Mercer (CDP), Wisconsin

Mercer, Wisconsin
Census-designated place

Downtown Mercer

Location in Iron County and the state of Wisconsin.
Coordinates: 46°09′0″N 90°03′46″W / 46.15000°N 90.06278°W / 46.15000; -90.06278Coordinates: 46°09′0″N 90°03′46″W / 46.15000°N 90.06278°W / 46.15000; -90.06278
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County Iron
Area
 • Total 5.479 sq mi (14.19 km2)
 • Land 4.452 sq mi (11.53 km2)
 • Water 1.027 sq mi (2.66 km2)
Elevation 1,601 ft (488 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 516
 • Density 94/sq mi (36/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 54547
Area code(s) 715 & 534
GNIS feature ID 1569357[1]

Mercer is an unincorporated census-designated place located in the town of Mercer, Iron County, Wisconsin, United States. Mercer is located on U.S. Route 51 20.5 miles (33.0 km) south-southeast of Hurley. Mercer has a post office with ZIP code 54547.[2] As of the 2010 census, its population is 516.[3]

Mercer identifies itself as the "Loon Capital of the World" in order to promote tourism. This is based on a wildlife study that found Mercer had the highest concentration of common loons in the world. In front of the Mercer Chamber of Commerce's information center, there is a 16-foot (4.9 m), 2,000-pound (910 kg) statue named "Claire de Loon." Mercer also hosts an annual "Loon Day" festival, which features a large arts and crafts fair, live music and a loon calling contest.[4]

History

A post office called Mercer has been in operation since 1895.[5] The community was probably named for Hugh Mercer, a general in the American Revolutionary War.[6]

Tourism

Mercer's main industry is seasonal tourism, which is based on the large amount of undeveloped land and secluded waterways. Summer activities include boating, fishing, biking, hiking, and swimming. Summer tourism is often based on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage and other bodies of water, such as Tank Lake (Grand Portage Lake), former home to weekly water ski shows and site of a public beach. Fishing and other water sports include water skiing and jet skiing. Autumn and winter recreation includes snowmobiling, skiing, and hunting.

Mercer is home to the Mercer Area Historical Society housed in the former train station; it contains a small museum of local history. Other buildings include a jail, schoolhouse, barbershop, and a reconstructed caboose.

Images

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mercer, Wisconsin.
  1. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mercer (CDP), Wisconsin
  2. ↑ ZIP Code Lookup
  3. ↑ "American FactFinder". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  4. ↑ http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/economies/northernedge/bestpractices/iron3.cfm
  5. ↑ "Iron County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 101.
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