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Marathon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 138,013.[1] Its county seat is Wausau.[2] It was founded in 1850,[2] created from a portion of Portage County. At that time the county stretched to the northern border with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is named after the battlefield at Marathon, Greece.[3]
Marathon County | |
|---|---|
 Marathon County Courthouse in Wausau | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin | |
 Wisconsin's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 44°54′N 89°46′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| Founded | 1850 |
| Named for | Marathon, Greece |
| Seat | Wausau |
| Largest city | Wausau |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,576 sq mi (4,080 km2) |
| • Land | 1,545 sq mi (4,000 km2) |
| • Water | 31 sq mi (80 km2) 2.0% |
| Population | |
• Total | 138,013 |
• Estimate (2023) | 138,612  |
| • Density | 89.3/sq mi (34.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | www |
Marathon County comprises the Wausau, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Wausau–Stevens Point–Wisconsin Rapids, WI Combined Statistical Area.
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,576 square miles (4,080 km2), of which 1,545 square miles (4,000 km2) is land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (2.0%) is water.[4] It is the largest county in Wisconsin by land area and fourth-largest by total area.
The Marathon County Park Commission has posted a geographical marker[5] that identifies the spot (45°N, 90°W) of the exact center of the northern half of the Western Hemisphere, meaning that it is a quarter of the way around the world from the Prime Meridian and halfway from the Equator to the North Pole.
Major highways
Railroads
Buses
Airports
- KAUW - Wausau Downtown Airport
- KCWA - Central Wisconsin Airport
Adjacent counties
- Lincoln County - north
- Langlade County - northeast
- Shawano County - east
- Waupaca County - southeast
- Portage County - south
- Wood County - south
- Clark County - west
- Taylor County - northwest
Natural wildlife refuges
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| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 508 | — | |
| 1860 | 2,892 | 469.3% | |
| 1870 | 5,885 | 103.5% | |
| 1880 | 17,121 | 190.9% | |
| 1890 | 30,369 | 77.4% | |
| 1900 | 43,256 | 42.4% | |
| 1910 | 55,054 | 27.3% | |
| 1920 | 65,259 | 18.5% | |
| 1930 | 70,629 | 8.2% | |
| 1940 | 75,915 | 7.5% | |
| 1950 | 80,337 | 5.8% | |
| 1960 | 88,874 | 10.6% | |
| 1970 | 97,457 | 9.7% | |
| 1980 | 111,270 | 14.2% | |
| 1990 | 115,400 | 3.7% | |
| 2000 | 125,834 | 9.0% | |
| 2010 | 134,063 | 6.5% | |
| 2020 | 138,013 | 2.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8] 1990–2000[9] 2010 [10] 2020[1] | |||
2020 census
As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 138,013. The population density was 89.3 people per square mile (34.5 people/km2). There were 59,828 housing units at an average density of 38.7 units per square mile (14.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.9% White, 6.2% Asian, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.3% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
2000 census
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 125,834 people, 47,702 households, and 33,868 families residing in the county. The population density was 81 people per square mile (31 people/km2). There were 50,360 housing units at an average density of 33 units per square mile (13 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.84% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 4.54% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.6% were of German and 13.6% Polish ancestry. 92.9% spoke English, 3.4% Hmong, 1.1% German and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.
There were 47,702 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.50% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.
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The Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) has its headquarters in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin. Eight branch libraries have been established in the cities of Athens, Edgar, Hatley, Marathon City, Mosinee, Rothschild, Spencer, and Stratford.
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County parks
- Amco County Park
- Big Eau Pleine County Park
- Big Rapids County Park
- Bluegill Bay County Park
- Cherokee County Park
- Courthouse Square
- D.C. Everest County Park
- Dells of the Eau Claire County Park
- Duane L. Corbin Shooting Range Park
- Library Park
- Marathon Park
- Mission Lake County Park
- Mountain-Bay State Park Trail
- Reitbrock Geographical Marker
- Rib Falls County Park
- Sunny Vale County Park
Snowmobile trails
There are over 884 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in Marathon County maintained by 29 area snowmobile clubs. [12]
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Cities
- Abbotsford (mostly in Clark County)
- Colby (mostly in Clark County)
- Marshfield (mostly in Wood County)
- Mosinee
- Schofield
- Wausau (county seat)
Villages
- Athens
- Birnamwood (mostly in Shawano County)
- Dorchester (mostly in Clark County)
- Edgar
- Elderon
- Fenwood
- Hatley
- Kronenwetter
- Maine
- Marathon City
- Rib Mountain
- Rothschild
- Spencer
- Stratford
- Unity (partly in Clark County)
- Weston
Towns
- Bergen
- Berlin
- Bern
- Bevent
- Brighton
- Cassel
- Cleveland
- Day
- Easton
- Eau Pleine
- Elderon
- Emmet
- Frankfort
- Franzen
- Green Valley
- Guenther
- Halsey
- Hamburg
- Harrison
- Hewitt
- Holton
- Hull
- Johnson
- Knowlton
- Marathon
- McMillan
- Mosinee
- Norrie
- Plover
- Reid
- Rib Falls
- Rietbrock
- Ringle
- Spencer
- Stettin
- Texas
- Wausau
- Weston
- Wien
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
- Ashley
- Bradley
- Cherokee
- Corinth
- Dancy
- Emmerich
- Evergreen
- Gad (partial)
- Galloway
- Glandon
- Granite Heights
- Halder
- Hamburg
- Hogarty
- Holt
- Johnson
- Kalinke
- Little Chicago
- Little Eau Claire
- Little Rose
- Mann
- March Rapids
- McMillan
- Milan
- Moon
- Mount View
- Naugart
- Norrie
- Nutterville
- Pike Lake
- Poniatowski
- Rangeline
- Rib Falls
- Ringle
- Rocky Corners
- Rozellville
- Schnappsville
- Snell
- Shantytown
- Sunset
- Swan
- Taegesville
- Weber
- Wien
- Wuertsburg
Ghost towns/neighborhoods
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| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 46,213 | 58.63% | 31,529 | 40.00% | 1,084 | 1.38% |
| 2020 | 44,624 | 58.14% | 30,808 | 40.14% | 1,319 | 1.72% |
| 2016 | 39,014 | 56.12% | 26,481 | 38.09% | 4,023 | 5.79% |
| 2012 | 36,617 | 52.41% | 32,363 | 46.32% | 882 | 1.26% |
| 2008 | 30,345 | 44.66% | 36,367 | 53.53% | 1,228 | 1.81% |
| 2004 | 36,394 | 53.47% | 30,899 | 45.40% | 766 | 1.13% |
| 2000 | 28,883 | 49.48% | 26,546 | 45.48% | 2,945 | 5.05% |
| 1996 | 19,874 | 38.63% | 24,012 | 46.67% | 7,563 | 14.70% |
| 1992 | 20,948 | 36.51% | 21,482 | 37.44% | 14,948 | 26.05% |
| 1988 | 24,482 | 49.44% | 24,658 | 49.79% | 381 | 0.77% |
| 1984 | 27,080 | 55.64% | 20,128 | 41.36% | 1,462 | 3.00% |
| 1980 | 25,868 | 48.34% | 23,281 | 43.50% | 4,365 | 8.16% |
| 1976 | 21,898 | 45.62% | 24,934 | 51.94% | 1,169 | 2.44% |
| 1972 | 21,454 | 51.28% | 18,500 | 44.22% | 1,885 | 4.51% |
| 1968 | 16,907 | 44.40% | 18,063 | 47.43% | 3,111 | 8.17% |
| 1964 | 12,766 | 34.11% | 24,603 | 65.74% | 57 | 0.15% |
| 1960 | 21,880 | 54.67% | 18,145 | 45.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 22,586 | 59.36% | 15,301 | 40.21% | 164 | 0.43% |
| 1952 | 20,702 | 58.52% | 14,541 | 41.11% | 130 | 0.37% |
| 1948 | 11,494 | 40.93% | 15,898 | 56.62% | 687 | 2.45% |
| 1944 | 15,782 | 53.54% | 13,192 | 44.75% | 503 | 1.71% |
| 1940 | 15,264 | 51.80% | 13,724 | 46.57% | 481 | 1.63% |
| 1936 | 7,328 | 27.06% | 17,898 | 66.10% | 1,850 | 6.83% |
| 1932 | 6,210 | 25.24% | 17,744 | 72.13% | 647 | 2.63% |
| 1928 | 10,127 | 48.02% | 10,675 | 50.61% | 289 | 1.37% |
| 1924 | 5,577 | 29.22% | 1,109 | 5.81% | 12,402 | 64.97% |
| 1920 | 11,356 | 65.53% | 2,133 | 12.31% | 3,840 | 22.16% |
| 1916 | 5,838 | 57.03% | 3,677 | 35.92% | 722 | 7.05% |
| 1912 | 3,033 | 33.20% | 4,043 | 44.26% | 2,059 | 22.54% |
| 1908 | 5,258 | 50.62% | 4,722 | 45.46% | 408 | 3.93% |
| 1904 | 6,144 | 63.24% | 3,225 | 33.19% | 347 | 3.57% |
| 1900 | 4,717 | 54.32% | 3,768 | 43.40% | 198 | 2.28% |
| 1896 | 3,958 | 49.62% | 3,829 | 48.00% | 190 | 2.38% |
| 1892 | 1,959 | 33.04% | 3,791 | 63.94% | 179 | 3.02% |
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School districts include:[14]
- Abbotsford School District
- Antigo School District
- Athens School District
- Auburndale School District
- Colby School District
- D.C. Everest Area School District
- Edgar School District
- Marathon City School District
- Marshfield School District
- Medford Area School District
- Merrill Area School District
- Mosinee School District
- Rosholt School District
- Spencer School District
- Stratford School District
- Wausau School District
- Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District
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