Menasha, Wisconsin - Wikipedia

This article is about the city. For the adjacent former town, see Menasha (town), Wisconsin. City in Wisconsin, United States

Menasha, Wisconsin
City
Downtown Menasha
Motto: "Your Place on the Water"
Location of Menasha in Winnebago and Calumet counties, Wisconsin.
MenashaShow map of WisconsinMenashaShow map of the United States
Coordinates: 44°13′N 88°26′W / 44.217°N 88.433°W / 44.217; -88.433
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Counties	Winnebago, Calumet
Settled	1835
Incorporated	1848 (town)1853 (village)1874 (city)
Named after	Menominee word for "little island"
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Mayor	Austin Hammond
Area[1]
• Total	7.78 sq mi (20.16 km2)
• Land	6.05 sq mi (15.66 km2)
• Water	1.74 sq mi (4.50 km2)
Elevation[2]	750 ft (230 m)
Population (2020)[3]
• Total	18,268
• Density	20,268.3/sq mi (7,825.64/km2)
Demonym	Menashan
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code	54952[4]
Area code	920
FIPS code	55-50825[5]
GNIS feature ID	1569330[2]
Website	menashawi.gov

Menasha (/məˈnæʃə/) is a city located on former Menominee and Ho-Chunk territory in Winnebago and Calumet counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 18,268 at the 2020 census, of which 15,144 were in Winnebago County and 2,209 were in Calumet County. The city's name comes from the Menominee language, in which it is known as Menāēhsaeh, meaning "little island".[6] At the time of European contact, a Ho-Chunk village known as "Menashay" stood on what is now Doty Island, led by Chief Hootschope (Four Legs).[7] It is part of the Fox Cities region of Wisconsin. Doty Island is located partially in Menasha, which it shares with Neenah.

The Menominee people inhabited the Fox River Valley for over 10,000 years.[8] In the Treaty of the Cedars (1836), the Menominee ceded approximately 4,000,000 acres of land, including present-day Menasha, to the United States for $700,000 (approximately 17 cents per acre).[9] This cession opened the region to logging and European-American settlement. Menasha's location on the Fox River and Lake Winnebago subsequently led to its development as a transportation hub and later a center for paper production and wooden ware products.[10][11]

History

[edit]

The Menominee people inhabited the Fox River Valley for over 10,000 years.[12] Ancestors of the Ho-Chunk also occupied what is currently Menasha, with a village known as "Menashay" on what is now Doty Island, led by Chief Hootschope (Four Legs).[13] In the 1600s, the Meskwaki established a village just north of Menasha. In 1730, a surprise attack by French soldiers and traders led by Captain Paul Marin resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 Meskwaki (Fox) people residing in the area. The bodies were subsequently piled into a mass grave 12 feet high, 60 feet long, and 35 feet wide, known as Butte des Morts ("Hill of the Dead"). Despite the protests of early Wisconsin preservationist Increase A. Lapham—who argued there was "neither necessity nor excuse for its destruction"—the hill was leveled in 1863 to make way for a Chicago and North Western Railway line. The company used the excavated earth as landfill and ballast, with remains reportedly "strewn along the right of way for miles."[14][15][16][17]

In 1836, the Menominee ceded approximately 4,000,000 acres of land, including present-day Menasha, to the United States in the Treaty of the Cedars for $700,000 (approximately 17 cents per acre).[18] This opened up land for public sale, and James Duane Doty, a land speculator and politician, was one of the first investors.[19] Doty was known for using aggressive tactics to acquire land and political influence, including offering legislators choice lots in exchange for favorable votes; one of his business partners, Michigan Governor Stevens Mason, described him as "a liar, a calumniator and a swindler."[20] In 1848, Doty and his associates, including Curtis Reed, formed the town of Menasha on the channel north of Doty Island.[21] In 1849, Reed and Doty were successful in convincing the United States government to place the navigational channel of the Fox-Wisconsin waterway through the north channel in Menasha.[21] In 1854 Menasha approved $150,000 in bonding to bring the Manitowoc & Mississippi Railroad in with the intent of establishing Menasha as the principal transportation axis in Wisconsin. Menasha was incorporated as a city in 1874, and at that point was considered to be a transportation hub.[21]

The early 1900s saw a shift to industrial production of general and specialized papers.[21] Menasha was home to many paper mills including the George A. Whiting Paper Company Mill, the John Strange Paper Mill, Island Paper Company, and Gilbert Paper Company, to name a few. Menasha was also home to the George Banta Publishing Company which published textbooks, military manuals, yearbooks, and magazines.

Menasha Corporation also called Menasha home. It was established in 1849 by Elisha D. Smith as Menasha Wooden Ware.[22] It produced wooden containers like butter tubs and barrels and eventually became the world's largest wooden ware products manufacturer. After wooden ware products fell out of use in the early 1900s, Menasha Wooden Ware shifted to the corrugated packaging business, changing its name to Menasha Corporation.[22]

Geography

[edit]

Menasha is located at 44°13′N 88°26′W / 44.217°N 88.433°W / 44.217; -88.433 (44.2129, −88.4362).[23] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.52 square miles (19.48 km2), of which, 6.03 square miles (15.62 km2) is land and 1.49 square miles (3.86 km2) is water.[24]

Demographics

[edit] Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	1,436	—
1870	2,484	73.0%
1880	3,144	26.6%
1890	4,581	45.7%
1900	5,589	22.0%
1910	6,081	8.8%
1920	7,214	18.6%
1930	9,062	25.6%
1940	10,481	15.7%
1950	12,385	18.2%
1960	14,647	18.3%
1970	14,836	1.3%
1980	14,728	−0.7%
1990	14,711	−0.1%
2000	16,331	11.0%
2010	17,353	6.3%
2020	18,268	5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[25]

Menasha is a city in the Appleton–Oshkosh–Neenah CSA, a Combined Statistical Area which includes the Appleton (Calumet and Outagamie counties) and Oshkosh–Neenah (Winnebago County) metropolitan areas,[citation needed] which had a combined population of 392,660 at the 2010 census and an estimated population of 409,881 as of 2019.

2020 census

[edit]

At the 2020 census there were 18,268 people residing in the city. The population density was 3,021.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,166.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.9% White, 1.8% African American, 1.3% Native American, 3.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.0% from other races, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.2%.

2010 census

[edit]

At the 2010 census there were 17,353 people, 7,405 households, and 4,415 families living in the city. The population density was 2,877.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,111.1/km2). There were 7,973 housing units at an average density of 1,322.2 units per square mile (510.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.8% White, 1.2% African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.0% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.9%.[3]

Of the 7,405 households 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.4% were non-families. 32.2% of households were one person and 9.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age was 36 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.6% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

2000 census

[edit]

At the 2000 census there were 16,331 people, 6,951 households, and 4,233 families living in the city. The population density was 3,106.9 people per square mile (1,199.6 people/km2). There were 7,271 housing units at an average density of 1,383.3 units per square mile (534.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.80% White, 0.54% African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.62% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.38% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.61%.[5]

Of the 6,951 households 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 31.8% of households were one person and 10.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median household income was $39,936 and the median family income was $47,401. Males had a median income of $36,705 versus $25,176 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,743. About 5.4% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

[edit]

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) has two churches in Menasha: Bethel Lutheran Church[26] and Mount Calvary Lutheran Church.[27]

Architect Harry Weese designed Menasha's St Thomas' Episcopal Church.

Parks and recreation

[edit]

The 91-acre Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is an urban nature reserve with habitats including forested wetland, cattail marsh, open water, created prairie, open field, and upland forest.[28] The University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus houses the Weis Earth Science Museum and the Barlow Planetarium.

Menasha contains numerous parks. It has a public pool located in Jefferson Park.[29] Smith Park is the oldest park in the Menasha Park system, established in 1897.

A railroad caboose in Smith Park commemorates the original Wisconsin Central Railroad. At the southern end of the park are several Native American burial mounds and a natural amphitheater used for summer concerts. The north end of the park features semi-formal gardens planted each year with approximately 6,000 annuals, a setting that is a favorite for summer weddings. A gazebo funded with corporate donations was built in this area in 1997.[30]

Government

[edit]

The city of Menasha has a mayor–council government. There are eight districts in the city, each represented by an aldermen. The council meets weekly with the mayor, Austin Hammond.

List of Menasha's village presidents:[31]

Village Presidents of Menasha, Wisconsin, since incorporation as a village in 1853

Order	Term start	Term end	Village President	Notes
1	1853	1854	Curtis Reed	There is no official record for the first election, although the first meeting minutes lists Curtis Reed as president.
2	1854	1855	Curtis Reed
3	1855	1856	Joseph Turner
4	1856	1857	Joseph Turner
5	1857	1858	Joseph Turner
6	1858	1859	Curtis Reed
7	1859	1860	John A. Bryan
8	1860	1861	John A. Bryan
9	1861	1862	Charles Doty
10	1862	1863	Charles Doty
11	1863	1864	Elisha D. Smith
12	1864	1865	Elisha D. Smith
13	1865	1866	Curtis Reed
14	1866	1867	Curtis Reed
15	1867	1868	Curtis Reed	No record of election, though the same officers stayed in their offices.
16	1868	1869	John Potter, Jr.
17	1869	1870	John Potter, Jr.	No record of election, though the same officers stayed in their offices.
18	1870	1871	A. E. Bates
19	1871	1872	Fred Schuellen
20	1872	1873	Fred Schuellen
21	1873	1874	O. J. Hall

List of Menasha's mayors:[32]

Mayors of Menasha, Wisconsin, since incorporation as a city in 1874

Order	Term start	Term end	Mayor	Notes
1	1874	1875	O.J. Hall
2	1875	1879	P.V. Lawson, Sr.
3	1879	1882	A.J. Webster
4	1882	1883	Silas Bullard
5	1883	1885	A.J. Webster
6	1885	1886	L.G. Noble
7	1886	1890	P.V. Lawson, Jr.
8	1890	1892	Curtis Reed
9	1892	1893	George Banta
10	1893	1894	P.V. Lawson, Jr.
11	1894	1895	John Rosch
12	1895	1896	George Banta
13	1896	1897	P.V. Lawson, Jr.
14	1897	1898	J.M. Pleasants
15	1898	1900	M.M. Schoetz
16	1900	1901	J.M. Pleasants
17	1901	1902	Henry Fitzgibbon
18	1902	1904	George Banta
19	1904	1908	August J. Henning
20	1908	1910	N.G. Remmel
21	1910	1912	Joesph Hill
22	1912	1919	N.G. Remmel
23	1919	1922	T.E. McGillan	"Elected mayor of Menasha to fill out an unexpired term" and then re-elected without opposition.
24	1922	1924	M.M. Schoetz
25	1924	1928	N.G. Remmel
26	1928	1930	W.E. Held
27	1930	1934	N.G. Remmel
28	1934	1936	F.O. Heckrodt
29	1936	1938	W.E. Held
30	1938	1946	W.H. Jensen
31	1946	1956	John R. Scanlon
32	1956	1960	R.G. DuCharme
33	1960	1966	John L. Klein
34	1966	1968	Kenneth E. Holmes
35	1968	1970	John L. Klein
36	1970	1974	James Adams
37	1974	1982	Victor V. Wiecki
38	1982	1988	Thom A. Ciske
39	1988	2008	Joseph F. Laux
40	2008	2024	Donald Merkes
41	2024	Present	Austin R. Hammond

Education

[edit]

Menasha's Public School system, called the Menasha Joint School District has one high school (Menasha High School), one middle school, and five elementary schools. Banta Bilingual Elementary School's program provides instruction in both English and Spanish, with the goal of developing students with proficiency in both languages.[33]

Parochial education is offered at St. Mary Catholic Elementary School, Bethel Lutheran School (elementary and middle), and Trinity Lutheran School (elementary and middle).

Menasha was home to the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus, a two-year campus part of the UW System. The campus closed in 2025 as part of four other campus closures.

Friendly cities

[edit]

• Maebashi, Japan[34]

Notable people

[edit] Further information: Category:People from Menasha, Wisconsin

• Joseph H. Anderson, legislator
• John A. Bryan, U.S. diplomat
• Silas Bullard, jurist and legislator
• Elmer J. Burr, Medal of Honor recipient
• Arnold J. Cane, jurist and legislator
• Connie Clausen, television and Broadway actress, literary agent, and author of "I Love You Honey but The Season's Over", a memoir about Menasha
• Jean Pond Miner Coburn, sculptor
• Samuel A. Cook, U.S. Representative
• John Dollard, psychologist
• William Duchman, legislator and sawmill operator
• A. D. Eldridge, legislator and businessman
• William P. Grimes, legislator and businessman
• Eric Hinske, hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks and former American League Rookie of the Year
• Joan Jaykoski, baseball player
• James C. Kerwin, Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Dave Koslo, MLB player for the New York Giants, Baltimore Orioles, and the Milwaukee Braves
• Jean Kraft, opera singer
• Publius Virgilius Lawson, six-term mayor, historian, manufacturer, lawyer
• George Liberace, musician and television performer, older brother of Liberace
• Jeff Loomis, heavy metal guitarist
• Thomas J. O'Malley, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
• Curtis Reed, mayor of Menasha, businessman
• Richard J. Steffens, legislator
• Leslie J. Westberg, U.S. Air Force brigadier general

References

[edit]

1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
2. ^ a b "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
4. ^ "Menasha WI ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
5. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. ^ Hoffman, Mike. "Menominee Place Names in Wisconsin". The Menominee Clans Story. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
7. ^ "Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Neenah-Menasha". PBS Wisconsin. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
8. ^ "Menominee Treaties and Treaty Rights". Milwaukee Public Museum. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
9. ^ "Treaty of the Cedars". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
10. ^ "A tale of twin cities : or the development of the Fox River Waterway - UWDC - UW-Madison Libraries". search.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
11. ^ "Centennial memories : a brief history of Menasha, Wisconsin - UWDC - UW-Madison Libraries". search.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
12. ^ "Menominee Treaties and Treaty Rights". Milwaukee Public Museum. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
13. ^ "Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Neenah-Menasha". PBS Wisconsin. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
14. ^ Lapham, Increase Allen (1855). The antiquities of Wisconsin : as surveyed and described. University of Pittsburgh Library System. Washington : Smithsonian Institution.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
15. ^ "A Brief History of Menasha". Wisconsin Historical Society. July 27, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
16. ^ "'Butte des Morts' first used for Menasha mound". Madison.com. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
17. ^ Lawson, Publius V. (1903). Summary of the archeology of Winnebago County, Wisconsin. Wisconsin archeological society. [from old catalog. [Milwaukee, Wis.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
18. ^ "Treaty of the Cedars". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
19. ^ "Doty, James Duane, 1799-1865". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
20. ^ "James Doty: His determination and devious tactics made Madison the state capital". Madison.com. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
21. ^ a b c d "Menasha History". www.menashawi.gov. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
22. ^ a b "The History of Menasha". Menasha Packaging. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
23. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
24. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
25. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
26. ^ "Bethel Lutheran Church". Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
27. ^ "Mount Calvary Lutheran Church (WELS)".
28. ^ "Heckrodt Wetland Reserve | Urban Nature Reserve | Menasha, WI". Heckrodt Wetland Reserve. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
29. ^ "Park List" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2021.
30. ^ "City of Menasha - Open space and recreation facilities plan 2012-2016" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 16, 2022.
31. ^ "History of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, and early history of the Northwest".
32. ^ "Mayors of Menasha".
33. ^ "Menasha Joint School District - Bilingual Program and Enrollment". www.mjsd.k12.wi.us. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
34. ^ "メナーシャ市|前橋市". www.city.maebashi.gunma.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved August 16, 2022.

Further reading

[edit]

• Adams, Arva Luther, Caryl Chandler Herziger, and Winifred Anderson Pawlowski. 1993. A tale of twin cities : or the development of the Fox River Waterway. Neenah, Wisconsin: Neenah Historical Society. https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/RDTQFMZZZV23G8A
• Auer, James M. 1953. Centennial memories : a brief history of Menasha, Wisconsin. Menasha, Wisconsin: Auer. https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/VXQYJCGMJQP6M9B
• Galassie, David, and Menasha Historical Society. 2012. Menasha. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. https://search.worldcat.org/en/title/775415397
• Galassie, David. 2018. Neenah and Menasha : Twin Cities of the Fox Valley. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. https://search.worldcat.org/en/title/1015857288
• Stone, H.A. 1887. The first city of the lower Fox River : Menasha, Wisconsin. Neenah, Wisconsin: H. A. Stone, printer. https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/JNXZZP2ZV6GUB8S

External links

[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Menasha, Wisconsin.

• City of Menasha
• "Menasha" . Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.

v t e Appleton–Oshkosh–Neenah / Fox Cities metropolitan area, Wisconsin
Core cities	Appleton° Neenah° Oshkosh°
Largest municipalitiesover 10,000 in 2010	Fond Du Lac° Fox Crossing‡ Grand Chute* Greenville‡ Harrison* Kaukauna° Little Chute‡ Menasha°
Municipalitiesunder 10,000 in 2010	Apple Creek† Bear Creek‡ Berlin° Buchanan* Butte des Morts† Center* Clayton* Clintonville° Combined Locks‡ Darboy† Dundas† Forest Junction§ Freedom* Green Lake° Hancock‡ Harbor Springs† Harrison‡ Hortonville‡ Kaukauna* Kimberly‡ Mackville† Neenah* New London° Omro° Omro* Oshkosh* Pine River§ Poy Sippi§ Sherwood‡ Wautoma° Vandenbroek* Waupaca° Winchester§ Winchester* Winnebago† Winneconne‡ Winneconne* Woodville* Wrightstown‡^
Counties	Outagamie Winnebago Calumet Fond Du Lac Green Lake Waupaca Waushara BOW counties
*town ‡village °city §CDP †unincorporated community ^partial

v t e Municipalities and communities of Calumet County, Wisconsin, United States
County seat: Chilton
Cities	Appleton‡ Brillion Chilton Kaukauna‡ Kiel‡ Menasha‡ New Holstein
Villages	Harrison‡ Hilbert Potter Sherwood Stockbridge
Towns	Brillion Brothertown Charlestown Chilton Harrison New Holstein Rantoul Stockbridge Woodville
CDPs	Brothertown Forest Junction
Othercommunities	Brant Calumetville‡ Charlesburg Dundas Eckers Lakeland Hayton Kloten Jericho Maple Heights Meggers‡ Quinney Saint Catherines Bay St. Anna‡ St. John Waverly Beach‡ Wells‡
Ghost town	Harrison
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Wisconsin portal United States portal

v t e Municipalities and communities of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States
County seat: Oshkosh
Cities	Appleton‡ Menasha‡ Neenah Omro Oshkosh
Villages	Fox Crossing Winneconne
Towns	Algoma Black Wolf Clayton Neenah Nekimi Nepeuskun Omro Oshkosh Poygan Rushford Utica Vinland Winchester Winneconne Wolf River
CDPs	Butte des Morts Eureka Waukau Winchester
Othercommunities	Allenville Clarks Point Elo Fisk Fitzgerald Harbor Springs Highland Shore Indian Shores Island Park Larsen Lasleys Point Leonards Point Koro Medina Junction Metz‡ Mikesville Oakwood Orihula Piacenza Pickett Plummer Point Ricker Bay Reighmoor Ring Rivermoor Rush Lake Shangri La Point Snells Sunrise Bay Waverly Beach‡ Winnebago Zion Zittau
Formercommunities	Delhi Menasha (former town)
Indian reservation	Menominee Indian Reservation‡
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Wisconsin portal United States portal

Authority control databases
National	Czech Republic
Geographic	MusicBrainz area
Other	NARA