La Pointe, Wisconsin

Infobox Settlement
official_name = La Pointe, Wisconsin
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of La Pointe, Wisconsin


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Wisconsin
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Ashland

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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 201.9
area_land_km2 = 200.9
area_water_km2 = 1.0
area_total_sq_mi = 78.0
area_land_sq_mi = 77.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.4

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 246
population_density_km2 = 1.2
population_density_sq_mi = 3.2

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes = GR|3
elevation_m = 236
elevation_ft = 774
latd = 46 |latm = 49 |lats = 2 |latNS = N
longd = 90 |longm = 41 |longs = 49 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
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blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 55-42562GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1583529GR|3
website =
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La Pointe is a town in Ashland County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 246 at the 2000 census. Its name in the Anishinaabe language is "Mooningwanekaaning", meaning "the place full of Yellow-shafted Flicker".

According to William Whipple Warren (History of the Ojibway People) Moningwunakuaning "is the spot on which the Ojibway tribe first grew, and like a tree it has spread its branches in every direction, in the bands that now [1885] occupy the vast extent of the Ojibway earth; and also that 'it is the root from which all the far scattered villages of the tribe have sprung.'"Warren, a partial-breed Ojibway, learned from tribal elders the Ojibway originally lived near the mouth of the St. Lawrence. At the time of great sickness and death, the Great Spirit interceded through Manabosho, a common uncle of the Anishinubag (spontaneous people). Through the discovery of the snakeroot they were granted the rite, enabled through their Medawe (religion) 'wherewith life is restored and prolonged.' The great Megis (sea-shell) showed itself as a glossy thing reflecting on the sea. It led them first to a place near Montreal where they stayed for some time. Next it led them to Boweting (Sault St. Marie). Again they stayed for some time. At last it led them to Moningwunakauning (La Pointe Island) 'where it has ever since reflected back the rays of the sun, and blessed our ancestors with life, light and wisdom,'says Warren. So the flickering shaft of light is the Megis, and La Pointe is the center of the Earth for the Ojibway.

The town includes all of the Apostle Islands. There is an unincorporated community named La Pointe on Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands and the only one open for commercial development. Although originally the site of a fortified French trading post from 1693-1698, and 1718-1759, La Pointe today was founded more directly as an American Fur Company outpost, beginning in the late 18th century under the leadership of Michel Cadotte. Today, the town's history is preserved at Madeline Island Historical Museum.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 78.0 square miles (201.9 km²), of which, 77.6 square miles (200.9 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 246 people, 125 households, and 66 families residing in the town. The population density was 3.2 people per square mile (1.2/km²). There were 692 housing units at an average density of 8.9/sq mi (3.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.72% White, 1.63% Native American, 0.41% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 2.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.

There were 125 households out of which 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.4% were non-families. 40.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.96 and the average family size was 2.64.

In the town the population was spread out with 19.1% under the age of 18, 2.8% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 119.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,500, and the median income for a family was $42,708. Males had a median income of $29,583 versus $31,042 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,352. None of the families and 4.6% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 2.1% of those over 64.

References