Ephraim, Wisconsin

Ephraim, Wisconsin
Village
Location of Ephraim, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 45°9′23″N 87°10′16″W / 45.15639°N 87.17111°W / 45.15639; -87.17111Coordinates: 45°9′23″N 87°10′16″W / 45.15639°N 87.17111°W / 45.15639; -87.17111
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Door
Area[1]
• Total	7.16 sq mi (18.54 km2)
• Land	3.79 sq mi (9.82 km2)
• Water	3.37 sq mi (8.73 km2)
Elevation[2]	663 ft (202 m)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	288
• Estimate (2012[4])	289
• Density	76.0/sq mi (29.3/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	920
FIPS code	55-24150[5]
GNIS feature ID	1564680[2]

Ephraim is a village in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located across Eagle Harbor from Peninsula State Park. The population was 288 at the 2010 census. The village is known for its views of Eagle Harbor and the bluffs of Green Bay and its charming white buildings.

History

The village limits of Ephraim, shown on a USGS map.

The village was founded in 1853 by the Reverend Andreas Iverson as a Moravian religious community. The steeples of the Ephraim Moravian Church and the Free Evangelical Lutheran Church-Bethania Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation are the landmarks of the village as seen from Eagle Harbor. The home of Reverend Iverson, as well as the Anderson Store, the Anderson Barn and History Center, the Pioneer Schoolhouse and the Goodletson log cabin are preserved by the Ephraim Historical Foundation and open to visitors as museums. The Ephraim Historical Foundation also offers walking tours of the village.

Since its founding, the village has prohibited alcohol sales or manufacture within the village; it is currently the only dry municipality in the state of Wisconsin. There have been two referenda concerning the sale of liquor within the village, in 1934 and 1992. Both times the citizenry voted decisively to keep the village dry (with majorities of 59% and 74%, respectively).^[6]

Geography and climate

To the west is Peninsula State Park; to the east and south are unincorporated parts of the town of Gibraltar. Ephraim is located at 45°9′23″N 87°10′16″W / 45.15639°N 87.17111°W / 45.15639; -87.17111 (45.156509, -87.171047).^[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 7.16 square miles (18.54 km²), of which, 3.79 square miles (9.82 km²) of it is land and 3.37 square miles (8.73 km²) is water.^[1]

The highest point in the village (at the north end of North Orchard St.) is about 788 feet (240 m) above sea level, or 210 feet (64 m) above the surface of Green Bay.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[3] of 2010, there were 288 people, 138 households, and 92 families residing in the village. The population density was 76.0 inhabitants per square mile (29.3 /km²). There were 654 housing units at an average density of 172.6 per square mile (66.6 /km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.0% White, 0.3% Native American, and 0.7% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 138 households of which 17.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.52.

The median age in the village was 58.8 years. 14.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 2.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.7% were from 25 to 44; 33% were from 45 to 64; and 33% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[5] of 2000, there were 353 people, 161 households, and 112 families residing in the village. The population density was 90.6 people per square mile (34.9/km²). There were 771 housing units at an average density of 197.8 per square mile (76.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.15% White, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.28% of the population.

There were 161 households out of which 18.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married couples living together, 3.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.62.

In the village the population was spread out with 19.0% under the age of 18, 2.5% from 18 to 24, 17.6% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 28.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $52,500, and the median income for a family was $60,227. Males had a median income of $37,813 versus $31,875 for females. The per capita income for the village was $30,579. About 2.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

The climate in Ephraim is temperate, with warm summers and cold winters.

Events

The village's main festival is Fyr Bal, a Scandinavian celebration held near the solstice in mid-June to drive out the wicked winter witch. Bonfires burn along the shoreline as residents and visitors gather to celebrate the beginning of summer.

Images

• 

  View of marina from Highway 42

• 

  Post office

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ephraim, Wisconsin.

• Village website
• Ephraim Historical Foundation

v t e Municipalities and communities of Door County, Wisconsin, United States County seat: Sturgeon Bay City Sturgeon Bay Villages Egg Harbor Ephraim Forestville Sister Bay Towns Baileys Harbor Brussels Clay Banks Egg Harbor Forestville Gardner Gibraltar Jacksonport Liberty Grove Nasewaupee Sevastopol Sturgeon Bay Union Washington CDPs Baileys Harbor Ellison Bay Little Sturgeon Unincorporated communities Brussels Carlsville Carnot Detroit Harbor Fish Creek Gills Rock Idlewild Institute Jacksonport Juddville Kolberg Maplewood Namur North Bay Northport Peninsula Center Rosiere‡ Rowleys Bay Salona Shoemaker Point Valmy Vignes Washington West Jacksonport Whitefish Bay Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties