Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Rapids is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 18,435 at the 2000 census.

According to the 2010 census, the Wisconsin Rapids micropolitan area was home to 54,362 people. The city also forms one of the core areas of the United States Census Bureau's Marshfield-Wisconsin Rapids Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Wood County (2000 population: 75,555).

Geography
Wisconsin Rapids is located at 44.38667°N, -89.82306°W (44.386805, -89.823078).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.1 square miles (36.5 km²), of which, 13.3 square miles (34.3 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²) (6.02%) is water.

History
The American Indians called the area "Ahdawagam", meaning "Two-sided Rapids". Although Europeans began to settle this area in the 1830s, Wisconsin Rapids has been known by this name only since 1920. Prior to that, the community was divided by the Wisconsin River, with the west side incorporated as Centralia and the east side as Grand Rapids. The two cities merged in 1900, with the entire community taking the name Grand Rapids. The name was changed in 1920 to avoid mail and other goods from being misdirected to the much better known Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,435 people, 7,970 households, and 4,782 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,390 people per square mile (536.8/km²). There were 8,426 housing units at an average density of 635.3 per square mile (245.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.04% White, 0.34% African American, 0.80% Native American, 3.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.

There were 7,970 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,956, and the median income for a family was $43,594. Males had a median income of $36,098 versus $22,466 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,723. About 7.0% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Known for its papermaking manufacturing history, Wisconsin Rapids is also an important locale for the cranberry industry. Wisconsin Rapids is the corporate home of the international educational software company, Renaissance Learning, Inc. as well as other national and global companies.

In the past, Rapids was home to the corporate headquarters for Consolidated Papers, now owned by NewPage Corporation. The company continues its presence in the area with a Paper Mill that houses two Paper Machines and a Kraft Pulp Mill.

Education
Mid-State Technical College, which has a campus in the city, offers multiple vocational diplomas, and Lakeland College is also offers at the institution.

Lincoln High School is the local public high school (Grades 10-12) in Wisconsin Rapids. Assumption High School is a private Catholic high school in Wisconsin Rapids. The city has two public junior high schools: East Junior High School (Grades 8-9) and West Junior High School (Grades 6-7). Both East and West Junior High were both separate schools for Grades 7-9 until 2010 when the city decided to place all students in Grades 6-7 at the same school and Grades 8-9 at the same school. River Cities High School also exists as a charter school alternative to the local high schools.

Recreation
Wisconsin Rapids has several local parks, including Robinson Park, Gaynor Park, and Lyon Park. There is also a recently built skate park. The state water-skiing championships are held at Lake Wazeecha every year and the national BMX Bandit cycling championships are held at the Central Wisconsin BMX velodrome. There are three museums, the South Wood County Historical Corporation Museum, the Alexander House, and the Paper Making Museum, all of which are housed in large former family homes. There is a municipal zoo (free to enter), and two public swimming pools. There is a prairie chicken sanctuary at the Buena Vista Wildlife Reservation, and every year the Prairie Chicken Festival is held. The Betty Boop Festival or the Grim Natwick Animated Film Festival are held annually since the inaugural events in 2010. The Cranberry Blossom Festival takes place in July and the Grand Affair Arts Festival in September of each year. In summer of 2010, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters of the collegiate summer Northwoods League, played their first season at Witter Field.

Print media

 * Daily Tribune Website, Daily Newspaper. Founded 1920 from merger of Grand Rapids Leader (est. 1914) and Grand Rapids Tribune. Circulation: 10,766 according to Mondo Newspapers
 * The VOICE Of Wisconsin Rapids Website, Weekly Newspaper. Independently owned, founded 2009.
 * Buyers' Guide, Website Weekly ad sheet with some editorial content

Television

 * RCCA: Website River Cities Public, educational, and government access (PEG) broadcast on cable tv.

Radio
Although this is a list of radio stations based in the Wisconsin Rapids area, the signals of radio stations from much of Central Wisconsin are commonly received in the city.
 * AM Radio stations
 * WFHR 1320 kHz, News/Sports Talk Radio - Established November 1940
 * FM Radio stations
 * Kool Gold 105.5Mhz WRCW - Oldies/Sport Established as KZZA in 2003
 * Hot 96-7 96.7Mhz WHTQ Top 40 - Established as WYTE in 1985, latterly WLJY
 * WIFC 95.5Mhz - CHR - Established 1969
 * WDEZ 101.9Mhz Country & western - Established as WRIG in 1964
 * Y106.5 106.5Mhz WYTE- Contemporary Country & Western - Established as WDLB in 1965
 * WGLX 103.3Mhz WGLX-FM - Classic Rock - Established as WFHR-FM in 1946

Notable residents

 * Joel Goodness, performer in Crazy for You
 * Ken Anderson, professional wrestler
 * Mark E. Anderson, U.S. National Guard general
 * Bonnie Bartlett, actress
 * Bruno Block, MLB catcher
 * Theodore W. Brazeau, Wisconsin legislator
 * James Daly, actor
 * Stephen E. Johnson, U.S. Navy admiral
 * Tom Metcalf, MLB pitcher
 * Grim Natwick, animator and film director (1890–1990)
 * Edith Nash, educator and poet
 * Philleo Nash, professor and anthropologist
 * John Offerdahl, NFL player
 * Bryan Reffner, NASCAR driver
 * Don Rehfeldt, All-American college & NBA basketball player
 * Scott Scharff, NFL player
 * Dick Trickle, NASCAR driver
 * Herman C. Wipperman, Wisconsin legislator
 * Isaac P. Witter, Wisconsin legislator
 * Joseph Wood, merchant, and Wisconsin legislator