Editing Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin (section)

===20th century to present===
In 1900 the cities of Grand Rapids and Centralia merged into one city named Grand Rapids. Prior to the merger, Grand Rapids had a population of 1,702 and Centralia 1,425.<ref name=Jones/>{{rp|pages=143-144}} The name of the merged city was changed in 1920 to ''Wisconsin Rapids'', after years of mail and other goods being misdirected to the much better known [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The City of Wisconsin Rapids Official Website |url=https://www.wirapids.org/ |access-date=January 23, 2023 |website=City of Wisconsin Rapids |language=en}}</ref> In 1904 a small purpose-built hospital opened, to take over from the previous location over the Otto drug store; it was replaced in 1916 by the first Riverside Hospital - a 30-bed brick facility.<ref name=Engel1/>{{rp|pages=52-53}} Parks along the river began development with Lyon Park in 1909. The same year, a private "street railroad" company was organized, which ran a street car line eight miles from the west side of Rapids down to [[Port Edwards, Wisconsin|Port Edwards]] and [[Nekoosa, Wisconsin|Nekoosa]]. To lure riders, it built a dance pavilion north of Nekoosa. A municipal pool was built in 1913, pushed by John Arpin in response to regular drownings of swimmers in the river.<ref name=Jones/>{{rp|pages=145-151}}

The city added an airport in 1928.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Taylor |first1=T.A. |title=Chronological Sketch - Part 3 (1925-1939) |url=https://www.mcmillanlibrary.org/chronological-sketch-1 |publisher=McMillan Memorial Library |access-date=June 27, 2024}}</ref> During the [[Great Depression]], Consolidated Papers reduced its work week to four days to share existing work across more workers and avoid layoffs. Consolidated also began producing coated papers more efficiently, with their output used to print [[Life (magazine)|Life Magazine]].<ref name=Bruener>{{cite web|last1=Bruener|first1=Alison|last2=Engel|first2=Dave|title=What Next for River City?|url=http://www.swch-museum.com/the-end-of-an-era/|publisher=South Wood County Historical Museum|access-date=June 28, 2024}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], many locals volunteered to fight overseas, and some died. Back in Rapids, people grew [[victory garden]]s, collected scrap metal for the war effort, and rationed coffee and petroleum. Consolidated adapted to manufacture plastic aircraft materials, and Harvard Clothing made coats for the army.<ref name=Engel1>{{cite book|last=Engel|first=Dave|title=River City Memoirs|date=1983|publisher=South Wood County Historical Corp.|location=Wisconsin Rapids|isbn=0-910122-68-7|url=http://www.swch-museum.com/publications/works-by-dave-engel/river-city-memoirs-1983/|access-date=June 27, 2024}}</ref>{{rp|pages=40,56}}

In the 1970s corner groceries were disappearing, replaced by supermarkets. A number of old properties on the west side were torn down and replaced with the new Rapids Mall. The Riverview Expressway was built.<ref name=Engel1/>{{rp|page=41,58}}

In the 1980s, Consolidated was the largest producer of enamel papers in the world and a Fortune 500 company.<ref name=Bruener/> But after those glory years, paper use dropped as TV and computer screens replaced magazines and newspapers. Starting in 2000, Consolidated was bought and then sold by outside companies that eventually filed for bankruptcy, leading to closure of the mill in Rapids in 2020.<ref name=Shuda>{{cite news|last=Shuda|first=Caitlin|title=Shutdown in a Paper Town - Unfolding 126 years of history at Wisconsin Rapids paper mill|url=https://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/in-depth/money/2020/09/22/wisconsin-rapids-paper-mill-unfolding-126-years-history-consolidated-papers-verso/3401093001/|access-date=June 28, 2024|publisher=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune|date=September 22, 2020}}</ref> Remaining large employers are Riverview Hospital and [[Renaissance Learning]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Wood County Economic Profile 2024 |url=https://www.ncwrpc.org/wood-county-economic-profile-2024/ |publisher=North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission |access-date=June 28, 2024}}</ref>