Profile

The "LIFE in Marathon County" report provides a wide spectrum of information and data depicting the quality of life in Wausau and Marathon County.  Its purpose is to provide a reference for the community to evaluate strengths and weaknesses and identify priority issues. The report, which will be published every two years, will also serve as a tracking vehicle to show how the community has changed over time. The report's sponsor, the Community Planning Council of Marathon County, hopes this report will not only serve as a handy reference but also as a starting point for community action.

• Full Report (PDF 1MB)
• Summary (PDF 3MB)

Located in north central Wisconsin, Marathon County is a beautiful, fertile area of rolling plains and hills. In 1850 when Marathon County was organized by action of the state legislature, its land was heavily forested, and most of the 500 inhabitants made their living from the rich timber resources. This early dependence on forest wealth is still reflected in many county industries, but the healthy economy of today is characterized by industrial diversification and the utilization of all natural resources.

Area: 1,584 square miles - the largest of Wisconsin's 72 counties.

The latest census tally shows Marathon County to be one of the areas in the state with a population increase. Marathon County has a population of 126,031.

Marathon County was officially established in 1850 and Wausau was selected as the county seat. From a Chippewa name meaning `Far Away' - has grown to a vigorous city of 38,426 people.

Marathon County is the number one ranking dairy producing county in the State.

Most of the county's industry is centered in the urban areas. Lumber was the original industry and wood and paper products have remained the leading industries. However, there is a wide variety of industrial plants which manufacture more than 50 different products.

Some of the most important products manufactured in Marathon County are paper and food packages, lumber and building materials, dairy products, electric motors, boxes, road building and industrial machinery, veneers and red granite monuments and materials.

Marathon County is the leading county in the nation for ginseng production.

Forestry facts of Marathon County are an indication of the important role the lumber and paper industry has played in the development of this area.

Three paper mills are located in the county, their expertise being specialty and high quality writing and printing paper. There are also a number of sawmills throughout the county.

One-third of the county land area is forest land. Most woodland is in 30 or 40 acre tracts attached to individual farms. Many farmers use income from the woodlots to help pay their taxes each year.

In Marathon County emphasis has been placed on reforestation. For the last 10 years, roughly 400,000 trees have been planted each year. Approximately 28,000 acres in the county have been permanently set aside as county forest land for forestry, wildlife and recreation purposes.

Marathon County offers ideal recreation opportunities the year around.

For winter sports enthusiasts, the excellent facilities of Granite Peak Ski Resort at Rib Mountain have made it one of the most famous winter-fun areas of the midwest. There is a rope ski-tow, chair lifts, a large open slope and trails designed for the novice, intermediate and expert skiers. The spacious shelter house is a comfortable place to relax. Many ski meets are held each season.

Marathon County maintains five cross-country ski trails totaling 48 miles of trail. The best known is the nine-mile county forest recreation area which has 18 miles of trail, including 3 miles of lighted trail, and a warming house.

In addition to the fine skiing facilities, Marathon County is known for ice hockey, ice fishing, ice skating, curling, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

In the spring, fishing enthusiasts turn to trout waters in the Plover and Prairie Rivers. There are also many fine hunting areas in the county.

Rib Mountain State Park is the most spectacular park in the county. With an elevation of 1,941 feet, Rib Mountain juts out of the surrounding countryside to provide an awe-inspiring view. There are hiking trails and picnic facilities throughout the park, as well as overnight camping. Rib Mountain State Park is the 3rd highest point in Wisconsin.

In Marathon County, the Rietbrock Geographical Marker locates the exact center of the northern half of the Western Hemisphere. It is here that the 90th Meridian of Longitude bisects the 45th Parallel of Latitude, meaning it is exactly halfway between the North Pole and the Equator, and is a quarter of the way around the earth from Greenwich, England.

Marathon County is recognized as having one of the finest park systems in the state. 18 County Parks, totaling 4,050 acres provide recreational, historical, scenic and wildlife attractions for all. The Park system includes many miles of lake and stream frontage as well as swimming beaches, boat landings, picnic areas, hiking trails, playgrounds, shelters and camping areas, a 600 yard shooting range and two indoor ice arenas.

In addition, 18 miles of the Mountain-Bay State Park Trail meanders through the Marathon County countryside. The 83 mile trail running from the Village of Weston to Howard near Green Bay is open to hiking and biking in the summer and snowmobiles and ATV’s during the winter.

In addition to the excellent recreational facilities within the boundaries of Marathon County, the county is known as the gateway to the playgrounds of the North. Many lake and resort areas are within easy driving distance from Marathon County.

Marathon County has a total of 3,270 miles of highways of which 272 are state trunks, 620 county trunks, 2,335 town highways, and 43 other miscellaneous roads.

All of the state and county trunks, and several hundred miles of town roads, are either paved or have dust-free bituminous surfaces.