Chilton, Wisconsin

Chilton is a city in and county seat of Calumet County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 3,708 at the 2000 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Chilton.

History
The first residents of Chilton were African-American Moses Stanton and his Native-American wife, Catherine, who arrived in January 1845. The city formed around his saw mill and a grist mill a few years later. The village was originally called Stantonville. John Marygold bought the place in 1852 and called it "Chilington," referring to his native town Chillington in England. He sent a verbal message to have the name change recorded in Stockbridge, then the county seat. Because the middle ing in the name was accidentally omitted, the municipality was recorded as Chilton.

Geography
Chilton is located at 44.03056°N, -88.15861°W (44.030745, -88.158704), along the South Branch of the Manitowoc River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.9 sqmi, essentially all of which is land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,708 people, 1,512 households, and 952 families residing in the city. The population density was 952.4 /sqmi. There were 1,606 housing units at an average density of 412.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.49% White, 0.38% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,512 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% 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 2.99.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,401, and the median income for a family was $51,581. Males had a median income of $35,163 versus $22,672 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,778. About 4.9% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Highway
Primary routes to the city are Wisconsin Highway 57/Wisconsin Highway 32 to the north and southeast, and U.S. Route 151 to the east and west. Secondary routes are County Highway G to the south, County Highway F to the northwest, and County Highway Y to the northeast.

Water
The south branch of the Manitowoc River snakes through Chilton. Some of the river is navigable, but it is unused except for recreational canoeing. A widening of the river called Lake Chilton has been used for ice skating in winter.

Education
Chilton's public schools are administered by the Chilton Public Schools. The district has one high school, Chilton High School, one elementary school, Chilton Elementary School, and one middle school, Chilton Middle School.

Chilton Area Catholic School is a private Roman Catholic grade school in the city.

Health care
Chilton's hospital is called Calumet Medical Center. Its services are limited, although it does have first responders and two ambulances.

Notable residents

 * George Baldwin, Mayor of Chilton, politician, businessman
 * Thomas P.M. Barnett, military geostrategist
 * Dave Casper, a NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame player; graduated from Chilton High School in 1970
 * Gerald Francis Clifford, a Green Bay Packers executive, Democratic politician and lawyer
 * Harrison Carroll Hobart, Union Army general, Hobart Park named after him
 * Julius Kiesner, Socialist State Representative
 * Francis Peter Leipzig, Roman Catholic bishop
 * Thomas Lynch, U.S. Representative
 * Benjamin Sweet, Wisconsin State Senator and Union Army general
 * Herman C. Wipperman, Wisconsin State Senator

Notable businesses

 * Gravity Park USA, motocross track
 * Kaytee, bird seed producer

Radio Stations

 * WXMM, 92.9 FM - Country is licensed to Chilton
 * WMBE (now WLWB), 1530 AM - Classic country (formerly had studios in Chilton)