Waupun is a city in

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and Fond du Lac counties in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

. The population was 11,344 at the 2020 census. Of this, 7,795 were in Dodge County, and 3,549 were in Fond du Lac County. In Fond du Lac County, the Town of Waupun abuts the city of Waupun.

History

Founding

Waupun was founded in 1839 by Seymour Wilcox, the first settler along the Rock River in what was then deciduous forested land. Wilcox chose the land on recommendation of John Bannister, the first surveyor of Fond du Lac County, who reported to the government office in Green Bay that "the Rock River Valley was the most beautiful and fertile he had ever seen."''The First Hundred Years: A History of Waupun, 1839-1939''. Scott, Edith Moul, 1939. Wilcox surveyed the land himself in late fall of 1838, returning to Green Bay for the winter. In February 1839 he returned to the plot he laid out accompanied by two men, John N. Ackerman and Hiram Walker, who were interested in the powerful river and fertile land. They quickly nailed together a shanty to four bur oaks and began building a suitable cabin for the Wilcox homestead. Leaving Ackerman and Walker to finish, Wilcox returned to Green Bay to bring his family to their new home. They reached Waupun on March 20, 1839. Waupun comes from the Ojibwe word "Waubun" which means "the east," "the morning," "the twilight of dawn" and "dawn of day." Waupun was originally supposed to be named "Waubun" but the state of Wisconsin made a spelling error, and Waupun never bothered to change it. An adjacent town with the same name was changed along with the village.

Early history

The first town election took place in 1842 at the Wilcox home; eleven votes were cast. When the village charter was ratified 15 years later, 323 votes were cast in the first election. Because of the steady growth of the village, a city charter was granted on March 15, 1878. John N. Ackerman was elected as the first city mayor. In 1851, the city was chosen for the State Penitentiary, owing to the abundance of limestone for construction. The main building, constructed in 1854, is still in use. The Milwaukee & Horicon Railroad reached Waupun in 1856. It was sold to the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway June 23, 1863. This company eventually became the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, known as "The Milwaukee Road", which served Waupun until 1980, when the line was sold to the state of Wisconsin and became the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad. The Waupun Library Association was established in 1858 through the efforts of William Euen and Edwin Hillyer. Hillyer ran the library out of his insurance office for 37 years without pay. In 1895, the city took ownership of the library, appointing a new library board which included Edwin Hillyer and Lucius D. Hinkley. When the city took ownership, it was soon moved to a side room in the Whiting Theater, which became the Davison Theater while still housing the library. In 1900, through the fundraising efforts of the Waupun Women's Club, it became a free public library. The Waupun Carnegie Library, now Waupun Heritage Museum, was built in 1904 with a $10,000 grant from

Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie ( , ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the History of the iron and steel industry in the United States, American steel industry in the late ...

. A new library building was built in 1968 and is the current Waupun Public Library. The territorial census in 1847 showed the Town of Waupun to have a population of 956. The 1875 Wisconsin census showed the village of Waupun to have a population of 1,867.

Second World War

In 1945 Waupun, was selected for the site of a German POW camp. Despite public opposition, the camp was constructed next to the canning factory, south of Doty Street. The prisoners were brought to Wisconsin to relieve deficits of manpower in the area factories and farms. There were about 200 POWs at the Waupun camp who were assigned to work either for Canned Foods Inc. in Waupun or Stokely Foods in Brandon, Wisconsin.

Geography

Waupun is located at (43.631577, −88.735835). 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 has a total area of , of which, is land and is water. The relief of the city is moderate, ranging from at the Rock River, to its highest elevation of above sea level. Waupun lies near the edge of the Horicon Marsh, the largest cattail marsh in the United States, and is the principal access point to wildlife viewing for the Horicon Wildlife Refuges. The Fond du Lac County Park, on the edge of Waupun, has preserved a remnant stand of old-growth southern mesic forest, which once covered over of Southern Wisconsin. The Fond du Lac County Park also provides camping.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 11,344. 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 3,863 housing units at an average density of . Ethnically, the population was 4.8%

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. When grouping both Hispanic and non-Hispanic people together by race, the city was 80.7%

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 ...

, 12.8%

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 ...

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 ...

, 1.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. The 2020 census population of the city included 2,867 people incarcerated in adult correctional facilities. According to the

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 2016-2020, the median income for a household in the city was $55,621, and the median income for a family was $67,078. Male full-time workers had a median income of $44,250 versus $38,947 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 ...

for the city was $26,763. About 5.3% of families and 7.7% 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 7.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over. Of the population age 25 and over, 84.7% were high school graduates or higher and 16.3% had a bachelor's degree or higher.

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 11,340 people, 3,485 households, and 2,259 families living in the city. The

was . There were 3,703 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.7%

, 12.2%

, 1.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 0.5% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population. There were 3,485 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% 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, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.2% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age in the city was 36.4 years. 17.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 11% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 35.1% were from 25 to 44; 23.4% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 61.0% male and 39.0% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 10,718 people, 3,351 households, and 2,228 families living in the city. The

was 2,906.3 people per square mile (1,121.5/km²). There were 3,512 housing units at an average density of 952.3 per square mile (367.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.06%

, 11.81%

, 0.91% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.05%

, 0.51% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 2.84% of the population. There were 3,351 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were

living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.96. In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.9% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 36.1% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 150.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 161.2 males. The median in the city was $40,597, and the median income for a family was $50,820. Males had a median income of $34,795 versus $23,517 for females. The

for the city was $16,947. About 4.4% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the

, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over. (Note: The above statistics may not accurately reflect the civilian population, as the census includes 2,741 incarcerated males (2008) in Waupun's state correctional institutions.)

Transportation

The U.S. 151 expressway bypasses Waupun and has four exits into the city, with its former routing in the city signed as Business Highway 151. WI 26, WI 49, and Wisconsin 68 run through the city, along with county highways AW, I, M, and MMM. The city is also served by the

Wisconsin and Southern Railroad The Wisconsin and Southern Railroad is a Class II regional railroad in Southern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois currently operated by Watco. It operates former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) and ...

Government

Waupun is governed by a common council with a mayor and six alderman elected from districts. The Mayor of Waupun is Rohn W. Bishop. About a quarter of the town's population is incarcerated at the Dodge Correctional Institution, John C. Burke Correctional Center, and Waupun Correctional Institution. These more than 3,000 people from around the state may not vote but make up a majority in two districts. This prison gerrymandering gives outsized electoral power to other residents in the districts relative to others.

Education

Waupun is served by the Waupun Area School District. The school district includes several schools including SAGES, Meadow View Primary, Rock River Intermediate and Waupun High School. SAGES (School for Agriculture and Environmental Studies) is located in Fox Lake. Meadow View Primary, Rock River Intermediate and Waupun High School are all in Waupun. A private school, Central Wisconsin Christian High School, is also located in the city.

Economy

Alto Dairy Cooperative, a farmer-owned dairy cooperative in Waupun was sold to Saputo Inc. in 2008. National Rivet, a rivet manufacturer, has been based in Waupun for more than 90 years, along with its predecessor and subsidiary, the Shaler Company.

Culture

City of Sculpture

Waupun is home to a collection of outdoor sculptures by Clarence Addison Shaler, a manufacturer, inventor, and sculptor from the local area. These sculptures include The Dawn of Day, Who Sows Believes in God, The Pioneers, and The Recording Angel, among others. A bronze copy of James Earle Fraser's well-known '' End of the Trail'' statue stands in Shaler Park. Shaler commissioned the copy in 1926. Depicting a Native American slumped on a horse, it represents the fate of the Native American people. It was dedicated in the park on June 23, 1929.

Images

File:WaupunCityHallWIS49WIS68.jpg, City Hall, constructed in 1928. File:WaupunPublicLibraryNRHP.jpg, Former Waupun Public Library, now a museum, registered historic place. File:WaupunWisconsinSignWIS68.jpg, Waupun sign on WIS 68. File:CentralWisconsinChristianSchoolWaupunWIS68.jpg, Central Wisconsin Christian School. File:Martin K. Dahl House, Waupun, WI.jpg, Martin K. Dahl House.

Notable people

* Frank L. Bacon, Wisconsin State Representative * Thomas Bowen, Wisconsin State Senator * Henry Waldo Coe, frontier physician and politician * Harriet L. Cramer, newspaper publisher * Glenn Robert Davis, U.S. Representative * Fond du Lac County Jane Doe, unidentified murder victim interred at the Cattaraugus Cemetery, eventually identified as Amy Yeary * Marcus Domask, basketball player * Yasmin Farooq, 1996 Olympian (rowing cox) * Joe Hauser, baseball player * Hans Christian Heg, highest ranking Wisconsin soldier to die in the American Civil War * Edwin Hillyer, Wisconsin State Representative * Fred H. Hildebrandt, U.S. Representative from

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state, state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Dakota people, Dakota Sioux ...

* Orville W. Mosher, Wisconsin State Senator * Tom Mullica, magician and comedian *

Magdalen Redman Magdalen "Mamie" Redman (July 2, 1930 – August 22, 2020) was a catcher and utility infielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 150 lb., she batted and threw right-handed. Early ...

All-American Girls Professional Baseball League The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was a professional women's baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley, which existed from 1943 to 1954. The AAGPBL is the forerunner of women's professional league sports in the Uni ...

player * David F. Simpson, Minnesota Supreme Court justice * Oliver Smith, stage designer * John van Hengel, Food Bank founder * Harriet Ware, pianist and composer * Ferdinand T. Yahr, Wisconsin State Senator * Chauncey W. Yockey, Wisconsin State Representative

References

External links

City of Waupun
*Sanborn fire insurance maps
18851892189819041913
{{authority control Cities in Wisconsin Cities in Dodge County, Wisconsin Cities in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin Populated places established in 1839