Kewaunee County's landscape is generally undulating to gently rolling. The county has a total of 331 square miles, making it the 65th largest out

of 72 counties. It lies on a limestone rock layer known as the Niagara escarpment, which drops sharply toward Green Bay while sloping gently across

the county to Lake Michigan. Glacial action was responsible for the outstanding topographic feature, a scenic kettle moraine belt that runs

through the central part of the county. This belt extends, almost continuously, southward to Walworth County on Wisconsin's southern boundary.

Clay loams are the dominant soil type found within the county. The annual precipitation in the county is 31 inches, about half an inch

under the state average. The growing season in Kewaunee County in 1996 was from April 1 to October 5, a total of 188 days (WI Department of

Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection). The county is only moderately urbanized. About one-third of the

population resides in two urban centers, Algoma and Kewaunee. The village of Luxemburg is rapidly becoming a third urban center in the county. The county

population density of 58 persons per square mile in 1995, is well above what would be considered typical of Wisconsin agricultural counties, but less

than the state average of 94 persons per square mile. Algoma, the largest city in the county, is about 114 miles north of

Milwaukee. The county's close proximity to Door County, Green Bay and the Fox Cities has helped to create a favorable business and recreational

environment.

The total population of Kewaunee County in 1990 was 18,878. From 1980 to 1990, the population decreased by 3.4 percent; however, during the period

1990 to 1996, Kewaunee County increased its population by 2.7 percent, with a positive net migration rate of 1.5 percent. The fastest growing portion of

the county was the Village of Luxemburg which increased by 331 persons, or 32 percent, between 1980 and 1996.

According to the 1990 census, the county has 28.2 percent of its population in the 'under 18' age group as compared with 26.4 percent at the

state level. It also has a higher percentage in the 65 and older group recorded at 15.8 percent and 13.3 percent, respectively. Compared to the

state, a lower percentage of the population of the county was in the 18 to 44 age group. Both the county and the state had 18.2 percent of their total

populations in the 45 to 64 age group. The population of the county is projected to increase by 964 persons, or

5.1 percent, between the years of 1990 and 2020. The state is projected to grow by 16.1 percent during the same period. The natural increase of the

population within the county is projected to slow down, possibly due to its aging population and a relatively smaller percentage of residents within the

childbearing age. There were 14,138 persons within Kewaunee County that were of working age (16 years and older). The estimated number of county residents in the

civilian labor force was 9,660 workers, of which 55.7 percent were male and 44.3 percent were female. Sixty-eight percent of these workers worked within

the county itself. In 1996, the annual average unemployment for the county was 3.7 percent. Median household income for the county, recorded at $26,927, was below

the state average of $29,442. The average weekly wage rate in 1996 for all industries in the county was $336.33. The manufacturing average weekly wage

products have long been a major industry in the county, despite the fact that there is not much local timber. This employment sector continues to be

jobs, with 12.1 percent in the lumber and wood products group (except furniture), and 1.5 percent in the furniture and fixtures group. Next to

wood products, the miscellaneous plastics manufacturing, fabricated metal, and machinery (except electrical) groups provide the most manufacturing

jobs. Manufacturing made substatial gains both in absolute terms and relative to the state between 1986 and 1996. The 1996 figures show a county growth of

21.1 percent over the ten year period in this sector. It should be noted that not one manufacturing industry produces a product which is consumed

locally to a significant extent. Virtually all manufacturing activity is export oriented and consequently tied directly to national economic surges

and declines. Agriculture continues to have a strong influence on the residents of the county. The number of farms in Kewaunee county is declining, yet the average

size per farm and the total acres of farmland are increasing. Ninety-eight percent of these farms are still individually, family, or partnership

owned. Eighty-eight percent of the land is still in farms. The average value of an acre of farm land in 1994 was $960. Milk production in the county was

reported to be 16,100 pounds per cow ascompared to the state production of just 15,397 pounds. It is noteworthy that farming is both a basic and a non-basic (export)

activity. Farmers produce many of their own inputs (feed and fertilizer for example) and sell to food processing and dairy plants in the county.

Other important employment sectors in the county include the service and the retail trade sectors. The majority of service sector employment includes

employees in the public school system while the majority of employment in retail trade includes employment from eating and drinking establishments and

grocery stores.

In general, the economic base of Kewaunee County is dominated by agricultural and manufacturing employment. Rural Kewaunee County is the

center of agricultural employment and the communities of Algoma, Kewaunee, and Luxemburg contain the major pockets of manufacturing employment.

Excerpts from KEWAUNEE COUNTY HISTORY "Missionaries visited the site of the present city in 1674 and Jacques

Veau, a French trader, is said to have established a 'jack-knife' trading post at the mouth of the Kewaunee River as early as 1796, but little account

was made of the place until some time in the '30's when an unknown explorer picked up something in the lowlands near the mouth of the river that he

thought was gold. Further examination by impractical experts tended to confirm the rapidly spreading rumors of rich deposits of precious metal and

a perfect 'gold fever' resulted with such men as John Jacob Astor, Gov. Doty, Gov. Beals, Joshua Hathaway, Gen. Ruggles, and Salmon P. Chase,

ex-Chief Justice of the United States, becoming interested in property which sold as high as $1,000 an acre. It seems odd enough at this time, but in

1836 the rivalry between Kewaunee and Chicago was very strong and speculators found it hard to decide which field was best for investment.

However, the gold didn't 'pan out' and 'gold fever' soon passed into history. "The first practical settlement at Kewaunee of which there is any

knowledge, was made by Montgomery & Patterson of Chicago immediately after the government survey, which was made by Joshua Hathaway. They built a mill

on the Kewaunee River about three miles from its outlet. After the mill was built, they were unable to stock it with supplies and it was deserted by

workmen the following winter. The mill property reverted to the original owner of the land, Mr. Hathaway, and remained uninhabited until 1843 when it

was purchased by John Volk of Illinois. The mill and the few houses surrounding it had been damaged to a considerable extent by the Indians who

had made it a fishing resort in season, but it was fitted out again and a cargo of lumber was produced in 1843. The nearest neighboring towns were Two

Rivers, 25 miles south, and Green Bay, 30 miles west. Freight rates were high and vessels were scarce, and it was necessary to build a boat to haul

the lumber to Chicago. In 1850-1851, a pier was built into the lake. After that, there was less difficulty in shipping lumber and Mr. Volk began

branching out a little, building a water mill in the river above the old one and erecting a steam mill at the lake. When that was completed, steamboats

landed at the pier and weekly and daily intercourse was had with the neighboring towns. "From 1853 to 1858, many pioneers who were prominently identified with

the early history of the community, came here and settled, and after that Kewaunee began to make visible progress. By the act of the legislature on

officers was held, L. P. Fisher was elected county treasurer, John McNally county clerk, Dr. Levi Parsons register of deeds, G. W. Elliot surveyor, S.

Chapel coroner, and John A . Daniels assemblyman. "The first meeting of the County Board was held on November 11, 1856 and

there were present Abner Cory of Kewaunee, John H. Scott of Sandy Bay, and J. A. Default of Wolf River. Mr. Cory was elected chairman.

"A resolution was passed organizing from and after April 1, 1857, the towns of Carlton, Frederickton, Montpelier, Coryville, Casco, Kewaunee,

Wolf, and Red River. On May 10, 1859 the Town of Wolf was changed to Ahnapee. "The first county buildings were erected soon after the county was

organized and were located on Ellis Street in the City of Kewaunee in the block east of Milwaukee Street on the north side of the street. They served

the purpose for which they were intended until 1873 when a new, substantial structure was built at a cost of $12,000. In 1876, a county jail and

sheriff's residence was also erected at a cost of $6,000. "In 1902, the county board realized the need of a more modern and larger

court house to accommodate the increasing business of the county and authorized the rebuilding of the structure which was enlarged and remodeled

at a cost of $35,000. John M. Borgman was chairman of the Board at the time and Jos. F. Valecka was county clerk. In 1938 the court house was further

enlarged at a total of $68,000. "The old life of the missions and the legends of the fur trade have thrown a fascinating glamour of mystery and adventure about the shores of

Lake Michigan and the legends pertaining to the early history of Kewaunee are as interesting as any. In the days when the Algonquin paddled his birch

bark canoe along the lonely shores of the lake or made his way through trackless forests to the French settlement at Green Bay to the west, it was

a notable Indian resort. Tradition asserts that on the lake bluffs, on the north side of the river, a fierce and bloody battle was fought in which an

entire tribe was exterminated. "Relics of some such conflict are still found there. As to the exact translation of the Indian name 'Kewaunee' authorities differ. It is said to

signify 'go around' while some allege that it is the Algonquin name for 'wild duck'. The weight of authority is, however, in favor of the former

definition." Excerpts from KEWAUNEE IN THE 60'S "Kewaunee was incorporated as a village on April 30, 1872 and R. L. Wing

was elected its first President of the Village Board. The city was incorporated April 3, 1883 and Vojta Mashek was elected the first mayor.

"The Kewaunee, Green Bay & Western Railroad, of which the city is the eastern terminal, was completed on October 20, 1891 and it offers one of the

most direct and shortest transcontinental routes for carrying grain, flour, and lumber of the northwest eastward, and the coal supply and other traffic

from the east to the west. Carferry connection is established here with boats of the Ann Arbor and Pere Marquettte lines and packet freight service

was offered from west shore ports by the steamers of the West Ports boat line. "An early settler in reminiscent mood, some years ago, gave this vivid

picture of Kewaunee and its pioneers, its early business, and its activity in the late 60's. He came to Kewaunee from the north and his first

impressions of the thriving hamlet are strikingly told:" Approaching from the north, we had passed through the Irish settlement

where lived the McGowans, the Murphys, the Sheas, the Shinnicks, the Shannons, and the Fitzgibbons. We had just met Malachay Shannon and inquired

the distance to Kewaunee and the answer had returned in a brogue so rich it could be cut with a knife, "It's half an hour win the roads are good, jist

over old mon Balckwell's hill in the swamp under the hills beyant." "Arriving at the top of 'Old Mon Blackwell's Hill', the panorama of

Kewaunee laid before us. Just ahead was the sawdust road across the dump over which the Kewaunee River was spanned by two bridges, while a third led

from the dump to the spit of land along the beach know as 'the point'. The Point was an imposing part of the village. Upon it were built some forty or

fifty houses and shacks and shanties, none two stories high, while perhaps some twenty mackinaws were hauled out for the winter along the banks of the

river. French-Canadian was the language of the inhabitants of the Point and they lived mostly by fishing in the summer and by labor in the lumber camps

in the winter. The one outstanding object in the straggling little collection of houses was the mill located where the Coast Guard Station now

stands. All of Kewaunee, except those engaged in trade, lived by, for, and upon the mill. It was then the property of Slauson, Grimmer, & Co.

"Ellis Street presented a busy scene of activity and the modern residents of Kewaunee will be surprised to know that Kewaunee of 100 years

ago did as much buying and selling, if not more, than in this day. It was the center of the cedar and wood trade for thirty miles to the west and

hundreds of loads of ties, wood posts, and other forest produce from the Belgian Settlement, from Brown County, and all points west and southwest

came to the village daily. On many days the streets would be so crowded with travel that it was only with some difficulty that one could drive through.

"Shouts of neighborly greetings and lively scenes of activity and trade were on every hand. The language was - well it wasn't English. German, the

shrill Bohemian, the excitable French, and the happy Belgian made a bedlam that was akin to a riot."

HOW THE TOWNS WERE NAMED

Kewaunee was the original town and the first political unit of the county. Its first town meeting was held at the home off John Volk as early

as 1852, it being at that time attached to Manitowoc for judicial and political reasons. The original name of the place had been given it by the

Indians, but some early navigator gave it the name "Wood's River" and it was so designated upon several of the early maps. When Joshua Hathaway, civil

engineer, made the government survey in 1835-36, he rescued its Indian name and caused the place to be again called Kewaunee on his maps and reference

notes. It was Mr. Hathaway who laid out Kewaunee County and some of the maps which he made are still in use and considered accurate.

Upon the organization of the county in 1856, for political purposes there were established three towns, Kewaunee, Wolf River, and Sandy Bay. The

Town of Wolf embraced what is now Algoma, Ahnapee, Lincoln, and Red River and it took the name from the Indian appellation of "Ah-ne-pee" or Wolf

River. Later, when a village was platted at the mouth of the Wolf, the old Indian name of "Ah-ne-pee" was restored and it was so named and written

until 1873 when it was changed to "Ahnapee". Some twenty years later, residents of the village became dissatisfied with the original Indian name

and agreed upon the appellation "Algoma", Indian term meaning "park of flowers". The Town of Sandy Bay included the present limits of Carlton and

Franklin. It was named for the little indenture in the shore of Lake Michigan and so known to Lake navigators as an anchorage ground. Among the

earliest settlers were James Carlton and in his honor the town, when it was separated from Franklin, was named Carlton. John S. Scott was its first

chairman. Charles Tisch was one of the original builders of the saw and grist mill on the Mishicot River and the little hamlet at the mill has beenknown by his name for more

than sixty years.

In 1855-56, more than fifty families of Irish settlers located in the western part of the Town of Sandy Bay and the same year perhaps an equal

number of Bohemian settlers estalished themselves in the eastern part of the present Town of Franklin. Franklin was established in the early part of

April, 1857, and was originally given the name of Franksville. John Franks was one of the organizers of the town and the name was given in his honor at

a meeting of the people of the town at his home. It did not long retain the name of Franksville, but soon became known as Franklin.

West Kewaunee was originally known as Coryville, receiving that name from Abner Cory, first county judge of Kewaunee County and one of its

earliest settlers. In April, 1857, a meeting was called at the home of Peter Laury to organize the town as a political unit. It abandoned the name of

Coryville for that of the Town of Kewaunee in 1868. In 1877, the town was given the name of Krok by Judge Wojta Stransky after his native town in

Bohemia. Finally it abandoned the name of Krok and assumed that of West Kewaunee. Montpelier was named by its first white settler, Thomas Paddleford, who

settled there in 1855, coming from Montpelier, Vermont. When the town was organized, to him, as the oldest settler, was accorded the privilege of

giving a name and he christened it after his New England home. Ellisville received its name from Deacon Ellis, Mr. Paddleford's father-in-law.

Young Edward Decker found his way across from Menasha to Casco in 1855, and his enterprising and busy brain immediately conceived the idea of

organizing a town and also a county. Casco was founded as a township in April. 1857, and included the present limits of the Town of Luxemburg. Mr.

Decker named Casco after his old home town in New England. Pierce came into political existence in April, 1857, and took its name

from a somewhat romantic pioneer personality who, at an early day, made the place his home - his exact settlement being upon the present County Farm.

James Pierce was a Canadian insurgent who rose in arms against the Queen's government, was captured with his fellow conspirators and sent to

banishment. He made his escape and after a series of adventures, brought his family to the woods of Kewaunee County. Alaska was the name given to the new

post office established at the Hitchcock & Mashek pier the same year that the United States acquired its great northwestern possessions from Russia.

Lincoln was organized in the stormy days of the Civil War in 1864 and the patriotic Belgian settlers who were instrumental in creating the town,

gave it the name of the great president. Red River took its name from the small stream of water which found its way over the red clay into the waters of Green Bay and was

known as Red River on the earliest maps of the county.