Brandon is a village in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 879 at the 2010 census.

History

Brandon was originally dubbed "Bungtown" in the town's creation in 1856. The

Rens Hemp Company Rens Hemp Company was an American hemp company based in Brandon, Wisconsin. The original mill was destroyed by fire in 1920 and rebuilt later the same year. Rens Hemp Company closed in 1958. Prior to its 1958 shutdown, Rens had been the primary pro ...

of Brandon, Wisconsin, closed in 1958, the last legal hemp producer nationwide in operation following the World Wars. Prior to its 1957 shutdown, Rens had been the primary provider of

hemp rope Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a botanical class of ''Cannabis sativa'' cultivars grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use. It can be used to make a wide range of products. Along with bamboo, hemp is among the fastest growing plants o ...

for the United States Navy.

Geography

Brandon is located at (43.735444, -88.782093). The source of the northernmost West Branch of the Rock River (Mississippi River tributary) is located in the Community Park on the west edge of Brandon. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which, of it is land and is water.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 879 people, 336 households, and 233 families living in the village. The population density was . There were 369 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 94.8% White, 0.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.1% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.0% of the population. There were 336 households, of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.7% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.13. The median age in the village was 38.4 years. 28.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 912 people, 342 households, and 258 families living in the village. The population density was 1,165.9 people per square mile (451.4/km²). There were 357 housing units at an average density of 456.4 per square mile (176.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.78% White, 0.11% Native American, 0.11% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population. There were 342 households, out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were

living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14. In the village, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males. The median income for a household in the village was $43,542, and the median income for a family was $50,227. Males had a median income of $35,595 versus $22,176 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,437. About 4.3% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

* Robert M. Graham, dairyist and legislator * John E. Johnson, legislator * Lester Johnson, U.S. Representative *

Lewis Ralph Jones Lewis Ralph Jones (December 5, 1864 – April 1, 1945) was an American botanist and agricultural biologist. Jones was born in Brandon, Wisconsin. He was a professor of plant pathology from 1904 to 1935 at the University of Wisconsin. Jones was el ...

, botanist * Laura Ramsey, actress *

David Whitton David Whitton (born 22 April 1952) is a Scottish journalist, Labour Party politician and former Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP). He was elected to the Scottish Parliament for Strathkelvin and Bearsden in 2007, defeating the incumbent I ...

, lawyer and legislator *

Andrew J. Yorty Andrew Jackson Yorty (January 4, 1832 – February 20, 1886) was an American politician and businessman. Born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Yorty moved to the Town of Clinton, Wisconsin Territory in 1844 and then to the Town of Metomen, Wiscon ...

, businessman and legislator

Images

File:Brandon Wisconsin Downtown Looking East WIS49.jpg, Looking east at downtown Brandon File:Brandon Wisconsin Post Office.jpg, Post office File:Brandon Wisconsin Sign Looking North WIS49.jpg, Sign File:Brandon Wisconsin Train Depot.jpg, Train depot File:Brandon Wisconsin Welcome Sign.jpg, Welcome sign File:Brandon Fairwater Wisconsin Fire Station.jpg, Fire station

References

External links

Village of Brandon
*Sanborn fire insurance maps
190019081914
{{authority control Villages in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin Villages in Wisconsin Populated places established in 1856 1856 establishments in Wisconsin