Spooner, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Spooner is a city in Washburn County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 2,653 at the 2000 census. The city is located mostly within the southwest corner of the Town of Spooner
, with a small portion extending into the Town of Beaver Brook
on the south, the Town of Bashaw
on the southwest, and the Town of Evergreen
on the west. The city's nickname is "Crossroads of the North", a reference to the fact that the city is at the junction of two U.S. highways, 53 and 63
, and State Highways 70 and 253. The city was named after Senator
John Coit Spooner
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²), of which, 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.26%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,653 people, 1,148 households, and 662 families residing in the city. The population density
was 875.9 people per square mile (338.1/km²). There were 1,249 housing units at an average density of 412.4 per square mile (159.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.97% White, 0.41% Black or African American
, 2.04% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.38% from other races
, and 1.17% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,148 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples
living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males. For every 100 members of citizenry, there are 0.8 police officers.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,768, and the median income for a family was $39,677. The median income of its residents was $16,390. About 7.6% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.
was incorporated, to serve as a freight hauler from Spooner to Trego
, a nearby town, with a connection to the CNW. Although the freight idea didn't work out, they began operating successful passenger excursion trains in 1997 (following the example of the nearby Duluth & Northern Minnesota Railroad which began passenger excursions in Duluth only a few years before), and were an instant success. The passenger trains were very successful, and after the 1995 takeover of the CNW by the Union Pacific, UP in 1998 announced intentions to abandon the line from Hayward Junction where it connected to the Wisconsin Central
13 miles (20.9 km) to the north through Spooner all of the way down to Chippewa Falls
. The company bought the portion of the line between Spooner and Hayward Jct in 1999, which greatly expanded passenger operations. To this day they run very popular robbery, western style, cowboy, and buffet style as well as more formal dinner trains. More recently, the Great Pumpkin train nearly sold out and now runs annually around the time of Halloween
. The old CNW Spooner Railroad Depot now serves as the station for these excursion trains, as well as the town's Railroad Memories Museum.
, in Spooner — the only museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to the heritage of the canoe — is an institution devoted to the preservation and interpretation of the cultural heritage of canoe
s and canoeing
in North America
. Its Exhibit Hall features displays of canoes and canoe related ephemera. Its eclectic assemblage of boats is diverse, and includes significant craft from the golden age of North American canoeing as well as work by contemporary builders. The building traditions of the eastern seaboard
, the midwest
, and Canada
are all represented, providing the museum visitor an opportunity to experience the evolution of canoe design and manufacture in proper historical context. The Canoe Shop is a 2500 square feet (232.3 m²) facility designed support a new generation of builders and canoe restorers.
Since 1954, each summer in July, Spooner has hosted the Heart of the North Rodeo, which draws thousands of fans to the area. In addition to the rodeo each evening, there is a Saturday afternoon parade, live music every night, and the cowboy church service on Sunday morning, held outdoors at the rodeo arena. Since its inception, the Barnes PRCA Rodeo has been coming to the Heart of the North Rodeo, making it the longest continuous association between a rodeo and a stock contractor
in PRCA history.
The Jack Pine Savage Days is a local festival that features live bands, an annual fun run, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, a horseshoe tournament, and a volleyball
tournament.
Jack O' Lantern Fest is an October festival in Spooner that revolves around giving back, kids and families. Multiple inflatables, fundraising walk, pumpkin roll, pet costume contest, carnival games, baking contest, pumpkin carving contest and more.
Washburn County, Wisconsin
Washburn County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 16,036. Its county seat is Shell Lake.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, 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 2,653 at the 2000 census. The city is located mostly within the southwest corner of the Town of Spooner
Spooner (town), Wisconsin
Spooner is a town in Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 677 at the 2000 census. The City of Spooner is located mostly within the southwest corner of the town.-Geography:...
, with a small portion extending into the Town of Beaver Brook
Beaver Brook, Wisconsin
Beaver Brook is a town in Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 643 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Chicago Junction is located in the town.-Geography:...
on the south, the Town of Bashaw
Bashaw, Wisconsin
Bashaw is a town in Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 921 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.9 square miles , of which, 33.5 square miles of it is land and 0.4 square miles of it ...
on the southwest, and the Town of Evergreen
Evergreen, Washburn County, Wisconsin
Evergreen is a town in Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,076 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.9 square miles , of which, 33.6 square miles of it is land and 1.3 square miles of...
on the west. The city's nickname is "Crossroads of the North", a reference to the fact that the city is at the junction of two U.S. highways, 53 and 63
U.S. Route 63
U.S. Route 63 is a long north–south United States highway primarily in the Midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at Interstate 20 in Ruston, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 2 in Benoit, Wisconsin, about east of Duluth, Minnesota. It is not related to U.S...
, and State Highways 70 and 253. The city was named after Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
John Coit Spooner
John Coit Spooner
John Coit Spooner was a Republican politician and lawyer from Wisconsin. He served in the United States Senate from 1885 to 1891 and from 1897 to 1907.-Biography:...
.
Geography
Spooner is located at 45°49′33"N 91°53′28"W (45.825941, -91.891116).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 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²), of which, 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.26%) 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 2,653 people, 1,148 households, and 662 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 875.9 people per square mile (338.1/km²). There were 1,249 housing units at an average density of 412.4 per square mile (159.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.97% White, 0.41% 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...
, 2.04% Native American, 0.04% 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 1.17% from two or more races. 1.21% 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 1,148 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% 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, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males. For every 100 members of citizenry, there are 0.8 police officers.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,768, and the median income for a family was $39,677. The median income of its residents was $16,390. About 7.6% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.
History
Spooner was once the hub of the Omaha Railroad Line. Its economy was once centered on the railroad and the two main lines that joined there. Eventually, the lines were absorbed by the Chicago & North Western Railroad. Passenger service ended in the early 1960s under the CNW ownership. In 1992, the Wisconsin Great Northern RailroadWisconsin Great Northern Railroad
The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad operates a historic train line in Spooner, Wisconsin on approximately 20 miles of track. It was founded on April 1, 1997...
was incorporated, to serve as a freight hauler from Spooner to Trego
Trego, Wisconsin
Trego is a town in Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 885 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Trego is located in the town.-Geography:...
, a nearby town, with a connection to the CNW. Although the freight idea didn't work out, they began operating successful passenger excursion trains in 1997 (following the example of the nearby Duluth & Northern Minnesota Railroad which began passenger excursions in Duluth only a few years before), and were an instant success. The passenger trains were very successful, and after the 1995 takeover of the CNW by the Union Pacific, UP in 1998 announced intentions to abandon the line from Hayward Junction where it connected to the Wisconsin Central
Wisconsin Central
Wisconsin Central could refer to:*Wisconsin Central Railroad , Wisconsin Central Railway , and Wisconsin Central Railroad , successive names for a predecessor of the Soo Line...
13 miles (20.9 km) to the north through Spooner all of the way down to Chippewa Falls
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 13,661 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa County....
. The company bought the portion of the line between Spooner and Hayward Jct in 1999, which greatly expanded passenger operations. To this day they run very popular robbery, western style, cowboy, and buffet style as well as more formal dinner trains. More recently, the Great Pumpkin train nearly sold out and now runs annually around the time of Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
. The old CNW Spooner Railroad Depot now serves as the station for these excursion trains, as well as the town's Railroad Memories Museum.
Attractions
The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage MuseumWisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum
The Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum, located at 312 Front Street, Spooner, Wisconsin, United States, is a museum dedicated to preserving the history of the canoe...
, in Spooner — the only museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to the heritage of the canoe — is an institution devoted to the preservation and interpretation of the cultural heritage of canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
s and canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Its Exhibit Hall features displays of canoes and canoe related ephemera. Its eclectic assemblage of boats is diverse, and includes significant craft from the golden age of North American canoeing as well as work by contemporary builders. The building traditions of the eastern seaboard
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
, the midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
, and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
are all represented, providing the museum visitor an opportunity to experience the evolution of canoe design and manufacture in proper historical context. The Canoe Shop is a 2500 square feet (232.3 m²) facility designed support a new generation of builders and canoe restorers.
Since 1954, each summer in July, Spooner has hosted the Heart of the North Rodeo, which draws thousands of fans to the area. In addition to the rodeo each evening, there is a Saturday afternoon parade, live music every night, and the cowboy church service on Sunday morning, held outdoors at the rodeo arena. Since its inception, the Barnes PRCA Rodeo has been coming to the Heart of the North Rodeo, making it the longest continuous association between a rodeo and a stock contractor
Stock contractor
A Stock contractor is an individual or business that provides animals for rodeo competition. Stock contractors supply "rough stock" - Saddle bronc and bareback bronc horses and bull riding bulls, plus steers for steer wrestling and team roping, plus calves for calf roping events...
in PRCA history.
The Jack Pine Savage Days is a local festival that features live bands, an annual fun run, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, a horseshoe tournament, and a volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
tournament.
Jack O' Lantern Fest is an October festival in Spooner that revolves around giving back, kids and families. Multiple inflatables, fundraising walk, pumpkin roll, pet costume contest, carnival games, baking contest, pumpkin carving contest and more.