| Boscobel, Wisconsin | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Wisconsin#USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Boscobel |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Grant |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 3.22 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 3.21 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Area Total Km2: | 8.33 |
| Area Land Km2: | 8.33 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.01 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 3286 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1022.1 |
| Population Density Km2: | 394.6 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Coordinates: | 43.1364°N -90.7042°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 53805 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 55-08850 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Website: | City of Boscobel |
Boscobel [2] is a city in Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,286 at the 2020 census. Approximately 0.6 mi. (1 km) to the north of the city, across a riparian swamp, is the Wisconsin River. U.S. Route 61 crosses the Wisconsin River at Boscobel. To the south, the city is bordered by the Town of Boscobel.
Boscobel was the site of a stop along the now defunct Milwaukee Road, and it is still served by the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad. It is also the site of the Wisconsin Secure Program Facility (WSPF), a Wisconsin Department of Corrections prison for men.[3] [4] Businesses include the historic Central House Hotel, the birthplace of Gideons International.
Boscobel calls itself the "wild turkey hunting capital of Wisconsin".
On August 7, 2021, the southern edge of Boscobel was hit by what would eventually become the strongest tornado in Wisconsin in more than a decade, reaching EF3 strength just east of the city.
Boscobel is located at (43.136473, -90.70418),[5] in the Driftless Zone.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of approximately 3.22sqmi, of which 3.21sqmi is land and less than 0.01sqmi is water.[6]
As of the census of 2020,[7] the population was 3,286. The population density was 1022.1PD/sqmi. There were 1,317 housing units at an average density of 409.6/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 86.5% White, 8.2% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The 2020 census population of Boscobel included 458 incarcerated people at the Wisconsin Secure Program Facility.[8] This likely impacts the city's demographic and racial profile given that Wisconsin has the nation's highest racial incarceration gap and imprisons Black residents at twelve times the rate of white residents.[9] [10] [11]
At the 2010 census there were 3,231 people, 1,195 households, and 727 families living in the city. The population density was 1077PD/sqmi. There were 1,307 housing units at an average density of 435.7/sqmi. The racial makup of the city was 90.1% White, 8.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2%.[12]
Of the 1,195 households 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.2% were non-families. 32.8% of households were one person and 13.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.90.
The median age was 38.1 years. 21% of residents were under the age of 18; 10% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.9% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 54.6% male and 45.4% female.
At the 2000 census there were 3,047 people, 1,174 households, and 752 families living in the city. The population density was 1,068.6 people per square mile (412.8/km). There were 1,266 housing units at an average density of 444.0 per square mile (171.5/km). The racial makup of the city was 94.78% White, 3.74% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[13] Of the 1,174 households 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 30.2% of households were one person and 16.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.96.
The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median household income was $32,698 and the median family income was $37,527. Males had a median income of $24,806 versus $19,617 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,432. About 6.0% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
The town was mentioned in the 1999 David Lynch biographical road drama film, The Straight Story[14] when Iowa farmer Lyle Straight (played by Richard Farnsworth) asks a local priest if he knows the whereabouts of Lyle's brother (played by Harry Dean Stanton).