Wautoma is a city in Waushara County,

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

, United States. The population was 2,218 at the 2010 census. Wautoma is the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of Waushara County. The city consists of three noncontiguous areas: one is entirely within the Town of Wautoma, the second is entirely within the Town of Dakota, and the third straddles the boundary between the two towns. Wautoma calls itself the "

Christmas tree A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer, such as a spruce, pine or fir, or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of Christmas. The custom was further developed in early modern ...

capital of the world". The Kirk Company of

Tacoma, Washington Tacoma ( ) is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. A port city, it is situated along Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, Washington, Olympia, and northwest of Mount ...

, operated the "Wautoma plantation" of more than of Christmas trees, beginning in 1953. On August 29, 1992, the town was struck by a half-mile wide F-3 tornado, killing 2 people, injuring 30 others, and causing over $5 million in damage.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2010, there were 2,218 people, 945 households, and 487 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was . There were 1,061 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.3%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 1.4%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.7% Native American, 0.4%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 6.3% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 2.9% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 15.8% of the population. There were 945 households, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.6% 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, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.5% were non-families. 44.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 3.13. The median age in the city was 35.4 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.2% were from 25 to 44; 22.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.5% male and 49.5% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 1,998 people, 806 households, and 429 families living in the city. The

was 800.8 people per square mile (308.6/km²). There were 877 housing units at an average density of 351.5 per square mile (135.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.04%

, 1.10%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...

, 0.70% Native American, 0.85%

, 2.00% from

, and 1.30% from two or more races. 7.21% of the population were

of any race. There were 806 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were

living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.7% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 3.04. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $31,723, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $27,546 versus $19,648 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $16,006. About 5.2% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Wautoma is served by the Wautoma Municipal Airport .

Media

News media

* The '' Waushara Argus'' is the weekly newspaper.

Radio

WAUH WAUH (102.3 FM broadcasting, FM) is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format. Licensed to Wautoma, Wisconsin, United States, the station is currently owned by Hometown Broadcasting, LLC. The transmitter is located west of Redgranite, Wis ...

radio broadcasts at 102.3 FM.

High school sports

Wautoma High School has won five state championships, three in boys' track and field, one in boys' basketball, and one in football. In 1980, Wautoma High School won the Class B State Basketball Championship.

Notable people

Jared Abbrederis Jared Ryan Abbrederis (born December 17, 1990) is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Wisconsin and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He was also a member of th ...

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team play their home games at Ford ...

, and

Wisconsin Badgers The Wisconsin Badgers are the athletic teams representing the University of Wisconsin–Madison (University of Wisconsin). They compete as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level (Football Bowl Subdivisi ...

wide receiver * Robert E. Behnke, Wisconsin State Representative *

William Belter William N. Belter (July 7, 1926 – December 12, 1999) was an American lawyer, businessman, and politician. He represented Green Lake and Waushara counties in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1953 to 1957. Biography Born in Wausau, Wiscon ...

, Wisconsin State Representative * Robyn J. Blader, U.S. National Guard general * George M. Byse, Wisconsin State Representative * Boyd A. Clark, Wisconsin State Representative and jurist * Richard W. Hubbell, Wisconsin State Representative * Edward F. Kileen, Wisconsin State Senator *

Robert L. D. Potter Robert Lewis Dorr Potter (February 5, 1833November 2, 1893) was an American lawyer, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served four years as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Waushara County and central Wisconsi ...

, Wisconsin State Senator Jon Wilcox Wisconsin State Representative, Wisconsin Chief Judge, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice * June Wandrey,

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

veteran, writer * William C. Webb, Wisconsin and Kansas politician and jurist

Images

File:Wautoma sign.jpg, Road sign, looking west down Highway 21 File:Wautoma city hall.jpg, Wautoma City Hall File:Waushara County Courthouse.jpg, Waushara County courthouse File:Wautoma Wisconsin Sign Looking West WIS21.jpg, Looking west at the sign for Wautoma File:Wautoma Wisconsin Public Library.jpg, Public library File:Wautoma Wisconsin High School.jpg, Wautoma High School File:Waushara Training School Wautoma Wisconsin.jpg, The former Waushara Training School in Wautoma

References

External links

*
Wautoma Public Library

Wautoma Farmer's Union
* Sanborn fire insurance map
1911
{{authority control Cities in Waushara County, Wisconsin Cities in Wisconsin County seats in Wisconsin