Milton, Wisconsin

For other uses, see Milton, Wisconsin (disambiguation).

Milton, Wisconsin
City
Looking north in downtown Milton
Nickname:  History in Progress
Location of Milton in Rock County, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 42°46′40″N88°57′18″W / 42.77778°N 88.95500°W / 42.77778; -88.95500
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Rock County
Government
•  Mayor	Anissa Welch (D)
Area [1]
• Total	4.28 sq mi (11.08 km2)
• Land	4.26 sq mi (11.03 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation [2]	889 ft (271 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	5,716
• Density	1,341.8/sq mi (518.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	53563
Area code	608
FIPS code	55-52200 [4]
GNIS feature ID	1569532 [2]
Website	www.ci.milton.wi.us

Milton is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,716 at the 2020 census.

History

Milton House

The city was formed as a result of the 1967 merger of the villages of Milton and Milton Junction. In November of that year, ballots were cast by 1,093 voters from both villages (Milton: 515 to 47 in favor of the merge; Milton Junction: 322 to 201 in favor of the merge), and the referendum to merge the two was approved by 77%. ^[5]

Originally named Prairie du Lac, Milton was settled in 1838 by Joseph Goodrich, who came from Alfred, New York with his family to the locality for religious and educational reasons. As soon as he moved he organized a Seventh Day Baptist Church in November 1840, and in 1844 a school that would later become a college. ^[6] He also built an inn, a Milton House, without crossing two trade routes.

The Milton House is today one of the oldest poured grout structures in the United States. ^[7] A noted abolitionist, Goodrich is known to have helped fugitive slaves escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

It is believed that Milton is named after poet John Milton, author of "Paradise Lost," after a settler remarked that the town was his "Paradise Regained" after leaving his previous home, which he thought of as a paradise lost. ^[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.54 square miles (9.17 km²), of which, 3.53 square miles (9.14 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water. ^[8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	508		—
1890	685		34.8%
1910	833		—
1920	834		0.1%
1930	1,128		35.3%
1940	1,266		12.2%
1950	1,549		22.4%
1960	1,671		7.9%
1970	3,699		121.4%
1980	4,092		10.6%
1990	4,434		8.4%
2000	5,132		15.7%
2010	5,546		8.1%
2020	5,716		3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 2010–2020 [3]

Sign on WIS 26

2010 census

As of the census ^[10] of 2010, there were 5,546 people, 2,231 households, and 1,499 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,571.1 inhabitants per square mile (606.6/km²). There were 2,382 housing units at an average density of 674.8 per square mile (260.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.0% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 2,231 households, of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 35.8 years. 26.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.1% were from 45 to 64, and 12.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[4] of 2000, there were 5,132 people, 2,034 households, and 1,383 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,587.8 people per square mile (613.5/km²). There were 2,129 housing units at an average density of 658.7 per square mile (254.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.07% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.49% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 0.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,034 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,201, and the median income for a family was $52,384. Males had a median income of $39,392 versus $22,866 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,058. About 3.3% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those aged 65 or over.

Religion

Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church

The Seventh Day Baptist Church in Milton, built in 1934, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in August 2016.

Government

Milton has a mayor-council form of government. The mayor is the chief executive, elected for a term of two years. The current mayor is Anissa Welch, first elected in April 2015 and now serving her fourth term.

Legislative representation

Following the 2022 redistricting, the city of Milton falls within Wisconsin's 33rd Assembly district and the 11th State Senate district.

Under the previous district plan, Milton was part of the 43rd Assembly district and 15th State Senate district. Under both the 2011 and 2022 congressional district plans, Milton was part of the 1st congressional district.

Economy

Milton is the site of a $70 million ethanol plant built by United Cooperative. ^[11] A Cargill animal nutrition plant is located in Milton, with a 170-foot (52 m) grain elevator. ^[12]

Education

Milton Schools include Milton High School, Milton Middle School, Northside Intermediate School, Milton East Elementary, Milton West Elementary, Consolidated Elementary, Harmony School, and Blackhawk Tech which was MECAS (Milton Edgerton Clinton Alternative School).

The former Milton College started operating in 1844, being incorporated into the Wisconsin legislature in 1848 as Academy DuLac, offering high school courses concurrently with higher education. The academy progressed to the point of becoming a college in 1867. The college had clear connections with the US's Seventh Day Baptist church, which offered them operational support. ^[6] Milton native Albert Whitford, a graduate of the college, became a leading astronomer. Another alumnus, Dave Krieg, was an All-Pro quarterback with the Seattle Seahawks.

The city is increasingly tied to Janesville, its larger neighbor to the south, and parts of Janesville are now within the Milton School District as that city expands to the north and east. Students who go to Milton may live in several other districts surrounding Milton, such as Janesville and Harmony district.

Notable people

• James C. Bartholf, Wisconsin editor and politician ^[13]
• Rush Bullis, Wisconsin legislator and farmer, born in Milton Junction ^[14]
• Solomon C. Carr, Wisconsin farmer and politician, lived in Milton Junction ^[15]
• Willis Cole, professional baseball player ^[16]
• Leo Crowley, head of the Foreign Economic Administration ^[17]
• Ludwig Kumlien, ornithologist ^[18]
• John T. Manske, Wisconsin State Representative ^[19]
• Mark Neumann, U.S. Representative
• Alexander Paul, Wisconsin legislator and politician, born in Milton Junction ^[20]
• Merritt Clarke Ring, lawyer and politician ^[21]
• David Rubitsky, World War II veteran ^[22]
• Mike Saunders, professional football player ^[23]
• Bill Shadel, CBS radio and TV news anchor
• Don Vruwink Wisconsin educator and politician
• Albert Whitford, astronomer, for whom the asteroid 2301 Whitford is named ^[24]
• William Clarke Whitford, educator ^[25]

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Milton, Wisconsin
3. "Jefferson, Wisconsin". census.gov. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. Historic Headlines: From the Files of Milton Newspapers Since 1878. Milton, WI: The Milton Courier, 1989. Print.
6. Sanford, Don A. (1992). A Choosing People: The History of Seventh Day Baptists. Nashville: Broadman Press. pp. 220–284. ISBN   0-8054-6055-1.
7. Doug Welch. Milton. (Images of America) Charleston, S. Car.: Arcadia Publishing, 2016.
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 18, 2012.
11. "Milton plant starts making ethanol". Janesville Gazette, September 6, 2008 Archived September 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
12. "Small Town 'Skyscraper'" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
13. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1887,' Biographical Sketch of James C. Bartholf, pg. 407
14. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1921,' Biographical Sketch of Rush Bullis, pg. 268
15. 'Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin 1874,' Biographical Sketch of Solomon Carpenter Carr, pg. 467
16. "Willis Cole Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
17. Hannan, Caryn (2008). Wisconsin Biographical Dictionary. North American Book Dist LLC. ISBN   9781878592637.
18. Taylor, H.J. (June 1936). "Ludwig Kumlien" (PDF). The Wilson Bulletin (XLVII): 85–90. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
19. "Term: Manske, John T. 1952". Wisconsin Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 16, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
20. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1933, Biographical Sketch of Alexander Paul, pg. 220
21. Industrial Commission (1885). The State of Wisconsin Blue Book. Industrial Commission. p.  421. Merritt Clarke Ring milton wi.
22. International, United Press (December 16, 1989). "Jewish WW II Veteran Loses Battle for Medal of Honor". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
23. "Catching Up With … Mike Saunders". Hawk Central. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
24. "Henry Norris Russell Lectureship". American Astronomical Society. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
25. "Term: Whitford, William Clarke 1828 - 1902". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved January 25, 2014.

External links

• City of Milton Archived September 7, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
• Sanborn fire insurance maps: 1894 1900 1909 1917