Slinger, Wisconsin

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Rail Road tracks in Slinger

Slinger is a village in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,901 at the 2000 census. Slinger is also home to Slinger Super Speedway, the world's fastest quarter mile paved oval.

Originally named Schleisingerville after the founder, state senator Baruch Schleisinger (Weil) in 1857, it was shortened during the 1920s to Slinger, a nickname which was already in common usage by the area residents. According to historical documentation the name was changed to avoid the anti-German sentiments following World War I. Around the same time as the name change Slinger was in competition with Fond du Lac to have a railroad roundhouse placed. The feeling in the community at that time was that a German name would have a detrimental effect. The point became moot when Fond du Lac was awarded the roundhouse. As late as the Centennial Celebration in 1968 the name Schleisingerville was still commonly used among the German speakers in the community. An incorrect legend has it that the name was shortened due to anti-German feeling following World War I. In fact, B.S. Weil emigrated from France, not Germany, while the population of Slinger itself was of predominantly German ancestry at the time of the name change.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Slinger is located at 43°19′42″N, 88°17′0″W (43.328466, -88.283461)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 9.7 km² (3.8 mi²). 9.7 km² (3.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.53%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 3,901 people, 1,562 households, and 1,040 families residing in the village. The population density was 403.8/km² (1,046.8/mi²). There were 1,607 housing units at an average density of 166.3/km² (431.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.95% White, 0.26% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.38% of the population.

There were 1,562 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the village the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $47,125, and the median income for a family was $55,607. Males had a median income of $40,783 versus $25,723 for females. The per capita income for the village was $21,450. About 6.0% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.