Sun Prairie (town), Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Sun Prairie is a town in Dane County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 2,308 at the 2000 census. The City of Sun Prairie
is located partially within the town. The unincorporated community of Pierceville
is located in the town.
, the town has a total area of 31.4 square miles (81.2 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,308 people, 806 households, and 653 families residing in the town. The population density
was 73.6 people per square mile (28.4/km²). There were 830 housing units at an average density of 26.5 per square mile (10.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.36% White, 0.69% Black or African American
, 0.56% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.22% from other races
, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.60% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 806 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.1% were married couples
living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 12.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 111.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $60,938, and the median income for a family was $62,154. Males had a median income of $33,352 versus $27,713 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,954. About 0.7% of families and 1.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
commissioned a party of 45 men, including Augustus A. Bird, to build a territory capitol in Madison
. The group of men left Milwaukee
on May 26, 1837 and traveled for days in the rain. On June 9, the group emerged at the edge of the prairie and with the sun shining for the first time in days, carved the words "Sun Prairie" into a tree. Charles Bird returned to the area two years later and became the first settler. The Town of Sun Prairie was created on February 2, 1846.
Dane County, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
, 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 2,308 at the 2000 census. The City of Sun Prairie
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Sun Prairie is a city in Dane County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. A suburb of Madison it is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 2010 US Census estimates the city's population to be 29,364. It is the sixth-fastest growing city in Wisconsin, and the fastest-growing among cities...
is located partially within the town. The unincorporated community of Pierceville
Pierceville, Wisconsin
Pierceville is an unincorporated community located in the town of Sun Prairie, Dane County, Wisconsin, United States....
is located in the town.
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 31.4 square miles (81.2 km²), all of it land.
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 2,308 people, 806 households, and 653 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 73.6 people per square mile (28.4/km²). There were 830 housing units at an average density of 26.5 per square mile (10.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.36% White, 0.69% 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...
, 0.56% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 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...
, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.60% 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 806 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.1% 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, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 12.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 111.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $60,938, and the median income for a family was $62,154. Males had a median income of $33,352 versus $27,713 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 $24,954. About 0.7% of families and 1.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
History
President Martin Van BurenMartin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
commissioned a party of 45 men, including Augustus A. Bird, to build a territory capitol in Madison
Madison, 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....
. The group of men left Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
on May 26, 1837 and traveled for days in the rain. On June 9, the group emerged at the edge of the prairie and with the sun shining for the first time in days, carved the words "Sun Prairie" into a tree. Charles Bird returned to the area two years later and became the first settler. The Town of Sun Prairie was created on February 2, 1846.