Grand Rapids, Wisconsin
| Grand Rapids, Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 Location of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin |
|
| Coordinates: 44°22′2″N 89°46′24″W / 44.36722°N 89.77333°WCoordinates: 44°22′2″N 89°46′24″W / 44.36722°N 89.77333°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Wood |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.0 sq mi (54.4 km2) |
| • Land | 20.8 sq mi (53.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,040 ft (317 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 7,801 |
| • Density | 375.5/sq mi (145.0/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Area code(s) | 715 & 534 |
| FIPS code | 55-30125 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1583296 |
| PLSS township | T22N R6E and parts of T22N R5E and T23N R6E |
| Website | http://www.townofgrandrapids.org/ |
Grand Rapids is a town in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,801 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Lake Wazeecha is located in the town. The unincorporated community of Kellner is located also partially in the town.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.0 square miles (54.4 km²), of which, 20.8 square miles (53.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (1.00%) is water.
Grand Rapids takes its name from a series of rapids on the Wisconsin River.
The west and north part of what is now Grand Rapids, within three miles of the Wisconsin River, was in the "Indian strip," sold by the Menominee to the United States government in the 1836 Treaty of the Cedars. As such, it was logged and surveyed early. In the spring of 1840 a crew working for the U.S. government surveyed the section corners of the west and north parts, walking through the woods and crossing the river, measuring with chain and compass. When done, they produced this first description of the area:
There is hardly any good land in this Township. A succession of Rapids & rocky chutes called the Grand Rapids have two Extensive lumbering Establishments thereon(?) owned by Bloomer Chambalain(?) Adams Strong Hill & others, now in operation - the Hydraulic Power is capable of being increased. Several large Pine Groves are found in this Township.
In 1851 a different crew surveyed the section corners of the entire town, producing this general description:
The character of the land varies very considerably in this Town but none of it can rank above thirdrate. The Southern Portion consists of pine barrens, the timber mostly gone & grown up in Blk Oak bushes(?). The timber is principally pine of the variety known as Pitch, Bastard or Blk Pine, of very little use either for fuel or lumber. The north part of the Town is principally Marsh very wet & entirely unfit for cultivation. Large portions of the marshes are covered with Cranberry vines which every alternate year produce large crops.
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Wikipedia