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Stevens Point is a city in
Portage County, Wisconsin Portage County is a county (United States), county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of th2020 census the population was 70,377. Its county seat is Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Stevens Point. Portage County comprises the Stevens Point, WI Micr ...
, United States, and its
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
. Its population was 25,666 at the 2020 census. It forms the core of the Stevens Point micropolitan statistical area, which had a population of 70,377 in 2020. Stevens Point was incorporated in 1858. The city is home to the
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point The University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (UW–Stevens Point or UWSP) is a public university in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States. Established in 1894, it is part of the University of Wisconsin System. UW-Stevens Point grants associ ...
and a campus of Mid-State Technical College.


History

Historically part of the
Menominee The Menominee ( ; meaning ''"Menominee People"'', also spelled Menomini, derived from the Ojibwe language word for "Wild Rice People"; known as ''Mamaceqtaw'', "the people", in the Menominee language) are a federally recognized tribe of Na ...
homelands, a three-mile strip along the
Wisconsin River The Wisconsin River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, at approximately 430 miles (692 km) long. As a tributary of the Mississippi River, it is part of the Mississippi River System. The river's name was first recorded in 1673 b ...
was ceded to the United States in an 1836 treaty. In 1854 the Menominee made its last treaty with the U.S., gathering on a reservation on the Wolf River. In the Menominee language it is called ''Pasīpahkīhnen'' which means "It juts out as land" or "point of land". Stevens Point was named after George Stevens, who operated a grocery and supply business on the
Wisconsin River The Wisconsin River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, at approximately 430 miles (692 km) long. As a tributary of the Mississippi River, it is part of the Mississippi River System. The river's name was first recorded in 1673 b ...
during the extensive logging of interior Wisconsin. The river was used by logging companies to float logs to market. Loggers on the river found this a convenient stopping point, as the river bends slightly and the operation was from far upstream. The town developed from Stevens's post and was named for him. In 1845, the postal service came to Stevens Point and with this improvement in communications, the population tripled within 20 years. In 1847, the first plat was laid out of what became the City of Stevens Point, including the Public Square. The town square was originally an area next to the Wisconsin River where professionals, craftsmen, businessmen, and loggers gathered before their river journeys, bringing revenue to the area. As years went by, the area around the town square grew as logging increased. Most buildings were first built with readily available wood. Many cases of early fires were reported from 1850–1890. Around 1880, buildings began to be built of brick and sandstone. In 1916, Lyric Theater was built. It was demolished later.


Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city encompasses , including of land of water. The communities of
Plover Plovers ( , ) are members of a widely distributed group of wader, wading birds of subfamily Charadriinae. The term "plover" applies to all the members of the subfamily, though only about half of them include it in their name. Species lis ...
, Whiting and Park Ridge are adjacent to the city. The city's main hydrology includes the Wisconsin River to the west and the Plover River, which joins the Wisconsin from the northeast at a point to the south, and which supplies much of the urban area's water.


Climate


Demographics


2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 25,666. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), 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 geog ...
was . There were 11,386 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 85.6%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 4.8% Asian, 2.7%
Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
or
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.6% Native American, 1.3% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 4.1%
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race. The 2020 census population of the city included 40 people incarcerated in adult correctional facilities and 2,595 people in student housing. According to
American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...
estimates for 2016-20, the median income for a household in the city was $46,663, and the median income for a family was $73,009. Male full-time workers had a median income of $48,618 versus $32,409 for female workers. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
was $26,127. About 7.0% of families and 19.3% 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 11.4% of those under 18 and 8.6% of those 65 or older. Of the population 25 and older, 93.4% were high school graduates or higher and 38.1% had a bachelor's degree or higher.


2010 census

As of the 2010 census 26,717 people, 10,598 households, and 4,944 families residing in the city. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), 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 geog ...
was . They occupied 11,220 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 91.7%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 0.9%
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.4% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race was 2.6% of the population. Among households, 21.7% had children under the age of 18, 34.9% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 53.3% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% 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 2.87. The median age in the city was 26.5 years. 16% of residents were under the age of 18; 31.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 18.5% were from 45 to 64; and 12% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.


Religion

The mother house of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis was in Stevens Point. Catholic parishes in the city include Holy Spirit, St. Stephen, St. Casimir, St. Peter, and St. Joseph. Lutheran and other Protestant churches are also present, along with members of the
Baháʼí Faith The Baháʼí Faith is a religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the Baháʼí Faith and the unity of religion, essential worth of all religions and Baháʼí Faith and the unity of humanity, the unity of all people. Established by ...
. A wide variety of Catholic and Protestant churches spread throughout Stevens Point. Many of those churches date back to the early 20th century. Within the past century, other religious groups have made their mark on Stevens Point.


Economy

Major employers in the area include Pixelle Specialty Solutions
paper mill A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags, and other ingredients. Prior to the invention and adoption of the Fourdrinier machine and other types of paper machine that use an endless belt ...
, Associated Banc-Corp, Sentry Insurance, Travel Guard (travel and insurance), Donaldson Company, Skyward (software design), Lands' End,
Canadian National Railway The Canadian National Railway Company () is a Canadian Class I freight railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, which serves Canada and the Midwestern and Southern United States. CN is Canada's largest railway, in terms of both revenue a ...
, Delta Dental of Wisconsin, Worzalla Publishing, Mason Companies (formerly known as Figis), Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Herrschners, and the Stevens Point Brewery. Companies with corporate headquarters in the city include Sentry Insurance, Ki Mobility, Delta Dental of Wisconsin, and Skyward. Associated Bank, Canadian National, AIG, and the Donaldson Company have regional headquarters in Stevens Point. Business developments in the area include Crossroads Commons, Portage County Business Park, Venture Drive and Corporate Center, Stevens Point Industrial Park, Eastridge, Parkdale Plazas, Stevens Points East Side and Downtown Stevens Point. At one time,
Midstate Airlines Midstate Airlines (also known as Mid-State Airlines and Midstate Air Commuter (MAC)) was an airline with its headquarters in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States. History It was founded by Roy P. Shwery in 1964 and provided air service out ...
had its headquarters in Stevens Point.


Arts and culture

Stevens Point is home to a community theater group, Central Wisconsin Area Community Theatre (cwACT); a children's museum; and a group of museums run by the Portage County Historical Society, including the Beth Israel Congregation Museum, in the former synagogue. (The synagogue has been defunct since 1985.) Religion plays a significant role in the community. In 1847, the first recorded religious service was held near the town square with a pastor from Norway. As time went by, more religions joined the town square, and by 1900, Catholic, Lutheran, and Methodist churches and Jewish synagogues were established within one mile of the downtown area. The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra (CWSO) presents four concerts each season. Most events happen near the downtown area, many at the town square, which was rebuilt in 2011. These include the annual Riverfront Rendezvous, Corn on the Curb, sculpture park summer celebration, Fourth of July parade, Krazy Days and Gather at the River. The downtown area was designated a "Wisconsin Main Street Community" and offers specialty shops and restaurants. Buildings in downtown Stevens Point are made from materials including
Lake Superior Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface areaThe Caspian Sea is the largest lake, but is saline, not freshwater. Lake Michigan–Huron has a larger combined surface area than Superior, but is normally considered tw ...
limestone, brick, and red granite. City and county administrative offices are downtown, as are a bank regional headquarters and two insurance companies. Downtown also offers night life on "the Square" that is popular with college students and a
farmers' market A farmers' market (or farmers market according to the AP stylebook, also farmer's market in the Cambridge Dictionary) is a physical retail marketplace intended to sell foods directly by farmers to consumers. Farmers' markets may be indoors or ...
that has been selling fresh produce for over 100 years. The farmers' market is open early summer through early fall. Stevens Point hosts the world's largest trivia contest, run by UWSP's radio station, WWSP-FM. The contest, which typically involves over 12,000 contestants on more than 400 teams, is held every year in April and lasts 54 consecutive hours, from Friday to Sunday. The city was the setting for the first three seasons of the
Disney Channel Disney Channel is an American pay television television channel, channel that serves as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company ...
series '' Liv and Maddie''. The progressive bluegrass band Horseshoes and Hand Grenades was formed in Stevens Point.


Parks and recreation

The area hosts 20 developed
park A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...
s and a bicycle and jogging trail (the Green Circle Trail) that surrounds and winds through the city. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail also runs through the city. An 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed public
golf course A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, tee box, a #Fairway and rough, fairway, the #Fairway and rough, rough and other hazard (golf), hazards, and ...
, SentryWorld, is at the Sentry Insurance Home Office. The Schmeeckle Reserve, a nature reserve, is on the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point campus. Right outside of Schmeeckle is the Stevens Point Sculpture Park, which displays sculpture by local artists. The area also has Goerke Park, which includes a football stadium where high school and college athletes compete. An outdoor track is used by the same groups. The Backwaters Paddle Quest canoe adventure challenge has been held in Stevens Point on the Wisconsin River since 2002, usually during the second week of August. Players paddle their crafts over two days past checkpoints along the river, encountering characters who act out a storyline that continues year to year. Iverson Park is a recreational park course that lies on the green circle trail and Plover River in Stevens Point. It spans over 100 acres, and contains a swimming area, hiking trails, and canoe and recreation activities rental.


Education

The Stevens Point Area Public School District serves the city, as do the Pacelli Catholic Schools and Point of Discovery School. Public elementary schools (K-6) include Bannach, Jefferson School for the Arts, Kennedy, Madison, McDill, McKinley, Roosevelt, Plover-Whiting, and Washington Service-Learning Center. There are two junior high schools (7-9), Ben Franklin and P. J. Jacobs, and two high schools, Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) (10-12) and Charles F. Fernandez Center for Alternative Learning. Parochial schools include St. Paul Lutheran School (Pre-K–8), St. Joseph Early Childhood Center, St. Bronislava (K-4) St. St. Stephen Elementary School (K-4) Pacelli Catholic Middle School (5-8), and Pacelli High School (9-12). The city serves as the hub of the Portage County Public Library, which provides educational resources and programming for adults, young adults, and children. Stevens Point is home to the
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point The University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (UW–Stevens Point or UWSP) is a public university in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States. Established in 1894, it is part of the University of Wisconsin System. UW-Stevens Point grants associ ...
(UWSP). The university enrolls approximately 7,313 undergraduate and 651 graduate students. Mid-State Technical College (MSTC) is also in the city.


Transportation


Major highways

Five major roads pass through Stevens Point: * Northbound I-39 routes to Wausau. Southbound, it routes to Madison and Bloomington. * travels east to Manitowoc and Bay City and west to Fargo. * Northbound US 51 routes to Hurley. Southbound, US 51 routes to
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Baton Rouge ( ; , ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It had a population of 227,470 at the 2020 United States census, making it List of municipalities in Louisiana, Louisiana's second-m ...
. * travels east to Green Bay and west to Onalaska. * travels east to Rosholt and west to Wisconsin Rapids.


Airports

The city is served by two airports. Commercial service is available through
Central Wisconsin Airport Central Wisconsin Airport , referred to as "C-Way", is a public airport located southeast of the central business district of Mosinee, in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is owned by Marathon County and Portage County. It is in ...
(KCWA), located midway between Stevens Point and Wausau, in Mosinee. CWA is served by two major airlines. General aviation, charter flights and air cargo operators use the local Stevens Point Municipal Airport (KSTE).


Public transit

Stevens Point Transit system provides public transportation. Lamers Bus Lines and Van Galder Bus Company provide intercity bus service.


Notable people

* Cole Caufield,
NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
player * Pat Friday, baseball executive for the
Kansas City Athletics The Kansas City Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1955 to 1967, having previously played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Philadelphia Athletics. After moving in 1967, the team became the ...
* Suzy Favor Hamilton, middle distance runner, NCAA champion, 3-time Olympian * Sam Hauser,
NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
player * Joel Hodgson, writer, comedian, and actor; creator of ''
Mystery Science Theater 3000 ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (abbreviated as ''MST3K'') is an American science fiction comedy television series created by Joel Hodgson. The show premiered on WUCW, KTMA-TV (now WUCW) in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on November 24, 1988. It then ...
'' * Ian Holland, first class cricketer for
Victoria cricket team The Victoria cricket team is an Australian first-class cricket, first-class men's cricket team based in the Australian state of Victoria (state), Victoria. The men’s team, which first played in 1851, represents the state of Victoria (Austral ...
, and
Hampshire County Cricket Club Hampshire County Cricket Club is one of eighteen first-class cricket, first-class county cricket, county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales. It represents the Historic counties of England, historic county of Hamp ...
*
Kathy Kinney Kathy Kinney (born 1954) is an American actress and comedian. After appearing as Prudence Godard on the CBS sitcom ''Newhart'' (1989–1990), she achieved fame with her portrayal of Mimi Bobeck on ABC's ''The Drew Carey Show'' (1995–2004). ...
, actress and comedian *
Ben Kissel Benjamin Grant Kissel (born July 21, 1981) is an American podcaster, and the host of the ''OK Bud!'' podcast. Prior to ''OK Bud!'', he co-hosted '' The Last Podcast on the Left'' which discussed serial killers, dark history, and true crime sto ...
, former co-host of The Last Podcast on the Left * Ross Kolodziej, NFL player and coach * Janel McCarville, WNBA player * Harry McCurdy, Major League Baseball catcher * James Miller, Catholic teacher and missionary * Ben Provisor, Olympic wrestler * Peggy Rajski, Oscar-winning filmmaker, and activist * Ryan Ramczyk, NFL player * Rick Reichardt, former MLB player * Patrick Rothfuss, author * Chris Solinsky, NCAA champion distance runner * Garrett Weber-Gale (born 1985), Olympic swimmer *
Peter Weller Peter Francis Weller (born June 24, 1947) is an American actor and television director. He has appeared in more than 70 films and television series, including ''RoboCop'' (1987) and its sequel ''RoboCop 2'' (1990), in which he played RoboCop ( ...
, actor, director, and art historian * Chet Yorton, professional bodybuilder


Sister cities

* Gulcz,
Greater Poland Voivodeship Greater Poland Voivodeship ( ) is a Voivodeships of Poland, voivodeship, or province, in west-central Poland. The province is named after the region called Greater Poland (''Wielkopolska'' ). The modern province includes most of this historic re ...
, Poland * Rostov Veliky,
Yaroslavl Oblast Yaroslavl Oblast is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast), which is located in the Central Federal District, surrounded by the Tver Oblast, Tver, Moscow Oblast, Moscow, Ivanovo Oblast, Ivanovo, Vladimir Oblast, Vlad ...
, Russia


See also

* Linwood Springs Research Station


References


External links

* *
City of Stevens Point

Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
{{Authority control Micropolitan areas of Wisconsin County seats in Wisconsin Cities in Portage County, Wisconsin Populated places established in 1858 1858 establishments in Wisconsin Academic enclaves Cities in Wisconsin