Berlin, Wisconsin
City
Downtown Berlin
Downtown Berlin
Nickname(s): 
fur and leather city
Location of Berlin in Waushara County (northern portion) and Green Lake County (southern portion), Wisconsin.
Location of Berlin in Waushara County (northern portion) and Green Lake County (southern portion), Wisconsin.
Coordinates: 43°58′11″N 88°56′55″W / 43.96972°N 88.94861°W / 43.96972; -88.94861
Country United States
State Wisconsin
CountiesGreen Lake, Waushara
Area
[1]
 • Total6.39 sq mi (16.55 km2)
 • Land5.78 sq mi (14.97 km2)
 • Water0.61 sq mi (1.58 km2)
Elevation
[2]
807 ft (246 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total5,571
 • Density931.34/sq mi (359.61/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code920
FIPS code55-06925[4]
GNIS feature ID1561600[2]
Websitecityofberlin.net

Berlin (/ˈbɜːrlɪn/ BUR-lin) is a city in Green Lake and Waushara counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 5,571 at the 2020 census. Of this, 5,435 were in Green Lake County, and only 89 were in Waushara County. The city is located mostly within the Town of Berlin in Green Lake County, with a small portion extending into the Town of Aurora in Waushara County.

History

In 1845, Nathan H. Strong (1813–1852) became the first resident of what is today Berlin.[5] He was joined by Hugh G. Martin, Hiram Barnes, and William Dickey. Their settlement was known as Strong's Landing.[5] In 1848 a post office was established. It was named Berlin after the capital of Prussia, now the capital of Germany.[6] The first school house was built in 1850 and the first church in 1851. Berlin was incorporated as a city in 1857.

Wisconsin's commercial cranberry industry was started in the Berlin area, as well as the first milk condensing factory in the mid-west, Carnation Company.[7] From the mid-1860’s to the 1990’s Berlin was called “the fur and leather city” due to its industry.[8] These industries provided jobs and attracted immigrants from Scotland, Wales, Poland, and Italy to work.[9]

Pronunciation

Area residents put the accent on the first syllable of Berlin /ˈbɜːrlɪn/ rather than on the second. It has been said that this was in reaction to the anti-German sentiment that swept across the United States during World War I, and that the accent was previously on the second syllable.[10][11]

Geography

The Fox River runs north-south through the center of the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.36 square miles (16.47 km2), of which, 5.78 square miles (14.97 km2) is land and 0.58 square miles (1.50 km2) is water.[12]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,449—
18702,77791.6%
18803,35320.7%
18904,14923.7%
19004,4898.2%
19104,6363.3%
19204,400−5.1%
19304,106−6.7%
19404,2473.4%
19504,69310.5%
19604,8383.1%
19705,33810.3%
19805,4782.6%
19905,371−2.0%
20005,305−1.2%
20105,5244.1%
20205,5710.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 5,524 people, 2,296 households, and 1,423 families residing in the city. The population density was 955.7 inhabitants per square mile (369.0/km2). There were 2,561 housing units at an average density of 443.1 per square mile (171.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.4% White, 0.5% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 3.6% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.0% of the population.

There were 2,296 households, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.0% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the city was 39 years. 25.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 5,305 people, 2,170 households, and 1,425 families residing in the city. The population density was 887.4 people per square mile (342.5/km2). There were 2,391 housing units at an average density of 400.0 per square mile (154.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.70% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.47% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 4.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,170 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,896, and the median income for a family was $44,922. Males had a median income of $31,512 versus $21,658 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,667. About 3.6% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Berlin Post Office

The following sites in Berlin are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

Education

Education is administered by the Berlin Area School District.[14] Clay Lamberton Elementary School, Berlin Middle School, and Berlin High School are all located on the same campus in Berlin.[14]

Media

The Berlin Journal is a weekly newspaper published in Berlin. WISS (AM) is a radio station located in Berlin.

Infrastructure

Berlin is served by Wisconsin Highway 49 and Wisconsin Highway 91.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Berlin, Wisconsin
  3. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. 1 2 "Death [of Nathan H. Strong]". The Weekly Wisconsin. September 1, 1852. p. 1. Retrieved August 26, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ↑ "Early History", Berlin (Wis.) Courant, January 26, 1905.
  7. ↑ "History | Berlin Area Historical Society". Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  8. ↑ "History | Berlin Area Historical Society". Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  9. ↑ "History | Berlin Area Historical Society". Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  10. ↑ Maxwell, Brandt. 2006. Berlin, in New Hampshire, is pronounced the same way.The Big Book of Geography: Mind-Boggling Facts from around the World. New York: Barnes and Noble.
  11. ↑ Mitchell, Myrtle Tews, Vaughn Allan Mitchell, Leonard L. Tews, & Adrienne L. Kaeppler. 1999. Every Day is Tewsday: A Memoir of the Martien and Julius Tews Family Histories, Genealogies, Remembrances. Author, p. 15.
  12. ↑ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. 1 2 "About Us". Berlin Area School District. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Andy Jorgenson Archived 2010-05-29 at the Wayback Machine", Wisconsin Blue Book 2007-2008, p. 45.
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