Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

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This article is about the city of Sturgeon Bay. For the town of the same name, see Sturgeon Bay (town), Wisconsin. For the ghost town in Michigan, see Sturgeon Bay, Michigan. For the body of water, see Sturgeon Bay.
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
City
Aerial view of Sturgeon Bay.
Aerial view of Sturgeon Bay.
Nickname(s): 
Shipbuilding Capital of the Midwest
Location of Sturgeon Bay in Door County, Wisconsin.
Location of Sturgeon Bay in Door County, Wisconsin.
Coordinates: 44°50′01″N 87°22′40″W / 44.83361°N 87.37778°W / 44.83361; -87.37778Coordinates: 44°50′01″N 87°22′40″W / 44.83361°N 87.37778°W / 44.83361; -87.37778
Country United States
State Wisconsin
CountyDoor
Government
 • MayorDavid Ward
Area
[1]
 • Total11.49 sq mi (29.77 km2)
 • Land9.83 sq mi (25.46 km2)
 • Water1.66 sq mi (4.31 km2)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total9,144
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
8,934
 • Density908.85/sq mi (350.92/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Zip Code
54235
Area code(s)920
FIPS code55-77875
Websitewww.sturgeonbaywi.org

Sturgeon Bay is a city in and the county seat of Door County, Wisconsin, United States.[4] The population was 9,144 at the 2010 census. The city is well-known regionally for being the center of the Door Peninsula, the namesake of the county.

History[]

The area was originally inhabited by the Ho-Chunk and Menominee. The town is known in the Menominee language as Namāēw-Wīhkit, or "bay of the sturgeon".[5] The Menominee ceded this territory to the United States in the 1836 Treaty of the Cedars following years of negotiations with the Ho-Chunk and the U.S. government over how to accommodate the incoming populations of Oneida, Stockbridge-Munsee, and Brothertown peoples who had been removed from New York.[6] After that, the area was available for white settlement.

The community was first recorded as Graham in 1855, but in 1857 the state legislature organized it as the town of Ottumba. Subsequently the name was reverted to Graham, and in 1860 a petition was submitted to the county board to change the community's name to that of the adjacent bay.[7] In 1874, Sturgeon Bay was incorporated as a village. It became a city in 1883. In 1891, Charles Mitchell Whiteside (1854–1924), member of the Wisconsin Assembly, sponsored a bill that merged the community of Sawyer with Sturgeon Bay.[8]

The city is locally known for its Bridge, which at the time of its 1931 opening was both the second across the bay and to carry WIS 17 (now WIS 42 and WIS 57/78.

Sturgeon Bay was one of a number of cities in the Midwest to assist with production during World War II.

In 1943, many streets received new names.[9]

Lake Freighter (Laker) seen from a resort in Sturgeon Bay

Geography[]

Aerial view of Sturgeon Bay

At 584 feet (178 meters) above sea level, Sturgeon Bay is located at 44°49′56″N 87°22′19″W / 44.83222°N 87.37194°W / 44.83222; -87.37194 (44.813376, -87.372076).[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.66 square miles (30.20 km2), of which, 9.82 square miles (25.43 km2) is land and 1.84 square miles (4.77 km2) is water.[11]

Sturgeon Bay is at the natural end of Sturgeon Bay;[12] the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was built across the remainder of the Door Peninsula. It is one of several cities along the bay of Green Bay, including Green Bay, Marinette, and Escanaba, Michigan, and along Lake Michigan north of Manitowoc and south of Manistique, Michigan.

Distance[]

Sturgeon Bay is 38.4 miles north of Green Bay, 127 miles north of Milwaukee, 169 miles south of Houghton, Michigan, and 289 miles east of Minneapolis. Although Marinette is 21.9 miles away, people must physically travel towards the bottom of the bay by Green Bay and travel along or nearby the western shore of Green Bay.

Stevens Hill[]

Stevens Hill is a populated place within the city of Sturgeon Bay, just to the northeast of the downtown.[13] The top of the hill has the highest elevation in the city.[14] It is within Big Hill Park, which is 13.2 acres in area and is used for mountain biking, picnicking, and sledding.[15][14]

Climate[]

Sturgeon Bay has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb). The city experiences warm summers and cold snowy winters, with an average temperature ranging from 68.7 °F (20.4 °C) in the summer down to 18.0 °F (−7.8 °C) in the winter.

Peninsular Agricultural Research Station north of Sturgeon Bay
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
1.8
 
 
24
8
 
 
1.1
 
 
28
11
 
 
2.1
 
 
38
21
 
 
2.7
 
 
50
32
 
 
2.9
 
 
64
43
 
 
3.5
 
 
74
53
 
 
3.4
 
 
79
59
 
 
3.6
 
 
77
57
 
 
3.4
 
 
69
50
 
 
2.7
 
 
56
39
 
 
2.5
 
 
42
28
 
 
1.8
 
 
30
16
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: Climate-Charts.com
hideClimate data for Peninsular Agricultural Research Station north of Sturgeon Bay, 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1905-present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 55
(13) 		58
(14) 		76
(24) 		85
(29) 		91
(33) 		100
(38) 		105
(41) 		102
(39) 		96
(36) 		86
(30) 		74
(23) 		60
(16) 		105
(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 41.7
(5.4) 		44.8
(7.1) 		59.1
(15.1) 		72.6
(22.6) 		81.1
(27.3) 		87.5
(30.8) 		89.7
(32.1) 		89.0
(31.7) 		83.7
(28.7) 		73.3
(22.9) 		58.6
(14.8) 		44.9
(7.2) 		91.7
(33.2)
Average high °F (°C) 25.7
(−3.5) 		29.0
(−1.7) 		38.6
(3.7) 		51.7
(10.9) 		63.6
(17.6) 		73.5
(23.1) 		78.7
(25.9) 		77.4
(25.2) 		69.5
(20.8) 		56.1
(13.4) 		42.7
(5.9) 		30.3
(−0.9) 		53.1
(11.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 18.0
(−7.8) 		20.7
(−6.3) 		30.3
(−0.9) 		42.4
(5.8) 		53.1
(11.7) 		63.2
(17.3) 		68.7
(20.4) 		67.8
(19.9) 		60.0
(15.6) 		47.7
(8.7) 		35.9
(2.2) 		23.6
(−4.7) 		44.3
(6.8)
Average low °F (°C) 10.2
(−12.1) 		12.4
(−10.9) 		22.0
(−5.6) 		33.1
(0.6) 		42.6
(5.9) 		52.8
(11.6) 		58.6
(14.8) 		58.3
(14.6) 		50.6
(10.3) 		39.4
(4.1) 		29.0
(−1.7) 		17.0
(−8.3) 		35.5
(1.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −8.9
(−22.7) 		−6.5
(−21.4) 		2.9
(−16.2) 		20.2
(−6.6) 		30.5
(−0.8) 		39.9
(4.4) 		46.4
(8.0) 		46.0
(7.8) 		35.9
(2.2) 		27.5
(−2.5) 		15.3
(−9.3) 		−1.3
(−18.5) 		−13.0
(−25.0)
Record low °F (°C) −29
(−34) 		−29
(−34) 		−23
(−31) 		2
(−17) 		20
(−7) 		29
(−2) 		36
(2) 		32
(0) 		26
(−3) 		12
(−11) 		−6
(−21) 		−22
(−30) 		−29
(−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.65
(42) 		1.25
(32) 		1.94
(49) 		2.75
(70) 		3.14
(80) 		3.64
(92) 		3.38
(86) 		3.47
(88) 		3.36
(85) 		3.05
(77) 		2.49
(63) 		1.82
(46) 		31.94
(811)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 14.6
(37) 		10.6
(27) 		7.3
(19) 		2.4
(6.1) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.1
(0.25) 		2.6
(6.6) 		13.1
(33) 		50.7
(129)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.9 8.2 8.8 10.1 11.4 10.6 11.0 10.2 10.7 11.4 10.0 10.5 123.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 7.2 5.3 3.7 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.8 6.0 25.4
Source: NOAA[16][17]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18801,199—
18902,19583.1%
19003,37253.6%
19104,26226.4%
19204,5536.8%
19304,9839.4%
19405,4399.2%
19507,05429.7%
19607,3534.2%
19706,776−7.8%
19808,84730.6%
19909,1763.7%
20009,4372.8%
20109,144−3.1%
2019 (est.)8,934[3]−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]

2010 census[]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 9,144 people, 4,288 households and 2,385 families. The population density was 931.2 inhabitants per square mile (359.5/km2). There were 4,903 housing units at an average density of 499.3 per square mile (192.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 1.0% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population.

There were 4,288 households, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.4% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.74.

The median age in the city was 45.2 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 31% were from 45 to 64; and 19.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census[]

As of the census[19] of 2000, there were 9,437 people, 4,048 households, and 2,432 families residing in the city. The population density was 981.4 people per square mile (378.8/km2). There were 4,447 housing units at an average density of 462.5 per square mile (178.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.22% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 1.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,048 households, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.81% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.92.

Sturgeon Bay, 1:10 AM CDT
Sturgeon Bay, 1:10 AM CDT

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,935, and the median income for a family was $45,084. Males had a median income of $31,879 versus $21,414 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,899. About 5.5% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Municipal services[]

  • Police — 12 patrol officers, 4 sergeants, and nine cars with a supporting staff of five.
  • Fire — 14 full-time, 15 part-time firefighters and 11 vehicles operating out of two stations.

Transportation[]

Major highways[]

Michigan Street Bridge

Bridges Across the bay[]

  • Ahnapee & Western Railroad Bridge (built 1887, rebuilt in 1894 to accommodate railroad traffic, demolished entirely by 1970)
  • Michigan Street Bridge (built 1929-31)
  • Oregon Street Bridge (built 2006-08)
  • Bay View Bridge (built 1976-78)[20]

Airport[]

Sturgeon Bay is served by Door County Cherryland Airport (IATA: SUE, ICAO: KSUE), which is off of Wisconsin Highway 42 and 57 on County Highway PD.

Education[]

Further information: Door County, Wisconsin § Declining public school enrollment

The community is served by Sturgeon Bay High School and has a satellite campus of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

Sturgeon Bay also has three elementary schools, Sawyer, Sunrise, and Sunset. The middle school, T.J. Walker Middle School, is connected to the high school. St. Peter's Lutheran School is a Pre-K to 8th grade school of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.[21] Three former schools, Saint Peter and Paul, Corpus Christi, and Saint Joseph, have combined to form Saint John Bosco. The Door County Charter School was in operation from 2002 to 2005.[22]

In 2000–2019 public school statistics, high school enrollment declined 21.0%, middle school enrollment 27.1%, and elementary school enrollment 13.7%.[23]

Media[]

Sturgeon Bay was home to the Door County Advocate (now a subsidiary of Green Bay Press-Gazette) and numerous radio stations in the Door County Radio Market. No television stations originate from Sturgeon Bay, and WFRV's and WLUK's remote-operated weather cameras are the only full-time presence of Green Bay stations in the city.

Entertainment and recreation[]

The community has one movie theater, Sturgeon Bay Cinema 6, and a professional regional theatre, the Third Avenue Playhouse. Every year the town hosts Steel Bridge Songfest, where nationally known musicians and songwriters perform. Past performers include Jackson Browne, Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go's and Pat MacDonald of Timbuk3.[24]

The city owns 20 parks totaling 121.7 acres, with Sunset Park as the largest at 44 acres.[25] The county owns 56 acres of fairgrounds (John Miles County Park)[26] and maintains 2.5 miles of the Ahnapee Trail extending into the city limits. The Ice Age Trail diverges from the Ahnapee trail and passes through city limits for five miles (mostly through city streets). It exits the city to reach its northern terminus at Potawatomi State Park. The Wisconsin DNR owns or maintains easements on two public properties in the city; 20 acres along Big Creek and 80 acres south of Strawberry Lane. Additionally three private organizations maintain a total of 721.1 acres of public parks or natural areas within and adjacent to the city.[27]

Notable people[]

Images[]

References[]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ^ Hoffman, Mike. "Menominee Place Names in Wisconsin". The Menominee Clans Story. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  6. ^ "Menominee Treaties and Treaty Rights". Indian Country Wisconsin. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  7. ^ Romance of Wisconsin Place Names by Robert E. Gard and L. G. Sorden, New York: October House, Inc. 1968, page 121
  8. ^ Man Who Wed Sawyer and Sturgeon Bay Dies, Door County Advocate, August 1, 1924, pg. 1
  9. ^ Town of Sturgeon Bay - Sturgeon Bay City Street Name Change Tables, Peninsula Genealogical Society, April 25, 2009
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  12. ^ Map of the City of Sturgeon Bay, Door County Land Use Services Dept, August 28, 2019
  13. ^ "Stevens Hill Populated Place Profile / Door County, Wisconsin Data". wisconsin.hometownlocator.com. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Inventory of Outdoor Recreational Facilities: A. Municipal Facilities, 8. Lawrence Big Hill Park, City of Sturgeon Bay, 2020 in 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update, Draft #2, June 2020, page 8
  15. ^ "Explore like a local: Sledding at Big Hill Park". Destination Sturgeon Bay website. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  16. ^ "National Weather Service Climate". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  17. ^ "WMO Climate Normals for Sturgeon Bay Exp Farm". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  18. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  19. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  20. ^ Paving underway on expressway to bridge, Door County Advocate Volume 116, No. 49, September 6, 1977, page 1
  21. ^ "St. Peters Lutheran School".
  22. ^ Closed charters by state, The Center for Education Reform, February 2009, page 61
  23. ^ 2000-2019 enrollment figures come from the Wisconsin DPI Program Statistics Archives, Wisconsin School Free/Reduced Eligibility Data and the Wisconsin DPI School Nutrition Program Statistics reports for school level enrollment and participation data.
  24. ^ "Sturgeon Bay's Steel Bridge Songfest sharpens focus on songwriting, arts development". Christopher Clough, Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  25. ^ Figure A.15. Public Park and Open Space, City of Sturgeon Bay, 2020 in 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update, Draft #2, June 2020, page A-23 (electronic page 123)
  26. ^ 29. John Miles County Park 2020 Outdoor Recreation Plan for the City of Sturgeon Bay, page 17
  27. ^ 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update, Draft #2, June 2020, page A-13 (electronic page 113) and 2020 Outdoor Recreation Plan for the City of Sturgeon Bay, page 18
  28. ^ Arlington National Cemetery. Robert C. Bassett. "Bassett, who was born in Sturgeon Bay on March 2, 1911"
  29. ^ https://doorcountypulse.com/footballs-father-of-the-forward-pass-born-in-sturgeon-bay/
  30. ^ Wm. H. Froehlich (comp.). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin. 1901, p. 746. "Henry Overbeck, Jr. (Rep.). of Sturgeon Bay"
  31. ^ "Henry Overbeck of Sturgeon Bay Dead, Milwaukee". The Manitowoc Herald-News, March 5, 1921, p. 1.

External links[]

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