City Town Info

Wausau, WI


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Wausau, Wisconsin

Introduction to Wausau, Wisconsin

Wausau, Wisconsin is 76 miles NW of Appleton, Wisconsin and 158 miles NW of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is in Marathon County. The population of the city is 38,426.

Wausau History

Wausau was first settled in the mid 1800s. French explorers called the area Big Bull Flats or Big Bull Falls. The Chippewa Native Americans were the original inhabitants of the area. The federal government purchased the land in 1836. In Ojibwe language, the name of the city means "a place which can be seen from far away" or "a faraway place." Wausau was established as a town in 1852 and incorporated as a village in 1861. August Kickbusch, Sr. became its first mayor in the year 1874. The first railroad entered the city in 1874. It is the county seat of Marathon County, which was founded in 1807.

Wausau and nearby Attractions

  • Grand Avenue Shopping Center
  • Rib Mountain State Park
  • Marathon County Historical Museum
  • Mountain - Bay State Trail
  • Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
  • Council Grounds State Park

Things To Do In Wausau

Wausau is home to many parks and playgrounds. These include the Schulenberg Park, Pleasant View Park, Oak Island Park, Marathon Park, D C Everest Park, and Hammond Park. The Marathon County Historical Society Museum and Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum provide absorbing insights into the history of this area. The Wausau Center Mall Shopping Center, Grand Avenue Shopping Center, and Riverside Plaza Shopping Center are the local shopping destinations. Local celebrations include Big Bull Falls Blues Festival, Wisconsin Valley Fair, and Festival of Arts.

Wausau Transportation

Central Wisconsin Airport is nearby.

Wausau Higher Education

Northcentral Technical College is the local college. Others nearby include the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Fox Valley Technical College at Appleton.

High Points

Wausau strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Wisconsin):

CategoryTrophy
Public Transportation Use
(vs. State)		Top 4%trophyWausau Public Transportation Use
Short Commute Times
(vs. Peers)		Top 4%trophyWausau Short Commute Times
Racial Diversity
(vs. State)		Top 5%trophyWausau Racial Diversity
Affordability of Rents
(vs. Peers)		Top 13%Wausau Affordability of Rents

Comparative Profile of Wausau, WI

Comparing Wausau to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Wisconsin (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Senior Citizens96
Female Share of the Population77
Age of the Population75
Well-Paid Single Men66
Well-Paid Single Women57
Male Share of the Population44
Children Under 5 Years Old45
Racial Diversity310

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married43
Average Household Size35

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People in Middle Class or Better53
People Above Poverty52
College Educated Adults58
Median Family Income45

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Short Commute Times1010
Walking and Biking to Work87
Public Transportation Use610
Working at Home54

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Affordability of Rents95
People Living Alone98
Seasonal and Vacation Housing65
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals69
Affordability of Property Taxes45
Housing Recently Built23

Detailed pages on related topics: Wausau colleges • Wausau travel • Wausau mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

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Wausau MortgageWausau Mortgage
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