Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

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Sun Prairie is a city in Dane County, Wisconsin and is a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 20,369 and is expected to double in size by 2020 to around 40,000. It is the fifth-fastest growing city in the state of Wisconsin, and the fastest-growing among cities of 10,000 or more, growing an estimated 14% between 2000 and 2004 [1]. The city is located mostly within the northwest corner of the Town of Sun Prairie. Portions also extend into the Town of Burke to the west, the Town of Windsor to the northwest, and the Town of Bristol to the north.

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[edit] Geography

Location of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.7 km² (9.6 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 20,369 people, 7,881 households, and 5,437 families residing in the city. The population density was 823.5/km² (2,133.7/mi²). There were 8,198 housing units at an average density of 331.4/km² (858.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.68% White, 3.10% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.98% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 2.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,881 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $51,345, and the median income for a family was $61,197. Males had a median income of $40,510 versus $28,786 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,277. About 3.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Businesses

General Casualty Insurance's world headquarters is in Sun Prairie, and is the city's largest employer.

[edit] Public Schools

[edit] Elementary

  • Royal Oaks
  • Horizon
  • Northside
  • Eastside
  • Westside
  • C.H. Bird

[edit] Middle

  • Prairie View
  • Patrick Marsh

[edit] High

  • Sun Prairie High School

[edit] History

President Martin Van Buren commissioned a party of 45 men, including August Bird, to build a state capitol in Madison. The group of men left Milwaukee on May 26, 1837 and traveled for days in the rain. On June 9, the group emerged at the edge of the prairie and with the sun shining for the first time in days, carved the words 'Sun Prairie" into a tree. Charles Bird returned to the area 2 years later and became the first settler.

[edit] Points of interest

  • The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame at Angell Park Speedway
  • The Family Aquatic Center features a zero depth swimming pool, waterslides and sand play area.
  • The Youth Baseball Complex is home to baseball and softball programs, as well as Sun Prairie's Little League program.
  • Sun Prairie Public Library
  • Sun Prairie Historical Library and Museum at 115 E. Main Street.
  • The Georgia O’Keeffe farmstead is located across from the school on the south side of County Highway T (destroyed by fire on November 6, 1976, a historical marker has been placed at the site in addition to a marker near city hall).

[edit] Places on List of Registered Historic Places in Wisconsin

[edit] Events

[edit] Groundhog Day

Sun Prairie is home to "Jimmy the Groundhog" and claims to be the "Groundhog Capital of the World." According to the Congressional Record, Sun Prairie is, indeed, "The Groundhog Capital of the World."

[edit] Sweet Corn Festival

In the area, the Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival is synonymous with the end of the corn harvest. Corn is served in big tubs, and people come from all over to grab several, salt and butter them, and enjoy corn on the cob.

[edit] Strawberry Fest

Held in June at the Colonial Club. Features strawberry sales, an indoor/outdoor craft fair, a children’s carnival, a used book sale, a raffle and chance drawing, a Fun Run, breakfast, lunch, and more.

[edit] People From Sun Prairie

[edit] External links

 
Madison, Wisconsin		 Flag of Wisconsin
Surrounding municipalities
(over 10,000)

Fitchburg | Middleton | Stoughton | Sun Prairie
(less than 10,000)

Blooming Grove | Bristol | Burke | Cottage Grove | De Forest | Dunkirk | Dunn | Maple Bluff | McFarland | Monona

Oregon | Pleasant Springs | Shorewood Hills | Springfield | Town of Madison | Verona | Waunakee | Westport | Windsor
Dane County, Wisconsin
*town ‡village °city §CDP
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