Chetek (town), Wisconsin

Chetek is a town in Barron County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 1,644 at the 2010 census. The City of Chetek is located partially within the town.

Geography

The town of Chetek is in southeastern Barron County; the eastern border of the town is the border with Rusk County to the east. Lake Chetek is in the southwestern part of the town. The city of Chetek occupies the western portion of the lake, while the town of Chetek covers the rest of the lake. Pokegama Lake and Mud Lake, two connected lakes forming a single arm of Lake Chetek, extend north towards the geographic center of the town.

U.S. Route 53, a four-lane expressway, crosses the southwest corner of the town, with access from Exit 126.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.6 square miles (86.9 km²), of which 30.4 square miles (78.8 km²) is land and 3.1 square miles (8.1 km²), or 9.27%, is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,686 people, 707 households, and 542 families residing in the town. The population density was 55.4 people per square mile (21.4/km²). There were 1,073 housing units at an average density of 35.2 per square mile (13.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.64% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.

There were 707 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.3% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.73.

In the town the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 33.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 104.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,125, and the median income for a family was $42,604. Males had a median income of $34,091 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,273. About 5.1% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.