Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Stevens Point is the county seat
of Portage County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. Located in the central part of the state, it is the largest city in the county, with a population of 24,551 at the 2000 census. Its estimated 2008 population was 25,327.
The city was incorporated in 1858.
The city forms the core of the United States Census Bureau
's Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Portage County (2000 population: 67,182). Together with surrounding communities, the Stevens Point micropolitan
area was, according to the 2000 census, home to 48,123 people, and was the 481st most populous area in the United States.
Stevens Point is home to the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
and a campus of Mid-State Technical College
.
s on the Wisconsin River
found this a convenient stopping point, as the river bends slightly and one could tell from far upstream whether Stevens' point was open for business.
, the city has a total area of 16.2 square miles (42 km²). 15.3 square miles (39.6 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (5.61%) is water.
It is surrounded by several smaller villages and towns, including Plover
, Whiting
, Custer
, Park Ridge
, Stockton
, and the Town of Hull
.
The average temperature ranges from about 20° to 80° Fahrenheit (-10 to 25 °C). All four seasons can be distinctly observed, with snow falling most heavily in December and January and temperatures rising to their average summer levels of about 70 °F (20 °C) in July and August.
of 2000, there were 24,551 people, 9,305 households, and 4,652 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,603.2 inhabitants per square mile (619.2/km²). There were 9,749 housing units at an average density of 636.6 per square mile (245.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.53% White, 0.47% African American, 0.46% Native American, 4.78% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races
, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.
There were 9,305 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were married couples
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.0% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.2% under the age of 18, 30.8% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,178, and the median income for a family was $53,176. Males had a median income of $37,894 versus $28,114 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $23,510. About 6.3% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older.
Stevens Point is home to the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, established in 1894 as the Stevens Point Normal School. The university enrolls approximately 8700 students in both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Mid-State Technical College (MSTC), a technical college, is also located in the city.
The Stevens Point Area School District serves the city, as does the Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools
system. Public elementary schools include Bannach, Jefferson School for the Arts, Kennedy, Madison, McDill
, McKinley, Roosevelt, Plover-Whiting, and Washington Service-Learning Center. There are two junior high schools, Ben Franklin and P. J. Jacobs, and two high schools, Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH)
and Charles F. Fernandez Center for Alternative Learning. Parochial schools in Stevens Point include St. Paul Lutheran School (PreK-8), St. Joseph Early Childhood Center, St. Stanislaus (K-2) and St. Stephen Elementary (3-5) Schools, St. Peter Middle School, and Pacelli High School.
Additionally, the city also serves as the central hub of the Portage County Public Library
which provides educational programming for adults, young adults, and children.
The city is served by two airports. Commercial service is available through Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA), located midway between Stevens Point and Wausau. CWA is served by three major airlines. General aviation, air cargo, and charter flights use the Stevens Point Municipal Airport (STE).
Stevens Point Transit
system is a public transportation service serving the city.
have their mother house in Stevens Point. Catholic parishes in the city include St. Stanislaus Kostka, the Newman University Parish, St. Stephen, St. Casimir, St. Peter, and St. Joseph.
There are also a few Lutheran and other Protestant churches in the area, including Grace Baptist Church (founded 1975).
There are also members of the Bahá'í Faith
in the city and county.
paper mill
, Sentry Insurance
, the Travel Guard
(travel and insurance), Copps Corporation, the Donaldson Company
, Skyward
(software design), Joerns Medical, Lands' End
, Canadian National Railway
, Delta Dental
of Wisconsin, Worzalla Publishing, Figis (telemarketing) and the Stevens Point Brewery
.
A number of companies have corporate headquarters in the city, including Travel Guard, Sentry Insurance, Delta Dental of Wisconsin, and Vetter Manufacturing. Associated Bank, Furniture and Appliance Mart, and the Donaldson Company operate regional headquarters in Stevens Point.
Stevens Point is located in the geographic center of Wisconsin, making it a convenient destination for state conventions and youth sporting events, including soccer and hockey.
Business developments in the area include Crossroads Commons located along I-39 and County Road HH; Portage County Business Park, located north of Crossroads Commons; Venture Drive and Corporate Center, adjacent to both the Crossroads Commons and the Portage County Business park; Stevens Point Industrial Park, located along I-39; the Eastridge and Parkdale Plazas, and Stevens Points East Side, all on the city's east side; and CenterPoint Marketplace and downtown Stevens Point. There have been a number of businesses that has popped up and and more to continue.
. (The synagogue has been defunct since 1985.)
The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra (CWSO) presents four concerts each season.
City-wide events range from the Fourth of July Riverfront Rendezvous to the Portage County Cultural Festival.
The downtown area was designated a "Wisconsin Main Street Community" and offers specialty shops, restaurants, an enclosed shopping mall, and offices. The city and county offices are located downtown, as well as a major bank regional headquarters and two major insurance companies. The downtown also offers a night life on "the Square" that is popular with college students, and a farmer's market.
Stevens Point hosts the world's largest trivia
contest, run by UWSP's radio station, WWSP-FM. The contest, which typically involves over 12,000 contestants in more than 400 teams, is usually held every year in April and lasts for 54 straight hours, from Friday to Sunday.
The Backwaters Paddle Quest
canoe adventure challenge has been held in Stevens Point on the Wisconsin River since 2002, usually during the second week of August. WWSP-FM has broadcasted live from the event with The OZ, Jim Oliva since 2005. Players paddle their crafts over two days to checkpoints along the river encountering a cast of characters acting out a storyline that continues year to year.
s, a 26 miles (41.8 km) bicycle and jogging trail (the Green Circle Trail) that surrounds and winds through the city, and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail
, which runs through the city. The city also has an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones
-designed golf
course at the Sentry World Headquarters (Sentry World)and a country club. The Schmeeckle Reserve, a nature reserve, is located on the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point campus.
, France Estelí, Nicaragua Gulcz
. Poland Rostov Veliky
, Russia
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....
of Portage County
Portage County, Wisconsin
Portage County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 67,182. Its county seat is Stevens Point. The United States Census Bureau's Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Portage County.-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...
. Located in the central part of the state, it is the largest city in the county, with a population of 24,551 at the 2000 census. Its estimated 2008 population was 25,327.
The city was incorporated in 1858.
The city forms the core of 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...
's Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Portage County (2000 population: 67,182). Together with surrounding communities, the Stevens Point micropolitan
United States micropolitan area
United States Micropolitan Statistical Areas , as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget, are urban areas in the United States based around a core city or town with a population of 10,000 to 49,999. The micropolitan area designation was created in 2003...
area was, according to the 2000 census, home to 48,123 people, and was the 481st most populous area in the United States.
Stevens Point is home to the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
The University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point is a public university located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin...
and a campus of Mid-State Technical College
Mid-State Technical College
Mid-State Technical College is a technical college in central Wisconsin. It has major campuses in the Marshfield, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids communities. There is a learning center in Adams...
.
History
Stevens Point was named after its founder, George Stevens, who operated a grocery and supply business on the river. LoggerLumberjack
A lumberjack is a worker in the logging industry who performs the initial harvesting and transport of trees for ultimate processing into forest products. The term usually refers to a bygone era when hand tools were used in harvesting trees principally from virgin forest...
s on the Wisconsin River
Wisconsin River
-External links:* * * , Wisconsin Historical Society* * * *...
found this a convenient stopping point, as the river bends slightly and one could tell from far upstream whether Stevens' point was open for business.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 16.2 square miles (42 km²). 15.3 square miles (39.6 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (5.61%) is water.
It is surrounded by several smaller villages and towns, including Plover
Plover, Wisconsin
Plover is a village in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States and is a suburb of Stevens Point. It is included in the Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 10,520 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Whiting
Whiting, Wisconsin
Whiting is a village in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States and is a suburb of Stevens Point. It is included in the Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, Custer
Custer, Wisconsin
Custer is an unincorporated community in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States.-History:The origin of the communities name is not confirmed but a genereal consensus is it was named after Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, who was defeated during the battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876...
, Park Ridge
Park Ridge, Wisconsin
Park Ridge is a village in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States and is a suburb of Stevens Point. It is included in the Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, Stockton
Stockton, Wisconsin
Stockton is a town in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,896 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Arnott, Custer, Fancher, Esker, and Stockton are located in Stockton.-Geography:...
, and the Town of Hull
Hull, Portage County, Wisconsin
Hull is a town in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,493 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Casimir and Jordan are located in the town.-Geography:...
.
The average temperature ranges from about 20° to 80° Fahrenheit (-10 to 25 °C). All four seasons can be distinctly observed, with snow falling most heavily in December and January and temperatures rising to their average summer levels of about 70 °F (20 °C) in July and August.
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 24,551 people, 9,305 households, and 4,652 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 1,603.2 inhabitants per square mile (619.2/km²). There were 9,749 housing units at an average density of 636.6 per square mile (245.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.53% White, 0.47% African American, 0.46% Native American, 4.78% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.48% 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 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.
There were 9,305 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% 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, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.0% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.2% under the age of 18, 30.8% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,178, and the median income for a family was $53,176. Males had a median income of $37,894 versus $28,114 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 $23,510. About 6.3% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older.
Education
The Stevens Point Area School District serves the city, as does the Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools
Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools
The Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools is a private, PreK-12 Catholic school system in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of La Crosse. A consolidation of 6 parish schools, SPACS includes 1 early childhood center , 3 elementary schools , 1 middle school , and 1 high school . SPACS is...
system. Public elementary schools include Bannach, Jefferson School for the Arts, Kennedy, Madison, McDill
Mcdill Elementary School
McDill Elementary School is an elementary charter school in Whiting, Wisconsin in the that teaches about 400 students in the Northern Plover, Southern Stevens Point, and Whiting, Wisconsin area. The school teaches students in grades Kindergarten through sixth grade...
, McKinley, Roosevelt, Plover-Whiting, and Washington Service-Learning Center. There are two junior high schools, Ben Franklin and P. J. Jacobs, and two high schools, Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH)
Stevens Point Area Senior High
Stevens Point Area Senior High is a high school located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Stevens Point Area School District. SPASH is the second largest high school in the state of Wisconsin by population served...
and Charles F. Fernandez Center for Alternative Learning. Parochial schools in Stevens Point include St. Paul Lutheran School (PreK-8), St. Joseph Early Childhood Center, St. Stanislaus (K-2) and St. Stephen Elementary (3-5) Schools, St. Peter Middle School, and Pacelli High School.
Additionally, the city also serves as the central hub of the Portage County Public Library
Portage County Public Library
The Portage County Public Library consists of four branch locations primarily serving the population of Portage County in central Wisconsin. The Main branch public library is located in downtown Stevens Point, WI. The other branches are located in Plover, Almond, and Rosholt. The PCPL is a member...
which provides educational programming for adults, young adults, and children.
Transportation
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U.S. 51 U.S. Route 51 U.S. Route 51 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,286 miles from the western suburbs of New Orleans, Louisiana to within of the Wisconsin-Michigan border. Much of the highway in Illinois and southern Wisconsin runs parallel to or overlaps Interstate 39... Northbound US 51 to Hurley Hurley, Wisconsin Hurley is a city in and the county seat of Iron County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,818 at the 2000 census. It is directly across the Montreal River from Ironwood, Michigan.-History:... . Southbound, US 51 New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population... . |
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I-39 Northbound to Wausau Wausau, Wisconsin Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people... Southbound, routes to Madison Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.... . |
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US 10 travels east to Detroit Detroit, Michigan Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River... and west to Fargo Fargo, North Dakota Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777... . |
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WIS 66 travels east to Rosholt Rosholt, Wisconsin Rosholt is a village in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 518 at the 2000 census.-History:The person recorded as first owning the land on which Rosholt sits is Gottlieb Stanbly. Stanbly received four parcels directly from the U.S. Government on May 10, 1858 because he... , and west to Wisconsin Rapids Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Wisconsin Rapids is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 18,435 at the 2000 census.According to the 2010 census, the Wisconsin Rapids micropolitan area was home to 54,362 people... . |
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WIS 54 travels east 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... and west to Onalaska Onalaska, Wisconsin Onalaska is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 18,097. It is part of the La Crosse Metropolitan Area.... . |
The city is served by two airports. Commercial service is available through Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA), located midway between Stevens Point and Wausau. CWA is served by three major airlines. General aviation, air cargo, and charter flights use the Stevens Point Municipal Airport (STE).
Stevens Point Transit
Stevens Point Transit
Stevens Point Transit system is the public transportation system in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It is owned and operated by the City of Stevens Point...
system is a public transportation service serving the city.
Religion
The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. FrancisSisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis
The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis is a Roman Catholic Franciscan religious congregation for women. The Congregation was established in 1901. Their motherhouse is in Stevens Point, Wisconsin in the Diocese of La Crosse....
have their mother house in Stevens Point. Catholic parishes in the city include St. Stanislaus Kostka, the Newman University Parish, St. Stephen, St. Casimir, St. Peter, and St. Joseph.
There are also a few Lutheran and other Protestant churches in the area, including Grace Baptist Church (founded 1975).
There are also members of the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
in the city and county.
Business and industry
Major employers in the area include NewPage CorporationNewPage Corporation
NewPage Corporation, based in Miamisburg, Ohio, is a leading producer of coated paper in North America.The company produces coated papers in sheets and rolls with many finishes and weights to offer design flexibility for a wide array of end uses...
paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
, Sentry Insurance
Sentry Insurance
Sentry Insurance, founded in 1904, is a mutual insurance company located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It was founded by members of the Wisconsin Retail Hardware Association, now the Midwest Hardware Association, to provide insurance for its members and was originally called Hardware Mutual. Today...
, the Travel Guard
Travel Guard
Travel Guard is a North American travel insurance provider. It specializes in providing travel insurance, assistance and emergency travel service plans.- History :...
(travel and insurance), Copps Corporation, the Donaldson Company
Donaldson Company
Donaldson Company, Inc. is a vertically integrated filtration company engaged in the production and marketing of products used as a means to improve performance efficiency and air quality...
, Skyward
Skyward
Skyward is a software company specializing in K–12 administrative software packages used in schools to manage and store information pertaining to Student Management, Human Resources, Financial Management, Food Service and Special Education. They are a provider of this type of software to over...
(software design), Joerns Medical, Lands' End
Lands' End
Lands' End is a clothing retailer based in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, that specializes in casual clothing, luggage, and home furnishings. The majority of Lands' End's business is conducted through mail order and Internet sales, but the company also runs more than a dozen retail operations, primarily in...
, Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
, Delta Dental
Delta Dental
Delta Dental is the largest dental plan system in the United States. The Delta Dental Plans Association comprises 39 independent Delta Dental member companies operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. These member companies provide coverage to 50 million people,...
of Wisconsin, Worzalla Publishing, Figis (telemarketing) and the Stevens Point Brewery
Stevens Point Brewery
Stevens Point Brewery is a regional American brewery located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The brewery is the fifth-oldest privately-owned brewery in the nation....
.
A number of companies have corporate headquarters in the city, including Travel Guard, Sentry Insurance, Delta Dental of Wisconsin, and Vetter Manufacturing. Associated Bank, Furniture and Appliance Mart, and the Donaldson Company operate regional headquarters in Stevens Point.
Stevens Point is located in the geographic center of Wisconsin, making it a convenient destination for state conventions and youth sporting events, including soccer and hockey.
Business developments in the area include Crossroads Commons located along I-39 and County Road HH; Portage County Business Park, located north of Crossroads Commons; Venture Drive and Corporate Center, adjacent to both the Crossroads Commons and the Portage County Business park; Stevens Point Industrial Park, located along I-39; the Eastridge and Parkdale Plazas, and Stevens Points East Side, all on the city's east side; and CenterPoint Marketplace and downtown Stevens Point. There have been a number of businesses that has popped up and and more to continue.
Culture
Stevens Point is home to a community theater group (cwACT), a children's museum, and a group of museums run by the Portage County Historical Society, including the Beth Israel Congregation Museum, located in the former synagogueSynagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
. (The synagogue has been defunct since 1985.)
The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra (CWSO) presents four concerts each season.
City-wide events range from the Fourth of July Riverfront Rendezvous to the Portage County Cultural Festival.
The downtown area was designated a "Wisconsin Main Street Community" and offers specialty shops, restaurants, an enclosed shopping mall, and offices. The city and county offices are located downtown, as well as a major bank regional headquarters and two major insurance companies. The downtown also offers a night life on "the Square" that is popular with college students, and a farmer's market.
Stevens Point hosts the world's largest trivia
Trivia
The trivia are the three lower Artes Liberales, i.e. grammar, rhetoric and logic. These were the topics of basic education, foundational to the quadrivia of higher education, and hence the material of basic education, of interest only to undergraduates...
contest, run by UWSP's radio station, WWSP-FM. The contest, which typically involves over 12,000 contestants in more than 400 teams, is usually held every year in April and lasts for 54 straight hours, from Friday to Sunday.
The Backwaters Paddle Quest
The Backwaters Paddle Quest
The Backwaters PaddleQuest is a canoe-based sprint adventure race held annually in Stevens Point, WI on the Wisconsin River. The race is usually held on the second weekend of August. Players paddle their crafts for two days to checkpoints along the river where they encounter characters acting out...
canoe adventure challenge has been held in Stevens Point on the Wisconsin River since 2002, usually during the second week of August. WWSP-FM has broadcasted live from the event with The OZ, Jim Oliva since 2005. Players paddle their crafts over two days to checkpoints along the river encountering a cast of characters acting out a storyline that continues year to year.
Recreation
The area has 20 developed parkPark
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
s, a 26 miles (41.8 km) bicycle and jogging trail (the Green Circle Trail) that surrounds and winds through the city, and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Ice Age Trail
The Ice Age Trail is a designated National Scenic Trail in the United States that will run some through the state of Wisconsin once completed. The trail is administered by the National Park Service, and is constructed and maintained by numerous private and public agencies including, most notably,...
, which runs through the city. The city also has an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones
Robert Trent Jones
Robert Trent Jones, Sr. was a golf course architect who designed about 500 golf courses in at least 40 US states and 35 other countries all around the world...
-designed golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course at the Sentry World Headquarters (Sentry World)and a country club. The Schmeeckle Reserve, a nature reserve, is located on the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point campus.
Rankings
Stevens Point was listed in Relocate-America's Top 10 Best Places to Live in 2007 and 2008 for the United States and listed in the Top 100 for 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. In addition to being in the Relocate-America's Top 100 cities in 2010, it was also listed in the Top Ten Recreation cities in America. It was also listed as Number 9 on the Top Ten DreamTowns of America website, stating "This is easily the most affordable of America's 10 dreamtowns. The cost of a typical home is $28,500 lower in Stevens Point than in Mankato, the second-cheapest place on this elite list. Other pluses in the Point are short commutes, strong schools and a sizable stock of big houses." CNNMoney.com ranked Stevens Point as the 18th best place to retire. The magazine stated that there was "plenty for retirees to do in the summertime" as well as the winter, including hiking, biking, and skiing the Green Circle Trail. Stevens point was also rated the 6th best place to raise a family by Forbes.com in 2010.Notable people associated with Stevens Point
Adam Kinney, spr legend- Martha BablitchMartha Bablitch-Biography:Babltich was born on October 28, 1944 in Lawrence, Kansas. Her mother, Maxine, also had a career in law. Bablitch grew up in Ypsilanti, Michigan and moved to Wisconsin to attend Lawrence University. She later graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School. She was married to...
, judge - William A. BablitchWilliam A. BablitchWilliam Albert Bablitch was a politician, jurist, and lawyer from Wisconsin. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1972 to 1983, and on the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1983 to 2003....
, politician, judge - Kirk BaumgartnerKirk BaumgartnerKirk Baumgartner is an American football player. He is the fourth son to James and Patricia Baumgartner. He joined brothers Brian, Brad, and Kevin. Another son, Keith, was born later...
, football player - Tim BedoreTim BedoreTim Bedore is an American comedian born in Chicago, IL. His parents moved to Stevens Point, Wisconsin when he was a child. He attended Pacelli High School in Stevens Point and the Appleton High School-West, where he graduated....
, comedian - Dick BennettDick BennettDick Bennett is an American college basketball coach who is best known for revitalizing the Wisconsin Badgers basketball program...
, basketball coach - Kathi BennettKathi Bennett-Biography:Bennett is the daughter of former Green Bay Phoenix, Wisconsin Badgers, and Washington State Cougars head coach Dick Bennett. Her brother is former NBA player and now Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett...
, basketball coach - Tony Bennett, basketball coach
- Webster E. BrownWebster E. BrownWebster Everett Brown was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.Born near Peterboro, New York, in Madison County, Brown moved with his parents to Wisconsin in 1857....
, politician - Thomas CaleThomas CaleThomas Cale was a delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the District of Alaska. He was born in Underhill, Vermont in Chittenden County. He attended the district schools and Bell Academy at Underhill Flats, Vermont. In 1866, he moved to Fort Edward, New York in Washington County...
, U.S. Congressional Delegate from Alaska TerritoryAlaska TerritoryThe Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska... - George W. CateGeorge W. CateGeorge Washington Cate was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.Born in Montpelier, Vermont, Cate attended the common schools.He studied law and was admitted to the bar at Montpelier in April 1844....
, politician - Curt ClausenCurt ClausenCurt Clausen is an American race walker. He placed 4th 50km event in the 1999 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, but after 2 years was later awarded the 3rd place bronze medal, after the winner was stripped of his title for an doping violation.-Achievements:-References:* *...
, American race walker - Michael DombeckMichael DombeckMichael "Mike" P. Dombeck is an American conservationist, educator, scientist, and outdoorsman. He served as Acting Director of the Bureau of Land Management from 1994–1997 and was the 14th Chief of the United States Forest Service from 1997 to 2001...
, former Chief of the U.S. Forest Service - Lawrence EagleburgerLawrence EagleburgerLawrence Sidney Eagleburger was an American statesman and former career diplomat, who served briefly as the United States Secretary of State under President George H. W. Bush. Previously, he had served in lesser capacities under Presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H....
, U.S. Secretary of State - Albert Gallatin EllisAlbert Gallatin Ellis-Biography:Ellis was born in Verona, New York in 1800. An Episcopalian missionary, Ellis moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin with member of the Oneida people to establish a colony and a school. He later became involved in the Public Land Survey System before becoming a publisher of the Green Bay...
, politician - John E. EricksonJohn E. Erickson (Wisconsin politician)John Erickson was a former general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA team and the losing Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Wisconsin in 1970.-Background:...
, NBA executive - Shirlee EmmonsShirlee EmmonsShirlee Emmons was an American classical soprano, voice teacher, and author on vocal pedagogy. She began her career in the early 1940s as a concert soprano, eventually becoming one of the original singers in the Robert Shaw Chorale in 1948. She branched out into opera in the 1950s; performing...
, operatic soprano and celebrated voice teacher - Jim HallJim Hall (boxer)Montague James Furlong , commonly known as Jim Hall, was an Australian middleweight boxer. He won the Australian middleweight title in 1887 before moving to the United States in an attempt to capture the World title from Jack Dempsey...
, professional boxer - Suzy Favor-HamiltonSuzy Favor-HamiltonSuzy Favor-Hamilton is a former American professional middle distance runner.-Biography:Suzy Favor-Hamilton was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin to Conrad and Rachel Favor. She began running at age nine, and then attended and competed at Stevens Point Area Senior High, graduating in 1986...
, runner - Albert W. GrantAlbert W. GrantAlbert Weston Grant was an admiral of the United States Navy during World War I.-Biography:Grant was born on April 14, 1856 at East Benton, Maine. He grew up at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, with his pioneer family and won a competitive appointment to the United States Naval Academy, from which he...
, U.S. Navy Vice Admiral - Don HanawayDon HanawayDonald J. Hanaway was the Attorney General of the State of Wisconsin from 1987 – 1991. He defeated incumbent Democrat Bronson La Follette in 1986, but was himself defeated for re-election by Democrat Jim Doyle in 1990....
, politician/judge - David HelbachDavid HelbachDavid Helbach is an American Democratic politician from Wisconsin.Born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Helbach graduated from Pacelli High School and then received his degree in communications from University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point...
, politician - Joel HodgsonJoel HodgsonJoel Gordon Hodgson is an American writer, comedian and television actor. He is best known for creating Mystery Science Theater 3000 and starring in it as the character Joel Robinson. In 2007 MST3K was listed as "one of the top 100 television shows of all time" by Time.com...
, writer, comedian and actor on Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Kathy KinneyKathy KinneyKathy Kinney is an American actress and comedian. She gained considerable popularity in the late 1990s for playing Mimi Bobeck, the outrageously made-up, flamboyantly vulgar, and vindictive nemesis of Drew Carey on the sitcom The Drew Carey Show...
, actress on the Drew Carey Show - Ross KolodziejRoss KolodziejRoss Anthony Kolodziej is an American football defensive tackle for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
, American football player - Janel McCarvilleJanel McCarvilleJanel McCarville is an American professional basketball player. She currently is suspended from the WNBA's New York Liberty for failure to report to Training Camp on time.-High school years:...
, basketball player - Harry McCurdyHarry McCurdyHarry Henry McCurdy born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin was a catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds ....
, MLB player - Edward McGlachlin, Jr.Edward McGlachlin, Jr.Edward McGlachlin, Jr. was a Major General in the United States Army during World War I. He would be awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his services, including during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and while commanding the 1st Infantry Division....
, U.S. Army Major General - James MillerJames Miller (De La Salle Christian Brother)Brother James Miller F.S.C. was a De La Salle Christian Brother born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin who grew up in Custer, Wisconsin...
, educator - George B. NelsonGeorge B. NelsonGeorge B. Nelson was a Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.-Biography:Nelson was born George Bliss Nelson on May 21, 1876 in Amherst, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and George Washington University Law School and became a member of the Order of the Coif. In 1912, he...
, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court - Jim Newman (actor)Jim Newman (actor)Jim Newman is an American actor, writer, producer, and director. Born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, he currently lives in Burbank, California.He has written animation scripts for Casper, Toonsylvania, and Mega-Babies....
, actor, writer, producer, and director - Joe PavelskiJoe PavelskiJoseph Pavelski is an American professional ice hockey player now playing for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League . He scored a goal in his first NHL game, making him the 11th Sharks player in the history of the team to do so...
, NHL center for the San Jose SharksSan Jose SharksThe San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... - Brandon PetersonBrandon PetersonBrandon Peterson is an American comic book writer and artist. Born and raised in Wisconsin on October 14, 1969. Brandon Peterson is known for his hyper detailed artwork and intricate line work...
, Cartoonist - X-Men, Marvel Comics - Terry PorterTerry PorterTerry Porter is an American professional basketball coach and former player in the National Basketball Association . A native of Wisconsin, he played college basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point before being drafted 24th by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1985 NBA Draft...
, basketball coach and player - Rick ReichardtRick ReichardtFrederic Carl Reichardt was a Major League outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels/California Angels , Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals...
, professional baseball player - Patrick RothfussPatrick RothfussPatrick James Rothfuss is an American fantasy writer and college lecturer. He is the author of the projected three-volume series The Kingkiller Chronicle.- Biography :...
, author, UW–Stevens Point professor - Elmer T. ShannonElmer T. ShannonElmer T. Shannon was an American racecar driver. The 1919 Indianapolis 500 was his only AAA Championship Car race start, though he entered a race at the Sheepshead Bay Race Track later that year but the car did not arrive...
, race car driver - Brad SoderbergBrad SoderbergBrad Soderberg is the men's head basketball coach at Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Missouri Soderberg has been a head coach previously at Saint Louis University, South Dakota State University, Loras College, and as an interim head coach at the University of Wisconsin–Madison...
, basketball coach - Chris SolinskyChris SolinskyChris Solinsky is an American distance runner. Among his more notable achievements, he won eight state championships in high school and five NCAA Division I championships at the University of Wisconsin...
, professional runner - Garrett Weber-GaleGarrett Weber-GaleGarrett Weber-Gale is an American Olympic swimmer who won two gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.-Early life:Weber-Gale is Jewish, and was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He competed for the University of Texas from 2003–07...
, OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Gold medalist - Peter WellerPeter WellerPeter Frederick Weller is an American film and stage actor, director and lecturer.He is best known for his roles as the title character in the first two RoboCop films and Buckaroo Banzai in the cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension...
, actor
Sister cities
CaenCaen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
, France Estelí, Nicaragua Gulcz
Gulcz
Gulcz is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Wieleń, within Czarnków-Trzcianka County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland. It lies approximately east of Wieleń, west of Czarnków, and north-west of the regional capital Poznań....
. Poland Rostov Veliky
Rostov
Rostov is a town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, one of the oldest in the country and a tourist center of the Golden Ring. It is located on the shores of Lake Nero, northeast of Moscow. Population:...
, Russia