Seymour, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Outagamie County, Wisconsin
Outagamie is a county in the northeast region of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Its county seat is Appleton. As of the 2009 census estimate, its population was 177,155....
, 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...
. The population was 3,451 at the 2010 census. The city is located within the Town of Seymour
Seymour, Outagamie County, Wisconsin
Seymour is a town in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,216 at the 2000 census. The City of Seymour is located within the town. The unincorporated community of Isaar, Wisconsin is also located in the town...
and the Town of Osborn
Osborn, Wisconsin
Osborn is a town in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. The unincorporated community of Five Corners is partially located in the town. The ghost town of Lime Rock was also located partially in the town.-Geography:...
.
History
The City of Seymour was founded in 1868 and named after Governor Horatio Seymour of the state of New York. Seymour is said to have once been called Squeedunk, which means "little settlement" or "village". Seymour's centennial was in 1968.William and John Ausbourne were the first settlers in Seymour. They had traveled from western Outagamie County on the Wolf River during the summer of 1857 and made their way to the mouth of the Shioc River. They then moved to a spot where the Black Creek flows into the Shioc. After finding that there were no longer any roads to follow, the Ausbournes finally settled in the present location of Seymour, which was occupied by Native Americans at the time. There they built a log house, the only residence in Seymour for two years. Their closest neighbors lived in Osborn
Osborn, Wisconsin
Osborn is a town in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. The unincorporated community of Five Corners is partially located in the town. The ghost town of Lime Rock was also located partially in the town.-Geography:...
.
Over the years more settlers came to Seymour. Willis and Dan Mungers arrived in Seymour in 1864. The Mungers built a house on what is now Main Street and their daughter Sally lived in a frame house on what is now South Main Street. Erastus C. Buttles came during the spring and established a farm in the western part of the county. Leaonard and Avery Carter arrived in Seymour in 1876, along with Charles Eichler, the first German settler in the area.
As the population of the area grew, more villages were established in the Seymour area. On March 1, 1877 Seymour became a recognized town, along with the towns of Osborn
Osborn, Wisconsin
Osborn is a town in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. The unincorporated community of Five Corners is partially located in the town. The ghost town of Lime Rock was also located partially in the town.-Geography:...
and Freedom
Freedom, Outagamie County, Wisconsin
Freedom is a town in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,842 at the 2010 census. The unincorporated communities of Freedom, and Murphy Corner are located in the town...
.
During the early 1880s, construction of the Green Bay and Lake Pepin Railroad
Green Bay and Western Railroad
The Green Bay and Western Railroad served the transportation and freight haulage needs of northern Wisconsin for almost 100 years before it was absorbed into the Wisconsin Central in 1993...
was completed. In 1883 a station was built in Seymour, and soon Seymour was recognized as the smallest incorporated city in the nation.
As soon as the settlers had built their houses, they turned to education, electing a school superintendent and an establishing a school tax. The schoolhouse was a simple one-room building with no floor and a shake roof. Sunday school soon began in the same building.
Between 1887 and 1889 George E. Mendell published the first newspaper, called The Aurora, which lasted only three years. On July 8, 1886 the Seymour Press made its first appearance, and was published by the Van Vuren family for over 80 years. It was then sold to the Shellman Publishing Company of Oconto Falls, and is still published today.
According to one claim, Charlie Nagreen
Charlie Nagreen
Charles "Hamburger Charlie" Nagreen was an American claimant to the title of inventor of the hamburger.This claim is supported by various local history organizations, but not widely accepted; see History of the hamburger in the United States....
served the world's first hamburger
Hamburger
A hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat usually placed inside a sliced bread roll...
at the Seymour Fair of 1885. "Hamburger" Charlie decided to flatten a meatball
Meatball
A meatball is made from an amount of ground meat rolled into a small ball, sometimes along with other ingredients, such as breadcrumbs, minced onion, spices, and possibly eggs...
and place it between slices of bread to increase portability.
Geography
Seymour is located at 44°30′30"N 88°19′42"W (44.508499, -88.3284).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 2.5 square miles (6.6 km²).None of the area is covered with 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 2010, there were 3,451 people, 1,565 households, and 1,458 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 1,380.4 people per square mile (522.8/km²). There were 1,565 housing units at an average density of 626 per square mile (237.12/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.34% White, 0.29% African American, ???% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 3.36% 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 1.82% from two or more races. 2.02% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 1,458 occupied households out of which 31.96% had children under the age of 18 living with them.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 73.48% were over the age of 18, 5.91% from 20 to 24, 13.27% from 25 to 34, 21.58% from 35 to 49, 15.56% from 50 to 64, and 14.69% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,135, and the median income for a family was $50,746. Males had a median income of $36,789 versus $24,375 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 $19,073. About 4.2% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
Hamburger Hall of Fame
Seymour's Hamburger Hall of Fame is an elaborate structure that celebrates hamburger history. There is also an annual one-day Burger Fest and plans to build a hamburger-shaped building. In 1989 the world's largest hamburger (5,520 pounds) was served at the festival. There have been no challenges to the record, so the annual big burger now is only around 1,000 pounds. The festival, which occurs annually during the first week of AugustAugust
August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days.This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, when March was the first...
, starts early with a 5K run known as the Bun Run, the world's longest hamburger parade down Main Street, the hamburger eating contest, and the ketchup slide. The festival has a different theme each year. In 2011, the theme is "Honor the Veterans," and in 2010 it was a Mexican fiesta.
Outagamie County Fairgrounds
The Outagamie County Fair has been successful because of the "big name" singers who have performed on stage in Seymour, including Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
, Faith Hill
Faith Hill
Faith Hill is an American country singer. She is known both for her commercial success and her marriage to fellow country star Tim McGraw. Hill has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and accumulated eight number-one singles and three number-one albums on the U.S...
, Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
, Weird Al Yankovic, Jake Owen
Jake Owen
Joshua Ryan "Jake" Owen is an American country music artist. Signed to RCA Records Nashville in 2005, he released his debut album Startin' with Me that year. The album produced three singles, all of which reached Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart: "Yee Haw", "Startin' with Me", and...
, REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon is an American rock band. Formed in 1967, the band grew in popularity during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. Hi Infidelity is the group's most commercially successful album, selling over ten million copies and charting four Top 40 hits in the US...
, Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
, Chris Young
Chris Young
Chris Young may refer to:In sports:*Chris Young , American football player; defensive back for the Denver Broncos*Chris Young , English soccer player...
, Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
, Trace Adkins
Trace Adkins
Tracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1996 with the album Dreamin' Out Loud, released on Capitol Records Nashville. Since then, Adkins has released seven more studio albums and two Greatest Hits compilations...
, Randy Travis
Randy Travis
Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
, Project Pink, Lonestar
Lonestar
Lonestar is an American country music group consisting of Richie McDonald , Michael Britt , Keech Rainwater , Dean Sams , and Michael Hill . McDonald left the band in November 2007 for a solo career before returning in 2011...
, Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
, Little Big Town
Little Big Town
Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group. Founded in 1998, the group has comprised the same four members since its inception: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet. The quartet's musical style relies heavily on four-part vocal harmonies, with all...
, Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
, The BoDeans, The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, and Sarah Evans.
Seymour Speedway
Seymour Speedway is another attraction in the city, located at the Outagamie County Fairgrounds. The facility is a 1/3 mi clay racetrack, with modern grandstands and facilities, and hosts races in several divisions, including Fastrak Late Models, IMCA ModifiedIMCA Modified
IMCA Modified is the top division sanctioned by the International Motor Contest Association. The series began in 1979.The car bodies are a hybrid of an open wheel car and a stock car. The front tires have no body around them like an open wheel car, and the back wheels have a body around them like a...
s, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern Sport Mods, N.E.W. Dirt Street Stocks, N.E.W. Dirt Compact Car, and 4 cylinders. Races are held every Sunday night during the summer months. At the end of the season each division crowns a champion based on a points system, much like NASCAR does.
Newton-Blackmour State Trail
The Newton Blackmour State Trail was completed from Oneida Nation of WisconsinOneida Nation of Wisconsin
The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin is an Indian reservation of the Oneida tribe on the west side of the Green Bay metropolitan area.-Demography and population:The reservation comprises portions of eastern Outagamie County and western Brown County...
, through Seymour, to Black Creek
Black Creek, Wisconsin
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 1,316 people, 540 households, and 513 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,097.6 people per square mile . There were 540 housing units at an average density of 450 per square mile...
in 2009. The trail runs from the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin is an Indian reservation of the Oneida tribe on the west side of the Green Bay metropolitan area.-Demography and population:The reservation comprises portions of eastern Outagamie County and western Brown County...
through Seymour, Black Creek
Black Creek, Wisconsin
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 1,316 people, 540 households, and 513 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,097.6 people per square mile . There were 540 housing units at an average density of 450 per square mile...
, and Shiocton
Shiocton, Wisconsin
Shiocton is a village in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 921 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Shiocton is located at ....
all the way to New London
New London, Wisconsin
New London is a city in Outagamie and Waupaca Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 7,295 at the 2010 census. The city has a Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Irish Fest, and week-long festivities, when the city's name is changed to "New Dublin" for the week. The American Water...
. The name Newton-Blackmour is made up of the four incorporated communities on the trail. It is used for snowmobiles, snowshoing, and cross country sking in the winter and walking, biking and horse back riding in the summer.
Education
The City of Seymour has one middle school, one high school and one elementary school. The elementary school was renovated during 2007-2009. The middle school had a fire on the night of November 5, 2009, at about 10:30 p.m. The art room was destroyed.The Seymour Community School District was established in 1963 as a result of the consolidation of numerous rural schools. The district encompasses 175 square miles (453.2 km²) of land adjacent to the Fox River Valley Cities of Green Bay and Appleton. The boundary of the school district covers all or part of twelve municipalities in Northern Outagamie and Southern Shawano counties. The total population of these twelve governmental units being served by the district is approximately 17,000. The district's kindergarten through twelfth grade student population is approximately 2,400.There are currently five schools that make up the Seymour School District; Rock Ledge Primary Center, Rock Ledge Intermediate Center, Seymour Middle School, Seymour High School and the Black Creek Elementary/Middle School. The school's facilities includes a 27000 square feet (2,508.4 m²) Athletic Center that seats over 1,800. The district has an Aquatic Center with an eight-lane competition pool, a zero depth activity pool and a diving well. Our 4500 square feet (418.1 m²) Fitness Center features free weights, selectorized machines and cardiovascular equipment.
High School Basketball
The Seymour High School boys' basketball team has qualified for every state tournament from 2000 until 2007, which is a state Division 2 record. Seymour has made an appearance at the State Tournament in 1935, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000 through 2007, and 2011. The team has won five Silver Ball trophies (runner-up) and three Gold Ball trophies, advancing to the championship game seven times. Seymour has garnered three state basketball championships in division 2 (1997, 2001, and 2006).Newspapers
The primary newspapers that serve Seymour include: the Advertiser Community News~Times Press, based in SeymourSeymour, Wisconsin
Seymour is a city in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,451 at the 2010 census. The city is located within the Town of Seymour and the Town of Osborn.-History:...
, the Green Bay Press-Gazette
Green Bay Press-Gazette
The Green Bay Press-Gazette is a newspaper whose primary coverage is of northeastern Wisconsin, including Green Bay. It was founded as the Green Bay Gazette in 1866 as a weekly paper, becoming a daily newspaper in 1871. The Green Bay Gazette merged with its major competitor, the Green Bay Free...
, based in Green Bay
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, and The Post~Crescent
The Post-Crescent
The Post-Crescent is a daily newspaper based in Appleton, Wisconsin. Part of the Gannett chain of newspapers, it is primarily distributed in numerous counties surrounding the Appleton area.-History:...
, based in Appleton
Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton is a city in Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 78,086 at the 2010 census...
.
Radio Stations
WCHK-FMWCHK-FM
WCHK-FM redirects here. For the stations in the Atlanta, Georgia area that previously carried these calls, please see WWVA-FM and WNSY. For the AM station with these calls, please see WCHK ....
(Chuck FM) is the only radio station located within the city limits.
Television apperances
On June 30th, 2011, "Only in AmericaOnly in America with Larry the Cable Guy
Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy is a reality TV show on the History Channel. On January 26, 2010, the TV channel History announced it was ordering a series starring Larry the Cable Guy, titled Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy, It premiered on February 8, 2011...
" with Larry the Cable Guy
Larry the Cable Guy
Daniel Lawrence Whitney , better known by his stage name and character Larry the Cable Guy, is an American comedian, actor, and former radio personality....
, from the History Channel, came to the "Home of the Hamburger" to film a segment for an episode that will likely be aired early 2012. Jim Campbell woke up at 3:30am on June 30th to cook a 150 pound burger, on the Charlie Grill; for the segment which will likely be named "Larry Loves Burgers from Hoof to Plate." A crowd gathered on Depot Street surrounding Larry while he bit into the 150 pound burger; the Cable Guy then handed out the rest of the burger to fans while signing autograghs, and posing for pictures. Before the crew could leave though, Hamburger Charlie (Bill Collar) invited the "Get er Done" guy to the 23rd annual Burgerfest on August 6, 2011, to compete on the Ketchup Slide.
Transportation
 |
WIS 55, also marked as Main Street Northbound, routes to Angelica Angelica, Wisconsin Angelica is a town in Shawano County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,635 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Angelica, Frazer Corners, Krakow, and Zachow are located partially in the town.-Geography:... . Southbound, WIS 55 routes to U.S. Highway 41. |
 |
WIS 54 Westward routes to Black Creek Black Creek, Wisconsin -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 1,316 people, 540 households, and 513 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,097.6 people per square mile . There were 540 housing units at an average density of 450 per square mile... and New London New London, Wisconsin New London is a city in Outagamie and Waupaca Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 7,295 at the 2010 census. The city has a Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Irish Fest, and week-long festivities, when the city's name is changed to "New Dublin" for the week. The American Water... . Eastward WIS 54 routes to Green Bay Green Bay, Wisconsin Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,... . |
 |
Going Northbound Hwy C, or Ivory Street, routes to WIS 54/WIS 55. Going Southbound Hwy C routes to Highway E. |
 |
Hwy G's, or Pearl Street, Western Terminus is WIS 47 and its Eastern Terminus is Hwy Y. |
Airports near Seymour
Major airports near Seymour include: Austin Straubel International AirportAustin Straubel International Airport
Austin Straubel International Airport is a county-owned public-use airport in Brown County, Wisconsin, United States. The airport is located seven nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Green Bay, in the village of Ashwaubenon. It sits on portions of land encompassing Green...
(public), located on WIS 172 in the village of Ashwaubenon
Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin
Ashwaubenon is a village in Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 17,634, however many village signs still reflect the 1990 census figure of 17,777. Ashwaubenon is a suburb of Green Bay, Wisconsin and is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan...
; Outagamie County Regional Airport
Outagamie County Regional Airport
Outagamie County Regional Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. It is the fourth busiest commercial airport in Wisconsin. It is located just ouside of Appleton, Wisconsin, in the town of Greenville....
(public), located at the intersection of County Highways CA and CB in the town of Greenville
Greenville, Wisconsin
Greenville is a town located in south central Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. It is one of 18 communities that form the basis of the Fox Cities, the third largest metropolitan area in Wisconsin. The population was 6,844 at the 2000 census, however 2008 estimates place the population at...
.
Religion
The City of Seymour has seven churches; there are three Catholic churches which include St. John Baptist Catholic Church, St. Sebastian Catholic Church, and St Stanislaus Catholic Church. Seymour is also served by Emmanuel Lutheran Church, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaEvangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
; Seymour Assembly of God; First Baptist Church; Seymour Community Church; and the Seymour United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
.
Further Reading
- Seymour centennial, 1868-1968 : the centennial review, historical-photo album. 1968.
- The Commission. City of Seymour community development plan. 1995.
- Seymour (Wis.). Common Council. City of Seymour open space and recreation plan. 1995.
- Koenigs, Lynn E. My corner of the county. 2010.