Siren, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Siren is a village in Burnett County in the U.S. state
of Wisconsin
. The population was 988 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Siren.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.9 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.77%) is water.
Siren is surrounded by several lakes including Big Doctor Lake, Clam Lake, Crooked Lake, Fish Lake, and Long Lake.
of 2000, there were 988 people, 413 households, and 230 families residing in the village. The population density
was 895.1 people per square mile (346.8/km²). There were 499 housing units at an average density of 452.1 per square mile (175.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.85% White, 0.10% Black or African American
, 2.02% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races
, and 1.52% from two or more races. 0.10% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 413 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.3% were non-families. 39.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $24,342, and the median income for a family was $31,797. Males had a median income of $27,250 versus $21,635 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $14,792. About 12.0% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.
and the French fur traders
were the principal inhabitants of the region in the early nineteenth century.
Swedish immigrants began settling in the area around what is now Siren in the 1880s. Many of them were members of the Evangelical Covenant Church
. The first post office was built in 1895 about a mile west of its present location. The first postmaster was Charles F. Segerstrom, and he had the post office in his home. His home was surrounded by lilacs (which were and still are quite abundant in this area). Segerstrom applied with the postal department for a name for this place, choosing "Syren", the Swedish word for "lilac." Presumably the postal department thought this was a misspelling, for on the granted application they put down the spelling as "Siren." In 1912, the town center was moved nearer the Soo Line Railroad
tracks which had been extended through the area to Duluth, Minnesota
. The tracks were later removed but the trail was left behind for recreational purposes. It is now known as the Gandy Dancer
Trail and is a popular route for hikers, bicyclists, and snowmobilers.
On June 18, 2001, a tornado
passed through Siren inflicting severe damage. Three people died as a result of the tornado; 175 buildings were destroyed and many more damaged. Since then much of the town has been rebuilt with its architecture reflecting Siren's history.
The Burnett County Airport
is located three miles north of Siren.
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 988 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Siren.
Geography
Siren is located at 45°47′1"N 92°22′48"W (45.783633, -92.380161).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 village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.9 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.77%) is water.
Siren is surrounded by several lakes including Big Doctor Lake, Clam Lake, Crooked Lake, Fish Lake, and Long Lake.
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 988 people, 413 households, and 230 families residing in the village. 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 895.1 people per square mile (346.8/km²). There were 499 housing units at an average density of 452.1 per square mile (175.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.85% White, 0.10% Black or African American
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...
, 2.02% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.10% 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 1.52% from two or more races. 0.10% 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 413 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% 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, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.3% were non-families. 39.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $24,342, and the median income for a family was $31,797. Males had a median income of $27,250 versus $21,635 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 village was $14,792. About 12.0% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 18.9% 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...
and the French fur traders
Coureur des bois
A coureur des bois or coureur de bois was an independent entrepreneurial French-Canadian woodsman who traveled in New France and the interior of North America. They travelled in the woods to trade various things for fur....
were the principal inhabitants of the region in the early nineteenth century.
Swedish immigrants began settling in the area around what is now Siren in the 1880s. Many of them were members of the Evangelical Covenant Church
Evangelical Covenant Church
The Evangelical Covenant Church is an evangelical Christian denomination of more than 800 congregations and an average worship attendance of 179,000 people in the United States and Canada with ministries on five continents. Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the church is now one of the most...
. The first post office was built in 1895 about a mile west of its present location. The first postmaster was Charles F. Segerstrom, and he had the post office in his home. His home was surrounded by lilacs (which were and still are quite abundant in this area). Segerstrom applied with the postal department for a name for this place, choosing "Syren", the Swedish word for "lilac." Presumably the postal department thought this was a misspelling, for on the granted application they put down the spelling as "Siren." In 1912, the town center was moved nearer the Soo Line Railroad
Soo Line Railroad
The Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , controlled through the Soo Line Corporation, and one of seven U.S. Class I railroads. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste...
tracks which had been extended through the area to Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
. The tracks were later removed but the trail was left behind for recreational purposes. It is now known as the Gandy Dancer
Gandy dancer
Gandy dancer is a slang term used for early railroad workers who laid and maintained railroad tracks in the years before the work was done by machines....
Trail and is a popular route for hikers, bicyclists, and snowmobilers.
On June 18, 2001, a tornado
June 18, 2001, tornado outbreak
-Tornado table:-Siren tornado:The Siren tornado was the outbreak's only fatal storm, killing 2 people and injuring another 16. Total damages form the tornado were estimated to be about $10 million USD. The tornado caused the most damage in the village of Siren where most structures were completely...
passed through Siren inflicting severe damage. Three people died as a result of the tornado; 175 buildings were destroyed and many more damaged. Since then much of the town has been rebuilt with its architecture reflecting Siren's history.
Transportation
Wisconsin Highway 35 and Wisconsin Highway 70 both run through Siren.The Burnett County Airport
Burnett County Airport
Burnett County Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles north of the central business district of Siren, in Burnett County, Wisconsin, United States...
is located three miles north of Siren.