Marinette, Wisconsin

Marinette, Wisconsin
—  City  —
Location of Marinette, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 45°5′31″N 87°37′43″W / 45.09194°N 87.62861°W / 45.09194; -87.62861
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Marinette
Government
- Mayor	Robert Harbick
Area
- Total	8.0 sq mi (20.6 km2)
- Land	6.8 sq mi (17.5 km2)
- Water	1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2)
Elevation[1]	594 ft (181 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	11,749
- Density	1,738.4/sq mi (671.2/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	715 & 534
FIPS code	55-49300[2]
GNIS feature ID	1569039[1]
Website	cityofmarinette.com

Marinette is a city in and the county seat of Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States.^[3] The population was 11,749 at the 2000 census.

Marinette is the principal city of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Marinette County, Wisconsin and Menominee County, Michigan.

It is located about 50 miles north of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Name

The name Marinette comes from the name of an early fur-trader's common-law wife, Marie Antoinette Chevalier (1784, Langlade County–1865, Green Bay). She was a French and Native American woman who ran a trading post located near the mouth of the Menominee River and came to be known as "Queen Marinette."^[4] After her death, she was buried in Allouez, but was reinterred in a sarcophagus at the Forest Home Mausoleum in Marinette in 1987. Her original tombstone is on display at the museum on Stephenson Island in Marinette.^[5]

History

Marinette has several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Dunlap Square Building in downtown.

Marinette was first settled by a small Algonquin tribe, then became a French fur trading post in the 19th century. In the late 19th century it experienced a "lumber boom" as a result of its location along the Menominee River and next to Green Bay. Lumbering trailed off at the turn of the 20th century, but the town has continued to take advantage of its position along those bodies of water with major paper mills, and other plants such as Marinette Marine, a shipyard owned by the Italian firm, Fincantieri, Ansul/Tyco, a manufacturer of fire protection systems, Thyssen Krupp Waupaca Foundry, a leading competitor in agricultural and automotive manufacturing, and Silvan Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of pressure vessels and part of the Samuel Steel Pressure Vessel Group www.steelpressurevesselgroup.com.

Geography

Stephenson Public Library

Welcome sign

Marinette is located at 45°5'31" North, 87°37'43" West (45.091983, -87.628714)^[6].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.6 km²), of which, 6.8 square miles (17.5 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is water. The total area is 15.08% water.

Demographics

Marinette County Courthouse

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	5,412		—
1890	11,523		112.9%
1900	16,195		40.5%
1910	14,610		−9.8%
1920	13,610		−6.8%
1930	13,734		0.9%
1940	14,183		3.3%
1950	14,178		0%
1960	13,329		−6.0%
1970	12,696		−4.7%
1980	11,965		−5.8%
1990	11,843		−1.0%
2000	11,749		−0.8%
2010	10,968		−6.6%

As of the census of 2000, there are 11,749 people, 5,095 households, and 2,975 families residing in the city. The population density is 671.1/km² (1,598/sq mi). There are 5,553 housing units at an average density of 821.7 per square mile (317.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 97.43% White, 0.37% African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 5,095 households out of which 28.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% are married couples living together, 10.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% are non-families. 36.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 17.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.24 and the average family size is 2.94.

In the city the population is spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $31,743, and the median income for a family is $41,996. Males have a median income of $32,161 versus $21,750 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,852. 9.0% of the population and 6.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 10.2% are under the age of 18 and 12.7% are 65 or older.

Population peaked circa 1900, vacillated for a few decades, and has steadily declined since 1940, as shown in the table at right.^[2] Coordinates: 45°06′00″N 87°37′50″W / 45.1°N 87.63056°W / 45.1; -87.63056

Education and culture

Marinette is home to the University of Wisconsin–Marinette, a two-year campus of the University of Wisconsin Colleges. UW–Marinette produces Theatre on the Bay, a community theatre program. The city is also home to Northeast Wisconsin Technical College-Marinette Campus.

Marinette High School shares a historic football rivalry with the neighboring high school in Menominee, Michigan. The two have hosted the oldest interstate rivalry between two public high schools in the country, dating back to 1894.^[7][8][9]

Marinette also shares a hospital, community foundation, newspaper and chamber of commerce with Menominee. Numerous city groups work together to benefit the entire, two-city, two-county community.

Economy

The Marinette area is home to a variety of industries, including shipbuilding, auto parts, chemicals, helicopters, airplane components, pressure vessels and paper making. Marinette is also a regional health care center.

The *Marinette Menominee Area Chamber of Commerce plays an active role in area tourism efforts, and provides venues for small businesses, young employees and professional women to network and learn. The organization also provides opportunities for business people and educators to work together to enhance opportunities for students. The organization merged with a chamber in neighboring Menominee, Mich., in 2005, and now includes more than 400 member businesses.

The total sales tax in Marinette is 5.5% ^[10]

Recreation and tourism

Marinette City Hall and Police Department

Marinette offers a variety of recreational activities and major events throughout the year. The Marinette County government takes an active role in the promotion of tourism, which is handled through the Marinette Menominee Area Chamber of Commerce.

County parks, trails, and waterfalls

Marinette County has 20 county parks that offer hiking and overnight camping. The county is well-known for its 14 waterfalls.

Fishing and boating

Marinette is located along the Menominee River and along Green Bay, a major bay of Lake Michigan. Both bodies of water offer fishing and boating opportunities, as well as several events related to these sports, such as fishing derbies and sailboat races.

Major events

• Annual 4 July Celebration, sponsored by the city of Marinette and the M&M Jaycees
• Art for All, a juried art show
• M&M Bay Jammer, a scouting competition dating from the late 1940s
• Menominee River Century Bike Ride, which attracts hundreds of bicyclists the last weekend in June
• Menominee Waterfront Festival, sponsored by the city of Menominee
• Porterfield Country Music Festival, which draws thousands of country music lovers each June
• Sunset Concert Series, sponsored by the Marinette Menominee Area Chamber of Commerce and member businesses
• Productions from Theatre on the Bay, a university-community theater company founded in 1967

Transportation

Highways

No interstate highways pass through Marinette, but I-43 may extend there in the future.

• US 41 south connects with Peshtigo. North it continues into Michigan.
• WIS 64 westbound connects with Antigo and Mountain.
• WIS 180 north connects with Wausaukee.

Greyhound Bus and Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach service Marinette.

Ferry

C&NW locomotives.

There is currently no ferry service to Marinette.

Rail

There is currently no passenger rail service in Marinette. (Historically, the Chicago and Northwestern Railway serviced Marinette.) Freight rail service is still available.

Amtrak service is available to Milwaukee on the Empire Builder train.^[11] (Milwaukee which is approx. 3 hours from Marinette.) Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach provides service from Milwaukee to Marinette; the Marinette stop is "curbside".^[12]

Airport

The closest airport is the Menominee-Marinette Twin County Airport in Menominee, Michigan. This airport no longer has commercial service, but is available for private aircraft. (Historically, commercial service was provided by North Central Airlines.)

The closest commercial airport is Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, about an hour away.

Media

Print

Marinette has a daily newspaper (Monday - Saturday) serving the Marinette/Menominee area, called the EagleHerald.^[13] It was formed as a result of a merger between the Marinette Eagle Star and the Menominee Herald-Leader. Printing facilities are at the former Eagle Star location on Dunlap Ave. in Marinette The EagleHerald is owned by Bliss Communications Inc. and has a circulation of just over 10,000.^[14]

Radio

An old Marinette postcard featuring WMAM.

The following radio stations are licensed to Marinette:

AM

Frequency	Callsign[15]	Format[16]	Notes
570	WMAM	Sports

FM

Frequency	Callsign[17]	Format[16]	Notes
92.5	WLCJ-LP	Catholic
95.1	WLST	Country music
107.7	WLWR-LP	Variety

Television

There are no broadcast television stations in the Marinette micropolitan area.

Notable people

• Buff Wagner, Green Bay Packers NFL player
• Charles Lavine, member of the New York State Assembly
• Earl "Jug" Girard, Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions NFL player
• Ed Glick, Green Bay Packers NFL player
• Ernest Medina, U.S. Army Captain court-martialed for the My Lai Massacre
• Eugene Hasenfus, captured in the Iran-Contra Affair
• Francis O. Lindquist, U.S. Representative from Michigan
• Harvey V. Higley, businessman
• Hiram Orlando Fairchild, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
• Isaac Stephenson, U.S. Senator
• Jim Magnuson, MLB player
• Joanne V. Creighton, President of Mount Holyoke College
• Joe Kresky, NFL player
• John Hubley, Disney animator
• Rick Bauman, Oregon politician
• Robert Haase, Wisconsin politician
• Roger Pillath, NFL player
• Tom Petri, U.S. Representative
• James H. McGillan, Mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin

Popular culture

In 2003, the Pete Schwaba film The Godfather of Green Bay was shot in Marinette and its neighboring city, Menominee, Michigan.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
4. ^ RootsWeb: A Mini-Biography of Queen Marinette
5. ^ Remembering a queen: New floral display graces Queen Marinette’s tomb
6. ^ "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. 
7. ^ "ByeLines by Larry Ebsch: M&M Game spirit can't be beat"; September 10, 2006; Eagle Herald; Retrieved September 10, 2007.
8. ^ Kimmerly, Geoff (2007-10-12). "M&M rivalry conjures sweet memories". HighSchool Rivals.com. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
9. ^ "Life's Visit: Menominee vs. Marinette". Life, volume 27:20 (Nov 14, 1949), pp. 150-155. Retrieved 06-Sep-2011.
10. ^ "www.wolframalpha.com"
11. ^ Amtrak. Empire Builder Route Map. Accessed 01-Nov-2011.
12. ^ Amtrak. Marinette, WI - Bus Stop (MWI). Accessed 01-Nov-2011.
13. ^ Marinette Menominee EagleHerald newspaper. Retrieved 24-Oct-2011
14. ^ MondoTimes. Listing: "Marinette Eagle Herald." Retrieved 24-Oct-2011
15. ^ "AMQ AM Radio Database Query". Federal Communications Commission. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/amq.html. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 
16. ^ ^{a b} "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. http://www.arbitron.com/radio_stations/station_information.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 
17. ^ "FMQ FM Radio Database Query". Federal Communications Commission. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/fmq.html. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 

External links

• Marinette homepage
• Marinette Menominee Area Chamber of Commerce
• EagleHerald newspaper
•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Marinette". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.