Neillsville, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Neillsville is a city in Clark County in the U.S. state
of Wisconsin
. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.06%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,731 people, 1,130 households, and 653 families residing in the city. The population density
was 975.3 people per square mile (376.6/km²). There were 1,200 housing units at an average density of 428.5 per square mile (165.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.78% White, 0.15% African American, 1.10% Native American, 1.24% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races
, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 1,130 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,969, and the median income for a family was $41,076. Males had a median income of $30,523 versus $20,379 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,298. About 6.3% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
were the earliest known residents of the Neillsville area.
The first settlers of European descent in the area were James O'Neill
and his party, who arrived around 1845, looking for a location to build a sawmill
along the Black River
. The city was named in honor of O'Neill, as was O'Neill Creek, which runs through the center of the city and drains into the Black River.
In 1854, O’Neill’s Mill, as Neillsville was originally called, was selected as the county seat of Clark County.
Neillsville was plat
ted on April 14, 1855 and incorporated
in April 1882.
Neillsville is where noted architect William L. Steele
died. Poor health had forced Steele to retire from architecture in late 1946, leaving his eldest son William L. Steele, Jr. and partner Josiah D. Sandham in charge of the practice. Steele had come to Neillsville to live with one of his daughters, Sallie (Mrs. Thomas S. Noble, Jr.), and died at her house on March 4, 1949.
Neillsville is featured in 1995 comedy movie Tommy Boy
featuring Chris Farley
and David Spade
. When Paul (Rob Lowe), Tommy's Stepbrother, changes the orders in the shipping computer he changes the order for Nelson Automotive located in Neillsville, Wisconsin. He changes the order from overnight delivery to 2 week delivery. This eventually leads to the downfall of the family owned Callahan auto business which forces Tommy Callahan III (Chris Farley) to take drastic measures. It is also rumored that Neillsville pops up in the deleted scenes of the movie.
In addition, the Chippewa Valley Technical College
has a regional center in Neillsville, which offers GED, Associate's degree
, and continuing education
classes.
is a veterans' memorial park located west of Neillsville. Originally a memorial to Vietnam War veterans, it now includes memorials to World War I and World War II veterans.
The 1897 Jail Museum is on the National Register of Historic Places
. See other highlights at National Register of Historic Places in Clark County.
The Wisconsin Pavilion from the 1964 New York World's Fair
was moved to Neillsville at the conclusion of the Fair. The building is now home to local radio station WCCN
/WCCN-FM
and a gift shop. Chatty-Belle is a large cow statue located on the ground of the Wisconsin Pavilion. She has the distinction of being the World's Largest Talking Cow.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
.
Geography
Neillsville is located at 44°33′40"N 90°35′45"W (44.560996, -90.595746).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 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.06%) is water.
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 2,731 people, 1,130 households, and 653 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 975.3 people per square mile (376.6/km²). There were 1,200 housing units at an average density of 428.5 per square mile (165.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.78% White, 0.15% African American, 1.10% Native American, 1.24% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.26% 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 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 1,130 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% 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, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,969, and the median income for a family was $41,076. Males had a median income of $30,523 versus $20,379 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 $16,298. About 6.3% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
History
The OjibwaOjibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
were the earliest known residents of the Neillsville area.
The first settlers of European descent in the area were James O'Neill
James O'Neill (Wisconsin settler)
James O'Neill was a Wisconsin settler, jurist, and sawmill owner.He was born in Lisbon, New York and worked in lumber in Canada and New York. He also worked on riverboats on the Mississippi River....
and his party, who arrived around 1845, looking for a location to build a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
along the Black River
Black River (Wisconsin)
Black River is a river in west-central Wisconsin and tributary of the Mississippi River. The river is approximately 160 miles long. The river begins in central Wisconsin, rising in Taylor County at approximately west of the village of Rib Lake....
. The city was named in honor of O'Neill, as was O'Neill Creek, which runs through the center of the city and drains into the Black River.
In 1854, O’Neill’s Mill, as Neillsville was originally called, was selected as the county seat of Clark County.
Neillsville was plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted on April 14, 1855 and incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
in April 1882.
Neillsville is where noted architect William L. Steele
William L. Steele
William LaBarthe Steele was an important architect of the Prairie School during the early twentieth century. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Steele worked in the office of renowned architect Louis Sullivan in Chicago, Illinois 1897–1900...
died. Poor health had forced Steele to retire from architecture in late 1946, leaving his eldest son William L. Steele, Jr. and partner Josiah D. Sandham in charge of the practice. Steele had come to Neillsville to live with one of his daughters, Sallie (Mrs. Thomas S. Noble, Jr.), and died at her house on March 4, 1949.
Neillsville is featured in 1995 comedy movie Tommy Boy
Tommy Boy
Tommy Boy is a 1995 road comedy film directed by Peter Segal, written by Bonnie and Terry Turner, and Fred Wolf. It stars former Saturday Night Live colleagues Chris Farley and David Spade. The film tells the story of a socially and emotionally immature man who learns lessons about friendship and...
featuring Chris Farley
Chris Farley
Christopher Crosby "Chris" Farley was an American comedian and actor. Farley was a member of Chicago's Second City Theatre and cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1990 to 1995....
and David Spade
David Spade
David Wayne Spade is an American actor, comedian and television personality who first became famous in the 1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and from 1997 until 2003 when he starred as Dennis Finch on Just Shoot Me!. He also starred as C.J...
. When Paul (Rob Lowe), Tommy's Stepbrother, changes the orders in the shipping computer he changes the order for Nelson Automotive located in Neillsville, Wisconsin. He changes the order from overnight delivery to 2 week delivery. This eventually leads to the downfall of the family owned Callahan auto business which forces Tommy Callahan III (Chris Farley) to take drastic measures. It is also rumored that Neillsville pops up in the deleted scenes of the movie.
Schools
Neillsville has a public K-12 school system, consisting of Neillsville Elementary School, Neillsville Middle School, and Neillsville High School, whose mascot is the Neillsville Warriors. Neillsville is also home to St. John's Lutheran School, a private school for grades K-8.In addition, the Chippewa Valley Technical College
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Chippewa Valley Technical College is one of the 16 technical and community colleges in the Wisconsin Technical College System, centered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin...
has a regional center in Neillsville, which offers GED, Associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
, and continuing education
Continuing education
Continuing education is an all-encompassing term within a broad spectrum of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United States and Canada...
classes.
Points of interest
The High GroundThe High Ground
The Highground is a veterans' memorial park located west of Neillsville, Wisconsin, USA. There are several memorials to wars including Vietnam, World War I, and World War II. There are special tributes for women and Native Americans.-History:...
is a veterans' memorial park located west of Neillsville. Originally a memorial to Vietnam War veterans, it now includes memorials to World War I and World War II veterans.
The 1897 Jail Museum is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. See other highlights at National Register of Historic Places in Clark County.
The Wisconsin Pavilion from the 1964 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
was moved to Neillsville at the conclusion of the Fair. The building is now home to local radio station WCCN
WCCN (AM)
WCCN is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards format. Licensed to Neillsville, Wisconsin, USA. The station is currently owned by Central Wisconsin Broadcasting, Inc. and features programing from ABC Radio....
/WCCN-FM
WCCN-FM
WCCN-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Classic rock format. Licensed to Neillsville, Wisconsin, USA, the station serves the Neillsville-Marshfield-Tomah-Wisconsin Rapids Areas. The station is currently owned by Central Wisconsin B/Cg Inc. and features programing from ABC Radio.-History:The...
and a gift shop. Chatty-Belle is a large cow statue located on the ground of the Wisconsin Pavilion. She has the distinction of being the World's Largest Talking Cow.