Bancroft, Wisconsin

Bancroft, Wisconsin
Census-designated place
Bancroft, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 44°18′35″N89°30′49″W / 44.30972°N 89.51361°W / 44.30972; -89.51361
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Portage
Area
• Total	5.040 sq mi (13.05 km2)
• Land	5.030 sq mi (13.03 km2)
• Water	0.010 sq mi (0.026 km2)
Elevation	1,093 ft (333 m)
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	526
• Density	105/sq mi (40.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip code	54921
Area codes	715 & 534
GNIS feature ID	1561145 [2]

Bancroft is an unincorporated census-designated place in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 526. It is included in the Stevens Point, Wisconsin Micropolitan Statistical Area. ^[3]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2010	535		—
2020	526		−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [4]

History

Bancroft was named for Warren Gamaliel Bancroft, who served in the 42nd Wisconsin Regiment during the American Civil War and later served as pastor of the Oshkosh Methodist Church. Bancroft was the name sake of Warren Gamaliel Bancroft Winnipeg Harding, who is better known as Warren G. Harding—the 29th president of the United States. ^[5] A post office in the community was opened on May 17, 1876. ^[6]

Geography

Bancroft is located in central Wisconsin approximately 10 miles south of Plover and approximately five miles north of Plainfield. Bancroft rests on Portage County Road W just to the east of Interstate 39 / U.S. Highway 51, at exit 143. (Lat: 44° 18' 35.0", Lon: -89° 30' 49.7"). Bancroft is the seat for the Town of Pine Grove. Bancroft has an area of 5.040 square miles (13.05 km²); 5.030 square miles (13.03 km²) of this is land, and 0.010 square miles (0.026 km²) is water.

The geography of Bancroft is mostly flat. There are, however, two bluffs that rise prominently above the otherwise level plains. One was a large bluff, commonly referred to as Mosquito Bluff, that runs in an east–west direction. Mosquito Bluff is now separated into two large hills by Harding Road.

The other prominent feature is known as The Ledge, which runs towards the North-East and is visible from I-39. This Bluff has gone by many names (Lover's Leap, Hellfire Hill, High Rock, Gulliver's Stool) but is most commonly known as The Ledge. At the top of The Ledge is an ichnite rock that has preserved traces of the passage of Climactichnites.

Notes

1. "Census Bureau profile: Bancroft CDP, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bancroft, Wisconsin
3. "Bancroft, WI Profile: Facts & Data".
4. "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 7, 2025.
5. Callary, Edward (2016). Place Names of Wisconsin. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 19–20. ISBN   978-0-299-30964-0.
6. Gard, Robert (2015). The Romance of Wisconsin Place Names (2nd ed.). Madison, WI: Wisconsin Historical Society Press. p. 19. ISBN   978-0-87020-707-5.

44°18′35.0″N89°30′49.7″W / 44.309722°N 89.513806°W / 44.309722; -89.513806