Moving to Shawano, Wisconsin

Shawano, Wisconsin is located in the north-central part of the state. The city is situated on the Wolf River, a tributary of Lake Winnebago. Shawano has a humid continental climate, with four distinct seasons and an average temperature of 45°F. The city was founded in 1853 by settlers from the Menominee Nation and was named after Chief Shawano.

In terms of politics, Shawano is part of Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. As far as economics are concerned, Shawano has a diverse economy based around manufacturing, retail trade, health care and social assistance, and educational services. Some major employers include Shawano Community Hospital and Clinic, Shawano School District, P&H Milling Group Inc., and Schneider National Inc.

Shawano offers excellent educational opportunities for its residents. There are several public school districts including Gresham Community School District, Bonduel Elementary School District and Shawano-Gresham Joint School District. In addition to these school districts there are also private schools such as St. James Catholic School and Trinity Lutheran Church & School.

When it comes to landmarks in Shawano there is no shortage of attractions worth visiting! Some popular attractions include Navarino Wildlife Area which offers over 11 miles of trails for hiking or biking; Cedar Creek Mall which features over 60 stores; The Pavilion at Colony Creek which is home to concerts throughout the summer; and The Four Seasons Park which has a beautiful outdoor pool open during the summer months!

Population: 8,298. Estimated population in July 2024: 8,441 (+1.7% change)
Males: 3,954 (47.7%), Females: 4,344 (52.3%)

Shawano County

Zip code: 54166

Demographics

Median resident age: 38.3 years
Median household income: $31,546
Median house value: $78,900

Population by Race

Races in Shawano:

  • White Non-Hispanic (88.5%)
  • American Indian (9.0%)
  • Hispanic (1.6%)
  • Two or more races (1.5%)
  • Other race (0.6%)

Ancestries: German (49.8%), Irish (8.3%), Polish (4.7%), Norwegian (4.4%), English (4.1%), United States (3.9%).

Elevation: 821 feet

Land area: 6.0 square miles

Population by Education

Shawano, Wisconsin is a city located in Shawano County, Wisconsin. It has a population of 9,305 according to the 2020 census. The racial makeup of Shawano is 91.7% White, 0.3% African American, 2.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 2.9% from other races and 2.4% from two or more races. The median age of residents in Shawano is 38 years old and the median household income is $47,280 according to the 2020 census data. The population is well-educated with 31% of adults having at least a bachelor’s degree and 17% having obtained a graduate or professional degree compared to the national average of 28%.

Shawano is an ethnically diverse city with many different cultures contributing to its unique character and charm. There are numerous places of worship in Shawano representing various religions including Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist and Pentecostal denominations as well as non-denominational churches. In addition to religious diversity there are also many cultural events held throughout the year such as the Annual Pow Wow held in June which celebrates Native American culture and heritage through music, dance and artistry while also providing educational opportunities for all ages about Native American culture and history. Additionally there are several festivals throughout the year that celebrate German culture such as Oktoberfest which features traditional German food and music as well as arts & crafts vendors from Germany showcasing their work for sale to attendees.

For population 25 years and over in Shawano

  • High school or higher: 80.4%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.5%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 6.0%
  • Unemployed: 4.9%
  • Mean travel time to work: 15.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Shawano city

  • Never married: 26.9%
  • Now married: 52.8%
  • Separated: 1.1%
  • Widowed: 9.9%
  • Divorced: 9.2%

1.5% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +465 (+5.9%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Shawano:

  • SHAWANO MEDICAL CTR 36 (309 N BARTLETTE ST)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Shawano:

  • NEW LONDON FAMILY MEDICAL CTR INC (about 29 miles; NEW LONDON, WI)
  • COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 31 miles; OCONTO FALLS, WI)
  • APPLETON MEDICAL CENTER (about 38 miles; APPLETON, WI)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Shawano:

  • OUTAGAMIE COUNTY REGIONAL (about 37 miles; APPLETON, WI; Abbreviation: ATW)
  • AUSTIN STRAUBEL INTERNATIONAL (about 40 miles; GREEN BAY, WI; Abbreviation: GRB)
  • WITTMAN REGIONAL (about 55 miles; OSHKOSH, WI; Abbreviation: OSH)

Other public-use airports nearest to Shawano:

  • SHAWANO MUNI (about 4 miles; SHAWANO, WI; Abbreviation: 3WO)
  • CLINTONVILLE MUNI (about 15 miles; CLINTONVILLE, WI; Abbreviation: CLI)
  • SHIOCTON (about 23 miles; SHIOCTON, WI; Abbreviation: W34)

Amtrak station near Shawano:

  • 16 miles: CLINTONVILLE (20 S. MAIN ST.) – Bus Station

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Shawano:

  • FOX VALLEY TECHNICAL COLLEGE AT APPLETON (about 35 miles; APPLETON, WI; Full-time enrollment: 3,364)
  • SAINT NORBERT COLLEGE (about 44 miles; DE PERE, WI; Full-time enrollment: 2,031)
  • NORTHEAST WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 47 miles; GREEN BAY, WI; Full-time enrollment: 4,198)
  • UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-OSHKOSH (about 51 miles; OSHKOSH, WI; Full-time enrollment: 9,057)
  • UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-GREEN BAY (about 52 miles; GREEN BAY, WI; Full-time enrollment: 4,794)
  • UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT (about 69 miles; STEVENS POINT, WI; Full-time enrollment: 8,083)
  • MORAINE PARK TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 72 miles; FOND DU LAC, WI; Full-time enrollment: 3,037)

Schools

Public high school in Shawano:

  • SHAWANO HI (Students: 993; Location: 220 COUNTY ROAD B; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Shawano:

  • SHAWANO COMMUNITY MID (Students: 727; Location: 1050 S UNION ST; Grades: 05 – 08)
  • BRENER EL (Students: 661; Location: 1300 S UNION ST; Grades: PK – 04)
  • LINCOLN EL (Students: 223; Location: 237 S SAWYER ST; Grades: 01 – 04)

Private primary/middle schools in Shawano:

  • ST JAMES LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 294; Location: 324 S ANDREWS ST; Grades: PK – 8)
  • SACRED HEART SCHOOL (Students: 192; Location: 124 E CENTER ST; Grades: KG – 8)
  • DIVINE SAVIOR LUTHERAN SCH (Students: 50; Location: 102 NORTHRIDGE DRIVE; Grades: KG – 8)

Libraries

Library in Shawano:

  • SHAWANO CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY (Operating income: $662,460; Location: 128 S. SAWYER ST.; 128,550 books; 4,304 audio materials; 6,496 video materials; 150 serial subscriptions)