Fairfield, Wisconsin Explained

Official Name:Town of Fairfield
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Sauk
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:92.2
Area Land Km2:90.6
Area Water Km2:1.6
Area Total Sq Mi:35.6
Area Land Sq Mi:35.0
Area Water Sq Mi:0.6
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:1078
Population Density Km2:11.3
Population Density Sq Mi:29.3
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Footnotes:[1]
Elevation M:250
Elevation Ft:820
Coordinates:43.5433°N -89.6736°W
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:55-24900[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1583186
Website:http://townoffairfieldwi.com/

The Town[3] of Fairfield is located in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,078 at the 2020 census. The unincorporated community of Greens Corners is located in the town.

History

The town is the location of the "sand farm" (Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm) purchased by Aldo Leopold in 1935. A family retreat from the city of Madison, Leopold's attempts to restore health to this abandoned farm, with the help of family and friends, became the inspiration for his masterpiece, "A Sand County Almanac." Leopold died near 'the Shack' while fighting a neighbor's grass fire in 1948.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.6 square miles (92.2 km2), of which, 35.0 square miles (90.6 km2) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) of it (1.74%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,023 people, 388 households, and 301 families residing in the town. The population density was 29.3 people per square mile (11.3/km2). There were 420 housing units at an average density of 12.0 per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.36% White, 0.29% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.49% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.

There were 388 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.02.

The population 25.5% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,625, and the median income for a family was $56,389. Males had a median income of $37,647 versus $21,833 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,155. About 1.3% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. January 31, 2008. United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  3. "Towns" in Wisconsin perform most of the same functions as townships in many other states. see 'Wisconsin Blue Book 2022,' Town, pp 354-355