Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Sun Prairie | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Dane |
| Settled | 1839 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1958 |
| Government [1][2] | |
| - Type | Mayor-City Council |
| - Mayor | Joe Chase |
| - City Council President | Zach Weber |
| - City Council Members |
Alderpersons
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| Area | |
| - Total | 11.5 sq mi (29.8 km²) |
| Elevation [3] | 984 ft (300 m) |
| Population (2005)[4] | |
| - Total | 24,219 |
| Time zone | Central Standard Time (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | Central Daylight Time (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 53590 |
| Area code(s) | 608 |
| Website: http://www.sun-prairie.com/ | |
Sun Prairie is a city in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States, and is a suburb of Madison. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 20,369 and is expected to double in size by 2020 to around 40,000. It is the fifth-fastest growing city in the state of Wisconsin, and the fastest-growing among cities of 10,000 or more, growing an estimated 14% between 2000 and 2004 [1]. The city is located mostly within the northwest corner of the Town of Sun Prairie. Portions also extend into the Town of Burke to the west, the Town of Windsor to the northwest, and the Town of Bristol to the north.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.7 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 20,369 people, 7,881 households, and 5,437 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,133.7 people per square mile (823.5/km²). There were 8,198 housing units at an average density of 858.8/sq mi (331.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.68% White, 3.10% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.98% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 2.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,881 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,345, and the median income for a family was $61,197. Males had a median income of $40,510 versus $28,786 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,277. About 3.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Businesses
General Casualty Insurance's world headquarters is in Sun Prairie, and is the city's largest employer.
[edit] Public Schools
[edit] Elementary
- Royal Oaks
- Horizon
- Northside
- Eastside
- Westside
- C.H. Bird
[edit] Middle
- Prairie View
- Patrick Marsh
[edit] High
[edit] History
President Martin Van Buren commissioned a party of 45 men, including Augustus A Bird, to build a territory capitol in Madison. The group of men left Milwaukee on May 26, 1837 and traveled for days in the rain. On June 9, the group emerged at the edge of the prairie and with the sun shining for the first time in days, carved the words 'Sun Prairie" into a tree. Charles Bird returned to the area 2 years later and became the first settler.
[edit] Points of interest
- The Family Aquatic Center features a zero depth swimming pool, water slides and sand play area.
- The Prairie Athletic club is a fitness club with fully equipped weight rooms and four pools (two indoor and two outdoor). The PAC also has a water park featured outdoors called Dolphin's Cove. It is very fun for people of all ages.
- The Youth Baseball Complex is home to baseball and softball programs, as well as Sun Prairie's Little League program.
- Sun Prairie Public Library
- Sun Prairie Historical Library and Museum at 115 E. Main Street.
- The Georgia O’Keeffe farmstead is located across from the school on the south side of County Highway T (destroyed by fire on November 6, 1976, a historical marker has been placed at the site in addition to a marker near city hall).
- The Sun Prairie Firemans Park in the Prairie is a community built park completed in 2007.
Several place are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
- Adam and Mary Smith House
- Dr. Charles G. Crosse House
- Fuhremann Canning Company Factory
- Sun Prairie Water Tower
[edit] Events
[edit] Groundhog Day
Sun Prairie is home to "Jimmy the Groundhog" and has been declared the "Groundhog Capital of the World" in the United States Congressional Record.[6]
[edit] Sweet Corn Festival
In the area, the Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival is synonymous with the end of the corn harvest. Corn is served in big tubs, and people come from all over to grab several, salt and butter them, and enjoy corn on the cob.
[edit] Strawberry Fest
Held in June at the Colonial Club. Features strawberry sales, an indoor/outdoor craft fair, a children’s carnival, a used book sale, a raffle and chance drawing, a Fun Run, breakfast, lunch, and more.
[edit] Flags of Freedom
Flags of Freedom is a day-long series of band competitions, beginning with concert competitions in the morning, a parade competition in the afternoon, ending in a field competition in the evening. The band competitions feature bands throughout the United States and Canada, and is hosted by the Sound of Sun Prairie. "Flags" is usually held on a Saturday in late June or early July.
[edit] People From Sun Prairie
- Todd Kluever, NASCAR driver
- Georgia O'Keeffe, artist
- Bill Wambach, set national high jump record (1.26 meters) for the 80-to-84-year-old division at 2006 Badger State Games, lived in Sun Prairie since 1978. Bill Wambach has participated in the Badger State Games for many years.
- Michael Wherley, three-time world champion (1997-1999) and 2000, 2004 Summer Olympics Olympic men's rower[7]
[edit] References
- ^ City of Sun Prairie - Mayor Home (HTML). City of Sun Prairie. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
- ^ City of Sun Prairie - City Council Home (HTML). City of Sun Prairie. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
- ^ Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report (HTML). United States Geological Survey (1995-09-01). Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
- ^ City of Sun Prairie - Our Community Home (HTML). City of Sun Prairie. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Congressional Record. 84th cong., 1st sess., 1955, 121, no.15, (2 February 1955)
- ^ United States Olympic Committee - Wherley, Mike (HTML). United States Olympic Committee. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.
[edit] External links
- Sun Prairie Star Online version of city's official newspaper
- Sun Prairie Today City online daily news
- Sun Prairie official city website
- Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce
- Jimmy the Groundhog home page
- Sun Prairie Community Site
- Sun Prairie's Historic Crosse House
- Sun Prairie, Wisconsin is at coordinates Coordinates:
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