Tomah, Wisconsin

Tomah is a city in Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,093 as of the 2010 census. The city is surrounded by the Town of Tomah and the Town of La Grange.

This article is about the city. For the adjacent town, see Tomah (town), Wisconsin.
Tomah
City
Downtown Tomah
Location of Tomah in Monroe County, Wisconsin.
Tomah
Location within the state of Wisconsin
Coordinates: 43°59′6″N 90°30′14″W
Country United States
State Wisconsin
CountyMonroe
Government
 • MayorMike Murray
Area
 • Total8.26 sq mi (21.39 km2)
 • Land7.84 sq mi (20.30 km2)
 • Water0.42 sq mi (1.10 km2)
Population
 • Total9,093
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
9,397
 • Density1,199.06/sq mi (462.98/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
54660
Area code(s)608
FIPS code55-80075
Websitewww.tomahonline.com

History
Downtown Tomah, Wisconsin, looking south on Superior Avenue

Tomah was founded by Robert E. Gillett in 1855[4][5] and incorporated as a city in 1883[6] but the charter was not issued until 1894.[7] Tomah is named after Thomas Carron (ca. 1752–1817), a trader at Green Bay who had integrated into the Menominee tribe.[8] The Menominees pronounced the name Tomah or Tomau and he became known as Chief Tomah. Tomah was adopted as the name for the settlement in Monroe County on the unsubstantiated belief that Chief Tomah had once held a tribal gathering in the area.[9]

In 1891, construction began in Tomah for a Native American residential school funded by the federal government. The Tomah Indian Industrial School opened in 1893 with six Ho-Chunk children as its first students and would become the most significant residential school in Wisconsin.[10] The curriculum was designed to assimilate students into white American culture by replacing their indigenous education with Christian, English-language education.[11][12] Children were forcibly removed from their families and sent to the school from as far away as North Dakota and Oklahoma.[10] The school operated until 1941.[13]

Tomah has three landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places: the old Tomah Post Office[14] at 903 Superior Avenue, the Tomah Public Library[15] at 716 Superior Avenue,

Tomah Public Library
Old Tomah Post Office

and the Tomah Boy Scout Cabin[16] at 415 E. Council St.

Geography

Tomah is located on the South Fork of the Lemonweir River,[17] a main tributary of the Lemonweir River, which is a large tributary of the lower Wisconsin River. The river is impounded on the west side of the city, forming Lake Tomah. Council Creek flows north through the east side of the city to meet the river.

The city is at the boundary between the hills of the Driftless Area in southwest Wisconsin and the flat, sandy, poorly drained ancient bed of Glacial Lake Wisconsin extending to the north and east of the city. The city's geographic coordinates are 43°59′6″N 90°30′14″W (43.985089, -90.503922).[18]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.86 square miles (20.36 km2), of which, 7.46 square miles (19.32 km2) is land and 0.40 square miles (1.04 km2) is water.[19]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870837—
18801,24548.7%
18902,19976.6%
19002,84029.1%
19103,41920.4%
19203,257−4.7%
19303,3543.0%
19403,81713.8%
19504,76024.7%
19605,32111.8%
19705,6476.1%
19807,20427.6%
19907,5705.1%
20008,41911.2%
20109,0938.0%
2019 (est.)9,397[3]3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]
Post office

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 9,093 people in 3,900 households, including 2,194 families, in the city. The population density was 1,218.9 inhabitants per square mile (470.6/km2). There were 4,196 housing units at an average density of 562.5 per square mile (217.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.9% White, 2.6% African American, 1.7% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.0%.[2]

Of the 3,900 households 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.7% were non-families. 37.6% of households were one person and 14.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age was 38 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 8,419 people in 3,451 households, including 2,098 families, in the city. The population density was 1,148.2 people per square mile (443.5/km2). There were 3,706 housing units at an average density of 505.4 per square mile (195.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.95% White, 1.03% Black or African American, 1.65% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 1.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[21] Of the 3,451 households 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 33.6% of households were one person and 15.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.96.

The age distribution was 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median household income was $31,986 and the median family income was $42,881. Males had a median income of $31,612 versus $21,377 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,409. About 8.4% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.7% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
Tomah Amtrak Station with Empire Builder train

Tomah is a significant regional transportation hub because of its location where Interstate 90 and Interstate 94 diverge, with Interstate 90 continuing west to La Crosse, Wisconsin and Interstate 94 heading north to Eau Claire, Wisconsin and the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Tomah is also the Junction of US Highway 12, and STH 21, 16, and 131.

Tomah is also served by freight and passenger railroads Canadian Pacific, Union Pacific, and National Rail Passenger Corporation (Amtrak).

Airport

Bloyer Field airport (Y72) serves the city and is located 1 mile east of Tomah.

Education
Tomah Senior High School in 2006
Sign for the northern part of Tomah along Wisconsin Highway 21

Tomah is served by the Tomah Area School District,( https://www.tomah.education/ )which has more than 3,000 students. The district administers seven elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, an alternative school, and a Montessori Public Charter School (grades 4K-3).

Elementary schools
  • Camp Douglas Elementary (grades 2-5)
  • LaGrange Elementary (grades 4K-5)
  • Lemonweir Elementary (grades 4K-5)
  • Miller Elementary (grades K-5)
  • Oakdale Elementary (grades 4K-1)
  • Tomah Area Montessori School (grades 4K-4)
  • Warrens Elementary (grades 4K-5)
  • Wyeville Elementary (grades K-5)

Middle school
  • Tomah Middle School (grades 6-8)

High School
  • Tomah High School (grades 9-12)

https://www.tomah.education/high-school/index

Alternative school
  • Robert Kupper Learning Center (grade 6-age 20)

There are two private schools in Tomah: Queen of the Apostles (grades 4K-8) and St. Paul Lutheran School[22] of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (grades preK-8).

Health and medical

Four health care facilities are located in Tomah: Tomah Health, Gundersen Health a Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Lake Tomah Clinic of Mayo Health System. [23]

Parks and recreation

Tomah has 11 parks, a citywide recreation trail, and an aquatic center. The Tomah Parks and Recreation Department administers recreational programs for youth and adults.

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. Wisconsin Historical Society. "Tomah, Wisconsin - A Brief History". Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  5. History of Northern Wisconsin, Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development, and Resources. Chicago: Western Historical Company. 1881. p. 643. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  6. "An act to incorporate the City of Tomah" (PDF). Municipal Records (State of Wisconsin). Office of the Secretary of State (State of Wisconsin). 1883. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  7. "Certificate of Adoption (Charter Issued)" (PDF). Municipal Records (State of Wisconsin). Secretary of State (State of Wisconsin). 1894-10-15. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  8. "History of Chief Tomah". The Tomah Journal. July 11, 1924. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  9. Vogel, Virgil J. Indian Names on Wisconsin's Map. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1991, p. 42.
  10. "Boarding Schools". Milwaukee Public Museum: Indian Country Wisconsin. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  11. "Indian School, Tomah, Wisconsin". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  12. "Indian schools in Wisconsin". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  13. Bosworth, Dee Ann. "American Indian Boarding Schools: An Exploration of Global Ethnic & Cultural Cleansing" (PDF). Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  14. "National Register Digital Assets: Tomah Post Office". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2000. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  15. "National Register Digital Assets: Tomah Public Library". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2000. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  16. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/database-research.htm%7C reference #100001856
  17. "Little Lemonweir River Watershed" (PDF). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2002. p. 411. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  18. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  19. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  20. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  21. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  22. "St Paul Lutheran School".
  23. Welcome to the Tomah VA Medical Center
  24. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1960,' Biographical Sketch of Glenn L. Henry, p. 35.
  25. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1970,' Biographical Sketch of Kyle Kenyon, p. 58.
  26. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1893,' Biographical Sketch of Charles Quigg, p. 648.
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