Platteville, Wisconsin

Platteville is the largest city in Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 11,836 at the 2020 census.

Platteville was officially founded in 1829 by John H. Rountree, a southern businessman who had arrived in hopes of finding wealth during the area's lead rush. The town became a flourishing mining community in part due to its close proximity to Dubuque, Iowa, and Galena, Illinois. Both were thriving cities along the Mississippi River trade route that benefited from the rising demand for lead throughout the United States from the 1820s–1850s.

John H. Rountree and other wealthy southerners in the area, such as Wisconsin’s First Governor Henry Dodge; brought slaves with them during the lead rush. They also brought freed black laborers, with intentions for them to work the mines at a more affordable cost, often nothing. Although unpaid labor was illegal, it was practiced in the region until after the Civil War.

In 1850, a freed African-American man from Virginia, named Charles Shepard, settled a community known as Pleasant Ridge, Grant County, Wisconsin just west of Platteville. This served as a safe haven for many black people coming up the Mississippi River from Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, etc. Some stayed and raised families but most continued on their way in hopes of finding success elsewhere.

By the 1860s lead ore production was decreasing. However, the mining of zinc ore quickly filled the void for prospective work. Platteville had become an established town, complete with schools, a private preparatory academy, newspaper, several churches, and a telegraph service as of November 1849.

During this time, both a teachers' college and a mining college were founded. The normal school was established on October 9, 1866 to train teachers for elementary school grades. The Wisconsin Mining Trade School opened in January 1908. In 1959, these two colleges were merged to become Wisconsin State College and Institute of Technology. It is in the Hollow Region, as named by early southern miners, in the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Platteville is served by Wisconsin State Highways 80 and 81, as well as U.S. Highway 151.

The minerals in the area consist of galena, a sulfide of lead (lead 86.6, sulfur 13.4). Sphalerite or zinc sulfide is also, common in the region. Zinc and lead mining were in heavy production through the 1820s–1920s.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Platteville had a population of 11,836. The population density was . The median age was 22.9 years. 13.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 120.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 124.9 males age 18 and over. The 2020 census population of the city included 2,858 people in student housing.

There were 4,012 households in Platteville, of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 32.1% were married-couple households, 27.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

| White || 10,756 || 90.9%

| Black or African American || 257 || 2.2%

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 29 || 0.2%

| Asian || 241 || 2.0%

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 2 || 0.0%

| Some other race || 145 || 1.2%

| Two or more races || 406 || 3.4%

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 371 || 3.1%

Socioeconomic characteristics

According to the American Community Survey estimates for 2016-2020, the median income for a household in the city was $42,626, and the median income for a family was $75,625. Male full-time workers had a median income of $43,303 versus $31,915 for female workers. The per capita income for the city was $20,781. About 7.5% of families and 30.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over. Of the population age 25 and over, 95.1% were high school graduates or higher and 41.8% had a bachelor's degree or higher.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 11,224 people, 3,644 households, and 1,598 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,840 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.7% White, 2.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.7% 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 3,644 households, of which 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.7% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 56.1% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the city was 22.4 years. 11.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 49.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 14.3% were from 25 to 44; 14.3% were from 45 to 64; and 10.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 56.3% male and 43.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,989 people, 3,312 households, and 1,692 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,376.4 people per square mile (918.3/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 3,482 housing units at an average density of 828.4 per square mile (320.1/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 96.15% White, 1.12% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,312 households, out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.9% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 14.4% under the age of 18, 41.3% from 18 to 24, 17.5% from 25 to 44, 14.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,742, and the median income for a family was $50,583. Males had a median income of $31,424 versus $21,896 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,858. About 4.6% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

thumb|Giant M on the Platte Mound

The Mining and Rollo Jamison Museums examines Platteville's mining history.

Built in 1837 by Reverend Samuel Mitchell, the Stone Cottage still contains many of the original furnishings. The home was a home of the Major John Rountree, one of Platteville's founders. The walls are two feet thick and made of dolomite Galena limestone.

The Platte Mound M is the letter "M" written using whitewashed stones on Platte Mound about four miles east of downtown Platteville. It is the largest hillside letter "M" in the world. The letter is high, wide, with legs wide. Passenger service ended on the C&NW in 1951 and was replaced by mixed train service on the Milwaukee Road in 1952. Freight service continued on the Milwaukee Road until 1974 when the line was abandoned and pulled up. It left the C&NW moving only a few cars per week which applied to abandon the route. The abandonment was granted in 1980 and the line was pulled up forever ending railroad service to Platteville.

Notable people

Politicians

William Carter, Wisconsin State Representative
S. Wesley Clark, Attorney General of South Dakota
Kearton Coates, Wisconsin State Representative
Thomas Cruson, Wisconsin Territorial legislator
James Dolan, Wisconsin State Representative
Ensign Dickinson, Wisconsin State Representative
Charles E. Estabrook, Wisconsin Attorney General
Neely Gray, Wisconsin territorial legislator and businessman
John L. Grindell, Wisconsin State Representative
Jon R. Guiles, Wisconsin State Representative
James V. Holland, Wisconsin State Representative
Thomas Jenkins, Wisconsin State Representative
Arthur W. Kopp, U.S. Representative
James B. McCoy, Wisconsin State Representative
Duncan McGregor, Wisconsin State Representative
Ray Meiklejohn, Canadian politician
Christopher C. Miller, Acting United States Secretary of Defense
Jonathan Baker Moore, Wisconsin State Representative and Union Army general
James William Murphy, U.S. Representative
Edward Rawlings, Iowa State Representative
Hanmer Robbins, Wisconsin State Representative
Gordon Roseleip, Wisconsin State Senator
John H. Rountree, Wisconsin State Senator
A. C. Schultz, Wisconsin State Representative
George Slack, Wisconsin State Representative
Harry E. Stephens, Wisconsin State Representative
Robert S. Travis, Wisconsin State Senator
Adelbert L. Utt, Wisconsin State Representative
James Russell Vineyard, Wisconsin and California politician
Noah Virgin, Wisconsin State Senator
Benjamin Webster, Wisconsin State Representative
Conrad J. Weittenhiller, Wisconsin State Representative

Others

Scott Adams, early computer game publisher and designer
John Fiedler, voice actor and character actor in stage, film, television and radio
Herbert Spencer Gasser, physiologist and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1944
Geoff Herbach, novelist
Cosette Kies, librarian, writer, ad academic
Herbert T. Perrin, U.S. Brigadier General and Distinguished Service Cross recipient
Josiah Little Pickard, educator
Pants Rowland, manager of 1917 World Series champion Chicago White Sox

References

External links

City of Platteville
Platteville Chamber of Commerce
Platteville Mining Museum and Rollo Jamison Museum
University of Wisconsin–Platteville
Platteville Main Street Program
Sanborn fire insurance maps: 1884 1892 1900 1908 1915