Wheatland, Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Wheatland is a town in Kenosha County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 3,292 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Lily Lake
, New Munster
, and Slades Corners
are located in the town.
Settlement in the town is centered along 328th Avenue (Kenosha County Highway W) north of 60th Street (Kenosha County Highway K). The former Wisconsin Central Railway Chicago-Twin Cities main line (now the Canadian National Railway
) also runs through the town; a passenger and freight station used was located here well into the 20th century.
, the town has a total area of 24.0 square miles (62.2 km2), of which, 23.5 square miles (61.0 km2) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km2) of it (1.96%) is water.
is named.
When the Town of Wheatland was formed, it was originally in Racine County. On January 30, 1850 the town was transferred to Kenosha County, where it remains today.
of 2000, there were 3,292 people, 1,209 households, and 893 families residing in the town. The population density
was 139.8 people per square mile (54.0/km2). There were 1,379 housing units at an average density of 58.6 per square mile (22.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.12% White, 0.49% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.27% from other races
, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 1,209 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,386, and the median income for a family was $61,797. Males had a median income of $43,000 versus $27,917 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,299. About 3.5% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
touched down
in the town on January 7, 2008. The tornado was rated EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale
, with winds estimated at 140-150 mph. Its path covered 10.8 miles (17.4 km) and was 200 yards (182.9 m) wide, demolishing 25 house
s and damaging about 100 more. This left 160 people homeless or unable to return to their homes. The damage was estimated at $18 million.
Kenosha County, Wisconsin
-Demographics: As of the census of 2000, there were 149,577 people, 56,057 households, and 38,455 families residing in the county. The population density was 548 people per square mile . There were 59,989 housing units at an average density of 220 per square mile...
, 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 3,292 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Lily Lake
Lily Lake, Wisconsin
Lily Lake is a census-designated place in the town of Wheatland, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 477 as of the 2010 census....
, New Munster
New Munster, Wisconsin
New Munster is an unincorporated community in the Town of Wheatland in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States.-Notes:...
, and Slades Corners
Slades Corners, Wisconsin
Slades Corners is a small unincorporated residential and agricultural community located on Old Highway 50 and 400th Avenue in the southwestern Kenosha County, Wisconsin town of Wheatland. Slades Corners is named for Tom Slade, an early resident who settled there in approximately 1840, eight years...
are located in the town.
Settlement in the town is centered along 328th Avenue (Kenosha County Highway W) north of 60th Street (Kenosha County Highway K). The former Wisconsin Central Railway Chicago-Twin Cities main line (now the 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"....
) also runs through the town; a passenger and freight station used was located here well into the 20th century.
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 town has a total area of 24.0 square miles (62.2 km2), of which, 23.5 square miles (61.0 km2) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km2) of it (1.96%) is water.
History
The first settlers in Wheatland were Schuyler Bonday in August, 1837 and Adolph Reitbrook in September, 1837. Wheatland was formed on May 7, 1842. Its name is derived from the wheat, which was said to grow well in the rich soil in the area. The first constable was James B. Powers, for whom Powers LakePowers Lake, Wisconsin
Powers Lake is a census-designated place in Kenosha and Walworth Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 1,615.-Geography:...
is named.
When the Town of Wheatland was formed, it was originally in Racine County. On January 30, 1850 the town was transferred to Kenosha County, where it remains today.
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 3,292 people, 1,209 households, and 893 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 139.8 people per square mile (54.0/km2). There were 1,379 housing units at an average density of 58.6 per square mile (22.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.12% White, 0.49% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.27% 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 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 1,209 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% 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, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,386, and the median income for a family was $61,797. Males had a median income of $43,000 versus $27,917 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 $21,299. About 3.5% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
January 2008 tornado
A tornadoTornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
touched down
January 2008 tornado outbreak sequence
-January 7 event:-January 8 event:-January 10 event:-January 11 event:-Non-tornadic events:The storm system was also responsible for heavy flooding rains across much of the Midwest from Michigan to Missouri as well as dense fog across Wisconsin, Ontario and Quebec which was caused by rapid snow...
in the town on January 7, 2008. The tornado was rated EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale
Enhanced Fujita Scale
The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...
, with winds estimated at 140-150 mph. Its path covered 10.8 miles (17.4 km) and was 200 yards (182.9 m) wide, demolishing 25 house
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
s and damaging about 100 more. This left 160 people homeless or unable to return to their homes. The damage was estimated at $18 million.
External links
- Town of Wheatland information from Kenosha County website
- Town of Wheatland in the Dictionary of Wisconsin History