf never grew much bigger, though, and probably began to decline in the 1870s, after another lumbermill was built upriver in 1871, and the railroad was routed through Manawa
in 1873. Up until recently, the hotel and the foundations of the grist mill were all that remained to show that the village ever existed. Today, even the hotel is gone.
, the town has a total area of 34.0 square miles (87.9 km²), of which, 33.5 square miles (86.8 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (1.27%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,445 people, 511 households, and 414 families residing in the town. The population density
was 43.1 people per square mile (16.6/km²). There were 544 housing units at an average density of 16.2 per square mile (6.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.89% White, 0.21% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.35% from other races
, and 0.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 511 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.0% were married couples
living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.8% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,692, and the median income for a family was $52,344. Males had a median income of $33,693 versus $22,399 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,692. About 5.1% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Waupaca County, Wisconsin
-Demographics: As of the census of 2000, there were 51,731 people, 19,863 households, and 13,884 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 22,508 housing units at an average density 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Little Wolf is also the name of a former unincorporated community at the southern edge of the town.
History
The town was first settled by William Goldberg in 1848, who was joined by George E. and J.P. More in 1849, and James and Peter Meiklejohn in 1850. The first settlements straddled the river on the southern border of the township. The town was at first known as Centerville, and was organized on March 5, 1852. On November 15, 1854 the town changed its name to Little Wolf. After Jack Brickley built the first bridge across the river in 1858, it was also known as Brickley Bridge, but the name Little Wolf stuck after A.P. Jones established a new town post office in January 1859.The Town of Royalton
Royalton, Wisconsin
Royalton is a town in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1523 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Royalton is located in the town.-Geography:...
separated from Little Wolf in 1853. The towns Town of Union
Union, Waupaca County, Wisconsin
Union is a town in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 804 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Symco is located in the town.-Geography:...
was separated from Little Wolf in 1857, with the Town of Dupont
Dupont, Wisconsin
Dupont is a town in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 741 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.1 square miles , of which, 34.7 square miles of it is land and 0.3 square miles of it is...
separating from the Town of Union in 1864.
The area grew fairly quickly in just ten years. Goldberg and the Mores built a sawmill there in 1849. Andrew Van Adestine fired up a smithy, Dan Smith and A.P. Jones opened groceries, and Jack Brickley bridged the river. Although Peter Meiklejohn set aside a room in his house for the village's first teacher, Miss Fortner, to use as a class room in 1853, the village raised a school house in 1857, the same year that Meikeljohn opened a grist mill on the southwest bank of the river. A two-story hotel, also operated by the Meiklejohns, stood near the grist mill.
Little Wolf never grew much bigger, though, and probably began to decline in the 1870s, after another lumbermill was built upriver in 1871, and the railroad was routed through Manawa
Manawa, Wisconsin
Manawa is a city in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,330 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Manawa is located at ....
in 1873. Up until recently, the hotel and the foundations of the grist mill were all that remained to show that the village ever existed. Today, even the hotel is gone.
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 34.0 square miles (87.9 km²), of which, 33.5 square miles (86.8 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (1.27%) 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 1,445 people, 511 households, and 414 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 43.1 people per square mile (16.6/km²). There were 544 housing units at an average density of 16.2 per square mile (6.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.89% White, 0.21% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.35% 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 0.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 511 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.0% 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, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.8% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,692, and the median income for a family was $52,344. Males had a median income of $33,693 versus $22,399 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 $17,692. About 5.1% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.