Oshkosh, Wisconsin

For other uses, see Oshkosh.

Oshkosh, Wisconsin
http://www.babydoe.org/graphics/oshkosh/b.jpg
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Counties	Winnebago
Settled	1853
Incorporated
Government
– Type	Council-Manager [1]
– Mayor	Burk Tower
– City Manager	Mark Rohloff
Area
– Land	24.4 sq mi (63.2 km2)
Elevation	790 ft (241 m)
Population (2010)
– City	66,083
– Metro	160,000
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
– Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP Code	54901-54904
Area code(s)	920
Website	ci.oshkosh.wi.us

Houses in the Algoma Historic District

City hall

Downtown Oshkosh at U.S. Route 45

Oshkosh Public Museum

Mouth of the Fox River into Lake Winnebago.

University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh

Waterfest crowd at the Leach Amphitheater, June 2006

Grand Opera House.

Oshkosh is a city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States, located where the Fox River enters Lake Winnebago. The population was 66,083 at the 2010 census; it had a metropolitan area of 159,972 people. The city is located adjacent to and partially within the Town of Oshkosh.

History

Oshkosh was named for Menominee Chief Oshkosh, whose name meant "claw"^[2] (cf. Ojibwe oshkanzh, "the claw").^[3] Although the fur trade brought the first European settlers to the area as early as 1818, it never became a major player in the fur trade. It was the establishment and growth of the lumber industry in the area that spurred development of Oshkosh. Oshkosh was incorporated as a city in 1853, although it had already been designated the county seat, and had a population of nearly 2,800.^[4]

The lumber industry became well established as entrepreneurs took advantage of navigable waterways to provide access to both markets and northern pineries. The 1859 arrival of rail transportation expanded the ability to meet the demands of a rapidly-growing construction market. By 1870, Oshkosh had become the third-largest city in Wisconsin with a population of over 12,000. The Oshkosh Daily Northwestern newspaper (now the Oshkosh Northwestern) was founded around this time.

Around 1900 Oshkosh was home of the Oshkosh Brewing Company, who coined the marketing slogan "By Gosh It's Good". Their Chief Oshkosh became a nationally distributed beer.

Historic districts

The city has a total of 33 listings on the National Register of Historic Places. The lumber industry made the fortunes of area entrepreneurs and businessmen, who made significant contributions to the community, politics and philanthropic organizations. Availability of materials and capital, along with devastating downtown fires in the mid 1870s, created a range of well-designed buildings for residential, commercial, civic and religious use. The many structures which make up the city's historic areas are largely a result of the capital and materials generated by the lumber and associated wood manufacturing industries. Oshkosh had six historic districts as of October 2011. They include the Algoma Boulevard, Irving/Church, North Main Street, Oshkosh State Normal School on the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh campus, Paine Lumber Company and Washington Avenue historic districts.

The city had 27 historic buildings as of October 2011. Eleven are houses, four are churches, and the remainder include schools, colleges, a bank, a fire house, an observatory, the county courthouse, and a cemetery where many of the entrepreneurs are buried.

Geography

Oshkosh is located at 44°1′29″N 88°33′4″W / 44.02472°N 88.55111°W / 44.02472; -88.55111 (44.024983, -88.551336).^[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.4 square miles (63.2 km²), of which 16.6 square miles (61.2 km²) is land and 0.8 square mile (2.0 km²) (3.20%) is water.

Transportation

	U.S. Route 41 Northbound, US 41 routes to Appleton. Southbound, US 41 routes to Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
	WIS 26 Southbound, routes to Waupun, Beaver Dam and Madison, Wisconsin.
	WIS 21 travels west to Wautoma, Wisconsin and north to Sturgeon Bay, Two Rivers and Kewaunee, Wisconsin.
	WIS 44 travels south to Ripon, Wisconsin.
	U.S. Route 45 travels north to New London, Wisconsin and west via US 10 to Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Oshkosh is also served by the Oshkosh Transit System, which runs nine fixed-route bus routes throughout the city from 6:15 AM until 6:15 PM Monday through Saturday. One of these routes also connects Oshkosh with Neenah, Wisconsin and the Fox Cities' transit system, Valley Transit.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	6,086		—
1870	12,663		108.1%
1880	15,748		24.4%
1890	22,836		45.0%
1900	28,284		23.9%
1910	33,062		16.9%
1920	33,162		0.3%
1930	40,108		20.9%
1940	39,089		−2.5%
1950	41,084		5.1%
1960	45,110		9.8%
1970	53,082		17.7%
1980	49,620		−6.5%
1990	55,006		10.9%
2000	62,916		14.4%
2010	66,083		5.0%
U.S. Census Bureau[6]

As of the census^[7] of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile (1,028.0/km²). There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile (415.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.73% White, 2.19% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 3.03% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.2% were of German and 6.3% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 24,082 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.3% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 18.1% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,636, and the median income for a family was $48,843. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $24,154 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,964. About 5.2% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Business and industry

Oshkosh is known for OshKosh B'Gosh, a manufacturer of overalls and children's clothing founded in Oshkosh in 1895. Originally a small-town manufacturer of adult work clothing, it became best known for its children's lines. The original children's overalls, dating from the early twentieth century, were intended to help children dress like their fathers. According to the company, sales increased dramatically when Miles Kimball, an Oshkosh-based mail-order catalog, featured a pair of the overalls in its national catalog. As a result, OshKosh B'Gosh began to sell their products through department stores and expanded their children's line. Despite the name, OshKosh B'Gosh overalls are no longer made in Oshkosh, though the company maintains corporate offices there.

Oshkosh is also the home of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration" held by the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. ("EAA"). AirVenture is the world's largest airshow, and during AirVenture, air traffic at Wittman Regional Airport exceeds that of any other airport in the world.^[8] EAA is a non-profit member organization, dedicated to home-built aircraft, restored aircraft, and light-sport aircraft.

Oshkosh Corporation is also headquartered in Oshkosh. Oshkosh Corporation, formerly Oshkosh Truck, is the leading manufacturer and marketer of specialty vehicles and bodies in four primary business groups: Access Equipment, Defense, Fire & Emergency, and Commercial. There are two well known chocolate companies located in Oshkosh, Hughes and Oaks.

Oshkosh is also home to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute located in nearby Winnebago, Wisconsin.

Education

The University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, the third largest university in the state, is located in Oshkosh.

Oshkosh has sixteen elementary schools, five middle schools, four high schools, and six charter schools.

High schools in the Oshkosh Area School District:

• Oshkosh North High School
• Oshkosh West High School
• Oshkosh East High School

Private high schools:

• Lourdes High School
• Valley Christian High School

Public libraries

• Oshkosh Public Library serves Oshkosh.

Culture and entertainment

Oshkosh has seen a recent (as of 2006) resurgence in its cultural and entertainment options.

A downtown redevelopment plan led to the construction of the outdoor Leach Amphitheater on the Fox River, hosting the weekly Waterfest concert series^[9] during the summer, as well as national touring musical acts and local community events. Also in downtown Oshkosh is the Grand Opera House, a performing arts center.

Downtown Gallery Walks, held every first Saturday of the month year-round, surged in attendance in comparison to previous years through the warmer months of 2006.^{[citation needed]} A number of downtown Oshkosh music venues have opened and existing venues have tended to expand their schedules, following the trend of the area at large.

Long-running community festivals such as Sawdust Days^[10] in Menominee Park continue to be popular. Menominee Park is also the site of the Menominee Park Zoo and "Little Oshkosh", a community-built playground. Oshkosh is also home to "Country USA" featuring entertainment from dozens of country music acts over a five-day period in June.

Other points of interest:

• Paine Art Center and Gardens
• Oshkosh Airshow
• University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh
• EAA AirVenture Museum
• Oshkosh Public Museum
• Grand Opera House
• Military Veterans Museum

Recreation

Oshkosh is the southern terminus of the Wiouwash State Trail.

Notable people

Politicians and judiciary Harvey R. Abraham, Wisconsin State Assemblyman. George R. Andrews, U.S. Representative from New York. Melvin Baldwin, U.S. Representative from Minnesota. Coles Bashford, Governor of Wisconsin, U.S. Congressional Delegate from the Arizona Territory. Gabriel Bouck, Wisconsin Attorney General. Shirley Brown, Florida State Representative. James H. Davidson, U.S. Representative. James Edward Doyle, U.S. federal court judge. James Randall Durfee, U.S. federal court judge. Richard W. Guenther, U.S. Representative. Ron Johnson, U.S. Senator for Wisconsin. Frank B. Keefe, U.S. Representative. Florian Lampert, U.S. Representative. B. F. Langworthy, Minnesota State Representative. Lucas Miltiades Miller, U.S. Representative. Reid F. Murray, U.S. Representative. Alvin O'Konski, U.S. Representative. Philetus Sawyer, politician. Janet Dempsey Steiger, politician. William A. Steiger, U.S. Representative. Gregg Underheim, politician. Robert Scadden Vessey, Governor of South Dakota.

Sportspersons Marty Below, member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Rudy Gollomb, NFL player. Bill Gogolewski, MLB. Billy Hoeft, major league baseball player. Howie Koplitz, MLB player. Hal Reilly, MLB player. Hornswoggle, wrestler. Dutch Rennert, Major League Baseball umpire. Ted Richards, NFL player. Hal Robl, NFL player. Champ Seibold, NFL player. Eber Simpson, NFL player. Len Smith, NFL player. Dave Tyriver, MLB player. Military Harold Medberry Bemis, U.S. Navy admiral Edmond Konrad, U.S. Navy admiral. Ernest Dichmann Peek, U.S. Army Major General.

Others

• Erin Boheme, musician
• Michelle Grabner, painter.
• Lewis Hine, photographer.
• James Horwitz, Rolling Stone writer and author of They Went Thataway.
• Ken Krippene, journalist.
• Carl Laemmle, founder of Universal Studios.
• Arthur C. Lichtenberger, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
• Kevin B. MacDonald, evolutionary psychologist at the California State University, Long Beach.
• Helen Farnsworth Mears, sculptor.
• Stevie Rachelle, lead singer of Tuff.
• Greg Dean Schmitz, film critic.
• Kathie Sullivan, singer.
• Baby Doe Tabor, Colorado pioneer.
• Lee Baxandall, founder of The Naturist Society.

Fictional characters

• Karl Kaufman, the second alter ego of comic book superhero Phantom Eagle

References

1. ^ http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/board_explanation/city_council.pdf
2. ^ http://www.menominee.nsn.us/History/History/HistoryPages/HistoryLeadersChiefOshkosh.htm
3. ^ "Ojibwe Dictionary". Freelang. http://www.freelang.net/dictionary/ojibwe.html. Retrieved 2007-03-28. 
4. ^ History of Oshkosh, Wisconsin
5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
6. ^ "Historical Decennial Census". http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/hiscendata.html. 
7. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
8. ^ "EAA AirVenture takes flight for the future", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
9. ^ Waterfest website
10. ^ Sawdust Days website

External links

• Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau
• City of Oshkosh
• Oshkosh Transit System
• Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
• Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Oshkosh Public Library
• Oshkosh and Winnebago County, Wisconsin - Atlases and Histories: A digital resource documenting the history of this area, from the Oshkosh Public Library and presented by the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center.