Shawano County, Wisconsin

Infobox U.S. County
county = Shawano County
state = Wisconsin


founded year =
founded date =
seat wl = Shawano
largest city wl = Shawano
area_total_sq_mi = 909
area_total_km2 = 2355
area_land_sq_mi = 893
area_land_km2 = 2312
area_water_sq_mi = 17
area_water_km2 = 44
area percentage = 1.85%
census yr = 2000
pop = 40664
density_sq_mi = 46
density_km2 = 18
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset = -5
footnotes =
web = www.co.shawano.wi.us
named for = Ojibwa term meaning "southern" or Menominee Chief Sawanoh

Shawano County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 40,664. Its county seat is ShawanoGR|6.

History

Its name is from a modified Ojibwa term meaning "southern"; [ [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=3698&term_type_id=2&term_type_text=Places&letter=S Shawano county [origin of place name ] ] [ [http://www.shawano-wisconsin.com/history.html Shawano's Modern History Began in 1844 with Logging and Later Farming ] ] A Menominee Chief named Sawanoh led a band that lived in the area. [http://www.shawanocommerce.com/history.html] Many citizens of Shawano believe the lake, county, and city (Town of Shawanaw founded 1853 and changed to Shawano in 1856), were named after Chief Sawanoh, despite a historical marker placed in 1958 near the lake along Highway 22 which claims the lake was named because it was the southern boundary of Chippewa territory. No documented proof has been provided to date, to establish either case as preemminent and so both may be correct depending on the oral history of the people you talk to. There are various historical recordings of the spelling of Shawano including: Sawanoh, Shawanaw, Sharuno, Shabin, Savannah, Savanah... which show the influence of French, German, and English translation (v's, w's, and b's, sounding very similar and thus being recorded incorrectly at times). The disparity probably comes from a human tendency to miss subtle differences in the articulation of words/names, especially from languages other than our native tongues. This disparity in translation is also evident in the Mahican/Mahikan/Maikens tribe vs. Mohegan/Mohecan/Morhican tribe vs Mohicans (from the fictional story by James Fenimore Cooper: "The Last of the Mohicans").

The Stockbridge-Munsee Community, (Mahican), is located in Shawano County in the towns of Bartelme, and Red Springs.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 909 square miles (2,355 km²), of which, 893 square miles (2,312 km²) of it is land and 17 square miles (44 km²) of it (1.85%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Menominee County - north
*Oconto County - east
*Brown County - southeast
*Outagamie County - south
*Waupaca County - south
*Portage County - southwest
*Marathon County - west
*Langlade County - northwest

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900= 27475
1910= 31884
1920= 33975
1930= 33516
1940= 35378
1950= 35249
1960= 34351
1970= 32650
1980= 35928
1990= 37157
2000= 40664
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wi190090.txt WI Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 40,664 people, 15,815 households, and 11,149 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile (18/km²). There were 18,317 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.61% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 6.26% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 1.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 54.9% were of German and 8.1% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 15,815 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males.

Cities, villages, and towns

[
thumb|right|Image_of_Shawano Lake, taken from the east shore in Cecil looking west.]
*Almon
*Angelica
*Aniwa (town)
*Aniwa
*Bartelme
*Belle Plaine
*Birnamwood (town)
*Birnamwood
*Bonduel
*Bowler
*Cecil
*Eland
*Fairbanks
*Germania
*Grant
*Green Valley
*Gresham
*Hartland
*Herman
*Hutchins
*Lessor
*Maple Grove
*Marion (partial)
*Mattoon
*Middle Village (partial)
*Morris
*Navarino
*Pella
*Pulaski (partial)
*Red Springs
*Richmond
*Seneca
*Shawano
*Tigerton
*Washington
*Waukechon
*Wescott
*Wittenberg (town)
*Wittenberg

Unincorporated communities

*Briarton
*Hunting
*Leopolis
*Slab City
*Tilleda

References

External links

* [http://www.shawanolake.org/ Shawano Lake Community Web Site]
* [http://www.co.shawano.wi.us/ Shawano County]
* [http://www.shawanocountry.com/ Shawano Country Tourism]
* [http://www.theironbarfly.com/ Shawano County Events]