Oconto Falls, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oconto Falls
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City
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Oconto Falls greeting sign, facing WI-22 South on the northeast side of town
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Location of Oconto Falls in Oconto County, Wisconsin
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 Oconto Falls
Location in Wisconsin
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Oconto |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.93 sq mi (7.59 km2) |
| • Land | 2.71 sq mi (7.02 km2) |
| • Water | 0.22 sq mi (0.57 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,957 |
| • Density | 1,091.14/sq mi (421.23/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
54154
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| Area code(s) | 920 |
| FIPS code | 55-59400 |
Oconto Falls is a city in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,957 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The city was named for the original waterfalls on the Oconto River. According to Menominee storytelling, Manabozho threw a falls across the Oconto River "to protect the Menominee and to keep the sturgeon from getting to the Chippewa".
John and Almira Volk are considered the first European settlers of Oconto Falls, having moved to the region in 1846. Most early settlers were of German, Polish, and French descent. The Volk family established a sawmill along the river, and the lumber industry became the main source of employment.
A post office called Oconto Falls has been in operation since 1871, the same year the Peshtigo Fire destroyed a majority of buildings in the village. Later, a Methodist congregation were the first to build a church in 1889. The first bridge across the river was built in 1896, and in 1902, the falls was dammed to create a power source.
Shortly thereafter, Oconto Falls incorporated as a village on July 3, 1903. Anton Gustin, of Austrian heritage, came to the village and established a new pulp mill in 1908. It was constructed using his improved sulphate pulping process, which made Oconto Falls the location of the first commercial production of kraft paper in the United States. The village became a city in 1919.
Geography
Oconto Falls is located at 44°52′29″N 88°8′34″W / 44.87472°N 88.14278°W (44.874989, -88.1429).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.95 square miles (7.64 km2), of which, 2.73 square miles (7.07 km2) is land and 0.22 square miles (0.57 km2) is water.
The city is separated by east and west sides by the Oconto River.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,427 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,914 | 34.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,921 | 0.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,888 | −1.7% | |
| 1950 | 2,050 | 8.6% | |
| 1960 | 2,331 | 13.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,517 | 8.0% | |
| 1980 | 2,500 | −0.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,584 | 3.4% | |
| 2000 | 2,843 | 10.0% | |
| 2010 | 2,891 | 1.7% | |
| 2020 | 2,957 | 2.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,891 people, 1,251 households, and 753 families living in the city. The population density was 1,059.0 inhabitants per square mile (408.9/km2). There were 1,333 housing units at an average density of 488.3 per square mile (188.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% White, 0.1% African American, 1.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.2% of the population.
There were 1,251 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.81.
The median age in the city was 38.1 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.8% were from 25 to 44; 23.9% were from 45 to 64; and 17.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
Education
- Oconto Falls School District
- Oconto Falls High School
- Oconto Falls Elementary School
- Washington Middle School
- Abrams Elementary School
- St. Anthony Catholic School
- Jefferson Elementary School (closed 1996, demolished 2006)
- Spruce Charter School (closed 2012)
Notable people
- Rusty Lemorande - director, screenwriter and actor
See also
In Spanish: Oconto Falls (Wisconsin) para niños
