Arbor Vitae, WI

Nestled deep in the Northwoods, surrounded by lakes, Arbor Vitae is a popular vacation destination for visitors seeking four seasons of fun and adventure. The town has a rich logging history dating back to the early 1800s. More than 80% of the land area in and around Arbor Vitae is state-owned and resources are strictly managed. Controlled logging still occurs today. More than 150 years of logging have left many excellent trails for hiking, biking, atving, snowmobiling, and exploring in the Arbor Vitae area.

Don’t Miss the Annual Arbor Vitae Fireman’s Picnic every year in August!

History

As one of the older towns in Vilas County, Arbor Vitae was established in the 1890s, shortly after Vilas became a county in 1893. Arbor Vitae has approximately 3,300 year-round residents, which jumps to many more during the summer months. Consisting of approximately 61.5 square miles, Arbor Vitae is part of the Lakeland area, which is considered to have one of the largest concentrations of freshwater bodies in the world.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 71.3 square miles (184.6 km2), of which, 62.6 square miles (162.1 km2) of it is land and 8.7 square miles (22.5 km2) of it (12.19%) is water.

Population

The population in Arbor Vitae is 3,453. There are 56 people per square mile aka population density. The median age in Arbor Vitae is 50.7, the US median age is 37.4. The number of people per household in Arbor Vitae is 2.0, the US average of people per household is 2.6.

Family in Arbor Vitae

  • 58.9% are married
  • 10.1% are divorced
  • 24.1% are married with children
  • 7.4% have children, but are single

Race in Arbor Vitae

  • 86.7% are white
  • 0.0% are black
  • 0.0% are Asian
  • 0.8% are native American
  • 0.9% claim Other
  • 1.4% claim Hispanic Ethnicity
  • 10.3% Two or More Races
  • 0.0% Hawaiian, Pacific Islander

Transportation

The typical American commute has been getting longer each year since 2010. The average one-way commute in Arbor Vitae takes 19.5 minutes. That’s shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.

How people in Arbor Vitae get to work:

  • 83.2% drive their own car alone
  • 6.4% carpool with others
  • 3.1% work from home
  • 0.0% take mass transit

Airport

Arbor Vitae is served by the Lakeland Airport/Noble F. Lee Memorial Field (KARV). Located one mile west of the town, the airport handles approximately 27,000 operations per year, with roughly 88% general aviation and 12% air taxi. The airport has a 5,150 foot asphalt runway with approved LOC and GPS approaches (Runway 18-36) and a 3,602 foot asphalt crosswind runway with approved GPS and NDB approaches (Runway 10-28).

Schools

Public elementary/middle school in Arbor Vitae: 

ARBOR VITAE-WOODRUFF ELEMENTARY (Students: 525, Location: 11065 OLD HIGHWAY 51 N, Grades: PK-8)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Arbor Vitae: 

  • Northcentral Technical College (about 66 miles; Wausau, WI; Full-time enrollment: 3,356) 
  • University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (about 98 miles; Stevens Point, WI; FT enrollment: 9,089)
  • Michigan Technological University (about 99 miles; Houghton, MI; FT enrollment: 6,078) 
  • Mid-State Technical College (about 108 miles; Wisconsin Rapids, WI; FT enrollment: 2,128) 
  • Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (about 108 miles; Shell Lake, WI; FT enrollment: 2,414)
  • Northern Michigan University (about 118 miles; Marquette, MI; FT enrollment: 8,258) 
  • University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (about 119 miles; Eau Claire, WI; FT enrollment: 10,143)

Healthcare

Hospitals and medical centers in Arbor Vitae: 

  • DR KATE HOSPICE (1571 HIGHWAY 51 N STE C)

Other hospitals and medical centers near Arbor Vitae: 

  • DAVITA – NORTHERN STAR DIALYSIS (Dialysis Facility, about 2 miles away; WOODRUFF, WI) 
  • AVANTI HEALTH AND REHABILITATION CENTER, LLC (Nursing Home, about 5 miles away; MINOCQUA, WI) 
  • DR KATE’S WOODLAND MANOR (Nursing Home, about 5 miles away; WOODRUFF, WI)

Outdoor Points of Interest

Arbor Vitae Bike Trails. The Arbor Vitae Bike Trail Foundation is working to add 8.5 miles of trail linking to the popular 52 mile paved Heart of Vilas County Trail System.

Bittersweet Natural Area. For the adventurer also seeking serenity, the Bittersweet Lakes Natural Area has primitive campsites and no motors allowed on any of the four lakes.

Great Lakes or Chains

For fisherman who want more of a wilderness setting without having to spend two days driving there, Big and Little Arbor Vitae Lakes are perfect. Both lakes are drainage lakes and offer a quality fishery for a wide variety of fish but are still within a relatively short distance of Minocqua.

The musky fishing on the lakes couldn’t be better with a fair number of fish in the mid-thirties to low fourties being caught. Both lakes have a good possibility of giving up a fifty-inch fish. If this is the first-time fishing musky, then Little Arbor Vitae is a good lake to increase the chances of putting a fish in the boat.

Aside from musky, both lakes have very good walleye populations that allow for a few fish over then 25 inches to be caught. For fisherman who are into panfish these lakes also offer a great fishery for quality sized perch, crappie and bluegill.

On both lakes there is some boat traffic from water skiers but most of these water skiers stay away from a majority of the good fishing areas.

 

Big Arbor Vitae Lake. Big Arbor Vitae Lake is a 1070 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 41 feet. Popular for fishing, boating and swimming at Big Arbor Vitae Beach. Includes a Picnic area and is Pet Friendly. The lake’s water clarity is low.

Little Arbor Vitae Lake. Little Arbor Vitae Lake is a 480 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 32 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass and Walleye. The lake’s water clarity is low.

Little Spider Lake. Little Spider Lake is a 223 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 23 feet. Fish include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Walleye. The lake’s water is moderately clear.

Towanda Lake. Towanda Lake is a 139 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 27 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye. The lake’s water is moderately clear.

Brandy Lake. Brandy Lake is a 113 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 44 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye.

Bittersweet Lake. Bittersweet Lake is a 104 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 31 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Panfish, Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike.

Arrowhead Lake. Arrowhead Lake is a 96 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 43 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye.

Little Muskie Lake. Little Muskie Lake is a 79 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 16 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Panfish, Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike.

Art Centers, Community Centers, and ETC

Town Office

10675 Big Arbor Vitae Drive

Arbor Vitae, WI 54568

(715) 356-3120

The Arbor Vitae Town Hall is located at 10675 Big Arbor Vitae Drive in Arbor Vitae. The town hall houses the town offices and meeting rooms. The fire department is located across the street at 10672 Big Arbor Vitae Drive. Arbor Vitae is serviced by the Vilas County Sheriff’s Department

Average Home Price Sold

2018 Ave Price Sold: $218,793.71

2021 Ave Price Sold: $279,802.38

2023 Ave Price Sold: $321,266.60

To find out more about Vilas county and all the wonderful things that the Northwoods has to offer click here.