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Spencer, Wisconsin facts for kids

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Spencer, Wisconsin
Looking south at downtown Spencer on WIS13 / WIS98
Looking south at downtown Spencer on WIS13 / WIS98
Motto(s): 
A friendly small town with a future.
Location of Spencer in Marathon County, Wisconsin.
Location of Spencer in Marathon County, Wisconsin.
Country  United States
State  Wisconsin
County Marathon
Area
 • Total 1.96 sq mi (5.09 km2)
 • Land 1.96 sq mi (5.08 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,312 ft (400 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 1,925
 • Estimate 
(2019)
1,878
 • Density 957.19/sq mi (369.52/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s) 715 & 534
FIPS code 55-75425
GNIS feature ID 1574525

Spencer is a village in Marathon County, Wisconsin. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,925 at the 2010 census.

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 the Wisconsin Central Railway. Today it sits at the crossroads of Wisconsin Highway 13 and 98 and serves as the terminus of several Marathon County Trunk Highways. Spencer lies about 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Marshfield, along Highway 13.

History

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 here. Later the town was named Spencer, after Spencer, Massachusetts.

Geography

Spencer is located at 44°45′23″N 90°17′53″W / 44.756406°N 90.298178°W / 44.756406; -90.298178 (44.756406, -90.298178).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.01 square miles (5.21 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
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%
2019 (est.) 1,878 −2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,925 people, 816 households, and 540 families living in the village. The population 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% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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.

Education

Spencer Branch Library

In 1875, a library was formed in Spencer. In 1973, the library became a branch of the newly formed Marathon County Public Library.

Notable people

  • Albert B. Barney, Wisconsin State Representative and lawyer
  • Tyler Dennett, Pulitzer Prize-winning author
  • Dave Dudley, country singer
  • Ted Fritsch, fullback for the NFL Green Bay Packers and pro basketball player
  • Carol Kolb, comedy writer the Onion
  • Gilbert Vandercook, Wisconsin State Representative, lawyer, and editor

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Spencer (Wisconsin) para niños

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