History: Wood County Census Statistics (1895)

Contact: Ken Wood
Email: ken@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

-------Source: Marshfield News (Wood Co., Wis.) 21 May 1896, Page 1

CENSUS STATISTICS

Information and Comparisons Taken From the Census Reports The state census report for 1895, just published, shows the population of Wood county at that time to be 21,637, of which number 14,980 are American born, 2 colored, 4,108 German, 169 Great Britain, 139 Irish, 11 French, 535 British Americans, 2 Danish, 899 Scandinavian, 26 Dutch, 179 Polanders, 50 Bohemians, and 540 all other countries. The density of population is given at 20 to the square mile as compared with 17 in 1985. Wood county has 53,471 acres of improved land, 68,005 woodland 63,087 acres of unimproved land. There are 11 cheese factories in the county and 3 creameries. The manufacturing industries of the county have invested in real estate, machinery, stock and fixtures $2,768,143, which employed 2,303 men who received $868,080 in wages in 1895. The value of manufactured product was $1,799,710. There are 1694 farmers in the county and the value of agricultural products was $699,769.

The population of Clark county was 21,342, of which 15798 are American born, 12 colored, 3,236 German, 211 Great Britain, 211 Irish, 98 French, 340 British American, 132 Danish, 1,017 Scandinavian, 26 Dutch, 4 Polanders, 2 Bohemians, and 370 all other countries. 82,370 acres improved land, 106,716 acres woodland, 39,223 unimproved land. There are 7 cheese factories and 8 creameries. Invested in manufacturing $718,846 which employed 794 men who received $247,344 in wages. Value of manufactured products $786,691. There are 2,560 farms and the value of their products $1,538,333. The density of population is 17 to the square mile.

Marathon county has a population of 36,598 of which 24,200 are native Americans, 243 Indians, 9,496 Germans, 183 Great Britain, 74 French, 115 Irish, 483 British Americans, 5 Danes, 833 Scandinavians, 28 Dutch, 294 Polanders, 1 Bohemian, and 638 all other nations. Density of population 23 to the square mile. 103,543 acres of improved lands, 153,863 acres of woodland, 123,088 acres unimproved. 10 cheese factories, and 5 creameries. Invested in manufacturing $1,914,917 which employed 2,887 men who received $798,520 in wages. Value of manufactured stock $3,362,521. There are 3,143 farms in Marathon county and value of their products in 1895 was $1,584,896.

The best agricultural county in the state was Dane with Dodge county next. (British Americans were Canadians. Salaries per year per man were Wood $376.93, Clark $311.52 and Marathon $276.59. Figuring 312 working days per year--6 day weeks--Wood $1.20 per day, Clark $0.998 per day, Marathon $0.89 per KJW )