Bethel, Wisconsin

Infobox Settlement
name = Bethel, Wisconsin
settlement_type = Unincorporated community
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
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pushpin_label_position = none
pushpin_map_caption = Location of Bethel in Wisconsin
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Wisconsin
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Wood County

government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1899

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total =
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi =

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes = Gnis|1561624|Bethel, Wisconsin. Retrieved on 2008-03-21.]
elevation_m =
elevation_ft = 1234
latd = 44 |latm = 32 |lats = 26 |latNS = N
longd = 90 |longm = 05 |longs = 23 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 54410
area_code = 715
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 55141
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1561624
website =
footnotes = [cite web |url=http://www.postalcodelookup.ca/town/WI_Bethel.htm |title=Bethel Wisconsin Zip Codes & Area Code - FIPS55141 |publisher=postalcodelookup.ca |accessdate=2008-03-21]

Bethel is an unincorporated community located in the town of Richfield, in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States.

ettlement

Bethel was established in 1899 as a Seventh-day Adventist education and religious community. Originally part of the Lyman Lumber Company land, and purchased through an offer provided by William Covert. He offered an area of 200 acres as a gift to the Bethel community, but only under the agreement to the purchase of 800 additional acres. [http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/mcm/wood_county/images/00000021.pdf]

Educational Academy

Rooted as a religious educational institution, many families moved into the Bethel area seeking religious education for their students. The school was best known for its industrious education and manual arts.

“The purpose of the academy from its foundation has been to give young people a broad symmetrical training for usefulness, and to lay a solid foundation for any work they may do in a more advanced school. The academy was located in a rural section removed from the contaminating influence of city life, where the teachers and students might devote a part of their time to agriculture and other industries,”

as quoted from "History of Wood County" authored by George O. Jones.

At the height of its existence, the Bethel educational institution consisted of boys and girls dormitories, post office, school farm of 100 acres in size, two barns, carpenter shop, bee house, and two staves. The Bethel academy’s average student population was 130 students during the 1920s.

References

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