Marshfield, Wisconsin
Location of Marshfield, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 44°39?54?N 90°10?33?W? / ?44.665, -90.17583
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Counties	Wood, Marathon
Area
- Total	12.7 sq mi (33.0 km²)
- Land	12.7 sq mi (32.9 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Elevation [1]	1,286 ft (392 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	18,800
- Density	1,477.9/sq mi (570.6/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
FIPS code	55-49675[2]
GNIS feature ID	1569085[1]

Marshfield is a city in Marathon and Wood Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the largest city in Wood County, but it straddles the border between Wood and Marathon County. The small portion of the city that extends into Marathon County is part of the Wausau Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,800 at the 2000 census.

Marshfield is home to the Marshfield Clinic, Saint Joseph's Hospital and the Central Wisconsin State Fair, as well as the World's Largest Round Barn. Marshfield is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 10, Highway 13 and Highway 97.

Together with surrounding communities, the Marshfield micropolitan area was, according to the 2000 census, home to 27,408 people. The city forms one of the core areas (the other is at Wisconsin Rapids) of the United States Census Bureau's Marshfield-Wisconsin Rapids Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Wood County (2000 population: 75,555). Although some of the communities included in the Marshfield micropolitan area (as distinct from the Marshfield-Wisconsin Rapids mSA) are in neighboring Marathon County, these are included in the Wausau, Wisconsin MSA, which includes all of that county, rather than in the Marshfield-Wisconsin Rapids mSA, which exclusively includes Wood County.

Culture

Marshfield has a local orchestra and periodic drama performances. Marshfield Public Library is located downtown and offers adult and children's programs. Marshfield also has a local arts organization on Chestnut St. called Chestnut Center for the Arts.

Health care

The Marshfield Clinic system provides health care for much of northern Wisconsin and is currently researching genetic impact on disease and treatment choice. The Marshfield Clinic also runs residency programs in medicine, pediatrics, and surgery as well as a transitional year of residency. The Marshfield Clinic and St. Joseph's Hospital also hosts medical and physician's assistant students for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

St. Joseph's Hospital is the only hospital in Marshfield. It is the second largest hospital (by average daily census) in the state of Wisconsin. It serves as a tertiary care center for much of northern Wisconsin. St. Joseph's hospital is part of the Ministry Health Care system.

Education

Marshfield is home to a public K-12 school system, consisting of Madison, Grant, Lincoln, Nasonville, and Washington elementary schools, Marshfield Middle School, and Marshfield High School.

In addition to these public schools Marshfield is home to: Immanuel Lutheran School (Preschool through 8th grade that is supported by full time Child Care), the Marshfield Christian School (K-8), and Marshfield Area Catholic Schools. The latter is a preK-12 private catholic system which consists of St. John the Baptist Primary School, Our Lady of Peace Intermediate School, Columbus Catholic Middle School, and Columbus Catholic High School, and an alternative school.

Athletics

Since assuming the head coaching position for the Marshfield Tiger High School Football Team in 1995, Len Leudtke has turned the program into a perennial powerhouse. From a record of 1-8 in 1994, Leudtke and his dedicated coaching staff turned out records of 7-2 (1995), 9-3 (1996), and 12-2 (1997) culminating with the football team's first ever Division 1 WIAA football championship in 1997 by defeating Oak Creek. The Tiger Football Team subsequently won the state championship in 2001 and 2002 and were the runner-up in 1999 and 2004. They were the Wisconsin Valley Conference Champions in 1927, 1930, 1932, 1999, 2001, and 2002.

Under the tutelage of coaches Dan Akin and John Miner, several regionally significant runners have come from Marshfield.

Points of interest

• Foxfire Botanical Gardens
• World's Largest Urinal
• World's Largest Round Barn
• Jurustic Park
• Figi's

The running club in Marshfield and the local YMCA host an annual 10 kilometer road race called the Cheese Chase. It is held over Dairyfest Weekend, which is a local festival. For a brief period during the mid-1990s, it also hosted a one mile road-race just before the start of the Dairyfest parade.

Geography

Marshfield is located at 44°39?54?N, 90°10?33?W (44.664879, -90.175961)^[3]. This location makes it the closest town to the geographic center of Wisconsin.[1]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.8 square miles (33.0 km²), of which, 12.7 square miles (32.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.24%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 18,800 people, 8,235 households, and 4,866 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,477.9 people per square mile (570.7/km²). There were 8,617 housing units at an average density of 677.4/sq mi (261.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.12% White, 0.39% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 8,235 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,248, and the median income for a family was $50,498. Males had a median income of $31,848 versus $23,745 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,965. About 3.7% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Melvin Laird, U.S. House of Representatives (1952-1970), Richard Nixon's Secretary of Defense (1969-1973)
• John Stauber, author
• Fred Beell, wrestler
• Andrew Rock, Olympic track, 2004
• Gary Varsho, professional baseball player for the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Philadelphia Phillies
• William H. Upham, governor of Wisconsin
• Mark Tauscher professional football players for the Green Bay Packers, was born in Marshfield's Saint Joseph's Hospital.
• Rich Seubert, professional football player for the New York Giants
• Elizabeth Zimmerman, British-born knitter known for revolutionizing the modern practice of knitting through her books and instructional series on American public television.