Main Street 1919

Hayward's founder, Anthony Judson Hayward, visited the area in the 1870's and saw that this area would be a prime location for a lumber mill. Hayward could see that there was a very large supply of pine. The location on the Namekagon River would be a perfect location for a wood pond for timber storage. The pond could easily be created because of the natural construction on the Namekagon River and the extra high riverbanks, which already existed. Another benefit was the fact that the railroad was going to construct a line up the river valley to Ashland, therefore creating a way to transport the sawn lumber from the mill to the market. 

The railroad was later constructed during the summer of 1881, by the summer of 1882 power dams were constructed on the Namekagon River and on nearby streams. The dams powered a small lumber mill, which provided lumber to build the proposed large mill, the stores, boarding houses and several private residences. With about 200 men employed, it only took 1 year to construct the large mill. By June of 1883, the mill in the new village of Hayward was ready to saw the wood in the Namekagon River piney.

Several other developments occurred in 1883, which would affect Hayward. The 1st was the formation of Sawyer County, of which Hayward became the county seat. The 2nd was the construction of roads to other cities in order to obtain the trade of loggers who were cutting in other areas, thus creating other jobs besides logging.

The school bell 1st rang in Hayward in September of 1883. The first public school met in a multi-purpose building near the lumber mill. The first schoolhouse was constructed in 1884, but this building was to have a history filled with misfortune. In 1885, and again in 1923 this building burned down. But Hayward was fortunate to have constructed another school building to house the growing enrollment, once again misfortune, this building also caught fire and burned down on May 11, 1922. 

May 11, 1922 was an important date for Hayward and its economy, because on that day, the old mill also burned down. By that time, most of the pine lumber had been cut down and shipped away, only remnant pine was left. Large logging camps were almost non-existent by this time. Northern Wisconsin was being advertised in the larger cities in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois as a vacation area. Resorts were either already established or being built. Shops were catering to the visiting public. 

By May 11, 1922, Hayward was ready for a change. The result was a change from an economy based on logging, to an economy based on tourism.

Neighborhood Summary

Average Home Qualities

• Home Price: $225,490.67
• Age: 22 yrs.
• Sq/Ft: 1497 sq/ft
• Lot Size: 2.81 acres

Dominant Lifestyle Profiles
(A variety of factors make up the Lifestyle Profiles)
 
39.7% of residents in this area fit the following profile:

Demographic:

• Median age of the population is 39.5 years.
• Almost 45 percent of householders are over the age of 55 years.
• Predominantly couples.
• Many recently retired to the area.

Socioeconomic:

• Median household income is $27,800
• Over 40 percent of the households earn less than $25,000.
• The poverty rate is average.
• More than 20 percent receive retirement income; 35 percent, Social Security.
• Most of the employed population is employed part-time.

Residential:

• Most are single-family or mobile homes and are owner-occupied.
• Sixty percent of the housing is vacant for seasonal use.
• Average value is low for all owner-occupied units, but comparatively high for rural areas.

30.6% of residents in this area fit the following profile:

Demographic:

• Median age is 37.6 years.
• Half of the householders are over 55.
• Mostly couples with no children at home and singles are increasingly common.

Socioeconomic:

• Median household income is $24,900.
• Represents a 3.7 percent share of consumers.
• More than 40 percent of the households are receiving Social Security income.
• Two-thirds of the adults have completed high school.
• Wages and salaries are not the only source of income.
• 16 percent are self-employed -- in farming or other business.

Residential:

• Single-family houses account for almost 75 percent of the housing.
• Almost 70 percent of the homes are owner-occupied; more than 10 percent of the housing is vacant.
• Average home value is 60 percent lower than the national average.

12.04% of residents in this area fit the following profile:

Demographic:

• Median age is 35.6 years; slightly older with more householders aged 35-44 and fewer under 25 years.
• Seventy percent of households are couples, compared to 55 percent for the U.S. national average
• Family size is average, 3.1 persons per family.

Socioeconomic:

• Median household income is $33,300.
• Represents almost 8 percent of U.S. households and a market share of almost 7 percent.
• Almost 35 percent of households earn less than $25,000, but very few are below the poverty level.
• Unemployment, 5.2 percent, is below the national average.
• Most of the work force is employed in manufacturing or farming.
• Thirty percent commute to a different county or state to work.

Residential:

• Single-family and mobile homes predominate.
  More than 15 percent are mobile homes, which is twice the national average.
  Homes are owner-occupied and valued at 30 percent lower than the national average.
  Most homes were built after 1970.

Source: Realtor.com. School data provided by The School Report.  Lifestyle Profiles are supplied by ESRI Business Information Solutions, 800-292-2224.  It is not guaranteed and should be independently verified for accuracy.