Spencer, Wisconsin

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Spencer, Wisconsin
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Spencer, Wisconsin


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

government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 82.2
area_land_km2 = 81.6
area_water_km2 = 0.5
area_total_sq_mi = 31.7
area_land_sq_mi = 31.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1341
population_density_km2 = 16.4
population_density_sq_mi = 42.5

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes = GR|3
elevation_m = 400
elevation_ft = 1312
latd = 44 |latm = 43 |lats = 53 |latNS = N
longd = 90 |longm = 16 |longs = 13 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
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blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 55-75425GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1584184GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Spencer is a village located in the northwestern part of the Town of Spencer in Marathon County, Wisconsin. It is part of the Wausau, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,932 at the 2000 census.

The village, which lies between two marshes (Spencer Marsh to the northwest and McMillan Marsh, including the McMillan Reservoir on the Little Eau Pleine River, to the southeast) was founded in 1902 at a branch on the Soo Line. Today it sits at the crossroads of Wisconsin State Highways 13 and 98, as well as serving as the terminus of several Marathon County Trunk Highways.

Spencer has enjoyed healthy growth over the past several decades, in part because of its proximity to Marshfield, which lies about 6 miles to the southeast along Highway 13.

Notable people

*It was the home of country singer Dave Dudley.
*Ted Fritsch, NFL player, fullback for the Green Bay Packers

Geography

Spencer is located at coor dms|44|45|23|N|90|17|53|W|city (44.756406, -90.298178)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²), all land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,932 people, 800 households, and 530 families residing in the village. The population density was 971.6 people per square mile (374.8/km²). There were 852 housing units at an average density of 428.5/sq mi (165.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.17% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.21% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race, or gender.

There were 800 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the village the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $40,665, and the median income for a family was $45,268. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,665. About 1.9% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

Spencer Branch Library

An item from the 1875 files of the Village of Spencer shows the purchase of "thirty books for the library," at a cost of $19.33. The pioneers of Spencer of more than 100 years ago understood the importance of reading and having a library.

The library in Spencer received formal recognition in 1941, when Marathon County Librarian Kay Biwer proposed that a branch library of the county be opened in Spencer. The local American Legion agreed to sponsor the new branch library and the first books arrived by mail from the county. When the Women’s Club organized in 1946, their first project was to get the library into new quarters, and the club's support for the library continues today.

In 1966, the Village took responsibility for the library by including the library in Village Hall plans, most recently in 1997 when the new village complex was completed. In 1973, the Spencer Branch Library became a branch library of the newly formed Marathon County Public Library when the Wausau Public Library and Marathon County Library merged.

Changes in the services offered at the branch library have occurred over the years with the addition of family and children’s programs, public computers, Internet services, and a much larger book collection...you know it.

References

External links

* [http://www.spencerwis.freeservers.com/myhome.html Spencer, Wisconsin History]
* [http://vil.spencer.wi.us/ Village of Spencer]