Two Rivers, Wisconsin Explained

Two Rivers, Wisconsin
Settlement Type:City
Nickname:"The Coolest Spot in Wisconsin"[1] "The Cool City"[2] "TR" or "Trivers" "Carp Town"[3]
Motto:"Catch our friendly waves"
Pushpin Map:Wisconsin
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the state of Wisconsin
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Manitowoc
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[4]
Area Total Sq Mi:6.49
Area Land Sq Mi:6.04
Area Water Sq Mi:0.45
Area Total Km2:16.82
Area Land Km2:15.66
Area Water Km2:1.17
Population As Of:2010
Population Est:11271
Pop Est As Of:2020
Population Total:11712
Population Density Km2:705.26
Population Density Sq Mi:1826.77
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:−6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:−5
Coordinates:44.155°N -87.5764°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:54241
Area Code:920
Area Code Type:Area code
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:55-81325
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Website:www.two-rivers.org

Two Rivers is a city in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 11,271 at the 2020 census. It claims to be the birthplace of the ice cream sundae[5] (though other cities, such as Ithaca, New York, make the same claim[6]). The city's advertising slogan is "Catch our friendly waves" as it is located along Lake Michigan.

History

A post office called Two Rivers has been in operation since 1848.[7] The city was named from its location at the confluence of the Mishicot and Neshota rivers,[8] now known as the East Twin and West Twin Rivers, respectively.

Geography

Two Rivers derives its name from the East Twin River and the West Twin River which meet in the city less than a mile from their outflows at Lake Michigan. Two Rivers is located at 44.1547°N -87.5764°W (44.154928, −87.57642).[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.49sqmi, of which, 6.09sqmi is land and 0.4sqmi is water.[10]

Highways

Climate

Two Rivers, Wisconsin lies within the humid continental climate zone, modified by its close proximity to Lake Michigan. This gives the city more moderate temperatures and lesser extremes compared to its inland counterparts. The lake influence also gives Two Rivers a greater seasonal lag than places farther away from the lakeshore, with warmer Septembers and cooler Marches than the rest of the state; for instance, September, with a mean temperature of 60°F is only 1 degree Fahrenheit cooler than June's 61°F, whereas Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a few tens of miles inland at a similar latitude, has a September that is 8 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than June.

The Köppen classification for the town is Dfb, often described as a cool summer humid continental climate, characterized by the coldest month's mean being below -3°C, the persistent snowpack line, and with 4 or more months above 10°C, but no month above 22°C.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 11,712 people, 5,119 households, and 3,156 families living in the city. The population density was 1923.2PD/sqmi. There were 5,698 housing units at an average density of 935.6/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 79.5% White, 8.5% African American, 3.8% Native American, 5.4% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 7.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.9% of the population.

There were 5,119 households, of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.3% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 43.4 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 29.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

2000 census

According to the census[12] of 2000, there were 12,639 people, 5,221 households, and 3,414 families living in the city. The population density was 2,230.1 people per square mile (860.7/km2). There were 5,547 housing units at an average density of 978.7 per square mile (377.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.74% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 2.22% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 1.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,221 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,701, and the median income for a family was $48,241. Males had a median income of $35,378 versus $23,605 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,908. About 4.2% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The city has a city manager-council form of government. The city manager is Greg Buckley, who has held the position since August 1995.

Education

Two Rivers has two public elementary schools, Koenig and Magee, and one parochial school: St. John's Lutheran (WELS). St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic grade school closed after the 2013–2014 school year.

The city's middle school, L. B. Clarke, serves students in fifth through eighth grade. The school was named for Charlton Heston's father-in-law, who helped fund the school; both Heston and his wife Lydia have visited the school.

Two Rivers is served by Two Rivers High School, built in 2002 to replace the now-demolished Washington High School. The school houses a photography darkroom and a television broadcast room for hands-on experience. The high school's daily announcements are broadcast by students on the city's public access television channel. The school's sports include swimming, football, track and field, baseball, soccer, and others. Some students from Two Rivers also attend Roncalli High School and Manitowoc Lutheran High School in nearby Manitowoc.

Media

Newspapers

Television and radio

Two Rivers is part of the Green Bay, Wisconsin television market, as well as the Green Bay Nielsen radio market. The city is home to WCUB-AM and WEMP-FM. Towers and studio are located elsewhere. Charter Communications provides cable service for the city.

Ice cream sundae

See main article: Sundae. There is some debate between Ithaca, New York and Two Rivers over which city has the right to claim the title "birthplace of the ice cream sundae." When Ithaca mayor Carolyn K. Peterson proclaimed a day to celebrate her city as the birthplace of the sundae, she received postcards from Two Rivers' citizens reiterating that town's claim.[13] Ithaca retaliated with an ad called "Got Proof?" in the Two Rivers newspaper.

Two Rivers' claim is based on the story of George Hallauer asking Edward C. Berners, the owner of Berners' Soda Fountain, to drizzle chocolate syrup over ice cream in 1881. Berners eventually did, and wound up selling the treat for a nickel, originally only on Sundays, but later every day. According to this story, the spelling changed when a glass salesman ordered canoe-shaped dishes. When Berners died in 1939, the Chicago Tribune headlined his obituary "Man Who Made First Ice Cream Sundae Is Dead."[5] [14]

Professional football

During the 1930s and 1940s, Two Rivers was home to training camps for numerous professional football teams. The city's cool weather, athletic facilities, and general hospitality of the town's people helped lure the teams. Washington High School, The J.E. Hamilton Community House, and Walsh Field were used for practices and meetings, while teams stayed at the Hamilton Hotel. The teams included the now defunct Columbus Bullies AFL in 1940 and the Chicago Rockets AAFC in 1947. Two Rivers also hosted the National Football League's Pittsburgh Pirates, now known as the Pittsburgh Steelers, in 1939 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1941 and 1942.[15]

Points of interest

Beaches

Two Rivers two popular beaches.

Notable people

Athletes

Politicians

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Pawlitzke, Mary. The Two Rivers Story. 1978. Brown County Publishing Co.. Denmark, Wisconsin. 2.
  2. Book: Pawlitzke, Mary. The Two Rivers Story. 1978. Brown County Publishing Co.. Denmark, Wisconsin. 10.
  3. News: Hodgson. Cindy. Fishing contest will include new Carp Fest set for June 5, 6. 2013-02-26. Herald Times Reporter. 2010-05-21. dead. https://archive.today/20130413003447/http://www.manitowoc.info/New_Images/HTR%20-%20CarpFest1.htm. 2013-04-13.
  4. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. August 7, 2020.
  5. Web site: Two Rivers – The REAL Birthplace of the Ice Cream Sundae . Two Rivers Economic Development . 2007-06-26.
  6. Web site: Ithaca's Gift to the World . Michael Turback . 2004 . 2007-06-26.
  7. Web site: Manitowoc County . Jim Forte Postal History . 30 March 2015.
  8. Book: Chicago and North Western Railway Company. A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. 1908. 132.
  9. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  10. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . 2012-11-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . 2012-07-02 .
  11. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2012-11-18.
  12. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  13. Laura Zaichkin, "Sundae wars continue between Ithaca and Two Rivers", Ithaca Journal, June 30, 2006
  14. News: Man Who Made First Ice Cream Sundae Is Dead . Chicago Daily Tribune . 1 . 1939-07-02 .
  15. Web site: JS Online: Years ago, Wisconsin was truly the 'Big Cheese' . 2010-11-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120910235248/http://www3.jsonline.com/packer/news/jul00/cheese30072900.asp?format=print . 2012-09-10 . dead .
  16. Web site: Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Designation; Final Regulations. NOAA via Federal Register. June 23, 2021 . 29 June 2021.
  17. https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/media/docs/wisconsin-shipwreck-coast-national-marine-sanctuary.pdf National Marine Sanctuaries media document: Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Accessed 29 June 2021
  18. https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-designates-new-national-marine-sanctuary-in-wisconsin-s-lake-michigan NOAA News "NOAA designates new national marine sanctuary in Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan," June 22, 2021 Accessed 29 June 2021
  19. Web site: 2019 Kites over Lake Michigan.