Tomah, Wisconsin

Tomah
City

Downtown Tomah
Tomah

Location within the state of Wisconsin

Coordinates: 43°59′6″N 90°30′14″W / 43.98500°N 90.50389°W / 43.98500; -90.50389Coordinates: 43°59′6″N 90°30′14″W / 43.98500°N 90.50389°W / 43.98500; -90.50389
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County Monroe
Government
 • Mayor Nellie Pater
Area[1]
 • Total 7.86 sq mi (20.36 km2)
 • Land 7.46 sq mi (19.32 km2)
 • Water 0.40 sq mi (1.04 km2)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 9,093
 • Estimate (2014[3]) 9,328
 • Density 1,218.9/sq mi (470.6/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 54660
Area code(s) 608
Website www.tomahonline.com

Tomah is a city in Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States. As of July 1, 2014, its estimated population was 9,328. The city is surrounded by the Town of Tomah and the Town of La Grange. Much of the city's commercial, retail, and residential development over the last 40 years has occurred in the northern half of the city at a substantial distance from the city's downtown.

History

Tomah Wisconsin downtown
Downtown Tomah, Wisconsin, looking south on Superior Avenue

Tomah was founded by Robert E. Gillett in 1855[4][5] and incorporated as a city in 1883[6] but the charter was not issued until 1894.[7] Tomah is named after Thomas Carron (ca. 1752–1817), a trader at Green Bay who had integrated into the Menominee tribe.[8] The Menominees pronounced the name Tomah or Tomau and he became known as Chief Tomah. Tomah was adopted as the name for the settlement in Monroe County on the unsubstantiated belief that Chief Tomah had once held a tribal gathering in the area.[9]

Tomah has two landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places: the old Tomah Post Office[10] at 903 Superior Avenue and the Tomah Public Library[11] at 716 Superior Avenue.

Tomah Public Library
Tomah Public Library
Old Tomah Post Office

Geography

Tomah is located on the South Fork of the Lemonweir River,[12] a main tributary of the Lemonweir River, which is a large tributary of the lower Wisconsin River. The river is impounded on the west side of the city, forming Lake Tomah. Council Creek flows north through the east side of the city to meet the river.

The city is at the boundary between the hills of the Driftless Area in southwest Wisconsin and the flat, sandy, poorly drained ancient bed of Glacial Lake Wisconsin extending to the north and east of the city. The city's geographic coordinates are 43°59′6″N 90°30′14″W / 43.98500°N 90.50389°W / 43.98500; -90.50389 (43.985089, -90.503922).[13]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.86 square miles (20.36 km2), of which, 7.46 square miles (19.32 km2) is land and 0.40 square miles (1.04 km2) is water.[1]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870837—
18801,24548.7%
18902,19976.6%
19002,84029.1%
19103,41920.4%
19203,257−4.7%
19303,3543.0%
19403,81713.8%
19504,76024.7%
19605,32111.8%
19705,6476.1%
19807,20427.6%
19907,5705.1%
20008,41911.2%
20109,0938.0%
Est. 20159,357[14]2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
Post office

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 9,093 people, 3,900 households, and 2,194 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,218.9 inhabitants per square mile (470.6/km2). There were 4,196 housing units at an average density of 562.5 per square mile (217.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.9% White, 2.6% African American, 1.7% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.0% of the population.

There were 3,900 households of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.7% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 38 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 8,419 people, 3,451 households, and 2,098 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,148.2 people per square mile (443.5/km²). There were 3,706 housing units at an average density of 505.4 per square mile (195.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.95% White, 1.03% Black or African American, 1.65% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 1.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,451 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,986, and the median income for a family was $42,881. Males had a median income of $31,612 versus $21,377 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,409. About 8.4% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.7% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Tomah Amtrak Station with Empire Builder train

Tomah is a regional transportation hub because of its location where Interstate 90 and Interstate 94 diverge, with Interstate 90 continuing west to La Crosse, Wisconsin and Interstate 94 heading north to Eau Claire, Wisconsin and the Twin Cities. Tomah-Sparta Raceway (formerly known as Veterans Raceway and Excalibur Speedway) is a 3/8 mile asphalt oval track located about 3 miles (5 km) west of Tomah on WIS 21.[17] Tomah is served by an Amtrak Station on the Empire Builder route.

Airport

Bloyer Field airport (Y72) serves the city and is located 1 mile east of Tomah.

Education

Tomah Senior High
Tomah Senior High School in 2006

Tomah is served by the Tomah Area School District, which has more than 3,000 students. The district administers seven elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, an alternative school, and a Montessori Public Charter School (grades 4K-3).

Elementary schools

Middle school

High School

Alternative school

There are two private schools in Tomah: Queen of the Apostles (grades 4K-8) and St. Paul Lutheran School (grades preK-8).

Health and medical

Four health care facilities are located in Tomah: Tomah Memorial Hospital, a Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Lake Tomah Clinic of Franciscan Skemp Mayo Health System, and the Tomah Clinic of Gundersen Lutheran.[18]

Parks and recreation

Tomah has 11 parks, a city-wide recreation trail, and an aquatic center. The Tomah Parks and Recreation Department administers recreational programs for youth and adults.

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  3. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  4. ↑ Wisconsin Historical Society. "Tomah, Wisconsin - A Brief History". Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  5. ↑ History of Northern Wisconsin, Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development, and Resources. Chicago: Western Historical Company. 1881. p. 643. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  6. ↑ "An act to incorporate the City of Tomah" (PDF). Municipal Records (State of Wisconsin). Office of the Secretary of State (State of Wisconsin). 1883. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  7. ↑ "Certificate of Adoption (Charter Issued)" (PDF). Municipal Records (State of Wisconsin). Secretary of State (State of Wisconsin). 1894-10-15. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  8. ↑ "History of Chief Tomah". The Tomah Journal. July 11, 1924. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  9. ↑ Vogel, Virgil J. Indian Names on Wisconsin's Map. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1991, p. 42.
  10. ↑ "National Register Digital Assets: Tomah Post Office". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2000. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  11. ↑ "National Register Digital Assets: Tomah Public Library". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2000. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  12. ↑ "Little Lemonweir River Watershed" (PDF). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2002. p. 411. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  13. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  14. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  16. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  17. ↑ "Tomah-Sparta Raceway". Racingin. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  18. ↑ Welcome to the Tomah VA Medical Center
  19. ↑ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1960,' Biographical Sketch of Glenn L. Henry, p. 35.
  20. ↑ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1970,' Biographical Sketch of Kyle Kenyon, p. 58.
  21. ↑ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1893,' Biographical Sketch of Charles Quigg, p. 648.
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