Algoma, Wisconsin

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See also the Town of Algoma in Winnebago County, Wisconsin.

Location of Algoma, Wisconsin

Algoma Pierhead Lighthouse

Algoma Welcome Center

Highway 42 at Highway 54

Looking over Lake Michigan at part of Algoma

Algoma is a city in Kewaunee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 3,357 at the 2000 census. Originally known as Ahnapee, the city was renamed Algoma in September 1879.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Shanty Days
5 Trivia
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Algoma is located at 44°36′30″N, 87°26′32″W (44.608226, -87.442342)^GR1, along Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Ahnapee River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.4 km² (2.5 mi²). 6.3 km² (2.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (1.61%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 3,357 people, 1,493 households, and 900 families residing in the city. The population density was 531.2/km² (1,374.9/mi²). There were 1,632 housing units at an average density of 258.2/km² (668.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.42% White, 0.09% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 1,493 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,029, and the median income for a family was $46,552. Males had a median income of $30,349 versus $22,650 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,043. About 3.4% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Algoma was discovered in 1834 by Joseph McCormick of Manitowoc. In 1851, Irish and English pioneers created the first settlement called Wolf River. This was a loose translation from the Indian word An-Ne-Pe meaning "land of the great gray wolf" a legendary animal in stories told by the local Potawatomi Indians. This historically linked animal eventually became the mascot of the Algoma Jt. School District #1.

In the mid 1800s, immigrants from Germany, Bohemia, Scandinavian countries, and Belgium settled in this lakeside community. The earliest businesses consisted of a sawmill, general store, and churches.

In 1871, the city survived a fire that swept from Green Bay and destroyed thousands of acres of land. Local residents were prepared for the worst waiting with their boats and valuables at hand for a quick escape from the approaching flames. Luckily, torrential rains drowned out the fire right before it reached Ahnapee.

In 1879, the city was formally renamed Algoma which is also an Indian name. Algoma means "park of flowers". At that time the commercial fishing fleet located in Algoma was the largest on Lake Michigan and commercial fishing is still a major tourist attraction today.

[edit] Shanty Days

Shanty Days is an annual celebration held the second weekend of August. Just like most Wisconsin town-wide parties, there is booyah, polka and beer. Fetures also include a used-book sale, parade, wine tasting, live music and a street fair.

[edit] Trivia

In "Buried", an episode of the television series Prison Break, Haywire enters a shop in Algoma, Wisconsin and steals supplies from a crippled shopkeeper. The shopkeeper's dog, a Border Collie, chases Haywire until he researches the shore of Lake Michigan. There, he tells the dog that he will build a raft and sail across the water to get to Holland.