Menasha, Wisconsin

Template:About Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement

Menasha (Template:IPAc-en) is a city in Winnebago and Calumet counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 18,268 at the 2020 census. Of this, 15,144 were in Winnebago County, and 2,209 were in Calumet County. The city's name comes from the Winnebago word meaning "thorn" or "island".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In the Menominee language, it is known as Menāēhsaeh, meaning "little island".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is part of the Fox Cities region of Wisconsin. Doty Island is located partially in Menasha, which it shares with Neenah.

Menasha's location on the Fox River and Lake Winnebago led to its rich history, dating back to the inhabitation by Native American tribes for centuries.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> European settlement in the 1800s led to the development of Menasha as a transportation hub and later a center for paper production and wooden ware products.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Today, Menasha is home to the Barlow Planetarium and the Weis Earth Science Museum on the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus.

History

File:A View of the Butte Des Morts Treaty Ground; With the Arrival of the Commissioners Gov. Lewis Cass and Col. McKenny, from The Aboriginal Portfolio - SAAM - 1973.167.48.jpg

An illustration of Butte Des Morts in 1827

Ancestors of the Ho-Chunk occupied what is currently Menasha. In the 1600s, the Meskwaki established a village just north of Menasha. A surprise attack by French soldiers and traders resulted in the deaths of nearly all Meskwaki residing in the area. The bodies were subsequently interred in a large mound, known as Butte des Morts ("Hill of the Dead"), which served as a prominent landmark until its destruction by the Chicago and North Western Railway in 1863.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1836, the land was ceded to the United States in the Treaty of the Cedars. This opened up land for public sale, and territorial governor James Duane Doty was one of the first investors in the land. In 1848, Doty and his associates, including Curtis Reed, formed the town of Menasha on the channel north of Doty Island.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1849, Reed and Doty were successful in convincing the United States government to place the navigational channel of the Fox-Wisconsin waterway through the north channel in Menasha.<ref name=":0" /> In 1854 Menasha approved $150,000 in bonding to bring the Manitowoc & Mississippi Railroad in with the intent of establishing Menasha as the principal transportation axis in Wisconsin. Menasha was incorporated as a city in 1874, and at that point was considered to be a transportation hub.<ref name=":0" />

File:Menasha Hub Spoke and Bending Factory, Menasha in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, from 1880 book History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest.jpg

Former Menasha Hub Spoke and Bending Factory

The early 1900s saw a shift to industrial production of general and specialized papers.<ref name=":0" /> Menasha was home to many paper mills including the George A. Whiting Paper Company Mill, the John Strange Paper Mill, Island Paper Company, and Gilbert Paper Company, to name a few. Menasha was also home to the George Banta Publishing Company which published textbooks, military manuals, yearbooks, and magazines.

Menasha Corporation also called Menasha home. It was established in 1849 by Elisha D. Smith as Menasha Wooden Ware.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> It produced wooden containers like butter tubs and barrels and eventually became the world's largest wooden ware products manufacturer. After wooden ware products fell out of use in the early 1900s, Menasha Wooden Ware shifted to the corrugated packaging business, changing its name to Menasha Corporation.<ref name=":1" />

Geography

File:MenashaDamMenashaWisconsin.jpg

Menasha Dam

Menasha is located at Template:Coord (44.2129, −88.4362).<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which, Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

Template:US Census populationMenasha is a city in the Appleton–Oshkosh–Neenah CSA, a Combined Statistical Area which includes the Appleton (Calumet and Outagamie counties) and Oshkosh–Neenah (Winnebago County) metropolitan areas,Template:Citation needed which had a combined population of 392,660 at the 2010 census and an estimated population of 409,881 as of 2019.

2020 census

At the 2020 census there were 18,268 people residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 85.9% White, 1.8% African American, 1.3% Native American, 3.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.0% from other races, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.2%.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 17,353 people, 7,405 households, and 4,415 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,973 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 90.8% White, 1.2% African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.0% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.9%.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 7,405 households 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.4% were non-families. 32.2% of households were one person and 9.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age was 36 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.6% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 16,331 people, 6,951 households, and 4,233 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,271 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 94.80% White, 0.54% African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.62% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.38% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.61%.<ref name="GR2" />

Of the 6,951 households 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 31.8% of households were one person and 10.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median household income was $39,936 and the median family income was $47,401. Males had a median income of $36,705 versus $25,176 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,743. About 5.4% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

File:St. Thomas, Neenah-Menasha, Wisconsin.jpg

Menasha's St. Thomas Episcopal Church was designed by Harry Weese

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) has two churches in Menasha: Bethel Lutheran Church<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Mount Calvary Lutheran Church.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Architect Harry Weese designed Menasha's St Thomas' Episcopal Church.

Parks and recreation

File:UWFoxValleyBarlowPlanetarium.jpg

Barlow Planetarium

File:FriendshipStateTrailMenashaWisconsin.jpg

The Loop the Little Lake Trail

The 91-acre Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is an urban nature reserve with habitats including forested wetland, cattail marsh, open water, created prairie, open field, and upland forest.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus houses the Weis Earth Science Museum and the Barlow Planetarium.

Menasha contains numerous parks. It has a public pool located in Jefferson Park.<ref>https://cms5.revize.com/revize/menasha/Park%20list2020.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF</ref> Smith Park is the oldest park in the Menasha Park system, established in 1897.

A railroad caboose in Smith Park commemorates the original Wisconsin Central Railroad. At the southern end of the park are several Native American burial mounds and a natural amphitheater used for summer concerts. The north end of the park features semi-formal gardens planted each year with approximately 6,000 annuals, a setting that is a favorite for summer weddings. A gazebo funded with corporate donations was built in this area in 1997.<ref>https://cms5.revize.com/revize/menasha/Parks%20&%20Rec/4.OpenSpacePlan_Final_Resolution_8-2012.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF</ref>

Government

File:MenashaPostOfficeWisconsin.jpg

Menasha Post Office

The city of Menasha has a mayor–council government. There are eight districts in the city, each represented by an aldermen. The council meets weekly with the mayor, Austin Hammond.

List of Menasha's village presidents:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Village Presidents of Menasha, Wisconsin, since incorporation as a village in 1853
Order	Term start	Term end	Village President	Notes
1	1853	1854	Template:Sortname	There is no official record for the first election, although the first meeting minutes lists Curtis Reed as President.
2	1854	1855	Template:Sortname
3	1855	1856	Template:Sortname
4	1856	1857	Template:Sortname
5	1857	1858	Template:Sortname
6	1858	1859	Template:Sortname
7	1859	1860	Template:Sortname
8	1860	1861	Template:Sortname
9	1861	1862	Template:Sortname
10	1862	1863	Template:Sortname
11	1863	1864	Template:Sortname
12	1864	1865	Template:Sortname
13	1865	1866	Template:Sortname
14	1866	1867	Template:Sortname
15	1867	1868	Template:Sortname	No record of election, though the same officers stayed in their offices.
16	1868	1869	Template:Sortname
17	1869	1870	Template:Sortname	No record of election, though the same officers stayed in their offices.
18	1870	1871	Template:Sortname
19	1871	1872	Template:Sortname
20	1872	1873	Template:Sortname
21	1873	1874	Template:Sortname

List of Menasha's mayors:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mayors of Menasha, Wisconsin, since incorporation as a city in 1874
Order	Term start	Term end	Mayor	Notes
1	1874	1875	Template:Sortname
2	1875	1879	Template:Sortname
3	1879	1882	Template:Sortname
4	1882	1883	Template:Sortname
5	1883	1885	Template:Sortname
6	1885	1886	Template:Sortname
7	1886	1890	Template:Sortname
8	1890	1892	Template:Sortname
9	1892	1893	Template:Sortname
10	1893	1894	Template:Sortname
11	1894	1895	Template:Sortname
12	1895	1896	Template:Sortname
13	1896	1897	Template:Sortname
14	1897	1898	Template:Sortname
15	1898	1900	Template:Sortname
16	1900	1901	Template:Sortname
17	1901	1902	Template:Sortname
18	1902	1904	Template:Sortname
19	1904	1908	Template:Sortname
20	1908	1910	Template:Sortname
21	1910	1912	Template:Sortname
22	1912	1919	Template:Sortname
23	1919	1922	Template:Sortname	"Elected mayor of Menasha to fill out an unexpired term" and then re-elected without opposition.
24	1922	1924	Template:Sortname
25	1924	1928	Template:Sortname
26	1928	1930	Template:Sortname
27	1930	1934	Template:Sortname
28	1934	1936	Template:Sortname
29	1936	1938	Template:Sortname
30	1938	1946	Template:Sortname
31	1946	1956	Template:Sortname
32	1956	1960	Template:Sortname
33	1960	1966	Template:Sortname
34	1966	1968	Template:Sortname
35	1968	1970	Template:Sortname
36	1970	1974	Template:Sortname
37	1974	1982	Template:Sortname
38	1982	1988	Template:Sortname
39	1988	2008	Template:Sortname
40	2008	2024	Template:Sortname
41	2024	Present	Template:Sortname

Education

File:Menasha High School.jpg

Menasha High School

Menasha's Public School system, called the Menasha Joint School District has one high school (Menasha High School), one middle school, and five elementary schools.

Parochial education is offered at St. Mary Catholic Elementary School, Bethel Lutheran School (elementary and middle), and Trinity Lutheran School (elementary and middle).

Menasha is home to the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus, a two-year campus part of the UW System.