# Mellen, Wisconsin

Mellen is a city in Ashland County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 698 at the 2020 census.

## Attractions

* Copper Falls State Park is located just north of Mellen.

## Government

Mellen has a mayor-council form of government.
According to the Mellen Weekly-Record; Vol.123 No. 29; Wednesday, July 20, 2022, Mayor Joseph A. Barabe, resigned effective at noon, on July 15, 2022. No further explanation was given. Nathaniel Delegan, President of the Mellen City Council, served as Acting Mayor until the election of a new Mayor on April 4, 2023.
The Mellen City Council is considering changing the form of government. Mellen currently has a Mayor-Council form of government. The city council is considering three options. The first option is to remain with the Mayor-Council form of government. The second option is to establish the position of City Administrator, who operates under the Mayor. The third option is to abolish the Office of Mayor and establish a Manager-Council type of government.
In the Wisconsin State Legislature, Mellen is located in the 74th Assembly District, and the 25th Senate District, represented by Assembly Representative Chanz Green and State Senator Romaine Quinn
In the United States House of Representatives, Mellen is served by Tom Tiffany, of Wisconsin's 7th congressional district.

## Mayors

| Mayor | Tenure |
| A.J. Sullivan | 1907–1909 |
| John Twomey | 1909–1911 |
| M.J. Collins | 1911–1911 |
| J.B. Orr | 1912–1915 |
| William Knoll | 1915–1921 |
| Albert Pribnow | 1921–1923 |
| William Knoll | 1923–1927 |
| M.J. Donahue | 1927–1931 |
| Ray Maxeiner | 1931–1937 |
| Vernon Meredith | 1937–1949 |
| Henry Bauch | 1949–1951 |
| James Dalbesio | 1951–1955 |
| Robert F. Barabe | 1955–1959 |
| Howard Peters | 1959–1969 |
| Robert F. Barabe | 1969–1971 |
| L. Roy Lutz | 1971–1973 |
| Clayton Landry | 1973–1981 |
| Christ Lutz | 1981–1983 |
| Robert Holmes III | 1983–1987 |
| Joseph Barabe | 1987–2001 |
| Dale Smith | 2001–2003 |
| Joseph Barabe | 2003–2022 |
| Nathaniel Delegan | 2022-2023 |
| Terry Van Buren | 2023–present |

## Geography

Mellen is located at 46°19′27″N 90°39′33″W﻿ / ﻿46.32417°N 90.65917°W﻿ / 46.32417; -90.65917 (46.324288, -90.659295), along the Bad River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.87 square miles (4.84 km$^2$), all of it land.

### Climate

Climate data for Mellen 4 NE, Wisconsin, 1991–2020 normals, 1926-2020 extremes: 1300ft (396m) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 55 (13) | 63 (17) | 80 (27) | 96 (36) | 95 (35) | 98 (37) | 105 (41) | 102 (39) | 98 (37) | 88 (31) | 77 (25) | 61 (16) | 105 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 40.1 (4.5) | 48.3 (9.1) | 60.6 (15.9) | 75.0 (23.9) | 84.5 (29.2) | 88.5 (31.4) | 88.4 (31.3) | 88.3 (31.3) | 83.3 (28.5) | 76.5 (24.7) | 58.0 (14.4) | 43.4 (6.3) | 90.6 (32.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 20.7 (−6.3) | 25.8 (−3.4) | 37.4 (3.0) | 50.0 (10.0) | 64.2 (17.9) | 72.9 (22.7) | 77.2 (25.1) | 75.5 (24.2) | 67.6 (19.8) | 53.6 (12.0) | 37.9 (3.3) | 26.0 (−3.3) | 50.7 (10.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 11.4 (−11.4) | 15.2 (−9.3) | 26.2 (−3.2) | 38.8 (3.8) | 52.0 (11.1) | 61.4 (16.3) | 66.2 (19.0) | 64.5 (18.1) | 57.0 (13.9) | 43.9 (6.6) | 30.2 (−1.0) | 18.3 (−7.6) | 40.4 (4.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 2.1 (−16.6) | 4.6 (−15.2) | 15.1 (−9.4) | 27.5 (−2.5) | 39.8 (4.3) | 49.8 (9.9) | 55.3 (12.9) | 53.6 (12.0) | 46.4 (8.0) | 34.1 (1.2) | 22.5 (−5.3) | 10.5 (−11.9) | 30.1 (−1.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −22.1 (−30.1) | −19.1 (−28.4) | −11.5 (−24.2) | 11.8 (−11.2) | 24.8 (−4.0) | 33.8 (1.0) | 42.6 (5.9) | 41.1 (5.1) | 29.7 (−1.3) | 20.3 (−6.5) | 3.0 (−16.1) | −14.1 (−25.6) | −20.8 (−29.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −49 (−45) | −46 (−43) | −42 (−41) | −9 (−23) | 12 (−11) | 23 (−5) | 31 (−1) | 21 (−6) | 15 (−9) | 6 (−14) | −20 (−29) | −37 (−38) | −49 (−45) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.45 (37) | 1.15 (29) | 1.89 (48) | 3.03 (77) | 3.82 (97) | 4.34 (110) | 4.80 (122) | 3.32 (84) | 3.62 (92) | 3.73 (95) | 1.95 (50) | 1.61 (41) | 34.71 (882) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 23.80 (60.5) | 16.80 (42.7) | 16.10 (40.9) | 8.70 (22.1) | 0.60 (1.5) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.20 (0.51) | 1.50 (3.8) | 12.80 (32.5) | 22.10 (56.1) | 102.6 (260.61) |
| Source 1: NOAA ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS (records & monthly max/mins) ||||||||||||||

## Demographics
### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 731 people, 337 households, and 182 families living in the city. The population density was 390.9 inhabitants per square mile (150.9/km$^2$). There were 428 housing units at an average density of 228.9 per square mile (88.4/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% White, 0.3% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.
There were 337 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.0% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.77.
The median age in the city was 46.5 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.6% were from 25 to 44; 30.1% were from 45 to 64; and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 845 people, 378 households, and 215 families living in the city. The population density was 456.5 people per square mile (176.4/km$^2$). There were 436 housing units at an average density of 235.5 per square mile (91.0/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 96.57% White, 0.24% African American, 1.66% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 378 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 39.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.6% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,917, and the median income for a family was $41,111. Males had a median income of $30,804 versus $21,042 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,297. About 1.4% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

## Transportation

Bus service is provided by Bay Area Rural Transit.

## Notable people

* Robert F. Barabe, politician, Wisconsin State Assembly
* D. E. Bowe, politician, Wisconsin State Assembly
* Bernard E. Gehrmann, politician, Wisconsin State Assembly
* Bernard J. Gehrmann, politician, United States House of Representatives and Wisconsin Legislature

## Images

* Looking south at downtown Mellen
* Mellen Weekly Record newspaper building
* Mellen Fire and Rescue
* Post office
* Sign on WIS13
* Welcome sign
* Joan of Arc Willow
* Northern State Bank building, 2003