Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Beaver Dam is a city in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States, along Beaver Dam Lake and the Beaver Dam River. The population was 16,243 at the 2010 census, making it the second largest city in Dodge County, and the largest city fully located within the county. It is the principal city of the Beaver Dam Micropolitan Statistical area. The city is located within the Town of Beaver Dam.

Geography and climate
Beaver Dam is located at 43.45972°N, -88.83583°W (43.459967, −88.836066).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.6 sqmi, of which 5.2 sqmi is land and 1.3 sqmi (20.43%) is water.

Since 1996, the average annual snowfall in Beaver Dam has been 62.2 in. The 2007–2008 winter season was the snowiest on record with a recorded 119.7 in.

Normal temperatures
(Official NWS climate station)

Normal precipitation
(Official NWS climate station)

Snowfall
(Official NWS climate station)

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,169 people, 6,349 households, and 3,999 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,904.6 people per square mile (1,122.0/km²). There were 6,685 housing units at an average density of 1,280.1 per square mile (494.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.95% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 4.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,349 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% 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 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,873, and the median income for a family was $46,346. Males had a median income of $33,267 versus $23,513 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,592. About 4.5% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

History
Beaver Dam was first settled by Thomas Mackie and Joseph Goetschius in 1841, and was home to almost 100 people by 1843. Beaver Dam was incorporated as a city on March 18, 1856. Also in 1856, the Milwaukee Railroad reached the area, encouraging further growth. The city was named for an old beaver dam located in a stream flowing into Beaver Dam River. The area was also known as Okwaanim, Chippewa for beaver dam. Beaver Dam hosted a WWII POW camp called Camp Beaver Dam in the summer of 1944. The POW camp held 300 German prisoners of war in a tent city encampment where the Wayland Academy field house now stands. Beaver Dam is also home to the Williams Free Library, the first public library in the United States to have open stacks.

School district
The Beaver Dam Unified School District provides public education in the area.

Primary education
In Beaver Dam, there are seven public primary schools for K to 5th grades: Jefferson Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Prairie View Elementary, South Beaver Dam Elementary, Trenton Elementary, Washington Elementary, and Wilson Elementary.

There are two private primary schools: St. Katharine Drexel (grades: pre-K to 8th), and St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran (grades: K to 8th).

Middle school
Beaver Dam Middle School is the local public middle school teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

Secondary education
Beaver Dam High School is the local public high school; its mascot is The Golden Beaver. The city is also home to Wayland Academy, a private school. There is also an alternative school, Charter School of Beaver Dam, WI.

Collegiate education
The Beaver Dam campus of Moraine Park Technical College is located in the city.

Government

 * Claire B. Bird, Wisconsin State Senator
 * Samuel D. Burchard, U.S. Representative
 * Michael E. Burke, U.S. Representative
 * Robert Kastenmeier, U.S. Representative
 * Walter J. LaBuy, U.S. District Court Judge in Illinois
 * Edward C. McFetridge, mayor of Beaver Dam
 * John Samuel Rowell, politician, agricultural inventor, and pioneer manufacturer
 * A. Scott Sloan, U.S. Representative
 * John Mellen Thurston, U.S. Senator from Nebraska, Thurston County, Nebraska is named after him.

Professional sports

 * Eric Baldwin, professional poker player
 * Paul Cloyd, professional basketball player
 * Ric Flair, wrestler
 * Pink Hawley, major league baseball player
 * Addie Joss, MLB player, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
 * Lyman Linde, MLB player
 * Doug Lloyd, professional football player
 * Jason Maas, professional football player
 * David Maley, NHL player
 * Bill Rentmeester, UFL player, Madison Police Recruit
 * Elmer Rhenstrom, NFL player
 * Gil Sterr, NFL player
 * Barney Traynor, NFL player
 * Lloyd Clark, Professional Jousting World Champion

Business

 * Frederick Douglas Underwood, President of Erie Railroad, Director of Wells Fargo

Science, media and the arts

 * Delia Akeley, explorer
 * Dorothy Best, actress, producer
 * Bryan Davis, film production coordinator
 * Brian Donlevy, actor
 * Lois Ehlert, illustrator, Caldecott Medal recipient
 * Zona Gale, writer
 * Raymond Z. Gallun, writer
 * Bobby Hatfield, singer, best known as one of the Righteous Brothers singing duo
 * Fred MacMurray, actor
 * Jon Menick, actor
 * Parry Moon, electrical engineer, author
 * Kira Salak, writer, adventurer, journalist
 * David Alan Smith, actor
 * Nancy Zieman, television sewing host

Media

 * Good Karma Broadcasting

Events
The following events are held each year in Beaver Dam, WI:

Films shot in Beaver Dam

 * Public Enemies (2009) starring Johnny Depp, Marion Cotillard & Christian Bale
 * The Pit (1981) starring Sammy Snyders & Jeannie Elias
 * Thirteen Hours by Air (1936) starring Fred MacMurray & Joan Bennett

Films shot about Beaver Dam

 * Yoga Matt (2008) (short) starring former and current SNL & MADtv actors.

Books referencing Beaver Dam

 * Wisconsin Death Trip