Merrill, Wisconsin
| City of Merrill | |
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Looking west at the western downtown
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| Nickname(s): City of Parks | |
 Location of Merrill within Wisconsin |
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| Coordinates: 45°10′57″N 89°41′44″W / 45.18250°N 89.69556°WCoordinates: 45°10′57″N 89°41′44″W / 45.18250°N 89.69556°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Lincoln County |
| Name Adopted | 1881 |
| First Mayor and City Council | 1883 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | William Bialecki |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.81 sq mi (20.23 km2) |
| • Land | 7.24 sq mi (18.75 km2) |
| • Water | 0.57 sq mi (1.48 km2) 7.30% |
| Elevation | 1,316 ft (401 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 9,661 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 9,483 |
| • Density | 1,334.4/sq mi (515.2/km2) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 54452 |
| Area code(s) | 715 & 534 |
| Website | www.ci.merrill.wi.us |
Merrill is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located to the south of and adjacent to the Town of Merrill. The population was 9,661, according to the 2010 census. Merrill is part of the United States Census Bureau's Merrill MSA, which includes all of Lincoln County. Together with the Wausau MSA, which includes all of Marathon County, it forms the Wausau-Merrill CSA.
Merrill was first inhabited by the Chippewa Native Americans. The first European settlement there was a logging town named Jenny Bull Falls. By 1843 a trading post was constructed near the town; John Faely was the first settler. Within four years a dam, started by Andrew Warren, was constructed over the Wisconsin River. Warren then established the first mill powered by the dam, and other saw mills in the area. In 1870, T.B. Scott succeeded Warren, and the mill soon became increasingly successful. In 1899 the mill burned down. During that time the name of the community was changed to Merrill, in honor of S.S. Merrill, the general manager of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad.
in 1881, the Wisconsin Telephone company began operation, with 20 phones in service. In 1883 the first City Council met and T.B. Scott was named the first mayor. By 1885 the population had risen to 7,000, approximately 3,000 less than Merrill's population today. The railroad and passenger depot was a hub of social activity through the lumber industry's boom years and after. It later became a community youth center, but has since been razed. By 1900, the timber industry was in decline and the community was compelled to diversify its economy.
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