Waupaca, Wisconsin

Waupaca is a city in Waupaca County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 5,676 at the 2000 census. The city is believed to be named after Sam Waupaca (or Chief Wapuka) of the Potowatomi tribe.

The city is located mostly within the Town of Waupaca, though it is politically independent. A portion extends east into the adjacent Town of Farmington and there is also a noncontiguous area of the city in the Town of Lind to the south.

History

Earth mounds in the area have been attributed to aboriginal natives.

The outside settlers arrived around 1849.

Waupaca was organized as a village in 1857 and became a city in 1875.

Geography

Waupaca is located at coor dms|44|21|17|N|89|4|54|W|city (44.354922, -89.081775)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.9 km²), of which, 6.0 square miles (15.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (2.28%) is water.

Waupaca is located on east-west US Route 10 at State Highways 22, 49, and 54.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,676 people, 2,364 households, and 1,302 families residing in the city. The population density was 947.0 people per square mile (365.9/km²). There were 2,543 housing units at an average density of 424.3/sq mi (163.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.26% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.39% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 3.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,364 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% 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 3.01.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,095, and the median income for a family was $45,128. Males had a median income of $32,488 versus $21,651 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,890. About 7.1% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

Waupaca Foundry

ThyssenKrupp Waupaca, formerly Waupaca Foundry is the largest employer in the city, employing over 1500 workers in three plants within or around the city. Most of these employees live within 20 miles of the city. [http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/ourtown/ourtown_16241770.shtml] Three other Waupaca Foundry plants exist in Marinette, Wisconsin, Tell City, Indiana, and Etowah, Tennessee. The foundry is one of the largest producers of gray, ductile, and compacted graphite iron castings, melting over 9,500 tons a day. ThyssenKrupp has owned the foundry since 2002. [http://www.waupacafoundry.com/]

Notable residents

*Edward E. Browne, (1868-1945) United States Representative
*Clay Perry, writer and outdoorsman

References

External links

* [http://www.cityofwaupaca.org/ Waupaca, WI]
* [http://www.waupacaareachamber.com/ Chamber of Commerce page]
* [http://www.wsd.waupaca.k12.wi.us/ Waupaca School District]
* [http://www.waupacalibrary.org Waupaca Area Public Library]
* [http://www.WaupacaEvents.com Waupaca Events, community calendar]