Forest Junction, Wisconsin

Forest Junction, Wisconsin
Census-designated place
Looking east at Forest Junction on U.S. Route 10
Motto:  You can get there from here!
Forest Junction Location within the state of Wisconsin
Coordinates: 44°12′45″N88°08′39″W / 44.21250°N 88.14417°W / 44.21250; -88.14417
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Calumet
Town	Brillion
Area
• Total	2.596 sq mi (6.72 km2)
• Land	2.594 sq mi (6.72 km2)
• Water	0.002 sq mi (0.005 km2)
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	746
• Density	290/sq mi (110/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	54123
Area code	920

Forest Junction is an unincorporated census-designated place in the town of Brillion, Calumet County, Wisconsin, United States. ^[2] As of the 2020 census, the population was 746, up from the 2010 census, in which its population was 616. ^[3]

The community has its own water tower and utilities. Its ZIP Code is 54123.

History

Post office on US 10

A post office called Forest Junction has been in operation since 1873. ^[4] The community was so named from its location at a rail junction near the forest. ^[5]

The first railroad through here in 1872 was the Appleton & New London Railroad. This railroad later became the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad, ^[6] a predecessor of the Chicago and North Western Railway (C&NW). This line has since been abandoned and is currently the Friendship State Trail. ^[7]

The second railroad, the CMStP&P was built as the Milwaukee & Northern whos line through here ran to Green Bay in 1873. This formed a diamond rail junction at Milepost 88, ^[8] this community. Late in the 1920s, the Railroad was renamed, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific, though it was unofficially shortened to "The Milwaukee Road." ^[6]

Forest Junction Union depot

The first Forest Junction Union depot, combining a freight warehouse at its southern end and a ticket office and passenger waiting room at its northern end, was built in the south east angle of the crossing, facing the Milwaukee & Northern tracks. This depot succumbed to a fire, date unrecorded. ^[6] The second Union depot in the southwest quadrant was built in 1887 (pictures). ^[8] Forest Junction depot is a 'sister' to the Milwaukee Road's Stiles Junction, WI depot as they share the same architectural plan.

American Pickers Television Show

Forest Junction was featured on the TV show, American Pickers. The episode aired October 30, 2024, and was titled the “DIY DeLorean”, season 26 episode 4. The episode starred Mike Wolfe ^[9] and featured local resident, Tracy Olson.

Geography

Forest Junction is located at the intersection of Wisconsin Highway 57/Wisconsin Highway 32 and U.S. Route 10. 57/32 runs north–south through the area, and 10 runs east–west. ^[10]

Notable people

• Bernard E. Brandt, farmer and Wisconsin state legislator, was born in Forest Junction. ^[11]
• Silas J. Kloehn, orthodontist
• Alvin Ott, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly

Looking north at Forest Junction on WIS-57/WIS-32

Building in Haese Memorial Village Historic District

References

1. "Census Bureau profile: Forest Junction CDP, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
2. "Forest Junction, Wisconsin". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
4. Forte, Jim. "Calumet County". Las Vegas, NV: Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
5. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 73.
6. Haese, Robert (1944). "1". At 70 - A History of Forest )unction, Calumet County, Wisconsin 1873- 1943. Billion, Wi: Zander Press, Inc. p. 3. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
7. "Friendship State Trail". AllTrails. Forest Junction, Wisconsin: AllTrails, LLC. 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025. This gravel trail starts in Brillion and takes you to Forest Junction at the northwest end of the trail.
8. "Main Line-Hilbert Junction-Green Bay – Milwaukee & Northern Railway Historical Society". mnrhs.org. Neenah, WI: Milwaukee & Northern Railway Historical Society. 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
9. "Mike Wolfe | Writer, Producer, Actor". IMDb. Amazon. 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
10. "Forest Junction". Google Maps. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
11. Wisconsin Blue Book 1935, p. 226.

External links

• Forest Junction, WI History and Memories facebook