Spencer, Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
Looking west at the downtown from intersection of WIS13 and WIS98 | |
| Motto: A friendly small town with a future. | |
Location of Spencer in Marathon County, Wisconsin. | |
| Coordinates:44°43′53″N90°16′13″W / 44.73139°N 90.27028°W /44.73139; -90.27028 | |
| Country | |
| State | |
| County | Marathon |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.97 sq mi (5.09 km2) |
| • Land | 1.96 sq mi (5.08 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,300 ft (400 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,818 |
| • Density | 927/sq mi (358/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area codes | 715 & 534 |
| FIPS code | 55-75425[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1574525[2] |
| Website | vil |
Spencer is a village inMarathon County, Wisconsin. It is part of theWausau, WisconsinMetropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,818 at the2020 census.[5]
The village, which lies between two marshes (Spencer Marsh to the northwest and McMillan Marsh to the southeast) was founded in 1874 at a branch on theWisconsin Central Railway. Today it sits at the crossroads ofWisconsin Highway 13 (WIS 13) andWIS 98 and serves as the terminus of several Marathon County Trunk Highways. Spencer lies about 8 miles (13 km) northwest ofMarshfield, along WIS 13.
Spencer was known by the name Waltham. Then the name was changed to Irene, after the wife of James L. Robinson, a settler who had built a sawmill there. Later the town was named Spencer, afterSpencer, Massachusetts.[6]
Spencer is located at44°45′23″N90°17′53″W / 44.756406°N 90.298178°W /44.756406; -90.298178 (44.756406, -90.298178).[7]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.01 square miles (5.21 km2), all of it land.[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 526 | — | |
| 1910 | 362 | — | |
| 1920 | 482 | 33.1% | |
| 1930 | 456 | −5.4% | |
| 1940 | 506 | 11.0% | |
| 1950 | 757 | 49.6% | |
| 1960 | 897 | 18.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,181 | 31.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,754 | 48.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,757 | 0.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,932 | 10.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,925 | −0.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,818 | −5.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] | |||
As of thecensus[10] of 2010, there were 1,925 people, 816 households, and 540 families living in the village. Thepopulation density was 957.7 inhabitants per square mile (369.8/km2). There were 875 housing units at an average density of 435.3 per square mile (168.1/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.4%White, 0.4%Native American, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 1.1% fromother races, and 1.1% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.0% of the population.
There were 816 households, of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% weremarried couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.8% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age in the village was 38.1 years. 24.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 26.7% were from 45 to 64; and 14.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.
As of thecensus[4] of 2000, there were 1,932 people, 800 households, and 530 families living in the village. Thepopulation density was 971.6 people per square mile (374.8/km2). There were 852 housing units at an average density of 428.5 per square mile (165.3/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 99.17%White, 0.05%Black orAfrican American, 0.26%Native American, 0.05%Asian, 0.26% fromother races, and 0.21% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race, or gender.
There were 800 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% weremarried couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.9% 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 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $40,665, and the median income for a family was $45,268. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $25,000 for females. Theper capita income for the village was $17,665. About 1.9% of families and 4.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
In 1875, a library was formed in Spencer. In 1973, the library became a branch of the newly formedMarathon County Public Library.