Elroy, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Elroy is a city in Juneau County
, Wisconsin
, United States
, along the Baraboo River
and at the east end of the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail
. The population was 1,578 at the 2000 census
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (5.0 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,578 people, 632 households, and 396 families residing in the city. The population density
was 823.0 people per square mile (317.3/km²). There were 692 housing units at an average density of 360.9 per square mile (139.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.48% White, 0.32% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.38% from other races
, and 0.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.
There were 632 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,859, and the median income for a family was $42,452. Males had a median income of $31,699 versus $24,250 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,529. About 9.9% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.
and the line was pushed on to Sparta, Wisconsin
. It eventually became the main line of the CNW between Chicago, Illinois and Minneapolis, Minnesota
. The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
also became a presence in Elroy when its line was built south from Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
. Both railroad companies kept roundhouses and other operations in Elroy. Rail traffic on the Elroy portion of the CNW eventually declined, due to the construction of better mainline trackage further to the north (via Adams
, Necedah
, and Wyeville
). The rails on this portion were taken up in the mid-1960s and the right-of-way was converted into the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail, as it remains today. The CNW tracks from Elroy southeast to Reedsburg, Wisconsin
, along with those of the north-south Omaha line, were taken up in the 1990s, and these rights-of-way are now known as the "400" State Trail, and the Omaha Trail, respectively.
Juneau County, Wisconsin
Juneau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the population was 24,316. Its county seat is Mauston. It should not, however, be confused with the city of Juneau, Wisconsin, to which it has no connection.-Geography:...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, along the Baraboo River
Baraboo River
The Baraboo River is a tributary of the Wisconsin River, about 70 mi long, in south-central Wisconsin in the United States. Via the Wisconsin River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....
and at the east end of the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail
Elroy-Sparta State Trail
The Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail is a rail trail between Elroy and Sparta, Wisconsin.It is one of four connecting bike trails in west-central Wisconsin that spans approximately one-third of the state. The trail is known for its rural scenery and three tunnels...
. The population was 1,578 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
Geography
Elroy is located at 43°44′31"N 90°16′11"W (43.742016, -90.269597).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (5.0 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,578 people, 632 households, and 396 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 823.0 people per square mile (317.3/km²). There were 692 housing units at an average density of 360.9 per square mile (139.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.48% White, 0.32% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.38% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.
There were 632 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,859, and the median income for a family was $42,452. Males had a median income of $31,699 versus $24,250 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,529. About 9.9% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.
History
Elroy was for many years an important railroad hub in the area. The Baraboo Air Line reached Elroy in the 1870s. The Air Line was later acquired by the Chicago and North Western RailwayChicago and North Western Railway
The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s...
and the line was pushed on to Sparta, Wisconsin
Sparta, Wisconsin
Sparta is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States, along the La Crosse River. The population was 9,522 at the 2010 census.-Notable people:*William Hawley Atwell, U.S. District Court Judge in Texas*Larry Baumel, NASCAR...
. It eventually became the main line of the CNW between Chicago, Illinois and Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway or Omaha Road was a railroad in the U.S. states of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota. It was incorporated in 1880 as a consolidation of the Chicago, St. Paul and Minneapolis Railway and the North Wisconsin Railway,. The...
also became a presence in Elroy when its line was built south from Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
Camp Douglas is a village in Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 592 at the 2000 census. Camp Douglas is home to Volk Field Air National Guard Base.-History:...
. Both railroad companies kept roundhouses and other operations in Elroy. Rail traffic on the Elroy portion of the CNW eventually declined, due to the construction of better mainline trackage further to the north (via Adams
Adams, Wisconsin
Adams is a city in Adams County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 1,914 at the 2000 census. The city is located within the Town of Adams.-Geography:...
, Necedah
Necedah, Wisconsin
Necedah is a village in Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 888 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Necedah.-Attractions:The Necedah Shrine and the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge are located nearby....
, and Wyeville
Wyeville, Wisconsin
Wyeville is a village in Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 146 at the 2000 census. It takes its name from the railroad wye where rail lines of the former Chicago and North Western Transportation Company, now Union Pacific Railway, cross.-Geography:Wyeville is located at ...
). The rails on this portion were taken up in the mid-1960s and the right-of-way was converted into the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail, as it remains today. The CNW tracks from Elroy southeast to Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Reedsburg is a city in Sauk County, Wisconsin, along the Baraboo River. The population was 10,014 at the 2010 census. The city is in the Town of Reedsburg, but is politically independent...
, along with those of the north-south Omaha line, were taken up in the 1990s, and these rights-of-way are now known as the "400" State Trail, and the Omaha Trail, respectively.
Notable people
- Tommy ThompsonTommy ThompsonThomas George "Tommy" Thompson , a United States Republican politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, after which he served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson was a candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, but dropped out early after a poor performance in polls...
was an Elroy resident. A Republican, he was the Governor of WisconsinGovernor of WisconsinThe Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
for four terms and the United States Secretary of Health and Human ServicesUnited States Secretary of Health and Human ServicesThe United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, concerned with health matters. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet...
during the first term of George W. Bush. He was a Republican candidate for the 2008 United States presidential election. - Governor Thompson's brother Ed ThompsonEd ThompsonAllan Edward "Ed" Thompson , was an American businessman and politician. He served as Mayor of Tomah, Wisconsin for two non-consecutive terms, and was the Libertarian candidate for Governor of Wisconsin in 2002, receiving 11% of the vote in that race. He was elected to his first term as mayor of...
ran unsuccessfully for Wisconsin governor on the LibertarianLibertarian Party (United States)The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
ticket in 2002. - Larry Ormson and Northern Plastics produced the game Trivial PursuitTrivial PursuitTrivial Pursuit is a board game in which progress is determined by a player's ability to answer general knowledge and popular culture questions. The game was created in 1979 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, by Canadian Chris Haney, a photo editor for Montreal's The Gazette and Scott Abbott, a sports...
in Elroy; 30,000,000 games from 1983-1985. - Tim Brady, author of the book The Great Dan Patch and the Remarkable Mr. Savage, was formerly a resident of Elroy. He now lives in St. Paul, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. - Navy CrossNavy CrossThe Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
recipient Conrad ShakerConrad ShakerConrad Shaker was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima.Shaker was born in Elroy, Wisconsin...
was born in Elroy. - Navy CrossNavy CrossThe Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
recipient Wallace BradyWallace BradyWallace Brady was an officer in the United States Navy during World War II. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions preceding the Battle of Iwo Jima.-Citation:...
lived in Elroy. - Columnist Peter EganPeter Egan (columnist)Peter Egan is an American writer known for his monthly columns, Side Glances in Road & Track magazine and Leanings in Cycle World magazine, as well as road tests and occasional features in both magazines. His columns are chiefly autobiographical and anecdotal in nature, typically cheerful,...
was born in Elroy.