Janesville is a city in southern Wisconsin United States It is the county seat of Rock County, Wisconsin GR|6}} and the principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 59,498.http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-55.xls US Census: Places in Wisconsin listed alphabetically]

History

Image:Janesville across river.jpg Janesville was founded in 1835http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/WI/subcollections/JanesvillesPastAbout.shtml About Janesvilles Past] on the east bank of the Rock River (Mississippi River) Named for an early settler, Henry Janes,http://www.forwardjanesville.com/JanesvilleFAQs/JanesvilleHistory/tabid/818/Default.aspx The History of Janesville Wisconsin] early development depended on water power from the river and an early territorial road that included the first bridge across the Rock River.http://www.usgennet.org/usa/wi/county/rock/Twp/HistJT.html ALHN-Rock Co., WI-History of Janesville Township] Janesville was the site of the first Wisconsin State Fair in 1851, attended by approximately 10,000 people.http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM2CJT FIRST - State Fair in Wisconsin - Janesville, WI - First of its kind on Waymarking.com] Lavinia Goodell Wisconsins first female lawyer (1874), lived in Janesville.http://www.wisbar.org/AM/Template.cfm?SectionHistory_of_the_Profession&TEMPLATE/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID21558 WisBar | Pioneers in Law: Rhoda Lavinia Goodell] A tree that once stood in downtown Courthouse Park was the site of a lynch mob that hanged a convicted murderer in 1859.http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/forestry/publications/pdf/AnchorTreeBook/Chapters/037%20JanesvilleHangingTree.pdf In 1992, television journalist Geraldo Rivera was arrested for battery after an altercation during his coverage of a Ku Klux Klan rally in Janesville.lt;/ref> The location of a related cross burning in 1992 is now "Peace Park" with a playground and a peace pole said to be the worlds tallest at 52 feet.http://www.forwardjanesville.com/JanesvilleFAQs/FunFacts/tabid/819/Default.aspx Janesville Wisconsin Fun Facts]

Demography

As of the census GR|2}} of 2000, there were 59,498 residents, 23,894 occupied housing units, and 15,743 families in the city. The population density was 2,160.6 people per square mile (834.1/km²). There were 25,083 housing units at an average density of 910.9/sq mi (351.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.27% White (U.S. Census) 1.26% African American (U.S. Census) or Race (United States Census) 0.25% Native American (U.S. Census) 0.96% Asian (U.S. Census) 0.03% Pacific Islander (U.S. Census) 1.02% from Race (United States Census) and 1.22% from two or more races. 2.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 23,894 households, 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 51.1% were Marriage living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, with 9.7% individuals aged 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99. In the city, the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $45,961, and the median income for a family was $55,133. Males had a median income of $40,910 versus $26,423 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,224. About 4.3% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 and over.

Architecture

Twenty percent of Wisconsins buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places can be found in Janesville.http://www.janesvillecvb.com/history.asp Janesville Convention and Visitors Bureau | Janesville History] The 1857 Lincoln-Tallman House which models the Italian Villa-style architecture, is one of 34 sites on the Register.http://www.nr.nps.gov/nrloc1.htm NRIS Search by location] Abraham Lincoln slept there for two nights. The Columbus Circle neighborhood became Janesvilles tenth historic district in 2005. The former Janesville Public Library,http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20010822/ai_n10728762] a Carnegie library built in 1902, was designed by J.T.W. Jennings

Transportation

Image:Janesville station.jpg Janesville operates a bus system, the Janesville Transit System (JTS), which also connects with neighboring Beloit and Milton. Van Galder Bus Company (a Coach USA company), based in Janesville, operates a regional bus service between Madison, Wisconsin and downtown Chicago Chicago O'Hare Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport Interstate 90 Interstate 39 passes through Janesville, as do U.S. Route 14 and U.S. Route 51 and state Wisconsin Highway 26 and Wisconsin Highway 11 Just south of Janesville is Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport

Media

The Janesville Gazette owned by Bliss Communications, is one of two daily newspapers in Rock County, Wisconsin (the [[Beloit Daily News]]lt;ref>http://www.beloitdailynews.com/ being the other), and serves a regional market stretching into Walworth County, Wisconsin Delavan, Wisconsin based Community Shoppers, Inc. publishes the bi-weekly Janesville Messengerhttp://www.janesvillemessenger.com/ Community Shoppers Free Newspaper] Janesville has two television stations licensed to the city; The CW Television Network affiliate WBUW (Channel 57), which has its offices and transmitter in Madison and serves all of south-central Wisconsin, and W65EE (Channel 65), a low-power translator station of the Trinity Broadcasting Network Many radio stations also serve Janesville.

Parks

Image:5high.jpg anesville is known as "Wisconsins Park Place" or "City of Parks". Its park system includes 53 improved parks, as well as boat launches, golf courses, and nature trails.http://www.janesvillecvb.com/parks.asp Janesville Convention and Visitors Bureau | Parks & Recreation] This is one of the highest acreages per capitain Wisconsin. Janesville has a public, internationally-themed botanical garden, Rotary Gardens that was created from an abandoned sand pit. Traxler Park is home to the Rock Aqua Jays a water skiing team which has been U.S. national champion 15 times. The team originated and regularly hosts the National Show Ski championships. Traxler Park is also home to the Fourth of July festivities. Other major parks include Riverside Park, a recreational park along the Rock River including a golf course and a segment of the Ice Age Trail Rockport Park, largely undeveloped, including the municipal swimming pool and Peace Park; Monterey Park, including the Big Rock, an early natural landmark signalling a good ford (crossing) of the Rock River (and the namesake of the county, but not the river), as well as a sports stadium used by the school system; Lustig Park, used for a disc golf course; and Palmer Park, which includes a 9-hole golf course and Camden Park (an accessible play area). Most of the parks in the city are linked by a paved bike trail, which will eventually connect to Beloit, Wisconsin

Education

Image:Joseph Craig High School Gym.jpg The Janesville School Districthttp://www.janesville.k12.wi.us/sdj School District of Janesville Home Page - Janesville, Wisconsin] has twelve elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools and five charter schools. The Janesville Academy for International Studies, a charter high school that focuses on teaching global perspectives, and the Guide Language Center, which offers over 10 foreign languages, are both located downtown. TAGOS Leadership Academy is a project-based learning charter school that is located in Arrow Park. In addition, there are a number of parochial schools throughout the city. The Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired dhttp://www.wcbvi.k12.wi.us/wsvh/index.html Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired] has been located in Janesville since 1850. A two-year community college, the University of Wisconsin–Rock County located on the southwest side of Janesville, is part of the University of Wisconsin System A two-year technical college, Blackhawk Technical College is located midway between Janesville and Beloit; Blackhawk also offers degree programs through Upper Iowa University

Hedberg Public Library

The library began in 1865 as a privately supported reading room for the Young Mens Library Association. After a referendum passed in 1884, it became a public library that was housed in rented quarters. In 1903, a new building was constructed with $30,000 from Andrew Carnegie and other donors. The city also agreed to appropriate $3,000 for library operations. The library then moved to its first official home across from the Rock County Court House on Main Street. When it outgrew these quarters in the early 1960s, a new library was built in 1968 at 316 S. Main Street. Just 20 years later, the library began planning for expanded space. With $4.6 million donated by Don and Gerry Hedberg, local philanthropists, as well as city and other donated monies, an expanded and completely renovated library was opened in 1996. Janesvilles public library was then renamed Hedberg Public Library in honor of its largest contributors.http://www.hedbergpubliclibrary.org A Brief History of Hedberg Public Library]

Business and industry

Janesvilles largest employer is the Mercy Health System followed by the Janesville School District http://www.rockcounty.org/demo/emppriv.htm WAGES] Other major employers include SSI Technologies, Bourns Automotive, and the hazardous materials equipment distributor Lab Safety Supply A Simmons Bedding Company factory and other manufacturing companies are also major employers. Janesville-based SwingnSlide, a maker of wood-and-plastic playground equipment, is a subsidiary of Playcore, Inc. Janesville is also the home of Hufcor (formerly Hough Shade Company), a manufacturer of room dividers that markets internationally; Gray's Brewing maker of boutique beers and soft drinks. Regional employers include Blain's Farm and Fleet a three-state retail chain with headquarters and a distribution center in Janesville; and Woodman's Food Market a regional supermarket chain, which built its first store in Janesville. On June 3, 2008, General Motors announced plans to close the Janesville Assembly plant as part of a significant restructuring effort.http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jr1xpHkrhMavw9nyii_2_5Ga0GAgD912TM300] lt;/ref> Begun in 1919, when GM bought the Janesville Machine Company and merged it with the Samson Tractor Company the Janesville plant was the oldest General Motors plant in North America. It assembled large trucks and sport utility vehicles,http://www.janesvillecvb.com/tourgm.asp Janesville Convention and Visitors Bureau | Tour Opportunities] which have declined in popularity as gasoline prices increased. The Janesville GM plant was closed in December 2008. Its last produced vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe sport utility vehicle, rolled off the assembly line on December 23, 2008. The Parker Pen Company was founded in Janesville; at one time its Main Street factory was the largest writing instrument plant in the world. The company later purchased Manpower, Inc. but eventually sold the pen business to Global Gillette and no longer operates in Janesville. It is now owned by the British company, Sanford. The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company was founded in Janesville in 1857 but moved to Milwaukee two years later. The Janesville Mall redeveloped in the late 1990s, and in 1998 Pine Tree Plaza opened. In November 2006, a Super Wal-Mart and a Sam's Club opened after a period of controversy. The site of the former Janesville Oasis, known for Bessie, a large fiberglass cow at its entrance, began redevelopment in 2007; the anchor tenant is a Menards Bessie the cow was spared by popular demand.lt;/ref>lt;/ref>

Religion

There are four Roman Catholic parishes in Janesville, all part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison The oldest is http://www.stpats.org/ St. Patricks Parish], established in a log chapel in 1844 when there were only six Catholic families in Janesville. St. Patricks present church was built of cream colored brick in 1863 and is located at 315 Cherry Street. Located on a hill near the center of town, the architecturally prominent http://www.nativitymary.org/ Nativity of Mary Parish] (St. Marys) was organized in 1876 by German immigrants who wanted a parish of their own. The present red brick structure was completed in 1902. The remaining two Janesville parishes include http://www.sjv.org/ St. John Vianney Parish] located on East Racine Street and St. William Parish on the near west side. The city is also home to many other Christian churches including Lutheranism Methodism Episcopal Church in the United States of America Baptist and others. The Seventh Day Baptist General Conference has its offices in Janesville; the denominations nearest church is in Milton, Wisconsin All Saints Anglican Catholic Church lt;ref>http://anglicancatholic.kk5.org All Saints Anglican Catholic Church], a part of the continuing Anglican movement, is located in a historic church near downtown that was built by German Lutherans in the 1880s. There are three cemeteries in Janesville: Oak Hill, a Protestant cemetery, Mount Olivet Cemetery (Janesville) a Roman Catholic cemetery, and Milton Lawns, a non-demominational cemetery. The Gideon Bible organization was founded at the Janesville YMCA in 1899 by Janesville resident John H. Nicholson and a Beloit, Wisconsin man after they had shared a Boscobel, Wisconsin hotel room.http://www.gideons.org/Tgi.web/TGI.Web.PublicWebSite/pages/history.aspx The Gideons International] In 1994, a white buffalo dubbed Miraclewas born at the Heider family farm just outside Janesville. Miracle lived until 2004. She was frequently visited by Native Americans in the United States ceremonial groups because of sacred symbolism of white buffaloes in many Native American religion . Another unrelated white buffalo, named Miracles Second Chance, was born at the same farm in 2006, but died in a lightning strike later that year.

Sports

In fall 2009, Janesville became home to the Janesville Jets an expansion team in the North American Hockey League with games played at the Janesville Ice Arena The Janesville Cubs a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Chicago Cubs was based in Janesville from 1941 to 1942 and 1946 to 1953. They were called the Bears in 1946.

Notable natives and residents

* Dr. David Adamany president of Temple University 2000-2006 * William A. Barstow Governor of Wisconsin Union Army general * Mistie Bass (Mistie Willliams), Women's National Basketball Association player * Leslie Allen Bellrichard Medal of Honor recipient, Vietnamhttp://museum.dva.state.wi.us/Res_honorrecipients_List.asp * Redwald Bleasdale Distinguished Service Cross (United States) recipienthttp://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid10746 * Victor Bleasdale Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross (United States) recipienthttp://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid8576 * James Budd California governor, 1895–1899 * Stephen Bolles United States House of Representatives 1939–1941 * Frank Matteson Bostwick U.S. Navy Commodore * Milton Robert Carr congressman from Michigan 1975-1981, 1983–1995 * John B. Cassoday Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court * John Henry Comstock entomologist * Harmon Sweatland Conger U.S. Representative from New York lt;ref>http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?indexC000676 * James E. Croft Medal of Honor recipient, Civil War * Timothy Cullen (Wisconsin politician) majority leader of the Wisconsin Senate from 1981 to 1987http://www.wispolitics.com/index.Iml?Article143362 Common Cause in Wisconsin: Tim Cullen to join CC/WI state governing board] * Tim Davis (musician) (1943–1988), drummer, singer, songwriter, recording artist, and co-founder of The Steve Miller Band * Gerald L. Endl Medal of Honor recipient, WWIIhttp://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-a-f.html Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (A-F)] * Russ Feingold United States Senate 1993–present * Clayton Fisher Navy Cross recipienthttp://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid19970 * Jim Fitzgerald former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors * Stan Fox race car driver, eight-time starter at the Indianapolis 500 * Tucker Fredricks 2006, 2010 Olympic speedskater * Theodore W. Goldin Medal of Honor recipient, Indian Wars * Lavinia Goodell first woman licensed to practice law in Wisconsin * William Goodell abolitionist * Gilbert N. Haugen U.S. Representative from Iowa * Ken Hendricks Forbes 400 businessman (roofinWikipedia:WikiProject Cities/Guidelineg supplies) * Larry Hough Olympic Games medalist * Lawrence A. Hough president of SLM Corporation 1990-1997lt;/ref> * Carrie Jacobs Bond songwriter born in Janesville in 1862 * John Johnson (Union Army) Medal of Honor recipient, Civil War * Tad Kubler guitarist for The Hold Steady lt;ref>http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/interview/the-hold-steady.htm Stylus Interview] * Travis Kvapil NASCAR driver * Walter Lees (aviator) early aviator * Don Lathrop Love mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska * David W. Márquez Alaska attorney general * Max Maxfield Wyoming Secretary of State (2007-) * Kerwin Mathews actor * John E. McCoy U.S. Air National Guard general * John Morrissey (baseball) professional baseball player * Tom Morrissey (baseball) professional baseball player * George Safford Parker founder of the Parker Pen Company * James Pond (Medal of Honor) Medal of Honor recipient, Civil War * Manilla Powers singer, Vaudeville performer, musical theater comedian * Steve Preston United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2008–2009) * Joe Riggert MLB player * Thomas H. Ruger American Civil War general and military governor of Georgia * Paul Ryan (politician) United States House of Representatives 1999–present * Terry Ryan (baseball) former Minnesota Twins general manager, currently senior advisor to the general manager * Michael J. Sheridan speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly * Ithamar C. Sloan United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin * Bob Strampe MLB player * Sarah Turner (journalist) journalist * Tom Welling actor, Smallville (TV series) (lived in Janesville briefly during childhood) * John Meek Whitehead Wisconsin State Senate * Ella Wheeler Wilcox poet * Frances Willard (suffragist) educator and activist (raised and first taught here) * Charles G. Williams U.S. Representative * Daniel Hale Williams African-American surgeon and pericardium pioneer, raised and first employed here * Claron A. Windus Medal of Honor recipient, Indian Wars http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/indianwars.html Medal of Honor Recipients - Indian Wars Period]

See also

* Joseph A. Craig High School * George S. Parker High School * Oakhill Christian School

References

External links

* http://www.janesvillecvb.com/ Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau] * http://www.ci.janesville.wi.us/ City of Janesville] * http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.JanesvillesPast Janesvilles Past]: A digital resource of Hedberg Public Library and the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center * http://www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org Rotary Gardens] * http://www.rootsweb.com/~wircgs/index.html Rock County Genealogical Society] * http://www.rchs.us/ Rock County Historical Society] * http://www.forwardjanesville.com/ Forward Janesville] Category:Cities in Wisconsin Category:Rock County, Wisconsin Category:Janesville, Wisconsin Category:County seats in Wisconsin Category:Populated places established in 1835 de:Janesville (Wisconsin) fr:Janesville (Wisconsin) ht:Janesville, Wisconsin nl:Janesville (Wisconsin) ja:ジェーンズビル (ウィスコンシン州) pl:Janesville (Wisconsin) pt:Janesville (Wisconsin) simple:Janesville, Wisconsin sv:Janesville, Wisconsin vi:Janesville, Wisconsin vo:Janesville (Wisconsin)