Rice Lake, Wisconsin

Rice Lake is a city in Barron County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 9,040. The city is located mostly within the Town of Rice Lake.

History

Rice Lake was named in 1870 after nearby Rice Lake. A post office has been in operation in Rice Lake since 1872.

Geography

Rice Lake is located at (45.498408, -91.738844).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.

Rice Lake is along the Red Cedar River.

Climate

Demographics

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $34,637, and the median income for a family was $53,056. Males had a median income of $40,450 versus $30,211 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,354. About 6.9% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,438 people, 3,936 households, and 2,065 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,239 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, 0.3% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 3,936 households, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.6% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.5% were non-families. 39.3% 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 2.09 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 41.2 years. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 21.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

Infrastructure

U.S. Highway 53, Wisconsin Highway 48, County Road SS (Main Street), and County Road O (South Access Road) are the main routes in the city.

The area is served by Rice Lake Regional Airport - Carl's Field (KRPD), which is located south of Rice Lake.

Rice Lake formerly had passenger rail service at the Rice Lake station.

Education

Public schools

Rice Lake Area School District operates public schools:
* Rice Lake High School
* Northern Lakes Regional Academy
* Rice Lake Middle School
* Haugen Elementary
* Hilltop Elementary
* Tainter Elementary

Private schools

* Redeemer Lutheran School
* St. Joseph School

Post-secondary education

* University of Wisconsin–Barron County
* Northwood Technical College, formerly Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College - Rice Lake Campus

Economy

Rice Lake serves as a shopping, industrial, educational, and medical hub for the surrounding rural communities of Barron, Cameron, Chetek, Shell Lake, Cumberland, Spooner, Ladysmith.

Notable people

* Kenny Bednarek - American sprinter
* John G. Blystone - film director
* Edward R. Brunner - justice of Wisconsin Court of Appeals
* Howard W. Cameron - Wisconsin State Senator
* William M. Conley - federal judge
* William Henry Dietz - college and NFL head coach
* Henry Ellenson - professional basketball player for the New York Knicks
* Foster Friess - businessman
* Eric G. Gibson - Medal of Honor recipient
* Hal Kolstad - MLB player
* Isaac J. Kvam - Wisconsin State Representative
* Dick Lane - announcer, film and television actor
* James P. Leary- folklorist
* Warren D. Leary - Wisconsin State Representative
* Michael A. Lehman - Wisconsin State Representative
* Susan Ludvigson - poet in South Carolina
* Pug Lund - football player
* Harold Olsen - head coach of Ohio State, Northwestern and NBA's Chicago Stags, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
* Clay Perry - MLB player
* Jason Rae - Secretary of Democratic National Committee
* Kapp Rasmussen - Wisconsin State Representative and lawyer
* Fred Thomas - MLB player
* John W. Vaudreuil - U.S. Attorney
* Ann Cameron - children's book author living in Guatemala

Sister cities

Rice Lake has two sister cities:
* Miharu, Japan
* Žamberk, Czech Republic

Local media

* WAQE (AM) 1090, Talk & Sports
* WAQE-FM 97.7, All the Stars, All the Time
* WJMC (AM) 1240, Good Friends and Great Information
* WJMC-FM 96.1, The Best Country Station, Number One
* WKFX FM 99.1, Classic Hits
* WWJP-LP FM 101.7, 3ABN Radio, Christian
* WYRL-LP FM 105.5, Eclectic Music, Local Government Discussion

References

External links

City of Rice Lake

Rice Lake Chamber of Commerce
* Sanborn fire insurance maps
189318991917

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Cities in Wisconsin
Cities in Barron County, Wisconsin