Medford, Wisconsin

History

Medford was named after Medford, Massachusetts in 1875, the hometown of a railroad official. The Wisconsin central railroad determined the site of the courthouse. In 1875 an election was held, to choose between two offered sites.

Geography

Medford is located at 45°8′16″N 90°20′42″W (45.137994, −90.345227.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.54 square miles (11.76 km²), of which, 4.51 square miles (11.68 km²) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km²) is water. There are over 4,000 people in the city of Medford.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,326 people, 1,982 households, and 1,094 families residing in the city. The population density was 959.2 inhabitants per square mile (370.3/km²). There were 2,127 housing units at an average density of 471.6 per square mile (182.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 0.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 1,982 households of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.8% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 43 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 21.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,350 people. The population density was 1,243.9 people per square mile (479.9/km²). There were 2,034 housing units at an average density of 581.6 per square mile (224.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.69% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.02% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,947 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city, the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,278, and the median income for a family was $47,045. Males had a median income of $31,840 versus $23,955 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,962. About 4.3% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Medford has a mayor-council form of government. The mayor is elected for a two-year term. Each of the four city districts is represented by an alderperson, with two elected to two-year terms in alternating years.

Medford City Park

Medford City Park, the city’s principal community park, was established in 1890 and consists of 100 acres (0.40 km²). An extensive redevelopment program for the park was initiated in 1979. Equipment and facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, with dressing area and wading pool, playground equipment, four park shelters, two restroom facilities, one tennis court, four volleyball courts, one basketball court, two softball fields, a concession stand, nine recreation vehicle camping facilities, a skatepark, the "River Walk" which parallels the Black River for the majority of its way through the city, and picnic and barbecue areas along the walkway. The 19-acre (77,000 m²) Medford millpond has been periodically dredged of sedimentation in an effort to improve fish habitat in the pond.

Grahl Park

Grahl Park consists of 7 acres (0.028 km²) and is designed as an integral part of a residential subdivision and has pedestrian access points to surrounding neighborhoods from the west, north, and east. It has a Little League baseball field, basketball court, restroom facilities, park shelter, and playground equipment.

Pine Line Trail

The southern trailhead of Wisconsin's Pine Line Trail, lies within Medford. The Pine Line Trail is an unpaved, multi-use rail-trail extending just over 26 miles (42 km) to Prentice.

Curling Club

The Medford Curling Club is located on the south side of the city. The Mixed National Championships were most recently held here in 2009. There are four sheets of ice, a changing room, and a warming area inside.

Golf courses

The city has two golf courses, the Tee-Hi Golf Course and the Black River Golf Club.

Airport

Medford is served by the Taylor County Airport (KMDZ). It is located approximately three miles southeast of Medford. The airport handles approximately 7,000 operations per year, with roughly 93% general aviation and 7% air taxi. The airport has two asphalt runways; a 6,000 foot runway with approved GPS approaches (Runway 9-27) and a 4,435 foot crosswind runway, also with GPS approaches, (Runway 16-34).

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Health care

Aspirus Medford Hospital is a health care organization that operates a hospital, clinics, senior care facilities, and a skilled nursing care and rehabilitation facility in the Medford area. Featuring and extensive renovation done within the last 10 years, Memorial Health Center has been promoted to feature an Aspirus Heart and Vascular Institute.