Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Rhinelander, Wisconsin
—  City  —
Looking east at downtown Rhinelander
Location of Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 45°38′22″N 89°24′44″W
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Oneida
Area
• Total	7.9 sq mi (20.4 km2)
• Land	7.7 sq mi (20.0 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation	1,549 ft (472 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	8,135
• Density	1,002.5/sq mi (387.1/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
FIPS code	55-67200
GNIS feature ID	1572231

Rhinelander is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 7,735 at the 2000 census.

Claims to fame

Rhinelander is the home of the Hodag, a mythical creature that serves as mascot for the city and for Rhinelander High School and Northwoods Community Secondary School. Nicolet Area Technical College and Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport are located in the city. Crystal Lake Scout Reservation, a Boy Scout summer camp operated by the Samoset Council of the Boy Scouts of America is located north of the city, on Crystal Lake.

History

The area that eventually became the city of Rhinelander was originally called Pelican Rapids by early settlers for the stretch of rapids just above the convergence of the Wisconsin and Pelican Rivers. Around 1870, Anderson W. Brown of Stevens Point and Anson P. Vaughn traveled up the Wisconsin River in order to cruise timber for Brown's father, E. D. Brown. Upon arriving at the meeting point of the Wisconsin and Pelican Rivers at the site of John Curran's trading post, and seeing the high banks along the rapids and the excellent pine stands, Anderson Brown envisioned a mill town with a lumber mill powered by the waters of the Wisconsin River. Brown's vision would not come to fruition for some years, however after subsequent expeditions with others including his brother and Rhinelander's first mayor, Webster Brown, the brothers managed to convince their father and uncle to purchase the land from the federal government and build a town. In its charter, the city was named Rhinelander after Frederic W. Rhinelander of New York, who was president of the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Road at the time. This was part of a bid by the Brown brothers to induce the railroad to extend a spur to the location to further their lumbering business. Ultimately, after over ten years of negotiations, the Brown family agreed to convey half their land holdings in the area to the railroad in exchange for a rail line to their future city. In 1882, the railroad line from present-day Monico to Rhinelander was completed, jump starting the development of Rhinelander as the commercial hub of the region.

Transportation

	WIS 47 runs south to Antigo, Wisconsin, and runs north to Woodruff.
	BUS US 8 serves the city of Rhinelander.
	U.S. 8 eastbound US 8 to Crandon, Wisconsin. Westbound, US 8 routes to Prentice, Wisconsin.
	WIS 17 travels north to Eagle River, Wisconsin, and south to Merrill, Wisconsin and the route is on the east side of Rhinelander.

Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport (KRHI) serves the Rhinelander area with both commercial and general aviation services. The airport handles approximately 29,200 operations per year, with approximately 75% general aviation, 20% commercial air service, and 5% air taxi. The airport offers a 6,799-ft. runway with approved ILS, GPS, and VOR approaches (Runway 9-27) and a 5,201-ft. runway with an approved GPS approach (Runway 15-33).

Geography

Rhinelander is located at 45°38′22″N 89°24′44″W (45.639515, -89.412086).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.4 km²), of which, 7.7 square miles (20.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (2.16%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,735 people, 3,214 households, and 1,860 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,002.5 people per square mile (386.9/km²). There were 3,430 housing units at an average density of 444.5 per square mile (171.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.83% White, 0.39% African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.

There were 3,214 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,622, and the median income for a family was $37,629. Males had a median income of $29,750 versus $22,157 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,047. About 9.4% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2008, the city's population has risen to 8,135 people and has recently opened new businesses both downtown, and on the outskirts of the city. Such businesses include Briqs Soft Serve, Kohls, and an Arbys.

Culture

• Rhinelander is home to the Hodag Country Festival, a country music festival.
• The Hodag is a common logo for Rhinelander Sport Teams.

In Media

• Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport was featured in the 2011 feature film Cedar Rapids, starring Ed Helms as Tim Lippe the naive insurance agent.

Education

• The Rhinelander School District serves the area.

Notable people

• Deming Bronson, Medal of Honor recipient
• Webster E. Brown, U.S. Representative
• Chris Cook, 2006 U.S. Olympic Team, 2006 Olympic Winter Games Sprint U.S. National Sprint Champion, 2006 2007 World Cup Sprint Otepaeae Estonia 2003 NCAA National Champion
• Jason Doering, former professional football player for the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Giants
• Darrell Einertson, MLB player
• Dan Forsman, professional golfer, winner of 5 PGA Tour events
• Clarence W. Gilley, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
• John Heisman, college football's Heisman Trophy namesake, is buried in Rhinelander, his wife's hometown
• Walt Kichefski, NFL player
• Steve Kmetko, television personality, host on E! Cable network
• John Kotz, 1941 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
• Craig Ludwig, former professional hockey player
• Trevor Ludwig, hockey player
• Alvin E. O'Konski, U.S. Representative
• Richard J. Saykally, spectroscopist and professor of chemistry, National Academy of Science and American Academy of Arts and Sciences member, UC Berkeley (born in Rhinelander, WI)
• Vanessa Semrow, Miss Teen USA 2002
• John C. Van Hollen, Wisconsin politician and realtor
• Dale Wasserman, playwright
• Mike Webster, Hall of Fame football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs

Economy

• Drs. Foster & Smith, pet supply corporation
• Rhinelander Brewing Company
• Northwoods River News
• WJFW-TV, licensed in Rhinelander
• Wal-Mart
• JCPenney
• Shopko

Images

• 

  Looking east at the sign for Rhinelander on US 8

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  City hall

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  Federal building

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  Fire department

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  Post office

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  Public library

External links

• Rhinelander City Hall
• Downtown Rhinelander Inc
• Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce
• Dictionary of Wisconsin History
• AirNAV.com - KRHI