Editing Laona, Wisconsin

{{for|the census-designated place in the town|Laona (CDP), Wisconsin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name   = Laona, Wisconsin
|settlement_type = [[Town]]
|nickname        = 
|motto           =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline = 
|imagesize     = 
|image_caption =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map    = WIMap-doton-Laona.png
|mapsize      = 250px
|map_caption  = Location of Laona, Wisconsin
|image_map1   = 
|mapsize1     = 
|map_caption1 =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type  = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name  = {{flag|United States}}
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Wisconsin}}
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Wisconsin|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Forest County, Wisconsin|Forest]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  =  Imperial
|area_footnotes           = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 278.5
|area_land_km2            = 267.8
|area_water_km2           = 10.7
|area_total_sq_mi         = 107.5
|area_land_sq_mi          = 103.4
|area_water_sq_mi         = 4.1

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2023 United States Census|2023]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 568
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi =

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
|elevation_m              = 479
|elevation_ft             = 1572
|coordinates              = {{coord|45|33|26|N|88|41|18|W|region:US-WI|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = 
|postal_code              = 
|area_code                = [[Area codes 715 and 534|715 & 534]]  
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 55-42500<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1583528<ref name="GR3" />
|website                  = http://www.townoflaona.com/
|footnotes                = 
}}
[[Image:LaonaWisconsinTownHall.jpg|thumb|right|Town hall is located in the town center, which is the unincorporated community of [[Laona (community), Wisconsin|Laona]]]]
'''Laona''' is a town in [[Forest County, Wisconsin|Forest County]], [[Wisconsin]], United States. The population was 1,212 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Laona town, Wisconsin| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| accessdate=August 12, 2011}}</ref> The census-designated place of [[Laona (CDP), Wisconsin|Laona]] is located in the town. The unincorporated community of Blackwell Junction is also located partially in the town.

==History==
Laona was [[plat]]ted in 1899 when the railroad was extended to that point.<ref name="history">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA92 | title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways | author=Chicago and North Western Railway Company | year=1908 | page=92}}</ref> It was named in honor of the daughter of a local businessman.<ref name="history" /> A post office has been in operation in Laona since 1900.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=WI&county=Forest | title=Forest County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | accessdate=March 22, 2015}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|107.5|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|103.4|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.2|sqmi}}, or 3.86%, is water. The latitude of Laona is 45.564N. The longitude is −88.673W. It is in the Central Standard time zone. Elevation is {{convert|1572|ft|m}}.

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Laona 6 SW, Wisconsin, 1991–2020 normals, 1927-2020 extremes: 1695ft (517m)
|single line = Yes

| Jan record high F = 54
| Feb record high F = 63
| Mar record high F = 78
| Apr record high F = 90
| May record high F = 100
| Jun record high F = 99
| Jul record high F = 102
| Aug record high F = 99
| Sep record high F = 98
| Oct record high F = 86
| Nov record high F = 75
| Dec record high F = 58
| year record high F =	

|Jan avg record high F = 38.6
|Feb avg record high F = 44.4
|Mar avg record high F = 58.8
|Apr avg record high F = 72.7
|May avg record high F = 80.7
|Jun avg record high F = 83.6
|Jul avg record high F = 83.4
|Aug avg record high F = 82.2
|Sep avg record high F = 78.8
|Oct avg record high F = 73.5
|Nov avg record high F = 56.4
|Dec avg record high F = 42.7
|year avg record high F = 86.0

|Jan high F = 19.7
|Feb high F = 24.3
|Mar high F = 35.9
|Apr high F = 49.2
|May high F = 63.1
|Jun high F = 70.0
|Jul high F = 73.4
|Aug high F = 71.4
|Sep high F = 63.7
|Oct high F = 52.3
|Nov high F = 36.9
|Dec high F = 25.1
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 11.8
|Feb mean F = 15.0
|Mar mean F = 26.0
|Apr mean F = 38.7
|May mean F = 51.8
|Jun mean F = 60.2
|Jul mean F = 64.2
|Aug mean F = 62.4
|Sep mean F = 54.8
|Oct mean F = 43.4
|Nov mean F = 29.8
|Dec mean F = 18.1
|year mean F = 

|Jan low F = 4.0
|Feb low F = 5.7
|Mar low F = 16.0
|Apr low F = 28.1
|May low F = 40.6
|Jun low F = 50.5
|Jul low F = 55.0
|Aug low F = 53.5
|Sep low F = 45.9
|Oct low F = 34.6
|Nov low F = 22.7
|Dec low F = 11.2
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -17.6
|Feb avg record low F = -14.7
|Mar avg record low F = -7.8
|Apr avg record low F = 14.5
|May avg record low F = 26.8
|Jun avg record low F = 35.9
|Jul avg record low F = 43.0
|Aug avg record low F = 41.3
|Sep avg record low F = 30.9
|Oct avg record low F = 22.5
|Nov avg record low F = 5.3
|Dec avg record low F = -10.6
|year avg record low F = -21.4

| Jan record low F = -39
| Feb record low F = -39
| Mar record low F = -34
| Apr record low F = -9
| May record low F = 15
| Jun record low F = 23
| Jul record low F = 29
| Aug record low F = 25
| Sep record low F = 17
| Oct record low F = 0
| Nov record low F = -17
| Dec record low F = -29
| year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.34
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.25
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.88
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.11
|May precipitation inch = 3.78
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.70
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.00
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.20
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.76
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.31
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.07
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.74
|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 16.40
|Feb snow inch = 12.60
|Mar snow inch = 13.70
|Apr snow inch = 9.50
|May snow inch = 0.80
|Jun snow inch = 0.00
|Jul snow inch = 0.00
|Aug snow inch = 0.00
|Sep snow inch = 0.00
|Oct snow inch = 2.30
|Nov snow inch = 9.30
|Dec snow inch = 15.50
|year snow inch =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA1>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00474582&format=pdf
|title = Laona 6 SW, Wisconsin 1991-2020 Monthly Normals 
|access-date = December 20, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = XMACIS (records & monthly max/mins)<ref name = XMACIS>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS
|access-date = December 20, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,367 people, 564 households, and 395 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was 13.2 people per square mile (5.1/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 850 housing units at an average density of 8.2 per square mile (3.2/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 95.90% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.44% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.41% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.07% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.07% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.10% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.37% of the population.

There were 564 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,852, and the median income for a family was $41,042. Males had a median income of $29,674 versus $21,154 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $15,652. About 8.7% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Recreation==
{{more citations needed|date=March 2015}}
The community is the site of the [[Lumberjack Steam Train]], an operating turn-of-the-century passenger train and award-winning museum.<ref>[http://www.lumberjacksteamtrain.com/ Lumberjack Steam Train]</ref>

In the winter, Laona is home to the 100 Mile Snow Safari or "100 miler", one of Wisconsin's oldest and most distinctive [[snowmobiling]] trails.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Forestry and Recreation Department |url=https://forestcountywi.com/snowmobile-trails |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=Forestry and Recreation Department |language=en-US}}</ref> It offers nearly {{convert|100|mi|km}} of undeveloped trail riding in a pristine and well-managed trail system. With dozens of undeveloped lakes and miles of undeveloped timberland to ride through, it is one of Wisconsin's most popular snowmobiling trails.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.laona.k12.wi.us/ Laona School District]
*[http://www.laonahistory.com/ Laona's town history website]
{{Forest County, Wisconsin}}

{{coord|45|33|53|N|88|40|26|W|type:city_region:US-WI|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Forest County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Company towns in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Towns in Wisconsin]]