| City of Merrill | |
|---|---|
| Looking west at the western downtown | |
| Nickname(s): City of Parks | |
| Location of Merrill within Wisconsin | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Lincoln County |
| Name Adopted | 1881 |
| First Mayor and City Council | 1883 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | William Bialecki |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.5 sq mi (19.5 km2) |
| • Land | 7 sq mi (18.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) 6.51% |
| Elevation | 1,316 ft (401 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 10,728 |
| • Density | 1,441.7/sq mi (556.4/km2) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Zipcode | 54452 |
| Website | http://www.cityofparks.us |
Merrill is a city in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,728 at the 2010 census. The city is located to the south of and adjacent to the Town of Merrill.
The Merrill area had a 2000 census population of 16,289, and comprises the core of the United States Census Bureau's Merrill MSA, which includes all of Lincoln County (2000 population: 29,641). Together with the Wausau MSA (which includes all of Marathon County, 2000 population: 125,834) it forms the Wausau-Merrill CSA. As of the 2000 census, the CSA's total population was 155,475.
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Merrill was originally a logging town by the name of Jenny Bull Falls. It was first inhabited by the Chippewa Native Americans and by 1843 a trading post was constructed near the town; John Faely was the first settler. Within four years a dam, started by Andrew Warren, was constructed over the Wisconsin River. Warren then established the first mill powered by the dam, and other saw mills as well. In 1870, T.B. Scott succeeded Warren and the mill soon became increasingly successful; however in 1899 the mill unfortunately burned down. During that time Jenny Bull Falls was legally changed to Merrill.[1] The name was changed in honor of S.S. Merrill, the general manager of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad.[2]
Shortly after the adaptation of the name Merrill, during the 1880's and 1890's, a number of significant events occurred. In 1881, the Wisconsin Telephone company began operation with twenty phones in service. Then in 1883 the first City Council met where T.B. Scott was named the first mayor. By 1885 the population had risen to 7,000, approximately three thousand less than Merrill's population today.[3] The railroad and passenger depot, a hub of social activity through the lumber industry's boom years and after, became a community youth center, but has since been razed. By 1900, the timber industry was in decline and the community was compelled to diversify its economy.
Merrill is located at (45.182569, -89.69559),[4] along the Wisconsin River at its confluence with the Prairie River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19.5 km²), of which, 7.0 square miles (18.2 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (6.51%) is water.
Merrill is located west of US Route 51 on State Highway 64 (Main Street).
Council Grounds State Park is west of the city.
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 10,146 people, 4,183 households, and 2,631 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,441.7 people per square mile (556.4/km²). There were 4,397 housing units at an average density of 624.8 per square mile (241.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.77% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 1.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,183 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,098, and the median income for a family was $45,860. Males had a median income of $30,789 versus $21,372 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,429. About 5.7% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.
The Lincoln County Courthouse, begun in 1903, was completed for $119,882. Its central rotunda is 32 feet in diameter; second floor offices lead off its balcony. A 48-inch bell and one-ton clock were mounted on the roof tower.[6]
The mayor of Merrill is William Bialecki.[7]
Merrill Area Public Schools is the area's school district, which covers the majority of Lincoln County and small areas of the neighboring counties. Northcentral Technical College's Public Safety Training center was built in Merrill in 2005.
| U.S. 51 Northbound US 51 to Woodruff, Wisconsin. Southbound, US 51 routes to Wausau, Wisconsin. | |
| WIS 17 travels north to Rhinelander, Wisconsin. | |
| WIS 64 travels east to Antigo, Wisconsin, and west to Medford, Wisconsin. |
From 1889 to 1921 a streetcar line was operated by the Merrill Railway & Lighting Co. who also operated one of the earliest trolleybus lines in the United States in 1913.
The town, along with the surrounding Lincoln and Marathon Counties, was the setting for the low budget 1975 film The Giant Spider Invasion. The film was featured in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 during Season 8.
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