Marathon County, Wisconsin

County in the United States

County in Wisconsin

Marathon County

County

Marathon County Courthouse in Wausau

Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin

Wisconsin's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 44°54′N 89°46′W﻿ / ﻿44.9°N 89.76°W﻿ / 44.9; -89.76
Country|  United States
State|  Wisconsin
Founded| 1850
Named after| Marathon, Greece
Seat| Wausau
Largest city| Wausau
Area

• Total

| 1,576 sq mi (4,080 km2)
• Land| 1,545 sq mi (4,000 km2)
• Water| 31 sq mi (80 km2)  2.0%
Population

(2020)[1]

• Total

| 138,013

• Estimate

(2023)

| 138,612
• Density| 89.3/sq mi (34.5/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 7th
Website| www.co.marathon.wi.us
Wisconsin 1866 US land Office Marathon County Fairgrounds

Marathon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 138,013.[1] Its county seat is Wausau.[2] It was founded in 1850,[2] created from a portion of Portage County. At that time the county stretched to the northern border with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is named after the battlefield at Marathon, Greece.[3]

Marathon County comprises the Wausau, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Wausau–Stevens Point–Wisconsin Rapids, WI Combined Statistical Area.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,576 square miles (4,080 km2), of which 1,545 square miles (4,000 km2) is land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (2.0%) is water.[4] It is the largest county in Wisconsin by land area and fourth-largest by total area.

Marker located at the 45×90 point near Rietbrock

The Marathon County Park Commission has posted a geographical marker[5] that identifies the spot (45°N, 90°W) of the exact center of the northern half of the Western Hemisphere, meaning that it is a quarter of the way around the world from the Prime Meridian and halfway from the Equator to the North Pole.

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 39
* US Highway 51
* Wisconsin Highway 13
* Wisconsin Highway 29
* Wisconsin Highway 34
* Wisconsin Highway 49
* Wisconsin Highway 52
* Wisconsin Highway 97
* Wisconsin Highway 98
* Wisconsin Highway 107
* Wisconsin Highway 153

### Railroads

[edit]

* Canadian National
* Watco

### Buses

[edit]

* Metro Ride

### Airports

[edit]

* KAUW - Wausau Downtown Airport
* KCWA - Central Wisconsin Airport

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Lincoln County \- north
* Langlade County \- northeast
* Shawano County \- east
* Waupaca County \- southeast
* Portage County \- south
* Wood County \- south
* Clark County \- west
* Taylor County \- northwest

### Natural wildlife refuges

[edit]

* Mead Wildlife Area

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1850| 508| | —
1860| 2,892| | 469.3%
1870| 5,885| | 103.5%
1880| 17,121| | 190.9%
1890| 30,369| | 77.4%
1900| 43,256| | 42.4%
1910| 55,054| | 27.3%
1920| 65,259| | 18.5%
1930| 70,629| | 8.2%
1940| 75,915| | 7.5%
1950| 80,337| | 5.8%
1960| 88,874| | 10.6%
1970| 97,457| | 9.7%
1980| 111,270| | 14.2%
1990| 115,400| | 3.7%
2000| 125,834| | 9.0%
2010| 134,063| | 6.5%
2020| 138,013| | 2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010 [10] 2020[1]

### 2020 census

[edit]

As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 138,013. The population density was 89.3 people per square mile (34.5 people/km2). There were 59,828 housing units at an average density of 38.7 units per square mile (14.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.9% White, 6.2% Asian, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.3% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Marathon County

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 125,834 people, 47,702 households, and 33,868 families residing in the county. The population density was 81 people per square mile (31 people/km2). There were 50,360 housing units at an average density of 33 units per square mile (13 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.84% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 4.54% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.6% were of German and 13.6% Polish ancestry. 92.9% spoke English, 3.4% Hmong, 1.1% German and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 47,702 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.50% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.

## Libraries

[edit]

The Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) has its headquarters in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin. Eight branch libraries have been established in the cities of Athens, Edgar, Hatley, Marathon City, Mosinee, Rothschild, Spencer, and Stratford.

## Recreation

[edit]

### County parks

[edit]

* Amco County Park
* Big Eau Pleine County Park
* Big Rapids County Park
* Bluegill Bay County Park
* Cherokee County Park
* Courthouse Square
* D.C. Everest County Park
* Dells of the Eau Claire County Park
* Duane L. Corbin Shooting Range Park
* Library Park
* Marathon Park
* Mission Lake County Park
* Mountain-Bay State Park Trail
* Reitbrock Geographical Marker
* Rib Falls County Park
* Sunny Vale County Park

### Snowmobile trails

[edit]

There are over 884 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in Marathon County maintained by 29 area snowmobile clubs. [12]

## Communities

[edit]

County sign on Wisconsin Highway 13

### Cities

[edit]

* Abbotsford (mostly in Clark County)
* Colby (mostly in Clark County)
* Marshfield (mostly in Wood County)
* Mosinee
* Schofield
* Wausau (county seat)

### Villages

[edit]

* Athens
* Birnamwood (mostly in Shawano County)
* Dorchester (mostly in Clark County)
* Edgar
* Elderon
* Fenwood
* Hatley
* Kronenwetter
* Maine
* Marathon City
* Rib Mountain
* Rothschild
* Spencer
* Stratford
* Unity (partly in Clark County)
* Weston

### Towns

[edit]

* Bergen
* Berlin
* Bern
* Bevent
* Brighton
* Cassel
* Cleveland
* Day
* Easton
* Eau Pleine
* Elderon
* Emmet
* Frankfort
* Franzen
* Green Valley
* Guenther
* Halsey
* Hamburg
* Harrison
* Hewitt
* Holton
* Hull
* Johnson
* Knowlton
* Marathon
* McMillan
* Mosinee
* Norrie
* Plover
* Reid
* Rib Falls
* Rietbrock
* Ringle
* Spencer
* Stettin
* Texas
* Wausau
* Weston
* Wien

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Knowlton
* Rib Mountain

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Ashley
* Bradley
* Cherokee
* Corinth
* Dancy
* Emmerich
* Evergreen
* Gad (partial)
* Galloway
* Glandon
* Granite Heights
* Halder
* Hamburg
* Hogarty
* Holt
* Johnson
* Kalinke
* Little Chicago
* Little Eau Claire
* Little Rose
* Mann
* March Rapids
* McMillan
* Milan
* Moon
* Mount View
* Naugart
* Norrie
* Nutterville
* Pike Lake
* Poniatowski
* Rangeline
* Rib Falls
* Ringle
* Rocky Corners
* Rozellville
* Schnappsville
* Snell
* Shantytown
* Sunset
* Swan
* Taegesville
* Weber
* Wien
* Wuertsburg

### Ghost towns/neighborhoods

[edit]

* Callon
* Staadts
* Stettin
* Ziegler

## Politics

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Marathon County, Wisconsin[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 46,213  | 58.63% | 31,529  | 40.00%  | 1,084  | 1.38%
2020 | 44,624  | 58.14% | 30,808  | 40.14%  | 1,319  | 1.72%
2016 | 39,014  | 56.12% | 26,481  | 38.09%  | 4,023  | 5.79%
2012 | 36,617  | 52.41% | 32,363  | 46.32%  | 882  | 1.26%
2008 | 30,345  | 44.66%  | 36,367  | 53.53% | 1,228  | 1.81%
2004 | 36,394  | 53.47% | 30,899  | 45.40%  | 766  | 1.13%
2000 | 28,883  | 49.48% | 26,546  | 45.48%  | 2,945  | 5.05%
1996 | 19,874  | 38.63%  | 24,012  | 46.67% | 7,563  | 14.70%
1992 | 20,948  | 36.51%  | 21,482  | 37.44% | 14,948  | 26.05%
1988 | 24,482  | 49.44%  | 24,658  | 49.79% | 381  | 0.77%
1984 | 27,080  | 55.64% | 20,128  | 41.36%  | 1,462  | 3.00%
1980 | 25,868  | 48.34% | 23,281  | 43.50%  | 4,365  | 8.16%
1976 | 21,898  | 45.62%  | 24,934  | 51.94% | 1,169  | 2.44%
1972 | 21,454  | 51.28% | 18,500  | 44.22%  | 1,885  | 4.51%
1968 | 16,907  | 44.40%  | 18,063  | 47.43% | 3,111  | 8.17%
1964 | 12,766  | 34.11%  | 24,603  | 65.74% | 57  | 0.15%
1960 | 21,880  | 54.67% | 18,145  | 45.33%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 22,586  | 59.36% | 15,301  | 40.21%  | 164  | 0.43%
1952 | 20,702  | 58.52% | 14,541  | 41.11%  | 130  | 0.37%
1948 | 11,494  | 40.93%  | 15,898  | 56.62% | 687  | 2.45%
1944 | 15,782  | 53.54% | 13,192  | 44.75%  | 503  | 1.71%
1940 | 15,264  | 51.80% | 13,724  | 46.57%  | 481  | 1.63%
1936 | 7,328  | 27.06%  | 17,898  | 66.10% | 1,850  | 6.83%
1932 | 6,210  | 25.24%  | 17,744  | 72.13% | 647  | 2.63%
1928 | 10,127  | 48.02%  | 10,675  | 50.61% | 289  | 1.37%
1924 | 5,577  | 29.22%  | 1,109  | 5.81%  | 12,402  | 64.97%
1920 | 11,356  | 65.53% | 2,133  | 12.31%  | 3,840  | 22.16%
1916 | 5,838  | 57.03% | 3,677  | 35.92%  | 722  | 7.05%
1912 | 3,033  | 33.20%  | 4,043  | 44.26% | 2,059  | 22.54%
1908 | 5,258  | 50.62% | 4,722  | 45.46%  | 408  | 3.93%
1904 | 6,144  | 63.24% | 3,225  | 33.19%  | 347  | 3.57%
1900 | 4,717  | 54.32% | 3,768  | 43.40%  | 198  | 2.28%
1896 | 3,958  | 49.62% | 3,829  | 48.00%  | 190  | 2.38%
1892 | 1,959  | 33.04%  | 3,791  | 63.94% | 179  | 3.02%

Marathon County has been a competitive county at the presidential level for most of its history. Since 2016, Donald Trump has carried it by double-digit margins in all three of his campaigns, including his loss in the 2020 election.

## Education

[edit]

School districts include:[14]

* Abbotsford School District
* Antigo School District
* Athens School District
* Auburndale School District
* Colby School District
* D.C. Everest Area School District
* Edgar School District
* Marathon City School District
* Marshfield School District
* Medford Area School District
* Merrill Area School District
* Mosinee School District
* Rosholt School District
* Spencer School District
* Stratford School District
* Wausau School District
* Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Marathon County, Wisconsin
* Blackberry Hill

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census: Marathon County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
2. ^ a b "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Here's How Iron Got Its Name". The Rhinelander Daily News. June 16, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2021.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
12. ^ "Marathon County Parks, Recreation, Forestry Department". Marathon County, Wisconsin. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
14. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Marathon County, WI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 3, 2024. \- Text list

## External links

[edit]

Wikisource has the text of an 1879 American Cyclopædia article about Marathon County, Wisconsin.

* Marathon County
* Marathon County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
* Plat maps: ca. 1881 1901 1905-1917 ca. 1912 ca. 1920 1930
* Libraries and Schools in Marathon and Lincoln Counties \- Digital collection of historic images and texts on schools and libraries in Marathon and Lincoln Counties

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Marathon County, Wisconsin

| Taylor County | Lincoln County | Langlade County

|
|

|  |
Clark County |

Marathon County, Wisconsin

| Shawano County
|  |
| Wood County and Portage County | Waupaca County

* v
* t
* e

Marshfield, Wisconsin

Surrounding
communities|

| (under 10,000)|

* Cameron*
* Hewitt‡
* Lincoln*
* McMillan*
* Spencer‡
* Marshfield*
* Spencer*

|

Counties|

* Marathon
* Wood

*town ‡village

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States

County seat: Wausau

Cities|

* Abbotsford‡
* Colby‡
* Marshfield‡
* Mosinee
* Schofield
* Wausau

Villages|

* Athens
* Birnamwood‡
* Brokaw
* Dorchester‡
* Edgar
* Elderon
* Fenwood
* Hatley
* Kronenwetter
* Maine
* Marathon City
* Rib Mountain
* Rothschild
* Spencer
* Stratford
* Unity‡
* Weston

Towns|

* Bergen
* Berlin
* Bern
* Bevent
* Brighton
* Cassel
* Cleveland
* Day
* Easton
* Eau Pleine
* Elderon
* Emmet
* Frankfort
* Franzen
* Green Valley
* Guenther
* Halsey
* Hamburg
* Harrison
* Hewitt
* Holton
* Hull
* Johnson
* Knowlton
* Marathon
* McMillan
* Mosinee
* Norrie
* Plover
* Reid
* Rib Falls
* Rietbrock
* Ringle
* Spencer
* Stettin
* Texas
* Wausau
* Weston
* Wien

CDPs|

* Knowlton
* Rib Mountain

Unincorporated
communities|

* Ashley
* Bevent
* Bradley
* Cherokee
* Corinth
* Dancy
* Emmerich
* Gad‡
* Galloway
* Glandon
* Granite Heights
* Halder
* Hogarty
* Holt
* Ingersoll
* Johnson
* Kalinke
* Little Chicago
* Little Eau Claire
* Little Rose
* Mann
* McMillan
* Milan
* Moon
* Mount View
* Naugart
* Norrie
* Nutterville
* Pike Lake
* Poniatowski
* Rangeline
* Rib Falls
* Ringle
* Rocky Corners
* Rozellville
* Schnappsville
* Shantytown
* Snell
* Sunset
* Swan
* Taegesville
* Weber
* Wien
* Wuertsburg

Ghost towns/
neighborhoods|

* Callon
* March Rapids
* Staadts
* Stettin
* Ziegler

Indian
reservation|

* Ho-Chunk Indian Reservation‡

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Wisconsin portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Wisconsin

Madison (capital)

Topics|

* Outline
* Agriculture
* Dairy industry
* Climate change
* Geography
* Islands
* Lakes
* Governors
* Delegations
* History
* People
* Sports
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Abortion
* Administrative divisions
* Cannabis
* Crime
* Culture
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Gun laws
* LGBT rights
* Politics

Regions|

* Apostle Islands
* BOW counties
* Central Plain
* Chippewa Valley
* Door Peninsula
* Driftless Area
* Eastern Ridges and Lowlands
* Fox River Valley
* Great River Road
* Lake Superior Lowland
* Northern Highland
* Western Upland
* WOW counties

Major metropolitan areas
(pop. over 500,000)|

* Chicago metropolitan area
* Madison metropolitan area
* Milwaukee metropolitan area
* Twin Cities metropolitan area

Largest cities
(pop. over 50,000)|

* Appleton
* Eau Claire
* Green Bay
* Janesville
* Kenosha
* La Crosse
* Madison
* Milwaukee
* Oshkosh
* Racine
* Waukesha
* West Allis

Smaller cities
(pop. 15,000 to 50,000)|

* Beaver Dam
* Beloit
* Brookfield
* Cudahy
* De Pere
* Fitchburg
* Fond du Lac
* Franklin
* Greenfield
* Hartford
* Hudson
* Kaukauna
* Manitowoc
* Marshfield
* Menasha
* Menomonie
* Mequon
* Middleton
* Muskego
* Neenah
* New Berlin
* Oak Creek
* Oconomowoc
* Onalaska
* River Falls
* Sheboygan
* South Milwaukee
* Stevens Point
* Sun Prairie
* Superior
* Watertown
* Wausau
* Wauwatosa
* West Bend
* Wisconsin Rapids

Largest villages
(pop. over 15,000)|

* Ashwaubenon
* Bellevue
* Caledonia
* Fox Crossing
* Germantown
* Howard
* Menomonee Falls
* Mount Pleasant
* Pleasant Prairie

Counties|

* Adams
* Ashland
* Barron
* Bayfield
* Brown
* Buffalo
* Burnett
* Calumet
* Chippewa
* Clark
* Columbia
* Crawford
* Dane
* Dodge
* Door
* Douglas
* Dunn
* Eau Claire
* Florence
* Fond du Lac
* Forest
* Grant
* Green
* Green Lake
* Iowa
* Iron
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Juneau
* Kenosha
* Kewaunee
* La Crosse
* Lafayette
* Langlade
* Lincoln
* Manitowoc
* Marathon
* Marinette
* Marquette
* Menominee
* Milwaukee
* Monroe
* Oconto
* Oneida
* Outagamie
* Ozaukee
* Pepin
* Pierce
* Polk
* Portage
* Price
* Racine
* Richland
* Rock
* Rusk
* Sauk
* Sawyer
* Shawano
* Sheboygan
* St. Croix
* Taylor
* Trempealeau
* Vernon
* Vilas
* Walworth
* Washburn
* Washington
* Waukesha
* Waupaca
* Waushara
* Winnebago
* Wood

Wisconsin portal

44°54′N 89°46′W﻿ / ﻿44.90°N 89.76°W﻿ / 44.90; -89.76

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* NARA

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template