Hortonville is a village in

Outagamie County Outagamie County is a county in the northeast region of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 190,705. Its county seat is Appleton. Outagamie County is included in the Appleton, WI Metropolitan Statistical ...

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 2,711 at the 2010 census. Hortonville is located in the Fox Cities region and the Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI CSA, the third largest metropolitan area in Wisconsin.

History

In 1848, a man by the name of

Alonzo Horton Alonzo Eratus Horton (October 24, 1813 – January 7, 1909) was an American real estate developer in the nineteenth century. The Horton Plaza mall in downtown San Diego is named for him. Early life Horton was born 1813 in Union, Connecticut ...

purchased 1,500 acres from the

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

of Wisconsin, now known as the Town of Hortonia and the Village of Hortonville, for only 70 cents per acre. The first thing Horton did was build a cabin; by damming the Black Otter Creek, which created the Black Otter Lake. After laying out a plat for the community by buying land and platting it off in 1849, Horton was swayed westward by the

California Gold Rush The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) was a gold rush that began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California f ...

. He later developed the city of

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United Stat ...

. On August 11, 1894, the settlement was incorporated as the Village of Hortonville. At that time, it had one of the first match light factories in the world. During

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 World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, a German POW camp was established in Hortonville along County Hwy MM on the north side of the village. On March 18, 1974, the teachers at the Hortonville Community School went on strike, an event that received national news coverage. In 1981, the Hortonville Community Hall, now known as the Hortonville Opera House, was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

Geography

Hortonville is located at (44.335196, -88.638847). 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 th ...

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

Black Otter Lake

The community is located on the shores of the Black Otter Lake. It is drained by Black Otter Creek, which flows into the Wolf River just north of the village. The total watershed for the lake is estimated to be . The Black Otter is the only public access lake in

. Because of this, it receives substantial recreational use, primarily by anglers, throughout the year. Fish species in the lake include:

bluegill The bluegill (''Lepomis macrochirus''), sometimes referred to as "bream", "brim", "sunny", or "copper nose" as is common in Texas, is a species of North American freshwater fish, native to and commonly found in streams, rivers, lakes, ponds an ...

largemouth bass The largemouth bass (''Micropterus salmoides'') is a carnivorous freshwater gamefish in the Centrarchidae ( sunfish) family, a species of black bass native to the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada and northern Mexico, ...

black crappie The black crappie (''Pomoxis nigromaculatus'') is a freshwater fish found in North America, one of the two types of crappies. It is very similar to the white crappie in size, shape, and habits, except that it is darker, with a pattern of black ...

, yellow perch, northern pike and catfish. The village maintains: two public boat launches, a kayak launch, fishing pier and three parks along the shores of the lake.

Wolf River

The village is located approximately 2 miles south of the Wolf River. Buchman Access, a public boat launch, is located along County M. The river is also the border between the Town of Hortonia and the Town of Liberty.

Demographics

Hortonville is a part of the Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah CSA, a

Combined Statistical Area Combined statistical area (CSA) is a United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) term for a combination of adjacent metropolitan statistical area, metropolitan (MSA) and micropolitan statistical areas (µSA) across the 50 US states and ...

that includes the Appleton, Wisconsin metropolitan area (Calumet and Outagamie counties) and Oshkosh-Neenah (Winnebago County) metropolitan areas, which had a combined population of 358,365 at the 2000 census.

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 inc ...

of 2010, there were 2,711 people, 1,045 households, and 766 families residing in the village. 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 RosenberPopu ...

was . There were 1,105 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 96.9%

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 ...

, 0.2%

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 ...

, 0.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, 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 viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population. There were 1,045 households, of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% 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 ...

living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.7% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age in the village was 36.7 years. 26.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 11.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

2000 census

At the 2000

, there were 2,357 people, 871 households and 634 families residing in the village. The

was 868.2 per square mile (335.8/km²). There were 904 housing units at an average density of 333.0 per square mile (128.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.99%

, 0.13%

, 0.04% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population. There were 871 households, of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were

living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.21. 29.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males. The

median household income The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two equal groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways ...

was $51,635 and the median family income was $55,298. Males had a median income of $41,689 compared with $24,680 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 village was $20,277. About 4.4% of families and 6.9% 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 ...

, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Roads

Airports

* Appleton International Airport (ATW), is located 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Hortonville, and provides commercial airline service to the village. *Black Otter Airport (9WI1) is a privately owned grass strip, located just east of the Black Otter Lake. Permission is required to land here.

Rail

The fox valley and lake superior rail system operates the former Canadian National railway tracks which is also the former Fox Valley & Western Railroad track along the southern edge of the village, with a

freight station A goods station (also known as a goods yard or goods depot) or freight station is, in the widest sense, a railway station where, either exclusively or predominantly, goods (or freight), such as merchandise, parcels, and manufactured items, are lo ...

near S Nash Street. It also operates 3 crossings - one at W Main Street/ WIS 15, another at S Lincoln Street, and a third at S Nash Street.

Religion

The

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), also referred to simply as the Wisconsin Synod, is an American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwauk ...

has a church in Hortonville: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, which dedicated a new church in April 2018. Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Community, a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

church, has been in Hortonville since 1897.

Education

The Hortonville Area School District, which includes a high school, two middle schools and three elementary schools, serves the village and the surrounding communities. Bethlehem Lutheran School is a 4K-8th grade Christian school of the

in Hortonville.

Local Businesses

Businesses

*Brick's Hortonville Hardware *Gardan Inc. *Gilbert's Sentry Foods *Heritage Animal Hospital *Smiles By Design *Wolf River Community Bank

Local Bars & Restaurants

*Alley Cat Coffeehouse *Black Otter Supper Club *Charlie's Drive-In *Damn Yankees Watering Hole *Hardtails Saloon *Hog Haven Saloon *Loose Wheel Supper Club *Otter Creek Bar & Grill *Pork's Sports Bar & Grill

Parks

*Alonzo Park, located along East Main Street, features a playground, covered pavilion with tables, and a grass walking trail through the woods. *Miller Park, located along West Main Street near the Black Otter Creek, offers a playground, two tennis courts and a baseball diamond. *Black Otter Park is located along West Main Street, and features a lonesome covered picnic table, as well as a kayak launch for access to the Black Otter Lake. *Commercial Club Park is a privately-owned park located along County Highway M, and features a playground, pavilion, baseball diamond, and a basketball court.

Points of interest

* Black Otter Lake * Eagle Creek and Grand View Golf Clubs * Wiouwash State Trail * Wolf River

Notable people

* Dave Gassner, professional baseball player * David Hodgins, Wisconsin legislator * Isaac N. McComb, Wisconsin legislator and physician * Charlie Nagreen, inventor of the hamburger *

Gerald Nye Gerald Prentice Nye (December 19, 1892 – July 17, 1971) was an American politician who represented North Dakota in the United States Senate from 1925 to 1945. He was a Republican and supporter of World War II-era isolationism, chairing the N ...

, U.S. Senator from

North Dakota North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minnesota to the east, ...

* Alexander B. Whitman, Wisconsin legislator

Images

File:HortonvilleWisconsinDowntown1WIS15.jpg, Looking east at downtown Hortonville File:HortonvilleHighSchoolWisconsin2.jpg, Hortonville High School File:HortonvilleWisconsinSignWIS15.jpg, Welcome sign File:HortonvilleCommunityHallWIS15.jpg, Hortonville Community Hall, on the

References

External links

Village of Hortonville

Hortonville Public Library
* Sanborn fire insurance maps
189419011909
{{authority control Populated places established in 1848 Villages in Outagamie County, Wisconsin Villages in Wisconsin 1848 establishments in Wisconsin Appleton–Fox Cities metropolitan area