Stevens Point, Wisconsin
| Stevens Point, Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Nickname(s): Gateway to the Pineries | |
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| Coordinates: 44°31′23″N 89°33′37″W / 44.52306°N 89.56028°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Portage |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Andrew Halverson |
| Area | |
| • City | 16.2 sq mi (42.0 km2) |
| • Land | 15.3 sq mi (39.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,089 ft (332 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • City | 26,717 |
| • Density | 1,604/sq mi (619.2/km2) |
| • Metro | 69,916 |
| Time zone | CST (UTC−6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC−5) |
| Postal code(s) | 54481, 54482 |
| Area code(s) | 715 |
| FIPS code | 55-77200[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1574878[2] |
| Website | stevenspoint.com |
Stevens Point is the county seat of Portage County, Wisconsin, United States.[3] Located in the central part of the state, it is the largest city in the county, with a population of 26,717 at the 2010 census. [4]
The city was incorporated in 1858.
The city forms the core of the United States Census Bureau's Stevens Point Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Portage County (2010 population: 70,019). Together with surrounding communities, the Stevens Point micropolitan area was, according to the 2010 census, home to 69,916 people, and was the 481st most populous area in the United States.
Stevens Point is home to the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and a campus of Mid-State Technical College.
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[edit] History
Stevens Point was named after its founder, George Stevens, who operated a grocery and supply business on the river. Loggers on the Wisconsin River found this a convenient stopping point, as the river bends slightly and one could tell from far upstream whether Steven's point was open for business.[5]
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.2 square miles (42 km2). 15.3 square miles (40 km2) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) of it (5.61%) is water.
It is surrounded by several smaller villages and towns, including Plover, Whiting, Custer, Park Ridge, Stockton, and the Town of Hull.
The average temperature ranges from about 20° to 80° Fahrenheit (-10 to 25 °C). All four seasons can be distinctly observed, with snow falling most heavily in December and January and temperatures rising to their average summer levels of about 70 °F (20 °C) in July and August.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,538 |
|
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| 1870 | 1,895 | 23.2% | |
| 1880 | 4,445 | 134.6% | |
| 1890 | 7,896 | 77.6% | |
| 1900 | 9,524 | 20.6% | |
| 1910 | 8,692 | −8.7% | |
| 1920 | 11,371 | 30.8% | |
| 1930 | 13,623 | 19.8% | |
| 1940 | 15,777 | 15.8% | |
| 1950 | 16,564 | 5.0% | |
| 1960 | 17,837 | 7.7% | |
| 1970 | 23,479 | 31.6% | |
| 1980 | 22,970 | −2.2% | |
| 1990 | 23,006 | 0.2% | |
| 2000 | 24,551 | 6.7% | |
| 2010 | 26,717 | 8.8% | |
| source:[6][7][8] | |||
As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 26,717 people, 10,758 households, and 4,944 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,603.2 inhabitants per square mile (619.2/km²). There were 9,749 housing units at an average density of 636.6 per square mile (245.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.53% White, 0.47% African American, 0.46% Native American, 4.78% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.
There were 10,758 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.0% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.2% under the age of 18, 30.8% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,178, and the median income for a family was $53,176. Males had a median income of $37,894 versus $28,114 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,510. About 6.3% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older.
[edit] Education
Stevens Point is home to the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, known as The College of Natural Resources. UWSP was established in 1894 as the Stevens Point Normal School. The university enrolls approximately 9500 students in both undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and is consistently named one of the top Public Midwestern Universities-Master's in U.S. News & World Report’s College Rankings. Mid-State Technical College (MSTC), a technical college, is also located in the city.
The Stevens Point Area School District serves the city,[9] as does the Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools system. Public elementary schools include Bannach, Jefferson School for the Arts, Kennedy, Madison, McDill, McKinley, Roosevelt, Plover-Whiting, and Washington Service-Learning Center. There are two junior high schools, Ben Franklin and P. J. Jacobs, and two high schools, Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) and Charles F. Fernandez Center for Alternative Learning. Parochial schools in Stevens Point include St. Paul Lutheran School (PreK-8), St. Joseph Early Childhood Center, St. Stanislaus (K-2) and St. Stephen Elementary (3-5) Schools, St. Peter Middle School, and Pacelli High School.[10][11]
Additionally, the city also serves as the central hub of the Portage County Public Library which provides educational programming for adults, young adults, and children.
[edit] Transportation
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U.S. 51 Northbound US 51 to Hurley. Southbound, US 51 New Orleans, Louisiana. |
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I-39 Northbound to Wausau Southbound, routes to Madison. |
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US 10 travels east to Detroit and west to Fargo. |
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WIS 66 travels east to Rosholt, and west to Wisconsin Rapids. |
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WIS 54 travels east to New London and west to Onalaska. |
The city is served by two airports. Commercial service is available through Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA), located midway between Stevens Point and Wausau. CWA is served by three major airlines. General aviation, air cargo, and charter flights use the Stevens Point Municipal Airport (STE).
Stevens Point Transit system is a public transportation service serving the city.
[edit] Religion
The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis have their mother house in Stevens Point. Catholic parishes in the city include St. Stanislaus Kostka, the Newman University Parish, St. Stephen, St. Casimir, St. Peter, and St. Joseph. There are also a few Lutheran and other Protestant churches in the area, including Grace Baptist Church (founded 1975). There are also members of the Bahá'í Faith in the city and county.[12][13][14]
[edit] Economy
[edit] Business and industry
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This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2012) |
Major employers in the area include NewPage Corporation paper mill, Associated Banc-Corp, Sentry Insurance, the Travel Guard (travel and insurance), Copps Corporation, the Donaldson Company, Skyward (software design), Joerns Medical, Lands' End, Canadian National Railway, Delta Dental of Wisconsin, Worzalla Publishing, Figis (telemarketing) and the Stevens Point Brewery.
A number of companies have corporate headquarters in the city, including Travel Guard, Sentry Insurance, Delta Dental of Wisconsin, and Vetter Manufacturing. Associated Bank, Furniture and Appliance Mart, and the Donaldson Company operate regional headquarters in Stevens Point.
Stevens Point is located in the geographic center of Wisconsin, making it a convenient destination for state conventions and youth sporting events, including soccer and hockey.
Business developments in the area include Crossroads Commons located along I-39 and County Road HH; Portage County Business Park, located north of Crossroads Commons; Venture Drive and Corporate Center, adjacent to both the Crossroads Commons and the Portage County Business park; Stevens Point Industrial Park, located along I-39; the Eastridge and Parkdale Plazas, and Stevens Points East Side, all on the city's east side; and CenterPoint Marketplace and downtown Stevens Point. There have been a number of businesses that has popped up and more to continue.[citation needed]
At one time, Midstate Airlines had its headquarters in Stevens Point.[15]
[edit] Culture
Stevens Point is home to a community theater group (cwACT), a children's museum, and a group of museums run by the Portage County Historical Society, including the Beth Israel Congregation Museum, located in the former synagogue. (The synagogue has been defunct since 1985.)[16]
The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra (CWSO) presents four concerts each season.[17]
City-wide events range from the Fourth of July Riverfront Rendezvous to the Portage County Cultural Festival.[18]
The downtown area was designated a "Wisconsin Main Street Community" and offers specialty shops, restaurants, an enclosed shopping mall, and offices. The city and county offices are located downtown, as well as a major bank regional headquarters and two major insurance companies. The downtown also offers a night life on "the Square" that is popular with college students, and a farmer's market.
Stevens Point hosts the world's largest trivia contest, run by UWSP's radio station, WWSP-FM. The contest, which typically involves over 12,000 contestants in more than 400 teams, is usually held every year in April and lasts for 54 straight hours, from Friday to Sunday.
The Backwaters Paddle Quest canoe adventure challenge has been held in Stevens Point on the Wisconsin River since 2002, usually during the second week of August.[19] WWSP-FM has broadcasted live from the event with The OZ, Jim Oliva since 2005. Players paddle their crafts over two days to checkpoints along the river encountering a cast of characters acting out a storyline that continues year to year.
[edit] Recreation
The area has 20 developed parks, a 26-mile (42 km) bicycle and jogging trail (the Green Circle Trail) that surrounds and winds through the city, and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which runs through the city. The city also has an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course at the Sentry World Headquarters (Sentry World)and a country club. The Schmeeckle Reserve, a nature reserve, is located on the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point campus.
[edit] Rankings
Stevens Point was listed in Relocate-America's Top 10 Best Places to Live in 2007 and 2008 for the United States and listed in the Top 100 for 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. In addition to being in the Relocate-America's Top 100 cities in 2010,[20] it was also listed in the Top Ten Recreation cities in America.[21] It was also listed as Number 9 on the Top Ten DreamTowns of America website, stating "This is easily the most affordable of America's 10 dreamtowns. The cost of a typical home is $28,500 lower in Stevens Point than in Mankato, the second-cheapest place on this elite list. Other pluses in the Point are short commutes, strong schools and a sizable stock of big houses." [22] CNNMoney.com ranked Stevens Point as the 18th best place to retire.[23] The magazine stated that there was "plenty for retirees to do in the summertime" as well as the winter, including hiking, biking, and skiing the Green Circle Trail. Stevens point was also rated the 6th best place to raise a family by Forbes.com in 2010.
[edit] Notable people associated with Stevens Point
- Martha Bablitch, judge
- William A. Bablitch, politician, judge
- Kirk Baumgartner, football player
- Tim Bedore, comedian
- Dick Bennett, basketball coach
- Kathi Bennett, basketball coach
- Tony Bennett, basketball coach
- Webster E. Brown, politician
- Thomas Cale, U.S. Congressional Delegate from Alaska Territory
- Fred J. Carpenter, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
- George W. Cate, politician
- Curt Clausen, American race walker
- Michael Dombeck, former Chief of the U.S. Forest Service
- Lawrence Eagleburger, U.S. Secretary of State
- Albert Gallatin Ellis, politician
- John E. Erickson, NBA executive
- Shirlee Emmons, operatic soprano and celebrated voice teacher
- Jim Hall, professional boxer
- Suzy Favor-Hamilton, runner
- Albert W. Grant, U.S. Navy Vice Admiral
- Don Hanaway, politician/judge
- David Helbach, politician
- Joel Hodgson, writer, comedian and actor on Mystery Science Theater 3000
- Kathy Kinney, actress on the Drew Carey Show
- Ross Kolodziej, American football player
- Janel McCarville, basketball player
- Harry McCurdy, MLB player
- Edward McGlachlin, Jr., U.S. Army Major General
- James Miller, educator
- George B. Nelson, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
- Jim Newman (actor), actor, writer, producer, and director
- Joe Pavelski, NHL center for the San Jose Sharks
- Brandon Peterson, Cartoonist - X-Men, Marvel Comics
- Terry Porter, basketball coach and player
- Rick Reichardt, professional baseball player
- Patrick Rothfuss, author, UW–Stevens Point professor
- Albert W. Sanborn, politician
- Elmer T. Shannon, race car driver
- Brad Soderberg, basketball coach
- Chris Solinsky, professional runner
- Garrett Weber-Gale, Olympic Gold medalist
- Peter Weller, actor
[edit] Sister cities
Caen, France
Estelí, Nicaragua
Gulcz. Poland
Rostov Veliky, Russia
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&_name=stevens+point&_state=04000US55&_county=stevens+point&_cityTown=stevens+point&_zip=&_sse=on&_lang=en&pctxt=fph
- ^ http://www.spacvb.com/history.html
- ^ Quickfacts.census.gov - Stevens Point, WI - accessed 2012-03-07
- ^ City of Stevens Point Comprehensive Plan 2005 - Population and housing methodologies - Appendix D, p.2 - accessed 2012-03-07
- ^ Portage County Historical Society of Wisconsin - county time line, 1827 thru 1998 - accessed 2012-03-07
- ^ http://www.wisp.k12.wi.us/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1
- ^ St. Paul Online
- ^ Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools
- ^ [Bratz, Mary (2006-06-28). "Love, unity, forgiveness govern the relationship of God's creatures". Stevens Point (Wisconsin) Journal. http://www.bahai.us/node/91
- ^ Stokes, Jim (Spring 1997). "The Story of Joseph in Five Religious Traditions". World Order 28 (3): 35–46. http://bahai-library.com/stokes_joseph_five_religions
- ^ Rowe, T. (June 2007). "T. Rowe, Ph.D". Faculty Webpage (UWSP Department of Psychology). http://www.uwsp.edu/PSYCH/tr.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-06[dead link]
- ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 30, 1985. 98. "Head Office: 3101 Dixon Street, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481, USA."
- ^ Portage County Historical Society
- ^ http://www.cwso.org/index.php Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra website
- ^ Portage County Cultural Festival
- ^ http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/52797462.html?FORM=ZZNR7
- ^ http://www.relocateamerica.com/top-100-cities/
- ^ http://www.relocateamerica.com/top-100-cities/2010/top-10-recreation-cities.cfm
- ^ . http://www.bizjournals.com/specials/slideshow/48.html?page=9.[dead link]
- ^ "25 Best Places to Retire". CNN. 2009-09-24. http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/moneymag/0909/gallery.bpretire_top25.moneymag/18.html. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/the-best-small-cities-to-raise-a-family.html
[edit] External links
- Stevens Point Web page
- University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
- Stevens Point Area Public School District
- Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools
- Portage County Public Library
- Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Beth Israel Congregation Museum
Media related to Stevens Point, Wisconsin at Wikimedia Commons
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Stevens Point". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Coordinates: 44°31′23″N 89°33′37″W / 44.523036°N 89.560321°W
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