Rib Lake, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Rib Lake is a village in Taylor County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 878 at the 2000 census. The village is within the Town of Rib Lake
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), of which, 1.9 square miles (4.8 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (20.17%) is water.
from the railroad at Chelsea
to the bank of Rib Lake and built a sawmill called the Rib Lake Lumber Company. The next year a railroad spur was built to the mill from the Wisconsin Central Railway at Chelsea. The community was originally called Kennedy Mills.
In 1891 Fayette Shaw started a tannery
in Rib Lake, which used tannic acid
from locally harvested hemlock bark to tan hides from as far away as South America to make leather. The tannery operated until 1923.
The 1890s saw much growth, with Methodist, Catholic and Lutheran congregations starting. In 1897 the Rib Lake Herald newspaper began publishing and a Dr. Werner started a practice.
The village of Rib Lake was incorporated in 1902.
of 2000, there were 878 people, 356 households, and 206 families residing in the village. The population density
was 470.5 people per square mile (181.3/km²). There were 394 housing units at an average density of 211.2 per square mile (81.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.86% White, 0.11% Black or African American
, 0.23% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.23% from other races
, and 0.23% from two or more races. 0.34% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 356 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,222, and the median income for a family was $41,667. Males had a median income of $30,268 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $14,571. About 7.7% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 13.8% 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 878 at the 2000 census. The village is within the Town of Rib Lake
Rib Lake (town), Wisconsin
Rib Lake is a town in Taylor County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 768 at the 2000 census. The Village of Rib Lake is located within the town.-Geography:...
.
Geography
Rib Lake is located at 45°19′7"N 90°12′21"W (45.318834, -90.206025).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 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), of which, 1.9 square miles (4.8 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (20.17%) is water.
History
In 1882 J. J. Kennedy hauled sawmill machinery with oxenOx
An ox , also known as a bullock in Australia, New Zealand and India, is a bovine trained as a draft animal. Oxen are commonly castrated adult male cattle; castration makes the animals more tractable...
from the railroad at Chelsea
Chelsea (CDP), Wisconsin
Chelsea is an unincorporated census-designated place located in the town of Chelsea, Taylor County, Wisconsin, United States. Chelsea is west-southwest of Rib Lake. As of the 2010 census, its population is 113....
to the bank of Rib Lake and built a sawmill called the Rib Lake Lumber Company. The next year a railroad spur was built to the mill from the Wisconsin Central Railway at Chelsea. The community was originally called Kennedy Mills.
In 1891 Fayette Shaw started a tannery
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
in Rib Lake, which used tannic acid
Tannic acid
Tannic acid is a specific commercial form of tannin, a type of polyphenol. Its weak acidity is due to the numerous phenol groups in the structure...
from locally harvested hemlock bark to tan hides from as far away as South America to make leather. The tannery operated until 1923.
The 1890s saw much growth, with Methodist, Catholic and Lutheran congregations starting. In 1897 the Rib Lake Herald newspaper began publishing and a Dr. Werner started a practice.
The village of Rib Lake was incorporated in 1902.
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 878 people, 356 households, and 206 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 470.5 people per square mile (181.3/km²). There were 394 housing units at an average density of 211.2 per square mile (81.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.86% White, 0.11% 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...
, 0.23% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.23% 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 0.23% from two or more races. 0.34% 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 356 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,222, and the median income for a family was $41,667. Males had a median income of $30,268 versus $18,750 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 $14,571. About 7.7% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Rib Lake, Wisconsin official website.
- History of the Rib Lake Area has more info and some old photos.
- Latton, referenced above, contains some anecdotes and photos from the early days.