Rib Mountain (town), Wisconsin

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Rib Mountain, Wisconsin
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
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image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Rib Mountain (town), Wisconsin


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Wisconsin
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Marathon

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date = 1930

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 66.3
area_land_km2 = 63.7
area_water_km2 = 2.6
area_total_sq_mi = 25.6
area_land_sq_mi = 24.6
area_water_sq_mi = 1.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 7556
population_density_km2 = 118.6
population_density_sq_mi = 307.3

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes = GR|3
elevation_m = 374
elevation_ft = 1227
latd = 44 |latm = 54 |lats = 42 |latNS = N
longd = 89 |longm = 40 |longs = 20 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code =
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 55-67325GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1584018GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Rib Mountain is a town in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,556 at the 2000 census. Rib Mountain is part of the Wausau Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was originally part of the town (now village) of Weston, but was established as a town in 1930.

The town is named for Rib Mountain.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.6 square miles (66.3 km²), of which, 24.6 square miles (63.7 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (3.91%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,556 people, 2,697 households, and 2,206 families residing in the town. The population density was 307.3 people per square mile (118.6/km²). There were 2,769 housing units at an average density of 112.6/sq mi (43.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.49% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.50% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,697 households out of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.4% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 14.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $61,294, and the median income for a family was $66,337. Males had a median income of $45,667 versus $29,071 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,768. About 0.4% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

Town Officials

Chairman Allen Opall3208 Thunderbird Lane715-845-5618Term Expires April 2009

Supervisor John Sybeldon1702 Oriole LanePhone: 715-842-8800Term Expires April 2010

Supervisor Frederick C. Schaefer5006 Blazing StarPhone: [e-mail] Term Expires April 2009

Supervisor Jim Legner7202 Goldenrod CourtPhone: [e-mail] Term Expires April 2010

Supervisor LeRoy Jonas IV2200 Redwing RoadPhone: [e-mail] Term Expires April 2009

History of Rib Mountain

Prior to 1905, the area now known as the Town of Rib Mountain was part of the Town of Weston (now the Village of Weston). In 1905, the Town of Erickson was created, which was named after Weston Town Chairman George Erickson. The Town of Erickson was later renamed Town of Flieth and kept that name until it was changed to the Town of Rib Mountain in 1930.

Many of the first people coming to the Town of Rib Mountain were German. When the first settlers came, Rib Mountain was isolated from Wausau by the Wisconsin and Rib Rivers. Cow paths, wagon trails, and logging roads were the first roads in the township. Logging, mining, and farming were common activities early in the township's history.

In 1951 when the first Town Zoning Ordinance was being created, a unique street naming idea was employed by the Town Board based on birds and flowers. The "bird" streets are north of the mountain, while the "flower" streets are south and east.

In October of 1963, the Highway 51 Beltline was opened after six years of construction. The total project cost at that time was $8,759,800. . Times have changed from the days of the late 1800's when people traveled to Wausau and Schofield by boat or canoe!

In 1985, the Town formed a Sanitary District and installed sewer and water services. With these public utilities in place development, both residential and commercial, increased. The estimated 1930 population in Rib Mountain was 1,400, and in 1970 it was 5,800.

Today, with a population of 7,634, the Town of Rib Mountain in Central Wisconsin anchors the Southwest corner of the Wausau Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. Rib Mountain lies in the heart of Marathon County, at the crossroads of Interstate 39, State Highway 51 and State Highway 29 East/West interchanges.

References

External links

* [http://www.townofribmountain.org/ Town of Rib Mountain]