Location of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Lower Dells Intersection between Downtown & "The Strip"

Wisconsin Dells is a city located in south-central Wisconsin, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,418. Together with nearby Lake Delton, the city forms an area known as "the Dells," a popular Midwestern tourist destination boasting an estimated 5 million annual visitors.^[1] Wisconsin Dells is located partially within four counties: Adams County, Columbia County, Juneau County, Sauk County. The city takes its name from the Dells of the Wisconsin River, a spectacular glacially-formed gorge that features striking sandstone rock formations along the banks of the Wisconsin River Adapted from Wikipedias WI county maps by Bumm13. ... Adapted from Wikipedias WI county maps by Bumm13. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2304 × 1728 pixel, file size: 742 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2304 × 1728 pixel, file size: 742 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Area  Ranked 23rd  - Total 65,498 sq mi (169,790 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 310 miles (500 km)  - % water 17  - Latitude 42°30N to 47°3N  - Longitude 86°49W to 92°54W Population  Ranked... 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... Lake Delton is a village located on the Wisconsin River in Sauk County, Wisconsin. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Tourists on OÊ»ahu, Hawaii Tourism is travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. ... Adams County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. ... Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. ... Juneau County is a county located in the state of Wisconsin. ... Sauk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. ... Dells of the Wisconsin River The Dells of the Wisconsin River (used in the singular, and also called the Wisconsin Dells) is a 5 mi (8 km) gorge on the Wisconsin River in southern Wisconsin in the United States noted for its particular scenic beauty, in particular for its unique... A glacier is a large, persistent body of ice, formed largely of compacted layers of snow, that slowly deforms and flows in response to gravity. ... A gorge is a narrow passage between steep mountains or hills. ... Red sandstone interior of Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona, worn smooth due to erosion by flash flooding over millions of years Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock grains. ... The Wisconsin River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 430 mi (692 km) long, in the state of Wisconsin in the United States. ...

With 18 indoor and 3 outdoor water parks in "the Dells" region, Wisconsin Dells proclaims itself as the "Water Park Capital of the World," and it boasts the largest outdoor water park in the U.S. (see Noah's Ark), as well as the nation's largest indoor water park resort (see Kalahari Resort). Other attractions in "the Dells" include the Dells Boat Tours, golf, mini golf, go-karts, water sports, horseback riding, the Tommy Bartlett Thrill Show, the Ho-Chunk Casino and many other places of interest. Accommodations range from economical motels to RV parks to extravagant themed resorts. Fun at a water park A water park is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds (water playgrounds), lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing environments. ... Noahs Ark is the worlds largest water park, with over 40 water slides and dozens of other various attractions. ... An Indoor Waterpark is like a water park, except it is indoors, so they can be open 365 days a year, rain or shine. ... The Kalahari Resort & Convention Center is a resort/water park complex that has locations in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin and Sandusky, Ohio. ... Golf is a sport in which individual players or teams hit a ball into a hole using various clubs, and also is one of the few ball games that does not use a fixed standard playing area. ... Miniature golf, also known as mini-golf, crazy golf or Putt-Putt, is a game modelled after the sport of golf. ... A kart racer takes a turn on an indoor track Kart racing (as the word is so spelled by enthusiasts) or karting is a variant of open-wheeler motor sport with simple, small four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. ... horse, see Horse (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Holiday Inn Great Sign Exterior of a Howard Johnsons motor lodge. ... A RV park (sometimes referred to as a Recreational Vehicle park or Caravan park) is the equivalent of a hotel for people with recreational vehicles. ... Resorts combine a hotel and a variety of recreations, such as swimming pools A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. ...

History

Wisconsin Dells was founded as Kilbourn City in 1857 by Byron Kilbourn, who is notable for also founding Kilbourntown, one of the three original towns at the confluence of the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic Rivers that joined to become Milwaukee. Before the establishment of Kilbourn City, the region around the dells of the Wisconsin River was primarily a lumbering area until 1851, when the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad was chartered with Kilbourn as its president. The railroad made plans to bridge the Wisconsin River near the river's dells, and a boomtown named Newport sprang up at the expected site of the bridge in 1853. The population of this new city quickly swelled to over 2,000, but when the railroad finally came through the area in 1857 it took nearly everyone by surprise by crossing the river a mile upstream from the site of Newport. As a result, Newport was rapidly turned into a ghost town as the settlers flocked to the new city at the site of the railroad bridge, Kilbourn City. Gradually, tourism became a large part of Kilbourn City. To make it easier for tourists to identify Kilbourn City with the natural landscape it was famous for, the name of the city was changed to Wisconsin Dells. 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Byron Kilbourn (September 8, 1801 – December 1870) was an American surveyor, railroad executive, and politician who was an important figure in the founding of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ... Dolomite Outcropping in Estabrook Park The Milwaukee River is a river in the state of Wisconsin, about 75 miles (121 km) long. ... Plankinton Avenue Bascule Bridge The Menomonee River is one of three primary rivers found in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ... Looking North From Baran Park The Kinnickinnic River is one of three primary rivers found in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ... This article is about Milwaukee in Wisconsin. ... The Wisconsin River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 430 mi (692 km) long, in the state of Wisconsin in the United States. ... Logging is the process in which trees are felled (cut down) usually as part of a timber harvest. ... 1851 (MDCCCLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Because of the scenery provided by the dells of the Wisconsin River, Kilbourn City quickly became a popular travel destination in the Midwest. In 1875, early landscape photographer H. H. Bennett established a studio in the city and took several photos of the sandstone formations in the dells, including many stereoscopic views. Prints of these photographs were distributed across the United States, further enhancing the status of Kilbourn City as a destination for sightseers. Taking advantage of this, Bennett began offering to take souvenir pictures of visitors to the dells, becoming one of the first to capitalize on the area's burgeoning tourist trade. Today, the H. H. Bennett Studio is an historic site operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. 1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Henry Hamilton Bennett was a photographer famous for his pictures of the Wisconsin Dells and surrounding region taken between 1865 and 1908. ... Stereo card image modified for crossed eye viewing. ... The H. H. Bennett Studio is a historic photographic studio located in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. ... The Wisconsin Historical Society is a private membership, state funded organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of North America, specifically the U.S. state of Wisconsin. ...

The dells region remained primarily a place for sightseers to escape the bustle of the city for many decades. In 1856, Leroy Gates began taking tourists on boat tours of the Wisconsin Dells. These boat tours were given using wooden rowboats until 1873 when the first steamboat, the Modocawanda, was used. By 1894, gasoline powered tourboats were used for the tours. In 1908, the Kilbourn Dam was installed despite protests from people such as H. H. Bennett, separating the Dells into the Upper and Lower Dells. Since the time of LeRoy Gates, the Dells Boat Tours have gone through many owners. Some of these previous companies were The Riverview Boat Line, The Olson Boat Line (owned by Jack B. Olson), and The Dells Boat Company. 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Jack B. Olson (August 29, 1920–July 3, 2003) was an American businessman and politician and Republican from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. ...

Original Wisconsin Duck

A few other events of interest took place during this time, including the June 16, 1911, impact of a 772-gram stony meteorite in rural Columbia County near the city, damaging a barn. In 1931 Kilbourn City was renamed Wisconsin Dells after the natural feature which was drawing so many visitors to the town. As the twentieth century progressed, new attractions would begin to draw even more tourists. In 1946 the Original Wisconsin Ducks began offering tours of the river dells and adjacent areas using decommissioned amphibious DUKW vehicles from World War II. Jack B. Olson started the Original Wisconsin Ducks; they remain one of the area's most popular attractions. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... June 16 is the 167th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (168th in leap years), with 198 days remaining. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... Willamette Meteorite A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives an impact with the Earths surface without being destroyed. ... Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... DUKW The DUKW (popularly pronounced DUCK) is a six-wheel-drive amphibious truck that was originally designed inside General Motors Corporation during World War II for transporting goods and troops over land and water and for use approaching and crossing beaches in amphibious attacks. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Lake Delton, Wisconsin Dells' sister city to the south, gradually became popular as the Dells attractions spread out. In 1952, a new traveling performance from Chicago called the "Tommy Barlett's Thrill Show" came to Lake Delton on its second stop. Following the show's huge success in the city, the show's owner, Tommy Bartlett, chose to keep the performances permanently in Wisconsin Dells. To promote the show, Bartlett gave away bumper stickers advertising his thrill show and the city, effectively spreading word about the area across the nation. Soon more attractions followed to serve the ever-increasing number of tourists, along with countless hotels, shops, and restaurants. 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook & DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... Tommy Bartletts Water Ski & Jumping Boat Thrill Show, now more commonly known as the Tommy Bartlett Show, is a popular tourist event/attraction in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. ... A bumper sticker is, usually, an adhesive label or sticker with message attached to, or designed to be attached to, the bumper of a vehicle (almost invariably an automobile, van, pickup truck, minivan or the like), for the purpose of being read by the driver and/or passengers in following...

Beginning in the late 1970s and continuing to the present, the Dells area (Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton) has become a waterpark mecca. Noah's Ark Waterpark opened in Lake Delton in 1979, and has grown to become the largest and the eighth most visited waterpark in the U.S. Other outdoor amusement and water parks followed, featuring water slides, mini golf, roller coasters, go-karts, and other attractions. In 1994 the Polynesian Resort Hotel opened the area's first indoor water park. Since then, the number of combination resort/indoor water parks in the Dells area has swelled, with each new indoor park a bit larger than the last, in an effort to claim the "world's largest" title for the resort. Several others have come including Mount Olympus Water and Theme Park, Wilderness Territory, Great Wolf Lodge, Chula Vista Resort, and the Kalahari Resort. In 2005, Mt. Olympus merged with the former Family Land Water Park and Treasure Island Hotel to creat a large themepark on the border of Lake Delton and Wisconsin Dells, complete with a hotel, arcades, rollercoasters, go-karts, and waterslides. The Kalahari Resort is a large African-themed resort which boasts the largest indoor water park in the United States. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, In the Western world, the focus shifted from the social activism of the sixties to social activities for ones own pleasure, save for environmentalism, which continued in a very visible way. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... For the song by the Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ... A typical roller coaster The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. ... A kart racer takes a turn on an indoor track Kart racing (as the word is so spelled by enthusiasts) or karting is a variant of open-wheeler motor sport with simple, small four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... Mt. ... The Wilderness Territory is the name of three resorts, Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort, Wilderness on the Lake, and Glacier Canyon Lodge, located in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. ... The Kalahari Resort & Convention Center is a resort/water park complex that has locations in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin and Sandusky, Ohio. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...

State Temperature Record

On July 13, 1936, the temperature in Wisconsin Dells reached 114°F (46°C), the highest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin.^[2] July 13 is the 194th day (195th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 171 days remaining. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), who proposed it in 1724. ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Area  Ranked 23rd  - Total 65,498 sq mi (169,790 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 310 miles (500 km)  - % water 17  - Latitude 42°30N to 47°3N  - Longitude 86°49W to 92°54W Population  Ranked...

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.4 km² (4.4 mi²). 10.7 km² (4.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (5.68%) is water. According to the Wisconsin Department of Administration, on January 19, 2004 the city annexed land from the Town of Lyndon in Juneau County, thus expanding the city to include area in four counties. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lyndon is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Wisconsin: Lyndon, Juneau County, Wisconsin Lyndon, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,418 people, 1,019 households, and 609 families residing in the city. The population density was 225.0/km² (583.1/mi²). There were 1,178 housing units at an average density of 109.6/km² (284.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.56% White, 0.37% African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population. 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

There were 1,019 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.93. This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ...

In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,699, and the median income for a family was $46,304. Males had a median income of $29,830 versus $22,553 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,447. About 4.0% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

References

1. ^ Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau 2004-2005 Annual Report (PDF)
2. ^ UW-Madison Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

See also

• Wisconsin Dells (Amtrak station)

Other information Code WDL Traffic Passengers (2006) 12,119 7% Wisconsin Dells is a train station in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. ...

External links

• Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau
• Wisconsin Dells Travel and Local Information
• Wisconsin Dells Newspaper
• Wisconsin Dells Vacation Rentals
• HH Bennet Story
• Dells Boat Tours
• Original Dells Ducks
• Tommy Bartlett Show and Exploratory
• Raintree Resort & Conference Center

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 43.626613° -89.774557°
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