Brussels, Wisconsin

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

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image_caption = Looking east at Brussels on


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Brussels, Wisconsin


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

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 93.6
area_land_km2 = 93.6
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 36.1
area_land_sq_mi = 36.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1112
population_density_km2 = 11.9
population_density_sq_mi = 30.8

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes = GR|3
elevation_m = 220
elevation_ft = 722
latd = 44 |latm = 43 |lats = 54 |latNS = N
longd = 87 |longm = 34 |longs = 45 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code =
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 55-10700GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1582880GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Brussels is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,112 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.2 square miles (93.6 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,112 people, 403 households, and 303 families residing in the town. The population density was 30.8 people per square mile (11.9/km²). There were 428 housing units at an average density of 11.8/sq mi (4.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.93% White, 0.18% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.45% of the population.

There were 403 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,212, and the median income for a family was $45,341. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $21,678 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,871. About 4.3% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

History

Brussels, a civil town in Door Co. at latitude 444230N and longitude 0873451W, created 12 Nov. 1858.

Wisconsin's and the nation's largest Belgian American settlement is located in por­tions of Brown, Kewaunee and Door counties adjacent to the waters of Green Bay. Walloons settled the region in the 1850s and still constitute a high proportion of the population. A variety of elements attests to the Belgian American presence: place names (Brussels, Namur, Rosiere, Luxemburg), the Walloon language, common surnames, unique foods (boohyah, tripper jutt), the Kerrniss harvest festival, and especially architecture. Many of the original wooden structures of the Belgian Americans were destroyed in a firestorm that swept across southern Door County in October 1871. A few stone houses made of local dolomite survived. More common are 1880s red brick houses, distinguished by modest size and gable-end, bull's-eye windows. Some houses have detached summer kitchens with bake ovens appended to the rear. And the Belgians, many of them devout Catholics, also erected small roadside votive chapels like those in their homeland. (source: Wisconsin Historical Society)

References