Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

History

Beaver Dam was first settled by Thomas Mackie and Joseph Goetschius in 1841, and by 1843 had a population of almost 100. The city was named for an old beaver dam located in a stream flowing into Beaver Dam River. The area had also been known as Okwaanim, Chippewa for beaver dam. The community was incorporated as a city on March 18, 1856. That same year the Milwaukee Railroad reached the area, encouraging further growth.

Beaver Dam hosted a World War II POW camp called Camp Beaver Dam in the summer of 1944. The camp held 300 German prisoners of war in a tent city encampment where the Wayland Academy field house now stands.

Beaver Dam is also home to the Williams Free Library, the first public library in the United States to have open stacks.

Geography and climate

Beaver Dam is located at 43°27′35″N 88°50′9″W (43.459967, −88.836066).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.17 square miles (21.16 km²), of which, 6.79 square miles (17.59 km²) is land and 1.38 square miles (3.57 km²) is water.

Since 1996, the average annual snowfall in Beaver Dam has been 61.7 inches (157 cm). The 2007–2008 winter season was the snowiest on record with 119.7 inches (304 cm).

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 16,214 people, 6,819 households, and 4,113 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,387.9 inhabitants per square mile (922.0/km²). There were 7,326 housing units at an average density of 1,078.9 per square mile (416.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.0% White, 0.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.4% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.5% of the population.

There were 6,819 households of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.7% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 37.7 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,169 people, 6,349 households, and 3,999 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,904.6 people per square mile (1,122.0/km²). There were 6,685 housing units at an average density of 1,280.1 per square mile (494.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.95% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 4.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,349 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,873, and the median income for a family was $46,346. Males had a median income of $33,267 versus $23,513 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,592. About 4.5% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Beaver Dam Unified School District provides public education in the area.

Primary education

Beaver Dam's six public primary schools for K to 5th grades are: Jefferson Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Prairie View Elementary, South Beaver Dam Elementary, Washington Elementary, and Wilson Elementary.

There are two parochial primary schools: St. Katharine Drexel (grades: pre-K to 8th), and St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran (grades: K to 8th).

Middle school

Beaver Dam Middle School is the local public middle school teaching 6th through 8th grades.

Secondary education

Beaver Dam High School is the local public high school; its mascot is The Golden Beaver. An alternative school, the Don Smith Learning Academy, is part of the Beaver Dam Unified School District. The city is also home to Wayland Academy, a private school.

Post-secondary education

The Beaver Dam campus of Moraine Park Technical College is located in the city.

Events

The following events are held each year in Beaver Dam, WI:

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Government

Beaver Dam is represented by Glenn Grothman (R) in the United States House of Representatives, and by Ron Johnson (R) and Tammy Baldwin (D) in the United States Senate. Scott L. Fitzgerald (R) represents Beaver Dam in the Wisconsin State Senate, and Mark Born (R) in the Wisconsin State Assembly.