Mellen, Wisconsin

Mellen, Wisconsin
City
Looking north in downtown Mellen
Location of Mellen in Ashland County, Wisconsin.
Coordinates: 46°19′27″N90°39′33″W / 46.32417°N 90.65917°W / 46.32417; -90.65917
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Ashland
Government
•  Mayor	Terry Van Buren
Area [1]
• Total	1.86 sq mi (4.82 km2)
• Land	1.86 sq mi (4.82 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	1,250 ft (380 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	698
• Estimate  (2023) [4]	689
• Density	375.27/sq mi (144.81/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	54546
Area code(s)	715 & 534
FIPS code	55-50700 [5]
GNIS feature ID	1579857 [2]
Website	www.mellenwi.com

Mellen is a city in Ashland County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 698 at the 2020 census.

Attractions

• Copper Falls State Park is located just north of Mellen.

Government

Mellen has a mayor-council form of government.

According to the Mellen Weekly-Record; Vol.123 No. 29; Wednesday, July 20, 2022, Mayor Joseph A. Barabe, resigned effective at noon, on July 15, 2022. No further explanation was given. Nathaniel Delegan, President of the Mellen City Council, served as Acting Mayor until the election of a new Mayor on April 4, 2023.

The Mellen City Council is considering changing the form of government. Mellen currently has a Mayor-Council form of government. The city council is considering three options. The first option is to remain with the Mayor-Council form of government. The second option is to establish the position of City Administrator, who operates under the Mayor. The third option is to abolish the Office of Mayor and establish a Manager-Council type of government.

In the Wisconsin State Legislature, Mellen is located in the 74th Assembly District, and the 25th Senate District, represented by Assembly Representative Chanz Green and State Senator Romaine Quinn

In the United States House of Representatives, Mellen is served by Tom Tiffany, of Wisconsin's 7th congressional district.

Mayors

Mayor	Tenure
A.J. Sullivan	1907–1909
John Twomey	1909–1911
M.J. Collins	1911–1911
J.B. Orr	1912–1915
William Knoll	1915–1921
Albert Pribnow	1921–1923
William Knoll	1923–1927
M.J. Donahue	1927–1931
Ray Maxeiner	1931–1937
Vernon Meredith	1937–1949
Henry Bauch	1949–1951
James Dalbesio	1951–1955
Robert F. Barabe	1955–1959
Howard Peters	1959–1969
Robert F. Barabe	1969–1971
L. Roy Lutz	1971–1973
Clayton Landry	1973–1981
Christ Lutz	1981–1983
Robert Holmes III	1983–1987
Joseph Barabe	1987–2001
Dale Smith	2001–2003
Joseph Barabe	2003–2022
Nathaniel Delegan	2022-2023
Terry Van Buren	2023–present

Geography

Mellen is located at 46°19′27″N90°39′33″W / 46.32417°N 90.65917°W / 46.32417; -90.65917 (46.324288, -90.659295), ^[6] along the Bad River. ^[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.87 square miles (4.84 km²), all of it land. ^[8]

Climate

Climate data for Mellen 4 NE, Wisconsin, 1991–2020 normals, 1926-2020 extremes: 1300ft (396m)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	55 (13)	63 (17)	80 (27)	96 (36)	95 (35)	98 (37)	105 (41)	102 (39)	98 (37)	88 (31)	77 (25)	61 (16)	105 (41)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	40.1 (4.5)	48.3 (9.1)	60.6 (15.9)	75.0 (23.9)	84.5 (29.2)	88.5 (31.4)	88.4 (31.3)	88.3 (31.3)	83.3 (28.5)	76.5 (24.7)	58.0 (14.4)	43.4 (6.3)	90.6 (32.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	20.7 (−6.3)	25.8 (−3.4)	37.4 (3.0)	50.0 (10.0)	64.2 (17.9)	72.9 (22.7)	77.2 (25.1)	75.5 (24.2)	67.6 (19.8)	53.6 (12.0)	37.9 (3.3)	26.0 (−3.3)	50.7 (10.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)	11.4 (−11.4)	15.2 (−9.3)	26.2 (−3.2)	38.8 (3.8)	52.0 (11.1)	61.4 (16.3)	66.2 (19.0)	64.5 (18.1)	57.0 (13.9)	43.9 (6.6)	30.2 (−1.0)	18.3 (−7.6)	40.4 (4.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	2.1 (−16.6)	4.6 (−15.2)	15.1 (−9.4)	27.5 (−2.5)	39.8 (4.3)	49.8 (9.9)	55.3 (12.9)	53.6 (12.0)	46.4 (8.0)	34.1 (1.2)	22.5 (−5.3)	10.5 (−11.9)	30.1 (−1.1)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−22.1 (−30.1)	−19.1 (−28.4)	−11.5 (−24.2)	11.8 (−11.2)	24.8 (−4.0)	33.8 (1.0)	42.6 (5.9)	41.1 (5.1)	29.7 (−1.3)	20.3 (−6.5)	3.0 (−16.1)	−14.1 (−25.6)	−20.8 (−29.3)
Record low °F (°C)	−49 (−45)	−46 (−43)	−42 (−41)	−9 (−23)	12 (−11)	23 (−5)	31 (−1)	21 (−6)	15 (−9)	6 (−14)	−20 (−29)	−37 (−38)	−49 (−45)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	1.45 (37)	1.15 (29)	1.89 (48)	3.03 (77)	3.82 (97)	4.34 (110)	4.80 (122)	3.32 (84)	3.62 (92)	3.73 (95)	1.95 (50)	1.61 (41)	34.71 (882)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	23.80 (60.5)	16.80 (42.7)	16.10 (40.9)	8.70 (22.1)	0.60 (1.5)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00 (0.00)	0.00 (0.00)	0.20 (0.51)	1.50 (3.8)	12.80 (32.5)	22.10 (56.1)	102.6 (260.61)
Source 1: NOAA [9]
Source 2: XMACIS (records & monthly max/mins) [10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	1,833		—
1920	1,981		8.1%
1930	1,629		−17.8%
1940	1,598		−1.9%
1950	1,306		−18.3%
1960	1,182		−9.5%
1970	1,168		−1.2%
1980	1,046		−10.4%
1990	935		−10.6%
2000	845		−9.6%
2010	731		−13.5%
2020	698		−4.5%
2023 (est.)	689	[4]	−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]

2010 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2010, there were 731 people, 337 households, and 182 families living in the city. The population density was 390.9 inhabitants per square mile (150.9/km²). There were 428 housing units at an average density of 228.9 per square mile (88.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% White, 0.3% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 337 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.0% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.77.

The median age in the city was 46.5 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.6% were from 25 to 44; 30.1% were from 45 to 64; and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[5] of 2000, there were 845 people, 378 households, and 215 families living in the city. The population density was 456.5 people per square mile (176.4/km²). There were 436 housing units at an average density of 235.5 per square mile (91.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.57% White, 0.24% African American, 1.66% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.

There were 378 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 39.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.6% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,917, and the median income for a family was $41,111. Males had a median income of $30,804 versus $21,042 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,297. About 1.4% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Bus service is provided by Bay Area Rural Transit.

Notable people

• Robert F. Barabe, politician, Wisconsin State Assembly
• D. E. Bowe, politician, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Bernard E. Gehrmann, politician, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Bernard J. Gehrmann, politician, United States House of Representatives and Wisconsin Legislature

Images

• 
  Looking south at downtown Mellen
• 
  Mellen Weekly Record newspaper building
• 
  Mellen Fire and Rescue
• 
  Post office
• 
  Sign on WIS13
• 
  Welcome sign
• 
  Joan of Arc Willow
• 
  Northern State Bank building, 2003

See also

• List of cities in Wisconsin

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 18, 2012.
4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. DeLorme (1992), Wisconsin Atlas & Gazetteer, Freeport, Maine: DeLorme, p. 95, ISBN   0-89933-247-1
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
9. "Mellen 4 NE, Wisconsin 1991-2020 Monthly Normals" . Retrieved December 20, 2023.
10. "xmACIS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

External links

• Mellen, Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
• Sanborn fire insurance maps: 1909 1917