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Moving to Appleton, Wisconsin

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The current estimated population of Appleton is 75,000, with a gender distribution of 49% male and 51% female. The population has grown steadily due to its role as a regional economic hub and its central location in Wisconsin’s Fox River Valley.

City Facts

  • Year founded: 1857
  • County: Outagamie County (mostly), Winnebago County, Calumet County
  • Land area: 24.9 square miles
  • Population density: 3,012 people per square mile
  • Area code: 920
  • Zip codes: 54911, 54913, 54914, 54915, 54919

Geography and Location

Appleton is located in northeastern Wisconsin along the Fox River, approximately 100 miles north of Milwaukee and 30 miles southwest of Green Bay. The city lies within the Fox River Valley, a region known for its strong manufacturing and paper production industries. Appleton’s geography includes the river, numerous parks, and a mix of urban and suburban developments. The city experiences a humid continental climate, with cold, snowy winters and warm summers. Appleton’s location near major highways, including U.S. Route 41, provides easy access to other parts of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region. The city is part of the broader Fox Cities metropolitan area, which includes Neenah, Menasha, and several other nearby communities. Appleton is home to Lawrence University, a private liberal arts college, which adds a vibrant cultural and educational dimension to the city. Appleton’s economy is diverse, with a mix of manufacturing, healthcare, education, and retail industries supporting its growth. Its combination of small-town charm, outdoor recreational opportunities, and urban amenities makes it a popular place to live and work.

Demographics

Median resident age: 33.8 years
Median household income: $47,285
Median house value: $97,900

Population by Race

Races in Appleton:

  • White Non-Hispanic (90.2%)
  • Other Asian (3.8%)
  • Hispanic (2.5%)
  • Two or more races (1.3%)
  • Other race (1.0%)
  • Black (1.0%)
  • American Indian (1.0%)

Ancestries: German (49.6%), Irish (11.9%), Dutch (7.1%), English (6.4%), Polish (6.0%), Norwegian (5.5%).

Elevation: 790 feet

Land area: 20.9 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Appleton

  • High school or higher: 88.8%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.7%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 8.5%
  • Unemployed: 3.4%
  • Mean travel time to work: 16.5 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Appleton city

  • Never married: 26.1%
  • Now married: 58.2%
  • Separated: 0.9%
  • Widowed: 5.6%
  • Divorced: 9.2%

5.1% Foreign born (3.0% Asia, 0.8% Latin America, 0.7% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: +3,771 (+5.7%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Appleton:

  • APPLETON MEDICAL CENTER (1818 NORTH MEADE STREET)
  • ST ELIZABETH HOSPITAL 88 (1506 S ONEIDA ST)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Appleton:

  • CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF WI FOX VALLEY (about 9 miles; NEENAH, WI)
  • THEDA CLARK MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 9 miles; NEENAH, WI)
  • WINNEBAGO MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE 250 (about 16 miles; WINNEBAGO, WI)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Appleton:

  • OUTAGAMIE COUNTY REGIONAL (about 9 miles; APPLETON, WI; Abbreviation: ATW)
  • WITTMAN REGIONAL (about 22 miles; OSHKOSH, WI; Abbreviation: OSH)
  • AUSTIN STRAUBEL INTERNATIONAL (about 25 miles; GREEN BAY, WI; Abbreviation: GRB)

Other public-use airports nearest to Appleton:

  • BRENNAND (about 13 miles; NEENAH, WI; Abbreviation: 79C)
  • SHIOCTON (about 17 miles; SHIOCTON, WI; Abbreviation: W34)
  • CARTER (about 29 miles; PULASKI, WI; Abbreviation: 92C)

Amtrak station:
APPLETON (500 N. ONEIDA ST.) – Bus Station. Services: enclosed waiting area, intercity bus service.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Appleton:

  • FOX VALLEY TECHNICAL COLLEGE AT APPLETON (Full-time enrollment: 3,364; Location: 1825 N BLUEMOUND DR; Public; Website: www.foxvalleytech.com/)
  • LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY (Full-time enrollment: 1,205; Location: PO BOX 599; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.Lawrence.edu)
  • GILL TECH ACADEMY OF HAIR DESIGN (Full-time enrollment: 71; Location: 423 W COLLEGE AVENUE; Private, for-profit)
  • MARTINS COLLEGE OF COSMETOLOGY (Full-time enrollment: 65; Location: 2310 W COLLEGE AVE; Private, for-profit; Website: www.mcofc.com)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Appleton:

  • UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-OSHKOSH (about 18 miles; OSHKOSH, WI; Full-time enrollment: 9,057)
  • SAINT NORBERT COLLEGE (about 25 miles; DE PERE, WI; Full-time enrollment: 2,031)
  • NORTHEAST WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 31 miles; GREEN BAY, WI; Full-time enrollment: 4,198)
  • UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-GREEN BAY (about 37 miles; GREEN BAY, WI; Full-time enrollment: 4,794)
  • MORAINE PARK TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 38 miles; FOND DU LAC, WI; Full-time enrollment: 3,037)
  • LAKELAND COLLEGE (about 66 miles; SHEBOYGAN, WI; Full-time enrollment: 2,103)
  • CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY-WISCONSIN (about 76 miles; MEQUON, WI; Full-time enrollment: 3,654)

Schools

Public high schools in Appleton:

  • NORTH HI (Students: 1,775; Location: 5000 N BALLARD RD; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • WEST HI (Students: 1,517; Location: 610 N BADGER AVE; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • EAST HI (Students: 1,498; Location: 2121 EMMERS DR; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • RENAISSANCE SCH (Students: 135; Location: 610 N BADGER AVE; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • APPLETON CENTRAL ALT SCH (Students: 91; Location: 120 E HARRIS ST; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • VALLEY NEW SCHOOL (Students: 60; Location: 10 COLLEGE AVE; Grades: 07 – 12)
  • TESLA ENGINEERING CHARTER SCH (Students: 44; Location: 2121 EMMERS DR; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • APPLETON ESCHOOL (Students: 24; Location: 2121 EMMERS DR; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high schools in Appleton:

  • FOX VALLEY LUTHERAN HIGH SCH (Students: 584; Location: 2626 NORTH ONEIDA STREET; Grades: 9 – 12)
  • XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 530; Location: 1600 W PROSPECT AVE; Grades: 9 – 12)
  • APPLETON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 326; Location: 217 E WISCONSIN AVE; Grades: PK – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Appleton:

  • MADISON MID (Students: 736; Location: 2020 S CARPENTER ST; Grades: 07 – 08)
  • FERBER EL (Students: 702; Location: 515 E CAPITOL DR; Grades: PK – 06)
  • SUNRISE EL (Students: 675; Location: N9363 EXPLORATION AVE; Grades: PK – 05)
  • HOUDINI EL (Students: 664; Location: 2305 W CAPITOL DR; Grades: PK – 06)
  • HIGHLANDS EL (Students: 594; Location: 2037 N ELINOR ST; Grades: PK – 06)
  • HUNTLEY EL (Students: 571; Location: 2224 N ULLMAN ST; Grades: PK – 06)
  • MCKINLEY EL (Students: 558; Location: 1125 E TAFT AVE; Grades: PK – 06)
  • BERRY EL (Students: 518; Location: 3601 S TELULAH AVE; Grades: PK – 06)
  • WILSON MID (Students: 506; Location: 225 N BADGER AVE; Grades: 07 – 08)
  • JOHNSTON EL (Students: 491; Location: 2725 E FOREST ST; Grades: PK – 06)

Biggest private primary/middle schools in Appleton:

  • SAINT JOSEPH MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 461; Location: 323 WEST LAWRENCE STREET; Grades: 6 – 8)
  • APPLETON CATHOLIC CENTRAL ELEM (Students: 343; Location: 313 SOUTH STATE STREET; Grades: PK – 5)
  • HOLY ANGELS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 336; Location: W 2796 CTY TRK KK; Grades: PK – 8)
  • ST PIUS X CAMPUS (Students: 300; Location: 500 WEST MARQUETTE ST; Grades: KG – 5)
  • SAINT BERNADETTE (Students: 287; Location: 2331 E LOURDES DR; Grades: PK – 5)
  • ST THOMAS MORE (Students: 279; Location: 1810 N MC DONALD ST; Grades: PK – 5)
  • MOUNT OLIVE LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 227; Location: 930 EAST FLORIDA AVENUE; Grades: PK – 8)
  • ST PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 197; Location: 225 E HARRIS ST; Grades: PK – 8)
  • ST MATTHEW LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 133; Location: 1316 WEST LAWRENCE ST; Grades: PK – 8)
  • RIVERVIEW LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 99; Location: 136 WEST SEYMOUR STREET; Grades: PK – 8)

Libraries

Library in Appleton:

  • APPLETON PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $3,394,127; Location: 225 N. ONEIDA ST.; 295,450 books; 12,330 audio materials; 9,132 video materials; 622 serial subscriptions)

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