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Menomonie, WI

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Menomonie, WI

Menomonie is a city in and the county seat of Dunn County in the western part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city's population was 16,843 as of the 2020 census. Named for the original inhabitants of the area, the Menominee, the city forms the core of the United States Census Bureau's Menomonie Micropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which includes all of Dunn County (2010 population: 43,857). The Menomonie MSA and the Eau Claire–Chippewa Falls metropolitan area to the east form the Census Bureau's Eau Claire-Menomonie Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city center is at the south end of Lake Menomin, a reservoir on the Red Cedar River.

Menomonie is located at 44°52′45″N 91°55′5″W (44.879, −91.918). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 15.47 square miles (40.07 km²), of which 13.69 square miles (35.46 km²) is land and 1.78 square miles (4.61 km²) is water. Menomonie is along Interstate 94, State Highway 25 (which serves as the main north-south thoroughfare through town), State Highway 29, U.S. Highway 12, and Dunn County Road B.

The earliest known residents of the area were people from the Trempealeau Hopewell Culture of the Middle Woodland Period (100–400 CE). Evidence from their culture includes a mound from the Wakanda Mounds Group in Wakanda Park, along the western shore of Lake Menomin. Most of these mounds are thought to be from Effigy Mound cultures from this period. Artifacts from the Late Woodland Period (400–1000 CE) have also been uncovered. It is theorized that agricultural villages supported the population during summer months, transitioning to hunting and gathering from fall through spring. The next known population group is the Santee Dakota in the 1600s and 1700s, who engaged in conflicts with the Ojibwe people, who migrated west as refugees. Armed with European weapons, the Ojibwe pushed westward, eventually winning at the Battle of Kathio in 1770. The two tribes continued their warfare, eventually signing the 1825 First Treaty of Prairie du Chien, which made a border between the two just north of Menomonie, with the Dakota claiming the southern lands.

In 1788, French-Canadian fur trader and schoolmaster Jean Baptiste Perrault established a trading post and fort on the Red Cedar River very near Menomonie.

The lumber industry brought Menomonie permanent settlement and economic prosperity in the 1800s. Hardin Perkins established the first sawmill at the confluence of Wilson Creek and the Red Cedar River in 1822 on behalf of fur traders James H. Lockwood and Joseph Rolette of Prairie du Chien. The mill was washed away by a sudden overflow in the river within a year. Working with Indian Agent-General Street, Perkins, Lockwood, and Rolette began a legal battle over the authority of the local Native American people to grant permissions of this sort, exchanging land for payment of blankets, beads, whiskey, and other merchandise to Dakota Chief Wapasha II and other Ojibwe chiefs. In 1830 the traders received permission from the federal government to rebuild their lumber operation. This was the first permanent settlement on the land that became the city of Menomonie.

Health and wellness are paramount in Menomonie, with the city offering various amenities and services to support the well-being of its residents. The Marshfield Clinic is a cornerstone in providing comprehensive healthcare services to the community. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Menomonie Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Snap Fitness, Anytime Fitness, and Menomonie Health & Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Menomonie, such as the Devil's Punchbowl Trail and Keil Birch Creek Preserve. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

The top sites in Menomonie, WI, are the Lake Menomin, Landmark Conservancy, and Russell J. Rassbach Heritage Museum.

Population: 16,650 (2022). Elevation: 770 feet (235 m). Area: 15.44 square miles (36.92 km²). ZIP Code: 54751. Area Code: 715, 534.

FAQs

What is Menomonie, WI famous for?

This quaint little town was first settled in 1848 with the first permanent settlement established in 1830. But before then Menomonie was known for fur trading. While using the area for various trading with the Native Americans, the settlers were introduced to the tall and abundant white pine.

Is Menomonie, WI a good place to live?

Menomonie is in Dunn County and is one of the best places to live in Wisconsin. Living in Menomonie offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Menomonie, there are a lot of bars and parks. Many young professionals live in Menomonie and residents tend to lean conservative.

How did Menomonie, WI get its name?

When a post office was established in town, one of the lumber company founders suggested the name "Menominee" as the official town name. The name was derived from the Algonquin meaning, "people of the rice." To avoid confusion with other places in Wisconsin, the river running through town was changed from the Menomonee River to Red Cedar (the river forming the border between Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan was also called the Menomonee) and the double "e" at the end was changed to "ie."

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Menomonie 

Marshfield Clinic 

Menomonie Parks and Recreation Department 

Snap Fitness

Anytime Fitness 

Menomonie Health & Fitness

Devil's Punchbowl Trail 

Keil Birch Creek Preserve

Lake Menomin

Landmark Conservancy

Russell J. Rassbach Heritage Museum

Explore Menomonie

Niche

Wisconsin History

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