Ladysmith, Wisconsin

Ladysmith, Wisconsin
City

Steely-blue chalcocite from the Flambeau Mine

Location of Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 45°27′50″N 91°6′0″W / 45.46389°N 91.10000°WCoordinates: 45°27′50″N 91°6′0″W / 45.46389°N 91.10000°W
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County Rusk
Area[1]
 • Total 4.59 sq mi (11.89 km2)
 • Land 4.21 sq mi (10.90 km2)
 • Water 0.38 sq mi (0.98 km2)
Elevation[2] 1,145 ft (349 m)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 3,414
 • Estimate (2012[4]) 3,285
 • Density 810.9/sq mi (313.1/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 54848
Area code(s) 715 & 534
FIPS code 55-40850[5]
GNIS feature ID 1567715[6]

Ladysmith is a city and the county seat of Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,414 at the 2010 census.

Geography

Ladysmith is located at 45°27′50″N 91°6′0″W / 45.46389°N 91.10000°W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.59 square miles (11.89 km2), of which 4.21 square miles (10.90 km2) is land and 0.38 square miles (0.98 km2) is water.[1]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 3,414 people, 1,527 households, and 806 families residing in the city. The population density was 810.9 inhabitants per square mile (313.1/km2). There were 1,667 housing units at an average density of 396.0 per square mile (152.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.6% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 1,527 households of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.2% were non-families. 41.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 43.8 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 23% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.6% male and 54.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 3,932 people, 1,570 households, and 916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,008.9 people per square mile (389.3/km²). There were 1,660 housing units at an average density of 425.9 per square mile (164.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.31% White, 1.48% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.

There were 1,570 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,274, and the median income for a family was $40,526. Males had a median income of $26,725 versus $20,826 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,499. About 7.2% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

History

The city was founded at the intersection of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (Soo Line) with the Flambeau River in 1885, as "Flambeau Falls" after the Ojibwa name for the area Gakaabikijiwanan ("of cliffed rapids"). Robert Corbett, a logging and lumbering entrepreneur, held the dominant influence on city in its early years, first renamed as "Corbett", then to "Warner" in 1891, and then to the present name on July 1, 1900, after the bride of Charles R. Smith, head of the Menasha Wooden Ware Co.

2002 tornado

On September 2, 2002, a tornado rated at F3 strength destroyed much of Ladysmith's downtown area. The tornado touched down approximately at 4:20 pm CDT about one and one half miles (2 km) west southwest of downtown Ladysmith. The tornado was initially ranked an F0, but strengthened to an F2 at the intersection of highways 8 and 27 on the west side of town. The tornado further intensified to F3 just east of the railroad tracks near the Baptist church, and proceeded to tear up the downtown business area. The tornado remained at F3 strength for about a mile, before weakening to a F1 as it exited the east side of town.

The tornado remained on the ground for about 15 miles (25 km) and moved at about 30 mph (50 km/h). The tornado was one quarter of a mile wide (400 m) at its widest point. It finally lifted off around 4:50 pm CDT, about two miles south of the village of Ingram. Overall damage was estimated at $20 million (USD), but there were no fatalities.[7]

Education

Ladysmith is the former home of Mount Senario College, which closed in 2002 due to significant debt. In the 2006-2007 school year, part of the former campus was operated as Concordia Preparatory School, a private Christian high school. That institution also faced financial problems and closed. Silver Lake College of Manitowoc, Wisconsin began offering courses at Mount Senario, renamed "Mount Senario Education Center", beginning September, 2009.[8]

Flambeau Mine

The Flambeau Copper Mine was operated by Kennecott from 1993 to 1997. This was a very rich volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposit, so rich that the ore was shipped directly to the smelter.

Mining in Wisconsin was very controversial. Several nearby deposits were discovered, but remain unexploited. Flambeau has since been permanently closed and the site reclaimed.[9]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  4. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ↑ "Ladysmith". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  7. ↑ USA Today
  8. ↑ Silver Lake College: Mount Senario Education Center's website
  9. ↑ Flambeau Mine at Mindat.org

See also

External links