Wood, Wisconsin Explained

Official Name:Town of Wood, Wisconsin
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Wood
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:86.4
Area Land Km2:86.3
Area Water Km2:0.1
Area Total Sq Mi:33.3
Area Land Sq Mi:33.3
Area Water Sq Mi:0.0
Population As Of:2000
Population Total:786
Population Density Km2:9.1
Population Density Sq Mi:23.6
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Footnotes:[1]
Elevation M:322
Elevation Ft:1056
Coordinates:44.4719°N -90.1422°W
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:55-88575[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1584472
Blank2 Name:PLSS township
Blank2 Info:T23N R3E

The Town of Wood is located in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 786 at the 2000 census.

This town is sometime mistaken for the discontinued post office of Wood, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (zip code 53193) that served the Veterans Administration Medical Center near Milwaukee (current address 5000 West National Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53295).

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.3 square miles (86.4 km2), of which, 33.3 square miles (86.3 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) of it (0.12%) is water.

History

In the summer of 1851 a crew working for the U.S. government surveyed the outline of the six mile square that would become Wood. That November another crew marked all the section corners, walking through the woods and wading the swamps, measuring with chain and compass.[3] [4] When done, the deputy surveyor filed this general description:

There is very little good land in this Township it may be considered as 2d rate the timber is generall good except the Pine although there is some good Pine along the Banks of Yellow River mixed in with hard timber the surface is generall level & somewhat stony particularly near(?) Yellow River which passes over almost entirely a Bed of Rocks the stone are a Reddish sandstone the timber is of various Kinds, such as Birch Pine Maple Linn Elm Tamarack etc(?) the small streams are fed by the swamp and are not durable the Saw Mills under process of Erection are probably worth $500 each.[5]

The town of Wood was larger when it was formed in 1874, but the town of Cary was split off in 1901. The town was then called the town of New Wood for a few months until the name was changed back.[6]

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 786 people, 285 households, and 222 families residing in the town. The population density was 23.6 people per square mile (9.1/km2). There were 309 housing units at an average density of 9.3 per square mile (3.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.24% White, 0.13% African American, 0.51% Native American and 0.13% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.13% of the population.

There were 285 households, out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,853, and the median income for a family was $47,955. Males had a median income of $38,333 versus $22,321 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,534. About 6.4% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

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. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  3. Web site: Land Survey Information. Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. March 26, 2011.
  4. Web site: Field Notes for T23N R3E. Original Field Notes and Plat Maps, 1833–1866. Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. May 8, 2013.
  5. Web site: Ellis. Albert G.. Interior Field Notes (Nov. 1851 – Dec. 1851). Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. 2013-05-12. Ellis, Frederick S. .
  6. Web site: Town History,Town of Wood, Wood County, Wisconsin. townofwood.com. March 27, 2023.

External links