Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin

For the census-designated place, see Baileys Harbor (CDP), Wisconsin.

Baileys Harbor is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,003 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Peninsula Center is located in the town. The census-designated place of Baileys Harbor is also located with the town.

Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin
Town
Baileys Harbor Town Hall-McArdle Library
Location of Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 45°3′47″N 87°7′29″W
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Door
Area
• Total	68.8 sq mi (178.1 km2)
• Land	29.5 sq mi (76.5 km2)
• Water	39.2 sq mi (101.6 km2)
Elevation [1]	584 ft (178 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	1,003
• Density	34/sq mi (13.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	920
FIPS code	55-04325[2]
GNIS feature ID	1582742[1]
Website	http://www.townofbaileysharbor.com

History

The town was named for a Great Lakes ship captain named Bailey who was caught in an unexpected severe storm in 1848 and found shelter in the harbor. The area was formerly known as Gibraltar.^[3] A Native American name for the harbor is "Ah-quah-o-me-ning", meaning "Fish go to shore".^[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 68.8 square miles (178.1 km²), of which, 29.5 square miles (76.5 km²) is land and 39.2 square miles (101.6 km²) (57.07%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 1,003 people, 483 households, and 301 families residing in the town. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13.1/km²). There were 1,029 housing units at an average density of 34.9 per square mile (13.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.21% White, 0.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.60% of the population.

There were 483 households, out of which 19.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% 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 2.6.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 17% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 99 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,350, and the median income for a family was $49,250. Males had a median income of $31,705 versus $26,458 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,835. About 1.7% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Gibraltar Area Schools serves the community. Gibraltar Elementary School^[5] and Gibraltar Secondary School^[6] are the two schools.^[7]

Climate

Baileys Harbor Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     63     −4 −5     52     −6 −8     49     0 −3     97     3 1     86     7 3     91     14 9     105     15 14     96     18 17     96     16 15     107     10 6     80     4 4     57     3 −2 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: [8] Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.5     25 23     2     21 18     1.9     32 27     3.8     37 34     3.4     45 37     3.6     57 48     4.1     59 57     3.8     64 63     3.8     61 59     4.2     50 43     3.1     39 39     2.2     37 28 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Media

• Door County Pulse^[9]

Notable people

• Phoebe Erickson (1907–2006), children's book author and illustrator
• Moses Kilgore (1817–1890), Wisconsin state legislator, shipbuilder, and businessman^[10]
• Paul Sills, theater director
• Emma Toft, conservationist
• Lloyd Wasserbach, professional football player

Gallery

• 
  Ritland Cedar Pond
• 
  Boynton Chapel at Björklunden
• 
  Baileys Harbor Lighthouse, the birdcage lighthouse
• 
  Ridges Park beach
• 
  Baileys Harbor Yacht Club Resort
• 
  Moonlight Bay
• 
  Part of eastern Baileys Harbor
• 
  Northeastern Baileys Harbor
• 
  Southwestern Baileys Harbor, including Peninsula Center

References

1. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. Callary, Edward. Place Names of Wisconsin. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-299-30964-0.
4. The Wisconsin Archeologist, Volume 16, No. 4, page 144, section on "Place Names".
5. Gibraltar Elementary School, gibraltar.k12.wi.us
6. Gibraltar Secondary School, gibraltar.k12.wi.us
7. Gibraltar Area Schools, Gibraltar Area School District (archived July 14, 2014)
8. "NASA EarthData Search". NASA. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
9. "Door County News". Door County Pulse. Retrieved May 13, 2022. 8142 Highway 57 Baileys Harbor, WI 54202
10. "Death of Hon. Moses Kilgore," Sturgeon Bay Republican, October 14, 1890, pg. 1

External links

• Baileys Harbor Community Association
• Google Maps – aerial view
• Door County Chamber of Commerce – general information
• The Baileys Harbor Town Hall by the Baileys Harbor Historical Society, Sevastopol TV, May 26, 2012, 1:20:33 long

45°03′54″N 87°07′27″W