Antigo, Wisconsin

Antigo
Nequi-Antigo-sebi
—  Town  —
Location of Antigo, Langlade County in Wisconsin
Close-up of Antigo
Antigo
Location of Antigo, Langlade County in the United States
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County
Founded 1878
Seat of Langlade County 1880
Government
 • Mayor John Oyer
AreaUSCB
 • Total 6.5 sq mi (16.8 km2)
 • Land 6.4 sq mi (16.7 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0.1 km2)  0.77%
Elevation 1,500 ft (457 m)
Population (2000)USCB
 • Total 8,560
 • Density 1,328.7/sq mi (513.2/km2)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Zip Code 54409
Area code(s) 715
Website http://www.antigo-city.org

Antigo is a city in and the county seat of Langlade County, Wisconsin, United States.[1] The population was 8,560 at the 2000 census. Antigo is the center of a farming and lumbering district, and its manufactures consist principally of lumber, chairs, furniture, sashes, doors and blinds, hubs and spokes, and other wood products.

Contents

History

The name "Antigo" comes from the Chippewa Indian name for the river that flows through the area, "Nequi-Antigo-sebi" meaning "spring river" or "evergreen".

The city was founded in 1878 by Francis A. Deleglise. The log cabin in which Deleglise lived is preserved and on display at the Langlade County Museum. A street in Antigo also bears his name. The city gained its charter in 1883.

In the early part of the 1900s, Antigo was best known for its sawmills. At the turn of the millennium, the city's economy had a balance of industry and agriculture. High on the list are potatoes, dairy products, fur, shoes, fertilizer, steel and aluminum products, along with the lumber and wood product industries established in the earlier years.

Geography

Antigo is located at (45.141218, -89.153385)[2], about 160 miles (260 km) northwest of Milwaukee.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.5 square miles (16.8 km²), of which, 6.4 square miles (16.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.77%) is water.

Antigo sits on a plateau about 1,500 feet (460 m) above sea level. The wide expanse of level land, the fine stand of timber and the fertility of the "Antigo Flats" soil soon attracted many settlers. Today the Antigo Silt Loam soil is the state soil of Wisconsin.

Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 8,560 people, 3,630 households, and 2,221 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,328.7 people per square mile (513.2/km²). There were 3,938 housing units at an average density of 611.3 per square mile (236.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.27% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,630 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% 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 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,548, and the median income for a family was $40,883. Males had a median income of $29,932 versus $20,156 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,592. About 10.2% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

The area's general aviation needs are served by the Langlade County Airport.

Highways

WIS 47 splits off U.S. 45 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Antigo then runs south to Shawano, Wisconsin, and runs north concurrent with U.S. 45 to Rhinelander.
U.S. 45 Northbound US 45 to Eagle River, Wisconsin. Southbound, US 45 routes to Wittenberg, Wisconsin.
WIS 52 travels east to Wabeno, Wisconsin, and west to Wausau, Wisconsin.
WIS 64 travels east to Marinette, Wisconsin, and west to Merrill, Wisconsin.

Education

Schools

Athletics

Antigo's high school football team won Division 1 state championships in 1976, 1978 and 1982. Antigo also dominated in the early 1970s, winning three state titles prior to the introduction of the WIAA tournament system in 1976. As a member of the powerhouse Wisconsin Valley Conference from 1920–2007, Antigo won 23 conference championships. Coach Gordon Schofield's teams won 6 state titles from 1970–1982, a period of time that included 7 seasons in which the team did not lose a game. In 1976 and 1982, Coach Schofield was the WFCA Coach of the Year.[4] Other state championships for Antigo high school sports includes the boys' hockey championship in 1993, the state wrestling championship in 1984 and the girls' state bowling championship in 2007. In 1990 the 13-year-old boys' Junior Baseball All-Star Team was the Wisconsin-Minnesota state champion.

Culture

The Langlade County Museum is housed in the 1902 Carnegie library building on the corner of 7th Avenue and Superior Street. The building housed the Antigo Public Library from 1905 to 1997. The museum contains historical artifacts and archives of Langlade County and the City of Antigo.[5]

Recreation

In Antigo and the surrounding area recreational activities include fishing, hunting, swimming, snowmobiling. The Kettlebowl ski area, in nearby Bryant, Wisconsin, provides downhill and cross country skiing opportunities. The Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association is in Antigo.

The Clara R McKenna Aquatic Center opened in 2005 on the site of Antigo High School, offers Antigo area residents a year-round recreation pool and lap pool.

The Langlade County fairgrounds, located in Antigo, has an indoor ice rink in winter months and facilities for off-road racing and demolition derbies in summer months.

Notable residents

Images

References

External links