Westboro, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Westboro is a town in Taylor County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 660 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Westboro
is located in the town. The unincorporated community of Queenstown
is also located in the town.
, the town has a total area of 125.4 square miles (324.9 km²), of which, 124.1 square miles (321.4 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.5 km²) of it (1.07%) is water.
working for the U.S. government walked the six mile squares that would become the town of Westboro. They marked off the outline of the town on foot using compass
and chain
. A crew came back in 1858 to survey all the section lines
. When done, the deputy surveyor filed a general description for each six-mile square. Of them, the description of west-central Westboro (T33N R1W) is clearest:
A different surveyor in 1862 was more enthusiastic about east-central Westboro, the six mile square where most of the population is today:
In 1933 much of the cut-over west half of the town of Westboro was designated part of the Chequamegon National Forest
. Starting that year, a Civilian Conservation Corps
camp at Mondeaux developed the Mondeaux Dam Recreation Area.
of 2000, there were 660 people, 261 households, and 179 families residing in the town. The population density
was 5.3 people per square mile (2.1/km²). There were 371 housing units at an average density of 3.0 per square mile (1.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.18% White, 0.61% African American, 0.15% Asian, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.
There were 261 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples
living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,021, and the median income for a family was $37,031. Males had a median income of $29,886 versus $21,354 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,018. About 6.3% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
Taylor County, Wisconsin
Taylor County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 20,689. Its county seat is Medford.-History:The earliest recorded event in Taylor county probably occurred in 1661, when Wisconsin was part of New France...
, 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 660 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Westboro
Westboro (CDP), Wisconsin
Westboro is an unincorporated census-designated place located in the town of Westboro, Taylor County, Wisconsin, United States. Westboro is located near Wisconsin Highway 13 northwest of Rib Lake. Westboro has a post office with ZIP code 54490. As of the 2010 census, its population is 190....
is located in the town. The unincorporated community of Queenstown
Queenstown, Wisconsin
Queenstown is an unincorporated community located in the town of Westboro, Taylor County, Wisconsin, United States....
is also located in the town.
Geography
Westboro is the largest town in Taylor County. Instead of the typical six miles by six, it is six by twenty miles. 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 town has a total area of 125.4 square miles (324.9 km²), of which, 124.1 square miles (321.4 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.5 km²) of it (1.07%) is water.
History
In 1847, surveyorsSurveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
working for the U.S. government walked the six mile squares that would become the town of Westboro. They marked off the outline of the town on foot using compass
Solar compass
The solar compass, an astronomical instrument, was first invented and made by William Austin Burt. He patented it on February 25, 1836, in the United States Patent Office as No 9428X. It received a medal at the Great Exhibition of 1851...
and chain
Gunter's chain
Gunter's chain is a measuring device used for land survey. It was designed and introduced in 1620 by English clergyman and mathematician Edmund Gunter long before the development of the theodolite and other more sophisticated equipment, enabling plots of land to be accurately surveyed and plotted,...
. A crew came back in 1858 to survey all the section lines
Section (United States land surveying)
In U.S. land surveying under the Public Land Survey System , a section is an area nominally one square mile, containing , with 36 sections making up one survey township on a rectangular grid....
. When done, the deputy surveyor filed a general description for each six-mile square. Of them, the description of west-central Westboro (T33N R1W) is clearest:
This Township contains a few Tamarac and CedarThuja occidentalisThuja occidentalis is an evergreen coniferous tree, in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is widely cultivated for use as an ornamental plant known as American Arbor Vitae. The endemic occurrence of this species is a northeastern distribution in North America...
Swamps of Small extent, most of them unfit for cultivation. The surface is a Rolling Soil first and Second rate. Timber chiefly Hemlock Birch, MapleSugar MapleAcer saccharum is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of northeastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas...
, PineEastern White PinePinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
, Tamarac and Cedar. There is a large WindfallWindthrowIn forestry, windthrow refers to trees uprooted or broken by wind. Breakage of the tree bole instead of uprooting is sometimes called windsnap.- Causes :...
runs across the North West corner bears in South West and North East Direction Timber Decayed and grown to second GrowthSecondary forestA secondary forest is a forest or woodland area which has re-grown after a major disturbance such as fire, insect infestation, timber harvest or windthrow, until a long enough period has passed so that the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident...
PoplerPopulus tremuloidesPopulus tremuloides is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America, commonly called quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, and Quakies,. The trees have tall trunks, up to 25 metres, with smooth pale bark, scarred with black. The glossy green leaves, dull beneath, become golden...
.
There is several creeks in this Township among which is the Yellow RiverYellow River (Chippewa River)The Yellow River in north central Wisconsin is a tributary of the Chippewa River. For the most part it is a mud and rock-bottomed river flowing through forest and farmland...
runs in a North Westerly course across the South West corner of the Township. It is a deep and narrow Stream flows in a gentle current, not good for forming Motive Power for MillWatermillA watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
. There is another Stream of considerable extent enters the Township near the South East corner and runs in a gentle current Northwesterly. It is a deep narrow Stream banks low and principally lined with AlderAlderAlder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
.
A different surveyor in 1862 was more enthusiastic about east-central Westboro, the six mile square where most of the population is today:
A large portion of this Township is valuable for its splendid White Pine, also for its good soil. The surface is rolling and Timber heavy.
In 1933 much of the cut-over west half of the town of Westboro was designated part of the Chequamegon National Forest
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is a 1,530,647 acre U.S. National Forest in northern Wisconsin in the United States. Much of the old growth forest in this region was destroyed by logging in the early part of the 20th century...
. Starting that year, a Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
camp at Mondeaux developed the Mondeaux Dam Recreation Area.
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 660 people, 261 households, and 179 families residing in the town. 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 5.3 people per square mile (2.1/km²). There were 371 housing units at an average density of 3.0 per square mile (1.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.18% White, 0.61% African American, 0.15% Asian, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.
There were 261 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% 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, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,021, and the median income for a family was $37,031. Males had a median income of $29,886 versus $21,354 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 town was $14,018. About 6.3% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.