Stevens Point, Wisconsin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Stevens Point, Wisconsin | |
| Nickname(s): Gateway to the Pineries | |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
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| 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 (2000) | |
| - City | 24,551 |
| - Density | 1,603.7/sq mi (619.2/km2) |
| - Metro | 48,123 |
| Time zone | CST (UTC−6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC−5) |
| FIPS code | 55-77200[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1574878[2] |
| Website | www.stevenspoint.com |
Stevens Point is a city in and 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 24,551 at the 2000 census. 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 (2000 population: 67,182). Together with surrounding communities, the Stevens Point micropolitan area was, according to the 2000 census, home to 48,123 people.
Stevens Point is home to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 42.1 km² (16.2 mi²). 39.7 km² (15.3 mi²) of it is land and 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²) 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.
On average, the temperature ranges from 20° to 80° Fahrenheit. 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° in July and August.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 24,551 people, 9,305 households, and 4,652 families residing in the city. The population density was 619.2/km² (1,603.2/mi²). There were 9,749 housing units at an average density of 245.9/km² (636.6/mi²). 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 9,305 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] History
Stevens Point was named after its founder, George Stevens, who ran several saloons on what is today known as "the Square". Loggers on the Wisconsin River found this a convenient stopping point, as the river bends slightly and one could tell from far upstream whether Stevens' point was open for business.
[edit] Education
Stevens Point is home to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, established in 1894 as the Stevens Point Normal School. The university enrolls approximately 8700 students in both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Mid-State Technical College (MSTC), a technical community college, is also located in the city.
The Stevens Point Area School District serves the city, [4] as does the Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools system. Public elementary schools include Bannach, Jefferson School for the Arts, Kennedy, Madison, McDill, McKinley, Roosevelt, and Washington Service-Learning Center. There are two middle 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.[5][6]
[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 members of the Bahá'í Faith in the city and county.[7][8][9]
[edit] Economy
[edit] Business and industry
Major employers in the area include NewPage Corporation paper mill, Sentry Insurance, AIG Travel Guard, the Noel Group (travel and insurance), Copps Corporation, Donaldson Company, Skyward (software design), Joerns Medical, Lands' End, Associated Bank, Canadian National Railway, Delta Dental of Wisconsin, Worzalla Publishing, and the Stevens Point Brewery.
Stevens Point is located in the geographic center of Wisconsin, making it a popular destination for state conventions and state youth sporting events, including soccer and hockey. The hospitality industry is rapidly growing in Stevens Point with the addition or remodeling of over 500 hotel rooms since 2004.[citation needed]
[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.)[10]
City-wide events range from the Fourth of July Riverfront Rendezvous to the Portage County Cultural Festival.[11]
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 nightlife on "the Square" that is popular with college students.
Stevens Point hosts the world's largest trivia contest, run by UWSP's radio station, WWSP-FM. The contest typically involves over 12,000 contestants divided up into 400-plus teams and is usually run during the last weekend of April every year and lasts for 54 straight hours.
Stevens Point was listed in Relocate-America's Top 10 Best Places to Live in 2007 and 2008 for the United States.[citation needed]
[edit] Points of interest
The area has 20 developed parks, a 26-mile bicycle and jogging trail (the Green Circle Trail) that surrounds and winds through the city, an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course, and a country club. The Schmeeckle Reserve, a nature reserve, is located on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus.
[edit] Transportation
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).
[edit] Notable people associated with Stevens Point
- William A. Bablitch, politician, judge
- Kirk Baumgartner, football player
- Tim Bedore, comedian
- Dick Bennett, basketball coach
- Tony Bennett, basketball coach
- Webster E. Brown, politician
- George W. Cate, politician
- Curt Clausen, American race walker
- Suzy Favor-Hamilton, runner
- William D. Ferris, astronomer, producer/director
- Don Hanaway, politician/judge
- 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
- James Miller, educator
- Jim Newman, actor, writer, producer, and director
- Joe Pavelski, NHL center for the San Jose Sharks
- Terry Porter, basketball coach and player
- Rick Reichardt, professional baseball player
- Patrick Rothfuss, author, UW-Stevens Point professor
- Elmer T. Shannon, race car driver
- Brad Soderberg, basketball coach
- Chris Solinsky, professional runner
- Garrett Weber-Gale, Olympic swimmer
- Peter Weller, actor
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ 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 (03): pp. 35–46, http://bahai-library.com/articles/stokes.joseph1.html
- ^ Rowe, T. (June 2007). "T. Rowe, Ph.D.". Faculty Webpage. UWSP Department of Psychology. http://www.uwsp.edu/PSYCH/tr.htm. Retrieved on 2008-08-06.
- ^ Portage County Historical Society
- ^ Portage County Cultural Festival
[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
"Stevens Point". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
- Stevens Point, Wisconsin is at coordinates Coordinates:
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