Delavan, Wisconsin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Delavan is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,956 at the 2000 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Delavan. Delavan is home to the Wisconsin School for the Deaf.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History and Trivia
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Delavan is located at 42°37′50″N, 88°38′17″W (42.630689, -88.638108)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.7 km² (6.8 mi²). 16.6 km² (6.4 mi²) of it is land and 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (6.15%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 7,956 people, 2,931 households, and 1,987 families residing in the city. The population density was 479.2/km² (1,241.7/mi²). There were 3,215 housing units at an average density of 193.7/km² (501.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.26% White, 1.14% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 10.67% from other races, and 2.71% from two or more races. 21.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,931 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,551, and the median income for a family was $49,929. Males had a median income of $31,296 versus $23,311 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,624. About 5.7% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History and Trivia

"The Greatest Show on Earth", the P.T. Barnum Circus, was founded in Delavan in 1871. Delavan was a major circus town for much of the 1800s, predating even Wisconsin statehood in 1841. The International Clown Hall of Fame organized in Delavan in 1987 and operated a museum in the community until moving to Milwaukee a decade later.

Lake Lawn Resort, on the shores of Delavan Lake, can trace its history back to the circus days.

Andes Candies, maker of the Andes Chocolate Mint, set up shop in Delavan in 1921. Owned by Tootsie Roll Industries since 2000, the popular after-dinner mints are manufactured there to this day.

Gary Burghoff, better known as Radar O'Reilly from M*A*S*H, began his acting career in Delavan as a student at Delavan-Darien High School.

Another D-DHS graduate, singer/songwriter Timothy Daniel was born and raised in Delavan, starting his first business there (a computer sales & service shop) before moving to California and starting his music career.

Delavan is home to no less than six structures designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright.