Editing Mercer, Wisconsin

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Mercer, Wisconsin
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = Loon Capital of the World

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Mercer Hwy 51.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Downtown Mercer in the [[Mercer (CDP), Wisconsin|census-designated place]] (CDP)

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Iron County Wisconsin incorporated and unincorporated areas Mercer highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Iron County, Wisconsin|Iron County]] and the state of [[Wisconsin]].

<!-- 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        = [[Iron County, Wisconsin|Iron]]

<!-- 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           = 478.5
|area_land_km2            = 435.2
|area_water_km2           = 43.3
|area_total_sq_mi         = 184.8
|area_land_sq_mi          = 168.0
|area_water_sq_mi         = 16.7

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[United States Census, 2000|2000]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1732
|population_density_km2   = 4.0
|population_density_sq_mi = 10.3

<!-- 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|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
|elevation_m              = 491
|elevation_ft             = 1611
|coordinates              = {{coord|46|10|3|N|90|6|15|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               = 55-51200<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1583700<ref name="GR3" />
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Mercer''' is a town in southern [[Iron County, Wisconsin|Iron County]], [[Wisconsin]], United States. The population was 1,649 at the 2020 census. The census-designated place of [[Mercer (CDP), Wisconsin|Mercer]] and the unincorporated communities of [[Carter, Iron County, Wisconsin|Carter]] and [[Manitowish, Wisconsin|Manitowish]] are located within the town.

Mercer identifies itself as the "[[Loon]] Capital of the World" to promote [[tourism]]. A wildlife study found Mercer had the highest concentration of common loons in the world. In front of the Mercer Chamber of Commerce's information center, there is a {{convert|16|ft|m|adj=on}}, {{convert|2000|lb|adj=on}} statue named "Claire de Loon". Mercer also hosts an annual "Loon Day" festival, which features an arts and crafts fair, live music and a loon calling contest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/economies/northernedge/bestpractices/iron3.cfm|title=Former UW-Extension|date=July 8, 2019}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of 184.8&nbsp;square miles (478.5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), of which 168.0&nbsp;square miles (435.2&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) is land and 16.7&nbsp;square miles (43.3&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) (9.05%) is water.

==Demographics==
[[Image:Turtle-Flambeau Flowage.JPG|thumb|250 px|The [[Turtle-Flambeau Flowage]] is a major source of summer tourism]]
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,732 people, 820 households, and 519 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was 10.3 people per square mile (4.0/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,926 housing units at an average density of 11.5 per square mile (4.4/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 98.96% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.12% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.18% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.17% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.17% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.40% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.69% of the population.

There were 820 households, out of which 17.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.63.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 16.7% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 31.5% from 45 to 64, and 25.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,413, and the median income for a family was $39,402. Males had a median income of $29,911 versus $22,042 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $19,087. About 8.7% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==

Mercer is served by the Mercer School District, with about 140 K–12 students in a single school.<ref name="propum">{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Annysa|date=April 3, 2016|title='Fifty Shades of Grey' viewing sparks battle at Northwoods school|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/fifty-shades-of-grey-viewing-sparks-battle-at-northwoods-school-b99693236z1-374422841.html|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel|location=Milwaukee,WI|access-date=April 19, 2016}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
[[U.S. Route 51 in Wisconsin|US Highway 51]] runs through Mercer generally on a north–south trajectory, but through downtown Mercer it runs east-west. [[Wisconsin Highway 47|State Highway 47]] and [[Wisconsin Highway 182|State Highway 182]] also pass through the town.

==Tourism==
Mercer's main industry is tourism.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} Year-round activities include fishing, hunting, camping, canoeing, kayaking, biking, skiing, bird watching, snowmobiling, and ATV/UTVing. A large portion of the [[Turtle-Flambeau Flowage]] is located in Mercer, and there are 214 other inland lakes in the surround area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About The Area – Mercer WI |url=http://www.mercerwi.com/about-the-area/,%20http://www.mercerwi.com/about-the-area/ |access-date=July 20, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Mercer Area Historical Society is housed in the former train station. It contains a small museum of local history. Other buildings include a jail, schoolhouse, barbershop, and a reconstructed caboose.

Each year on the first Wednesday in August the town hosts Loon Day. The town hosts vendors from the area to sell their arts and products. They also have food from local restaurants and live music. The annual event brings a lot of visitors to the town each year.

==Notable people==

* [[Ralph Capone]], brother of Al Capone
* [[Charles L. Lacy]], resort owner and Wisconsin State Representative, lived in the town<ref>'Wisconsin Blue Book 1929,' Biographical Sketch of Charles L, Lacy, pg. 552</ref>

==Images==
<gallery>
<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Claire de Loon, Mercer WI.JPG|The fiberglass Claire de Loon, mascot of Mercer -->
Image:Mercer Main Street.JPG|Mercer's central district.  The tourist store Wampum Shop is on the left, with the Historical Society in the background
Image:Mercer Historical Society.JPG|The Historical Society, housed in the former train depot in the CDP
Image:Rasey cabin.JPG|A typical Northwoods cabin in the Mercer area
Image:Lake of the Falls, Mercer.JPG|The Lake of the Falls park contains a beach and campgrounds
Image:Fisherman's Landing.JPG|Fishermen departing from a public boat access point on the Flowage
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.townofmercer.com Town of Mercer, Wisconsin]
*[https://mercercc.com/ Mercer Chamber of Commerce]
*[http://www.mercerwi.com Mercer, Wisconsin]

{{Iron County, Wisconsin}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|46|09|56|N|90|03|46|W|type:city_region:US-WI|display=title}}

[[Category:Towns in Iron County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Towns in Wisconsin]]