Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin

Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
Location in the state of Wisconsin
Coordinates:
Former Name Town of Rochester
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Counties Sheboygan
Surrounding Towns Sheboygan, Kohler, Plymouth, Howards Grove, Oostburg
Settled 1835
Incorporated 1913
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council
 • Mayor Randy Meyer[1]
Area
 • Total 10.8 km2 (4.2 sq mi)
 • Land 10.6 km2 (4.1 sq mi)
 • Water 0.2 km2 (0.1 sq mi)
Elevation 200 m (659 ft)
Population (2000)
 • Total 6,772
 • Density 640.9/km2 (1,659.9/sq mi)
Time zone Central (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) Central (UTC-5)
ZIP Code 53085
Area code(s) 920
Website http://www.cityofsheboyganfalls.com/

Sheboygan Falls is a city in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States whose population was 6,772 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

Geography

Sheboygan Falls is located at (43.730444, -87.821078),[2] along the Sheboygan River between its confluences with the Mullet and Onion Rivers.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.8 km²), of which, 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.92%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 6,772 people, 2,745 households, and 1,869 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,658.3 people per square mile (640.9/km²). There were 2,826 housing units at an average density of 692.0 per square mile (267.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.05% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,745 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,205, and the median income for a family was $55,668. Males had a median income of $40,006 versus $25,293 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,456. About 2.6% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Roads

Four lane Highway 23 is the primary east-west route into the city. It lies just north of the city. Interstate 43, located less than five miles east of Sheboygan Falls, is the primary north-south transportation route into the area. Highway 28 is another primary east-west route into the city, and forms part of the south edge of the city. Highway 32 is the primary north-south route into the city, and it routes through downtown Sheboygan Falls. Secondary county highways include Counties PP to the east and C to the west.

Airport

Sheboygan is served by the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, which is located several miles from the city.

Water

The Sheboygan River snakes through Sheboygan Falls. Rapids and the dam, which once supplied hydroelectric energy, prohibit most water transportation through the city.

Rail

A single-track railway spur between Plymouth and Sheboygan runs through the city. The track was originally built for use as an interurban line, but saw use primarily as a freight line served by the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company, and later, Union Pacific. In 2006, citing low demand and degraded infrastructure, Union Pacific announced plans to abandon the line west of the Kohler Company factory in Kohler, thus terminating all service to Sheboygan Falls. In May 2009, the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation finalized the purchase of the Plymouth-Sheboygan Falls portion of the line from Union Pacific, with the intent of repairing the long dormant line to allow the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad to provide restored service to Sheboygan Falls.[4]

The track through downtown Sheboygan Falls has been of interest to railfans because of a number of interesting features, including an iron trestle over the Sheboygan River, a small section of street running where the line runs at grade along city streets, and antiquated "wig-wag" signals at several crossings. Many of these features have been threatened because of the Union Pacific's abandonment of the line; the trestle has been barricaded and parts of the tracks leading to it have been removed,[5] and plans to restore the line for the resumption of service may require the replacement of the wig-wag signals, which do not conform to current safety requirements.

Notable businesses

Notable residents

Annual events

Civic Organizations

References

  1. ^ Sheboygan County Government
  2. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ "State: Rail line connecting Falls, Plymouth to go back in service", Sheboygan Press, May 23, 2009.
  5. ^ Family Wants Barricades on Railroad Trestle, WTMJ-4 TV (Milwaukee), May 21, 2009

External links