Whittlesey
Census-designated place in Taylor County, Wisconsin
Whittlesey is an unincorporated community (census-designated place) in Taylor County, Wisconsin, with 97 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 1,476 ft (450 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Chelsea, 5.1 miles N.
- 97residents (2020 Census)
- 1,476 ftelevation · 450 m
- 1.1 sq miland area · 2.9 km²
- 86 / sq mipopulation density
- 54451ZIP code
About Whittlesey
Whittlesey is a census-designated place in the town of Chelsea, Taylor County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, Whittlesey had a population of 97.
The community of Whittlesey was started in the 1870s when the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company built its line up through the forests, heading for Ashland. The railroad placed a station seven miles north of Medford where the line touched the Little Black River. It named the station Whittlesey, probably for Asaph Whittlesey, an early state legislator from Ashland, or possibly for geologist Charles Whittlesey who surveyed the area.
Several sawmills operated in Whittlesey starting in the 1880s. One built a 240-foot dam across the river, producing a 12-foot head of water. Another sawmill operated a mile and a half west of town, hauling its sawn product on carts over a pole line (a track of hardwood poles) to ship from the station at Whittlesey. A brickyard also operated there.
A Village of Whittlesey was platted in 1892, initiated by G.W. and Emma Norton. A 1913 map shows a "depot", post office, and blacksmith shop facing the railroad, with the school on the southeast side of town. But as the timber was exhausted, the nearby sawmills closed and declined. The highway bypassed most of the town to the east. The rail line closed in 1988.
As of 2023 Whittlesey is a quiet cluster of homes scattered among the trees a short drive north of Medford, with the Pine Line bike trail passing through on the old railroad right-of-way.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Living in Whittlesey
- Median household income
- $54,583
- Median home value
- $137,500
- Median age
- 59.3
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Map of Whittlesey
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Open in Google Maps ›Whittlesey, WI population
Whittlesey had 97 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 97 |
|---|---|
| Density | 86 per sq mi (33 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Whittlesey at a glance
| State | Wisconsin (WI) |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Type | Census-designated place |
| Population | 97 (2020) |
| Land area | 1.13 sq mi (2.9 km²) |
| Elevation | 1,476 ft (450 m) |
| Coordinates | 45.2206° N, 90.3232° W |
| ZIP code | 54451 |
| Census code (GEOID) | 5587000 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Whittlesey
- Chelsea5.1 mi N
- Medford5.9 mi S
- Rib Lake9.0 mi NE
- Westboro9.8 mi N
- Stetsonville9.9 mi S
- Dorchester15.1 mi S
- Ogema16.3 mi N
- Athens17.5 mi SE
- Abbotsford19.2 mi S
- Curtiss19.4 mi S
- Colby21.4 mi S
- Lublin22.0 mi SW
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Whittlesey
What county is Whittlesey in?
Whittlesey is in Taylor County, Wisconsin.
What is the population of Whittlesey, WI?
97 people lived in Whittlesey at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Whittlesey, WI?
The ZIP code of Whittlesey is 54451.
What is the elevation of Whittlesey?
1,476 feet (450 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Whittlesey?
Chelsea (5.1 mi), Medford (5.9 mi), Rib Lake (9.0 mi), Westboro (9.8 mi), Stetsonville (9.9 mi).
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