Junction City

History

In 1872 the Wisconsin Central Railroad laid rail west from Stevens Point through forests and swamps, heading toward what would become Marshfield, aiming to eventually reach Lake Superior. In 1874 the Wisconsin Valley Railroad built a rail line north from Centralia (Wisconsin Rapids) to Wausau, crossing the Wisconsin Central. At the intersection of the two lines, cars could be switched and a community began to grow. In 1874 a post office was established there, with the name Junction. One of the sawmills may have operated a company store too. The hotel was called the Junction City Hotel & Billiard Hall. By this time the junction also had several stores. Fires had damaged and destroyed a number of enterprises over the years. Up to 1923 these fires were fought by informal bucket brigades, at best. In that year a volunteer fire department was formed, equipped with a cart pulled by hand and chemical pressure tanks. and trucks and autos were replacing train travel. The village had added several general stores, filling stations and garages, and a weekly newspaper called the Community Press.

Geography

Junction City is located at (44.591291, -89.764435). According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  9,899
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,182
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,858
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  7,684
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,654
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  7,584
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  7,150
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,003