Sauk City, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Sauk City is a village in Sauk County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 3,109 at the 2000 census. The first incorporated village in the state, the community was founded by Agoston Haraszthy
and his business partner, Robert Bryant. The village is adjacent to Prairie du Sac
; together, these twin villages are referred to as Sauk Prairie
.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (6.88%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,109 residents, 1,285 households, and 796 families residing in the village. The population density
was 2,078.0 people per square mile (800.3/km²). There were 1,314 housing units at an average density of 878.3 per square mile (338.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.01% White, 0.39% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 1.45% from other races
, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.76% of the population.
There were 1,285 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $36,378, and the median income for a family was $45,156. Males had a median income of $29,908 versus $22,996 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $17,705. About 10.0% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.
in 1840. Later, with his English-born business partner, Robert Bryant, Haraszthy bought additional land and founded the town of Haraszthy (originally called Széptaj, Hungarian for "beautiful place").http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.ColeStandardv1 The name of the town was changed to Westfield in 1849 and to Sauk City in 1852.
German immigrants founded the Sauk City Freethinkers' Society (Freie Gemeinde
) in 1852. This group, a liberal religious society, also celebrated German music, literature and culture. It met in a private home until 1884, when Park Hall was built as a meeting house. The building is now home to the Sauk County Free Congregation, a Unitarian Universalist fellowship.
In the Harper's Weekly
magazine of November 21, 1914, Sauk City was named "America's Foremost City." The article cited a pageant, attended by 4000 people, which enacted scenes from the village's history, and concluded with the naming of the school principal as the Civic Secretary, charged with making the school the center of the life of the town. To that end, the ballot box was transferred from the town hall to the school house.
, located directly to the north. Both communities are located on the west bank of the Wisconsin River
. They share a municipal boundary, as well as a school system, police department, and hospital, but have separate fire departments and libraries. Efforts have been made to join the two villages into a single entity, Sauk Prairie
, but these have failed because of tax differences between the communities.
Sauk Prairie High School, located in Prairie du Sac, serves the villages of Sauk City and Prairie du Sac. The school's mascot is the eagle, so named because of the population of eagles found on the Wisconsin River adjacent to Sauk Prairie.
restaurant, which opened July 18, 1984. Culver's corporate headquarters are located in neighboring Prairie du Sac.
Sauk City is also where Jacob Leinenkugel
of the Leinenkugel Brewing Company was born and raised.
Cuca Records
was founded by James Kirchstein in 1959 and was located on Water Street next to Kirchstein's Super Market (founded by James's father, Frank Kirchstein, which was in business from the 1930s to 1982 and featured polka music on 8-track tapes in the store). Cuca Records produced records until the early 1970s, including polka, folk, and jazz.
Sauk County, Wisconsin
Sauk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 55,225. Its county seat and largest city is Baraboo. Sauk County is included in the Baraboo Micropolitan Statistical Area and in the Madison Combined Statistical Area....
, 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 3,109 at the 2000 census. The first incorporated village in the state, the community was founded by Agoston Haraszthy
Agoston Haraszthy
Agoston Haraszthy was a Hungarian-American traveler, writer, town-builder, and pioneer winemaker in Wisconsin and California, often referred to as the "Father of California Viticulture," or the "Father of Modern Winemaking in California"...
and his business partner, Robert Bryant. The village is adjacent to Prairie du Sac
Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
Prairie du Sac is a village in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,231 at the 2000 census. The village is surrounded by the Town of Prairie du Sac, the Wisconsin River, and the village of Sauk City; together, Prairie du Sac and Sauk City are referred to as Sauk...
; together, these twin villages are referred to as Sauk Prairie
Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin
Sauk Prairie is the nickname for the twin villages of Sauk City and Prairie du Sac, located on the west bank of the Wisconsin River in southeastern Sauk County, Wisconsin, approximately 13 miles south of Baraboo, and 18 miles northwest of metropolitan Madison, where U.S. Highway 12 crosses the...
.
Geography
Sauk City is located at 43°16′27"N 89°43′42"W (43.274130, -89.728310). It is on U.S. Highway 12, approximately 18 miles northwest of suburban MadisonMadison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
.
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 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (6.88%) 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 3,109 residents, 1,285 households, and 796 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 2,078.0 people per square mile (800.3/km²). There were 1,314 housing units at an average density of 878.3 per square mile (338.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.01% White, 0.39% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 1.45% 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 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.76% of the population.
There were 1,285 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% 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, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $36,378, and the median income for a family was $45,156. Males had a median income of $29,908 versus $22,996 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 $17,705. About 10.0% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
Impressed by the beautiful scenery, Agoston Haraszthy, a charismatic Hungarian sometimes called "Count" Haraszthy, purchased a small plot of land along the Wisconsin RiverWisconsin River
-External links:* * * , Wisconsin Historical Society* * * *...
in 1840. Later, with his English-born business partner, Robert Bryant, Haraszthy bought additional land and founded the town of Haraszthy (originally called Széptaj, Hungarian for "beautiful place").http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.ColeStandardv1 The name of the town was changed to Westfield in 1849 and to Sauk City in 1852.
German immigrants founded the Sauk City Freethinkers' Society (Freie Gemeinde
Freethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
) in 1852. This group, a liberal religious society, also celebrated German music, literature and culture. It met in a private home until 1884, when Park Hall was built as a meeting house. The building is now home to the Sauk County Free Congregation, a Unitarian Universalist fellowship.
In the Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly was an American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor...
magazine of November 21, 1914, Sauk City was named "America's Foremost City." The article cited a pageant, attended by 4000 people, which enacted scenes from the village's history, and concluded with the naming of the school principal as the Civic Secretary, charged with making the school the center of the life of the town. To that end, the ballot box was transferred from the town hall to the school house.
Other information
Sauk City is adjacent to Prairie du SacPrairie du Sac, Wisconsin
Prairie du Sac is a village in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,231 at the 2000 census. The village is surrounded by the Town of Prairie du Sac, the Wisconsin River, and the village of Sauk City; together, Prairie du Sac and Sauk City are referred to as Sauk...
, located directly to the north. Both communities are located on the west bank of the Wisconsin River
Wisconsin River
-External links:* * * , Wisconsin Historical Society* * * *...
. They share a municipal boundary, as well as a school system, police department, and hospital, but have separate fire departments and libraries. Efforts have been made to join the two villages into a single entity, Sauk Prairie
Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin
Sauk Prairie is the nickname for the twin villages of Sauk City and Prairie du Sac, located on the west bank of the Wisconsin River in southeastern Sauk County, Wisconsin, approximately 13 miles south of Baraboo, and 18 miles northwest of metropolitan Madison, where U.S. Highway 12 crosses the...
, but these have failed because of tax differences between the communities.
Sauk Prairie High School, located in Prairie du Sac, serves the villages of Sauk City and Prairie du Sac. The school's mascot is the eagle, so named because of the population of eagles found on the Wisconsin River adjacent to Sauk Prairie.
Economy
Sauk City is the site of the first Culver'sCulver's
Culver’s is a privately owned and operated fast casual restaurant chain that operates primarily in the Midwestern United States. The first Culver’s opened in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin...
restaurant, which opened July 18, 1984. Culver's corporate headquarters are located in neighboring Prairie du Sac.
Sauk City is also where Jacob Leinenkugel
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company is a regional American beermaker based in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, United States. Leinenkugel is mainly distributed in the Upper Midwest, but is available in limited quantities throughout the United States...
of the Leinenkugel Brewing Company was born and raised.
Cuca Records
Cuca Records
Cuca Records of Sauk City, Wisconsin was founded by James Kirchstein in 1959 and actively produced LP and 45 rpm recordings until the early 1970s. During this period, Cuca recorded and released primarily polka and ethnic music on LP but also issued other musical styles, including pop, rhythm and...
was founded by James Kirchstein in 1959 and was located on Water Street next to Kirchstein's Super Market (founded by James's father, Frank Kirchstein, which was in business from the 1930s to 1982 and featured polka music on 8-track tapes in the store). Cuca Records produced records until the early 1970s, including polka, folk, and jazz.
Notable residents
- August DerlethAugust DerlethAugust William Derleth was an American writer and anthologist. Though best remembered as the first publisher of the writings of H. P...
, author - Agoston HaraszthyAgoston HaraszthyAgoston Haraszthy was a Hungarian-American traveler, writer, town-builder, and pioneer winemaker in Wisconsin and California, often referred to as the "Father of California Viticulture," or the "Father of Modern Winemaking in California"...
, traveler, writer, and pioneer winemaker - Greg JensenGreg JensenGreg Jensen is a former center in the National Football League.-Biography:Jensen was born Gregory George Jensen on January 23, 1962 in Sauk City, Wisconsin...
, former NFL player - Emanuel L. PhilippEmanuel L. PhilippEmanuel Lorenz Philipp was the 23rd Governor of Wisconsin, United States, from 1915 to 1921. He was born in Honey Creek in Sauk County...
, former Governor of WisconsinGovernor of WisconsinThe Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state... - Mark SchorerMark SchorerMark Schorer was an American writer, critic, and scholar born in Sauk City, Wisconsin.-Biography:Schorer earned an MA at Harvard and his Ph.D. in English at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1936...
, author, professor