Washburn, Wisconsin

There is also the Town of Washburn in Clark County.

Washburn is a city located in Bayfield County, in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,280. The city is just east of and adjacent to the Town of Washburn. It is in northern Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay.

Founded in 1879, the city was named for Cadwallader C. Washburn, Republican governor of Wisconsin from 1872 until 1874.

Initially, the city's economy was based on lumbering, with sawmills lining the busy waterfront. In 1905, the DuPont company opened an explosives plant just outside town, providing an important source of employment as timber resources were growing scarce. The closing of the DuPont plant in 1971 was a severe blow to the local economy.

Sandwiched between the industrial city of Ashland and the prosperous tourist village of Bayfield, Washburn continues to struggle to find its identity. The opening years of the twenty-first century saw the small town riven with dissension between progressive elements striving to develop the town's economy in a sustainable manner that embraces the regions natural beauty, and a short-sighted city council eager to trade municipal assets and public land for short-term gain.

Geography

Washburn is located at 46°40'26" North, 90°53'51" West (46.673989, -90.897674)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.0 km² (6.2 mi²). 10.2 km² (3.9 mi²) of it is land and 5.8 km² (2.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 36.30% water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 2,280 people, 938 households, and 589 families residing in the city. The population density is 224.6/km² (581.5/mi²). There are 1,004 housing units at an average density of 98.9/km² (256.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 92.06% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 5.61% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 938 households out of which 33.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% are married couples living together, 13.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% are non-families. 33.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.33 and the average family size is 2.97.

In the city the population is spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $33,257, and the median income for a family is $40,781. Males have a median income of $31,875 versus $23,235 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,331. 10.3% of the population and 7.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.3% of those under the age of 18 and 6.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Founded in 1879, the city was named for Cadwallader C. Washburn, Republican governor of Wisconsin from 1872 until 1874.

Initially, the city's economy was based on lumbering, with sawmills lining the busy waterfront. In 1905, the DuPont company opened an explosives plant just outside town, providing an important source of employment as timber resources were growing scarce. The closing of the DuPont plant in 1971 was a severe blow to the local economy.

Sandwiched between the industrial city of Ashland and the prosperous tourist village of Bayfield, Washburn continues to struggle to find its identity. The opening years of the twenty-first century saw the small town riven with dissension between progressive elements striving to develop the town's economy in a sustainable manner that embraces the regions natural beauty, and a short-sighted city council eager to trade municipal assets and public land for short-term gain.

External links

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