Clintonville, Wisconsin

History and settlement

In March, 1855 Norman Clinton and his family U. P. Clinton, Boardman Luman, and Mandy settled along the bank of the Pigeon River. They built the first establishment that grew into the city of Clintonville. The home they built was constructed of poles covered with hemlock boughs. It was used until a more suitable home built of logs could be constructed. They had drinking water from two large springs located on the bank of the river “Whose delicious water had flowed unmolested since the creation of the Universe.”

In March 2012, mysterious booms were heard by some in the city. The U.S. Geological Survey detected a 1.5 magnitude microearthquake nearby on March 21 that geophysicists said might have produced the sounds.

Geography

Clintonville is located at 44°37'27" North, 88°45'29" West (44.624051, -88.758073).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.46 square miles (11.55 km²), of which, 4.40 square miles (11.40 km²) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km²) is water.

Airport

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,559 people, 2,002 households, and 1,154 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,036.1 inhabitants per square mile (400.0/km²). There were 2,227 housing units at an average density of 506.1 per square mile (195.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.6% White, 0.3% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.

There were 2,002 households of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.4% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the city was 39.3 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 24% were from 45 to 64; and 18.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,736 people, 2,010 households, and 1,228 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,120.7 people per square mile (432.3/km²). There were 2,147 housing units at an average density of 508.1 per square mile (196.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.00% White, 0.23% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 2.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,010 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,947, and the median income for a family was $40,602. Males had a median income of $32,260 versus $22,192 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,353. 9.5% of the population and 7.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.5% of those under the age of 18 and 13.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Religion

St. Paul Lutheran Church is a church of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Clintonville.

The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company

The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich. Zachow and Besserdich developed and built the first successful four-wheel drive (4x4) car, the "Battleship," in 1908. Its success led to the founding of the company. "Badger" was dropped from the name in 1910, and the name was changed to FWD Corporation in 1958.

Fire truck manufacturing

Clintonville is home to the US Seagrave Fire Apparatus Plant.

Wisconsin Central Airlines

Clintonville's Municipal Airport is historically recognized as the 1944 birthplace of Wisconsin Central Airlines, which evolved to become North Central Airlines and later Republic Airlines. In 1986, Northwest Orient Airlines purchased Republic and was known simply as Northwest Airlines. In 2008, Northwest was merged into Delta Air Lines.

Media

The Clintonville Chronicle, established in 2009, covers Clintonville news and is the recognized newspaper for the City of Clintonville.