| Official Name: | Bancroft, Wisconsin |
| Settlement Type: | Census-designated place |
| Pushpin Map: | Wisconsin |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Wisconsin |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Portage |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 5.040 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 5.030 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.010 |
| Population As Of: | 2010 |
| Population Total: | 535 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1093 |
| Coordinates: | 44.3097°N -89.5136°W |
| Postal Code Type: | Zip code |
| Postal Code: | 54921 |
| Area Codes: | 715 & 534 |
| Blank Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank Info: | 1561145 |
Bancroft is an unincorporated census-designated place in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population is 535.[1] It is included in the Stevens Point, Wisconsin Micropolitan Statistical Area.[2]
Bancroft was named for Warren Gamaliel Bancroft, who served in the 42nd Wisconsin Regiment during the American Civil War and later served as pastor of the Oshkosh Methodist Church. Bancroft was the name sake of Warren Gamaliel Bancroft Winnipeg Harding, who is better known as Warren G. Harding—the 29th president of the United States.[3] A post office in the community was opened on May 17, 1876.[4]
Bancroft is located in central Wisconsin approximately 10 miles south of Plover and approximately five miles north of Plainfield. Bancroft rests on Portage County Road W just to the east of Interstate 39 / U.S. Highway 51, at exit 143. (Lat: 44° 18' 35.0", Lon: -89° 30' 49.7"). Bancroft is the seat for the Town of Pine Grove. Bancroft has an area of 5.04mi2; 5.03mi2 of this is land, and 0.01mi2 is water.
The geography of Bancroft is mostly flat. There are, however, two interesting bluffs that rise prominently above the otherwise level plains. One was a large bluff, commonly referred to as Mosquito Bluff, that runs in an East-West direction. Mosquito Bluff is now separated into two large hills by Harding Road.
The other prominent feature is known as The Ledge, which runs towards the North-East and is visible from I-39. This Bluff has gone by many names (Lover's Leap, Hellfire Hill, High Rock, Gulliver's Stool) but is most commonly known as The Ledge. At the top of The Ledge is an ichnite rock that has preserved traces of the passage of Climactichnites.