Wausau, Wisconsin

This area has for millennia changed hands between various indigenous peoples. The historic Ojibwe (also known in the United States as the Chippewa) occupied it in the period of European encounter. They had a lucrative fur trade for decades with French colonists and French Canadians. After the French and Indian War this trade was dominated by British-American trappers from the eastern seaboard.

The Wisconsin River first drew European-American settlers to the area during the mid-19th century as they migrated west into the Great Lakes region following construction of the Erie Canal in New York State. This provided a route for products from the region to the large New York and other eastern markets. The area had been called "Big Bull Flats" or "Big Bull Falls" by French explorers, who were the first Europeans here.[5] They named it for the long rapids in the river, which created many bubbles, called bulle in French. By an 1836 treaty with the United States, the Ojibwe ceded much of their lands in the area to federal ownership. It was sold to non-Native peoples. Wausau, from Ojibwe “waasa”, means "a faraway place".[5]

This Frank Lloyd Wright–designed house is one of two in Wausau. Several Prairie School houses are in Wausau.

George Stevens, the namesake of the city of Stevens Point south of Wausau, began harvesting the pine forests for lumber in 1840 and built a saw mill. Lumbering was the first major industry in this area, and other sawmills along the Wisconsin River were quickly constructed by entrepreneurs.[5] By 1846, Walter McIndoe arrived and took the lead in the local business and community. His efforts helped to establish Marathon County in 1850.[5] Word of Stevens's success in the region spread across the country throughout the logging industry. Loggers came from Cortland County, New York, Carroll County, New Hampshire, Orange County, Vermont and Down East Maine in what is now Washington County, Maine and Hancock County, Maine. These were "Yankee" migrants, descended from the English Puritans who settled New England during the 1600s.[6]

By 1852, Wausau had been established as a town and continued to grow and mature. German immigration into the area following the Revolutions of 1848 in the German states brought more people, and by 1861, the settlement was incorporated as a village.[5]

Churches, schools, industry and social organizations began to flourish. The state granted the city a charter in 1872, and elections are held the first Tuesday in April.[5] The residents elected August Kickbusch as their first mayor in 1874.[5] Five years earlier, Kickbusch had returned to his homeland of Germany and brought back with him 702 people, all of whom are believed to have settled in the Wausau area. Kickbusch founded the A. Kickbusch Wholesale Grocery Company, a family business carried on by his grandson, August Kickbusch II. In 1917, August Kickbusch II purchased a modest four-square-style house at 513 Grant Street.[7] He undertook extensive additions, adding two sun rooms, arcaded windows, a tiled porch in the Mediterranean style, a formal classical entrance, and ornate custom-designed chimney crowns. The home is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Andrew Warren Historic District.

When the railroad arrived in 1874, Wausau became more accessible to settlers and industry. This enabled the city to develop alternatives to the lumber industry, which was in decline since the clear-cutting of many forests. By 1906 the lumber was gone, but the city continued to grow and flourish.[8] Other villages and towns in the area declined because of over-harvesting of the forests and lumber mills closed down.

The Grand Theater, built in 1927, replaced the Grand Opera House (1899).

Wausau's favorable location on the Wisconsin River was partly responsible for its survival. The economy was diversified in the early 20th century, led by Employers Insurance of Wausau, now a part of Liberty Mutual. Its logo, first introduced in 1954, was the downtown Milwaukee Road railroad depot set against the backdrop of the community's skyline.

The Wall Street Crash of 1929 had a major effect on the Wausau area. Many industries were forced to cut back by laying off and dismissing workers or by closing altogether.[5] After decades of growth, the city virtually ground to a halt. But after World War II—Wausau was significantly modernized—and it continued to grow in industry, education, recreation, and retail, more than in population.

After the fall of Saigon, Hmong refugees from Southeast Asia who fought alongside the CIA immigrated to Wausau at the end of the 1970s. Wausau church organizations (Catholic and Lutheran) helped Hmong refugees adapt to American life.

The 400 Block in downtown Wausau

In 1983, the Wausau Center shopping mall opened. By the mid- to late-1990s, the Wausau began to purchase and develop parts of West Industrial Park to meet the needs of the expanding economy and companies. In the late 1990s, the city demolished a number of aging buildings on a square in the center of downtown, creating what is known locally as the 400 Block, an open, grassy block with paved sidewalks crossing it. The square is a focal point for summer festivals.[9] In recent years Wausau has redone the 400 Block, adding a permanent stage and other renovations that cost $2 million.

By the end of the 20th century, Wausau began to implement the Wausau Central Business District Master Plan,[10] which included redevelopment and economic restructuring of downtown Wausau. The tallest commercial building in Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee is in Wausau: the 241-foot Dudley tower.[11]

Wausau is located at 44°57′N 89°38′W.[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.33 square miles (52.7 km²), of which 19.22 square miles (49.8 km²) is land and 1.11 square miles (2.9 km²) is water.[13] The city is located at an altitude of 1,195 feet (364 m). Wausau is close to the center of the northern half of the Western Hemisphere. Just west of Wausau, 45°N meets 90°W (45°N 90°W / 45; -90), which is exactly halfway between the equator and the north pole and a quarter of the way around the world from the prime meridian.

Wausau's climate is classified as humid continental (Dfb). It is built on or around a hemiboreal forest, which has some of the characteristics of a boreal forest and shares some of the features of the temperate zone forests to the south. Coniferous trees predominate in the hemiboreal zone, but a significant number of deciduous species are found there, as well.

Notes

As of the census of 2020,[3] the population was 39,994. The population density was 2,081.1 inhabitants per square mile (803.5/km²). There were 18,605 housing units at an average density of 968.1 per square mile (373.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.3% White, 11.9% Asian, 1.7% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.8% from other races, and 5.6% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 4.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census[21] of 2010, there were 39,106 people, 16,487 households, and 9,415 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,082.3 inhabitants per square mile (804.0/km²). There were 18,154 housing units at an average density of 966.7 per square mile (373.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.7% White, 1.4% African American, 0.8% Native American, 11.1% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 16,487 households, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.9% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.02.

The median age in the city was 36.8 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 10% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.9% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

As of the census[19] of 2000, 38,426 people, 15,678 households, and 9,328 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,330.7 people per square mile (899.7/km²). There were 16,668 housing units at an average density of 1,011.0 per square mile (390.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.91% White, 0.54% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 11.41% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. About 1.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 15,678 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were not families. About 33.6% 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 2.37 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was distributed as 25.4% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,831, and for a family was $47,065. Males had a median income of $33,076 versus $24,303 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,227. About 7.2% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2003 the Hmong Americans are the largest ethnic minority in Wausau.[22] Churches and social service agencies settled refugees, most of them Hmong with some Vietnamese and Lao, in Wausau after the Vietnam War. According to the 1980 U.S. Census, the Wausau SMSA had fewer than 1% non-White people.[23][24] There were several dozen immigrants in 1978. By 1980 Wausau had 200 immigrants.[23] This increased to 400 in 1982 and 800 in 1984.[23]

In 1981 there were 160 Hmong students in the Wausau School District[22] and in 1991 1,010.[22] In a period ending in 1994 the tax rate of the Wausau School District rose by 10.48% as a result of the expenses of services to children from immigrant families. The increase was three times as high as the increase in an adjacent school district without a large immigrant population.[23] By 1994 Wausau had 4,200 refugees. By 1996 the number of Hmong students in the school district was over 2,000. In 1998 this number reached its peak, 2,214. The city experienced some social upheaval following the Hmong arrival.[22] Some schools in Wausau had a minority of English speakers[23] and some were predominantly Hmong students.[22] Some native-born American families in Wausau criticized the crime and expenses in social services.[23]

As of 2003, "Sixty percent of Hmong families are homeowners. Although more than half of the workforce is earning less than $8 an hour, the welfare rate has dropped to less than 5 percent. More people are going to college. And test scores and graduation rates of Hmong public school students are steadily rising."[22]

In Wausau there is relatively little Hmong-language media because for much of its history, the Hmong language was not written.[22]

The Wausau Fire Department has 3 stations within the city which contain 5 ambulances, 4 engines, a heavy rescue vehicle, a 100 foot platform truck, rescue boats, inspections vehicles, and command vehicles. The department also has a hazardous incident team, or HIT, which is a type II regional hazardous materials team.[27]

The department currently employs 72 full-time firefighter/paramedics.[28]

The department responded to 6,490 calls in the year 2021.[29]

The Wausau Police Department is responsible for law enforcement services in the City of Wausau. On average, between 8–12 officers are on patrol at a time.

The city of Wausau, in coordination with the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, is responsible for maintaining 14 outdoor tornado sirens that are strategically placed throughout the city. Sirens are sounded during tornadoes and severe weather. Sirens are tested at 1:15PM every Monday (April–September) and the first Monday of the month (October–March).

Wausau is served by the Wausau School District, which has 14 elementary schools, two middle schools (John Muir and Horace Mann), and two high schools (Wausau East, Wausau West) and two charter schools (Wausau Engineering and Global Leadership Academy and Enrich Excel Achieve Learning Academy). Wausau Engineering and Global Leadership (EGL) Academy is a public charter school housed in Wausau East High School serving grades 9–12 and emphasizing science, technology, engineering and math.

D.C. Everest Area School District also serves a large part of the Wausau area. This school district has 7 elementary schools, one middle school, one junior high, and one senior high. They also have a 4K Program.

Wausau Area Montessori Charter School serves grades 1–6 and is housed at Horace Mann Middle School. Two kindergarten classes are available at the Montessori Children's Village and Rib Mountain Montessori.

The Excel, Enrich, Achieve (EEA) Learning Academy is a public charter school in the Wausau School District, housed in Wausau East High School, and is for students who do not find the traditional school setting to be a fit for their academic needs. EEA services grades 6–12.[33]

The Idea Charter School, a project-based charter school that is a part of the D.C. Everest School District, had its first year in operation in the 2011–2012 school year. The charter school serves grades 6–12.

The city's Roman Catholic parochial schools are known as the Newman Catholic Schools. They include St. Anne, St. Michael and St. Mark, Newman Middle School, and Newman Catholic High School. Other parochial schools include Trinity Lutheran grade school (Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod), Our Savior's Lutheran School (Pre-K–8) (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod),[34] Faith Christian Academy (K4–12), and a K–8 school operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Wausau is home to the University of Wisconsin– Stevens Point at Wausau a two-year university satellite campus of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The University houses the Wisconsin Public Radio Station. The city is also home of Northcentral Technical College, a two-year technical college.

It is also home to a number of satellite campuses of other colleges, including, Upper Iowa University, Lakeland College, Concordia University Wisconsin (closed in 2012), Rasmussen College, Medical College of Wisconsin, and Globe University.

• AUW – Wausau Downtown Airport
• CWA – Central Wisconsin Airport

Metro Ride provides local bus service. For intercity bus service Wausau is served by Lamers Bus Lines providing once daily trips from Wausau to Milwaukee via Appleton and Coach USA/Van Galder with a daily trip to Janesville via Madison.[42]

Until 1971, Wausau was served by intercity passenger trains at Wausau station.

Major roads in Wausau are: Grand Avenue, North 6th St/North 5th St(one-way pair), East and West Bridge St, West Thomas St, 1st Ave/3rd Ave (one-way pair), Stewart Ave, 17th Ave, Merrill Ave, 28th Ave, and East Wausau Ave.

When traveling in Wausau, be aware that numbered "Streets" are on the east side of Wausau and numbered "Avenues" are on the west side of Wausau. The Wisconsin River divides the city between East and West.

Grand Avenue turns into North 6th Street when travelling north into the downtown area. Business 51 is a major route designation that runs through the city mostly along the original route of US 51 before the freeway bypass was constructed in the 1960s. Entering from the south along Grand Ave, north to downtown then splitting into one-way streets; northbound follows 6th St, McIndoe St, N. 1st St, and Scott St to the Wisconsin River; and southbound from the Wisconsin River along Washington St, 1st St, and Forest St back to Grand Ave. Once on the west side of the river, Scott St becomes Stewart Ave. Business 51 turns north off of Stewart Ave onto the one-way 1st Avenue north to W. Union Avenue westerly for two blocks then north out of town along Merrill Ave (southbound from Merrill Ave along 3rd Avenue, then East on Stewart Ave to the Wisconsin River).

	I-39 travels South to Portage and runs concurrent with I-90 and I-94 after Portage.
	U.S. 51 Northbound US 51 routes to Woodruff, Wisconsin. Southbound, US 51 routes to Stevens Point.
	WIS 29 travels east to Green Bay and west to Abbotsford and Chippewa Falls.
	WIS 52 travels east to Antigo.