Hartford, Wisconsin

Hartford is a city in Dodge and Washington Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 10,905. The city is growing at estimated rate of 10.66% annually, resulting in an estimated population of 13,426 by January 2007.

The city was the site of an F1 tornado touchdown on June 18, 2006, which caused minor damage to homes in the area, and major damage on the city's south side. Lincoln Elementary School and the Silver Bell Motel both suffered roof and structural damage.

Economy

Hartford was an early car manufacturing center, home to Kissel before 1926. Hartford has been the home of a Chrysler car plant, a Libby's beet processing plant, and now many smaller industries including a manufacturing site for Broan-NuTone, LLC

Government

The mayor of Hartford, Scott M. Henke, works with the Common Council on municipal issues. The Common Council is made up of nine aldermen, three each elected from one of three city aldermanic districts.

Education

Hartford Joint 1 is the school district that provides public education to elementary students in Hartford. Lincoln and Rossman Elementary Schools each serve roughly half of the city's K-5 student population. Both schools are feeders to Central Middle School, which provides for all Hartford students in grades 6-8.

Secondary education is provided by Hartford Union High School (HUHS), which is independent of the Hartford Joint 1 district. It has an enrollment of about 1700 students. The high school not only serves the city of Hartford, but the town of Hartford and most of the surrounding communities including Richfield, Erin, Friess Lake, and Neosho.

Several private parochial schools serve students of all ages.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 30.9 square miles (80.1 km²), of which, 30.2 square miles (78.2 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (2.36%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,905 people, 1,397 households, and 1,152 families residing in the city. The population density was 133.6 people per square mile (51.6/km²). There were 1,438 housing units at an average density of 47.6/sq mi (18.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.88% White, 0.20% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.55% of the population.

There were 1,397 households out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.7% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the city the age of the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $69,896, and the median income for a family was $73,576. Males had a median income of $42,301 versus $29,727 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,928. About 1.1% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 0.7% of those age 65 or over.

Area Information

• Recently, the city has engaged in rapid expansion, annexing parts of the town of Hartford and other areas. Pike Lake has been annexed into city boundaries. The Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest is situated on the lake.
• The city has a major industrial park, including a Quad Graphics factory that employs many city residents on the outskirts of the city.
• Hartford is also home to the Schauer Arts & Activities Center, a regional arts center that stages professional touring performances, offers arts classes for all ages, and hosts a variety of social and business functions.

History

John Thiel and Nicolas Simon first surveyed the area that would become Hartford in 1843. They returned in 1844 with James and Charles Rossman to build a dam across rapids in the Rubicon River. The Rossmans built a sawmill that harnassed the power of the water to make lumber for the growth of the area. Rails were laid in 1855 that linked Chicago, Milwaukee, LaCrosse and Minneapolis until the early 1900s.

References

External links

• City of Hartford official website
• Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce
• Hartford Union High School official website
• Central Middle School official website
• Lincoln Elementary official website
• Rossman Elementary official website
• St. Kilian School official website
• Peace Lutheran School official website
• Erin School official website