Nekoosa, Wisconsin
Location of Nekoosa, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 44°19′9″N 89°54′0″W / 44.31917, -89.9
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Wood
Area
- Total	3.4 sq mi (8.8 km²)
- Land	3.4 sq mi (8.8 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation [1]	951 ft (290 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,590
- Density	763.5/sq mi (294.8/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
FIPS code	55-55875[2]
GNIS feature ID	1570148[1]

Nekoosa is a city in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,590 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Nekoosa is located at 44°19′9″N, 89°53′60″W (44.319081, -89.899937)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which, 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) of it is land and 0.29% is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 2,590 people, 987 households, and 702 families residing in the city. The population density was 763.5 people per square mile (295.0/km²). There were 1,063 housing units at an average density of 313.4/sq mi (121.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.72% White, 0.12% African American, 1.27% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.97% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.81% of the population.

There were 987 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,375, and the median income for a family was $44,583. Males had a median income of $36,308 versus $22,361 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,063. About 6.7% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

History

This was taken from the Wisconsin State Historical Society marker located in Nekoosa by the Wisconsin River:

"Point Basse -

Five rapids covering a distance of about three miles in this area were referred to as Nekoosa (swift water) by the Chippewa Indians, who made their campground on high Swallow Rock overlooking the rapids. Wakeley's tavern served as a rendesvous and resting place for the river traveler and lumber raftsman. Wakeley's was the nucleus for the development of a settlement named Point Basse (low point). The name was later changed to Nekoosa.

The settlement became a key town during the colorful era when lumber was rafted down the river from the pineries of the North to Mississippi River markets.

Daniel Whitney built the first sawmill on the Wisconsin River here at Whitney's Rapids in 1831 making Nekoosa the birthplace of Wood County. From this first harnessing of the river's power developed scores of power facilities making the Wisconsin River the hardest worked river in the world. [Erected 1963]"^[4]

Notable people

Nekoosa was the hometown of a famous wrestler in the early 20th century named Ed 'Strangler' Lewis. Basketball hustling legend Zachary Keyzer is also known to have hailed from Nekoosa.

Education

Nekoosa has four schools: Humke Elementary School, Alexander Middle School, Nekoosa High School, and Nekoosa Academy. There is also an old Alexander Middle School, now closed.

References

External links

• Nekoosa, Wisconsin
• Nekoosa Public Schools
• Historic Pointe Basse

• Nekoosa, Wisconsin is at coordinates 44°19′09″N 89°53′60″W / 44.319081, -89.899937 (Nekoosa, Wisconsin)Coordinates: 44°19′09″N 89°53′60″W / 44.319081, -89.899937 (Nekoosa, Wisconsin)

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Surrounding municipalities (under 10,000)
Biron‡ | Grand Rapids* | Nekoosa° | Port Edwards‡ | Port Edwards* | Saratoga* | Seneca
Wood County
*town ‡village °city

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Wood County, Wisconsin County seat: Wisconsin Rapids Cities Marshfield | Nekoosa | Pittsville | Wisconsin Rapids Towns Arpin | Auburndale | Cameron | Cary | Cranmoor | Dexter | Grand Rapids | Hansen | Hiles | Lincoln | Marshfield | Milladore | Port Edwards | Remington | Richfield | Rock | Rudolph | Saratoga | Seneca | Sherry | Sigel | Wood Villages Arpin | Auburndale | Biron | Hewitt | Milladore | Port Edwards | Rudolph | Vesper CDPs Lake Wazeecha