Crandon, Wisconsin

Crandon is a city in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States; it is in the northeastern part of the state, about 100 miles (160 km) north of Green Bay. The population was 1,920 at the 2010 census.[4] It is the county seat of Forest County and is the only incorporated community in the county. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Crandon.

"Crandon" redirects here. For other uses, see Crandon (disambiguation).
Crandon, Wisconsin
City
Looking north at downtown Crandon
Location of Crandon in Forest County, Wisconsin.
Coordinates: 45.569845°N 88.901240°W / 45.569845; -88.901240
Country United States
State Wisconsin
CountyForest
Founded19th century
Established1887
Incorporated1909
Government
 • MayorDennis Rosa
Area
 • Total6.19 sq mi (16.03 km2)
 • Land5.22 sq mi (13.52 km2)
 • Water0.97 sq mi (2.51 km2)
Population
 • Total1,920
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
1,800
 • Density344.76/sq mi (133.11/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
54520
Area code715 & 534
FIPS code55-17425
Websitewww.cityofcrandon.info
Looking south at downtown Crandon
Looking south at downtown Crandon
Water tower
Crandon International Off-Road Raceway

History

Samuel Shaw, an entrepreneur and capitalist, bought property in the area of Forest County in the 1880s, formerly Oconto County. With the aide of Major Frank P. Crandon, tax commissioner with the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company, he successfully lobbied the Wisconsin Legislature for the creation of Forest County, which was established in 1887. Because of his help, Frank Crandon became the namesake for the county seat. Rail service arrived shortly thereafter in the region via the Soo Line Railroad, but a spur line did not directly reach the town until the turn of the 20th century.[5]

The lumber industry defined the early growth of the city. In 1891, Page and Landeck Lumber Company purchased a tract of hardwood timberlands near Crandon, and by 1902, the company built a huge sawmill (later named the Keith & Hiles Lumber Mill) near Clear Lake on Crandon's north side. The population of Crandon grew from 800 to more than 2,400 in just a few years. With the rail line's presence, settlers and loggers from Kentucky were recruited for the bustling timber industry of northern Wisconsin. The company's sawmill eventually was moved to Crandon from Glasgow, Kentucky. Modern culture lore reflects the early "Kentuck" ancestors.[6] The city was officially incorporated as Crandon in 1909 after construction of the county courthouse began, and much of the town's building stock was constructed during this time. Though timber has diminished as a prominent industry in the north-central United States, logging companies still operate in the nearby Nicolet National Forest.

From the 1980s to 2003, Crandon was the center of an environmental debate to construct a mining operation at the proposed Crandon mine, a rich copper deposit discovered by the Exxon Coal and Minerals Company. The heated discussion led to a Wisconsin Legislature mining moratorium act in 1998. Eventually, the proposed company and mine site lands were purchased by the opposed Mole Lake Sakaogon Chippewa and Forest County Potawatomi tribes, whose reservations sat near the site. The project was withdrawn in October 2003.[7][8]

On October 7, 2007, Crandon drew the attention of national and world media when Tyler Peterson, an employee of the Forest County Sheriff's Department and a part-time officer for the Crandon Police Department, shot seven people, wounding one and killing six in the town. They ranged in age from 14 to 20.[9][10][11][12]

On July 29, 2014, Crandon voters recalled their mayor by roughly a 2–1 margin.[13]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.18 square miles (16.01 km2), of which, 5.22 square miles (13.52 km2) is land and 0.96 square miles (2.49 km2) is water.[14] The city lies on the northern shore of Metonga Lake.[15] Lake Lucerne is also only a few miles from the city. There is a large crater in the town's park, Culversinesis Park, caused by a large dairy truck accident in 1962.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19101,833—
19201,632−11.0%
19301,6792.9%
19402,00019.1%
19501,922−3.9%
19601,679−12.6%
19701,582−5.8%
19801,96924.5%
19901,958−0.6%
20001,9610.2%
20101,920−2.1%
2019 (est.)1,800[3]−6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,920 people, 771 households, and 496 families residing in the city. The population density was 367.8 inhabitants per square mile (142.0/km2). There were 964 housing units at an average density of 184.7 per square mile (71.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.1% White, 0.4% African American, 9.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 771 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.7% were non-families. 30.5% 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 2.33 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the city was 40 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 10% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 1,961 people, 803 households, and 489 families residing in the city. The population density was 375.8 people per square mile (145.0/km2). There were 961 housing units at an average density of 184.1 per square mile (71.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.18% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 7.04% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.

There were 803 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,125, and the median income for a family was $35,260. Males had a median income of $27,763 versus $20,227 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,757. About 10.5% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Major highways
U.S. 8 routes eastbound to Laona, Wisconsin. Westbound, US 8 routes to Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
WIS 32 runs concurrent with U.S. 8 and runs north to Eagle River, Wisconsin.
WIS 55 travels north to Iron River, Michigan and south to Shawano, Wisconsin.

Airport

Crandon is served by the Crandon Municipal Airport (Y55). Located three miles southwest of the city, the airport has a 3,550 foot asphalt runway with approved GPS approaches (Runway 12-30).[18]

Economy

Major industries include logging, tourism and light industry. The recreation and camping industry also includes the home of the World Championship Off-Road Races (see Sports in Wisconsin). The downtown contains typical restaurants, retail and services of a small city serving nearly 2000 residents. With the tourism influx the town also has many hotels, lodges, and inns. Crandon has two casinos, the Mole Lake casino and Potawatomi Bingo and Northern Lights Casino. CoVantage Credit Union is the area's largest financial company.

Arts and recreation

Crandon's outdoor recreation opportunities include fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling, with many lakes and hundreds of miles of trails in the surrounding area. Crandon is the home of the Crandon International Off-Road Raceway, which hosts the world championship off-road races.

The annual Kentuck Day's Festival celebrates the area's ancestral Kentucky heritage.

Media

TV broadcast stations around Crandon:

Notable residents

See also

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Crandon city, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  5. "History of Forest County". Forest County Historical Society.
  6. "2007 Forest County Visitors Guide" (PDF). Crandon Chamber of Commerce. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-31. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
  7. Naomi Lubick (January 2004). "Controversial mineral deposit sold". Geotimes. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
  8. "Proposed Crandon Mine Information". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2003-10-28. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
  9. "Gunman kills six in US Midwest". BBC. 2007-10-07.
  10. "Suspected Gunman Killed After Shooting 6 in Forest County". WTMJ. 2007-10-07. Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
  11. "Shooter dead along with six victims in rampage - CNN.com". Archived from the original on October 11, 2007.
  12. https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071008/ap_on_re_us/wisconsin_shooting Archived October 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  13. "Crandon voters recall mayor". 2014-07-30.
  14. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  15. "Metonga Lake". Wisconsin DNR. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  16. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  18. http://www.airnav.com/airports/y55

Further reading
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