Spooner, Wisconsin

Spooner
City
Downtown Spooner
Location of Spooner in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
Spooner Location within the state of Wisconsin
Coordinates: 45°49′33″N 91°53′28″W / 45.82583°N 91.89111°W / 45.82583; -91.89111Coordinates: 45°49′33″N 91°53′28″W / 45.82583°N 91.89111°W / 45.82583; -91.89111
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Washburn
Area[1]
• Total	1.06 sq mi (2.76 km2)
• Land	1.01 sq mi (2.63 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	2,682
• Estimate (2016)[3]	2,597
• Density	2,561.14/sq mi (988.53/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	715 & 534
FIPS code	55-75625
Website	Official website

Spooner is a city in Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,682 at the 2010 census. The city is located mostly within the southwest corner of the Town of Spooner, with a small portion extending into the Town of Beaver Brook on the south, the Town of Bashaw on the southwest, and the Town of Evergreen on the west. The city's nickname is "Crossroads of the North", a reference to the fact that the city is at the junction of two U.S. highways, 53 and 63, and State Highways 70 and 253. The city was named after Senator John Coit Spooner.^[4]

History

Spooner was once the hub of the Omaha Railroad Line. Its economy was once centered on the railroad and the two main lines that joined there. Eventually, the lines were absorbed by the Chicago & North Western Railroad. Passenger service ended in the early 1960s under the CNW ownership. In 1992, the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad was incorporated, to serve as a freight hauler from Spooner to Trego, a nearby town, with a connection to the CNW. Although the freight idea didn't work out, they began operating successful passenger excursion trains in 1997 (following the example of the nearby Duluth & Northern Minnesota Railroad which began passenger excursions in Duluth only a few years before), and were an instant success. The passenger trains were very successful, and after the 1995 takeover of the CNW by the Union Pacific, UP in 1998 announced intentions to abandon the line from Hayward Junction where it connected to the Wisconsin Central 13 miles (21 km) to the north through Spooner all of the way down to Chippewa Falls. The company bought the portion of the line between Spooner and Hayward Jct in 1999, which greatly expanded passenger operations. To this day they run very popular robbery, western style, cowboy, and buffet style as well as more formal dinner trains. More recently, the Great Pumpkin train nearly sold out and now runs annually around the time of Halloween.^[5][6][7] The old CNW Spooner Railroad Depot now serves as the town's Railroad Memories Museum.

Geography

Spooner is located at 45°49′33″N 91°53′28″W / 45.82583°N 91.89111°W / 45.82583; -91.89111 (45.825941, -91.891116).^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.52 square miles (9.12 km²), of which, 3.29 square miles (8.52 km²) is land and 0.23 square miles (0.60 km²) is water.^[9]

Climate

Spooner has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb), typical of northern Wisconsin with warm, humid summers and relatively long, cold winters.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 2,682 people, 1,180 households, and 666 families residing in the city. The population density was 815.2 inhabitants per square mile (314.8/km²). There were 1,302 housing units at an average density of 395.7 per square mile (152.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 0.3% African American, 1.9% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 1,180 households of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.6% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the city was 41.6 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 21.5% 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^[12] of 2000, there were 2,653 people, 1,148 households, and 662 families residing in the city. The population density was 875.9 people per square mile (338.1/km²). There were 1,249 housing units at an average density of 412.4 per square mile (159.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.97% White, 0.41% Black or African American, 2.04% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,148 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city, the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,768, and the median income for a family was $39,677. The median income of its residents was $16,390. About 7.6% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

An exhibit hall in the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum. Two canoes built by J. H. Rushton, Canton, New York, are along the left wall, and the red canoe was built by B. N. Morris, Veazie, Maine.

The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum,^[13] in Spooner — the only museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to the heritage of the canoe — is an institution devoted to the preservation and interpretation of the cultural heritage of canoes and canoeing in North America. Its Exhibit Hall features displays of canoes and canoe related ephemera. Its eclectic assemblage of boats is diverse, and includes significant craft from the golden age of North American canoeing as well as work by contemporary builders. The building traditions of the eastern seaboard, the midwest, and Canada are all represented, providing the museum visitor an opportunity to experience the evolution of canoe design and manufacture in proper historical context. The Canoe Shop is a 2,500-square-foot (230 m²) facility designed support a new generation of builders and canoe restorers.

Since 1954, each summer in July, Spooner has hosted the Heart of the North Rodeo, which draws thousands of fans to the area. In addition to the rodeo each evening, there is a Saturday afternoon parade, live music every night, and the cowboy church service on Sunday morning, held outdoors at the rodeo arena. Since its inception, the Barnes PRCA Rodeo has been coming to the Heart of the North Rodeo, making it the longest continuous association between a rodeo and a stock contractor in PRCA history.^[14]

The Jack Pine Savage Days is a local festival that features live bands, an annual fun run, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, a horseshoe tournament, and a volleyball tournament.^[15]

Jack O' Lantern Fest is an October festival in Spooner that revolves around giving back, kids and families. Multiple inflatables, fundraising walk, pumpkin roll, pet costume contest, carnival games, baking contest, pumpkin carving contest and more.^[16]

Notable people

• Guy Benson, mayor and legislator
• Frank Hammill, farmer, mayor, and legislator^[17]
• Travis Randall, actor, musician, and director
• Holger Rasmusen, mayor and legislator^[18]

References

External links

• Spooner, Wisconsin
• Spooner Area Chamber of Commerce
• Sanborn fire insurance maps: 1909 1917