# Wheaton, Wisconsin

The Town of Wheaton is located in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,701 at the 2010 census, up from 2,366 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Old Albertville and Pine Grove are located in the town.

## Geography

The town of Wheaton is in the southwest corner of Chippewa County, bordered by Dunn County to the west and Eau Claire County to the south. The Chippewa River forms the southeast border of the town, across which is the city of Chippewa Falls in the north, the village of Lake Hallie in the center, and the city of Eau Claire in the south. Chippewa Falls also has a land border with Wheaton in the northeast, and Eau Claire has a land border to the south of Wheaton. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 54.8 square miles (142.0 km$^2$), of which 54.4 square miles (140.8 km$^2$) is land and 0.46 square miles (1.2 km$^2$), or 0.86%, is water.

## History

The 6-by-6-mile (10 by 10 km) squares that became the Town of Wheaton were first surveyed in the fall of 1848 by a crew working for the U.S. government. In August and September 1849 another crew marked all the section corners, walking the woods and swamps on foot, measuring with chain and compass. When done, the deputy surveyor filed this general description of the six mile square that contains the east end of Wheaton, along the river:
   The land in this Township East of Chippewa Rive is very Sandy producing only Yellow & Pitch(?) Pine Timber except near the Swamps where White Pine, Birch & Elm is found. West of the River in the N.W. corner of the Township are several Sections of Aspen Thickets having a soil of sand & loam 2d rate land. but they are nearly destitute of water. Chippewa Rive is navigable for Keal Boats at all seasons of the year but the(?) rapids in Sections 15 & 22 and in Section 32 render the navigation difficult.

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,366 people, 852 households, and 692 families residing in the town. The population density was 43.2 people per square mile (16.7/km$^2$). There were 874 housing units at an average density of 15.9 per square mile (6.2/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the town was 98.27% White, 0.08% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.25% of the population.
There were 852 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.3% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.7% were non-families. 13.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.04.
The population distribution was 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,692, and the median income for a family was $55,061. Males had a median income of $34,549 versus $26,176 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,023. About 2.0% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

## Culture

* The fictional character of Recondo (G.I. Joe), part of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, was said to be from Wheaton.