Crescent, WI

History

The Town of Crescent had its origins as a farming community at the end of the 19th century. Most of the agricultural land was concentrated in the area south of Crescent and Emma Lakes. According to a 1898 school census there were eighteen families with school-age children in the town, served by five one-room schools. In 1921-23 two brick, two-room schools that still exist, but are now private property, replaced these facilities. The Crescent School located on Boyce Drive was built in 1961. 

Until the Hat Rapids Dam and power plant was built in 1904 the only access that residents had to Rhinelander was by following a narrow footpath along the Wisconsin River. A trellis bridge was constructed as part of the dam project that gave Crescent residents access to the road into the city. In the early days a twice-weekly barge hauled supplies from Rhinelander to the Hat Rapids area.

The Crescent Women’s Club was founded in 1914 and has over the years performed a number of civic and charitable activities, but is no longer active. The Crescent Town Hall was built in 1925 on Hat Rapids Road. It was moved to its current location in 1979. The Crescent Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1971 to respond to population growth in the town. Among the early supporters of the department was the Crescent Lake Association, which is open to both permanent and seasonal residents. The Association has been an influential organization within the town.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.7 square miles (84.7 km2), of which, 29.3 square miles (76.0 km2) of it is land and 3.4 square miles (8.7 km2) of it (10.30%) is water.

Population

The population in Crescent is 2,005. There are 70 people per square mile aka population density. The median age in Crescent is 49.5, the US median age is 37.4. The number of people per household in Crescent is 2.6, the US average of people per household is 2.6.

Family in Crescent

• 60.4% are married
• 9.2% are divorced
• 23.3% are married with children
• 0.5% have children, but are single

Race in Crescent

• 97.0% are white
• 0.1% are black
• 0.6% are asian
• 0.7% are native american
• 0.0% claim Other
• 0.0% claim Hispanic Ethnicity
• 1.6% Two or More Races
• 0.0% Hawaiian, Pacific Islander

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,875, and the median income for a family was $53,611. Males had a median income of $40,369 versus $24,934 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,697. About 2.1% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

The Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport (KRHI) serves Crescent, the county and surrounding communities with both scheduled commercial jet service and general aviation services.

The Oneida County Airport, is a commercial facility with regularly scheduled flights and air cargo services. Northwest Airlink provides daily service to Minneapolis/St Paul, and Midwest Airlines provides daily service to Milwaukee. Oneida County Airport is the largest airport serving Oneida and the surrounding counties, and a sizable portion of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The Town of Crescent’s principal arterials is US 8 and STH 17 is a minor arterial. County Highway K and the Crescent Road, Fire Tower Road, and Hat Rapids Road loop are major collectors, County Highway N and Wausau Road are minor collectors, and the remaining 30.62 miles of roads in the town are local.

Schools

Crescent School, part of the Rhinelander School District, is located in the town on Boyce Drive. There are four licensed day-care providers in the town including one at the Crescent School. Library services are available through the Rhinelander District Library, for which the town pays an annual fee.

 

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Crescent: 

• Northcentral Technical College (about 44 miles; Wausau, WI; Full-time enrollment: 3,356) 
• University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (about 75 miles; Stevens Point, WI; FT enrollment: 9,089) 
• Mid-State Technical College (about 85 miles; Wisconsin Rapids, WI; FT enrollment: 2,128) 
• Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (about 101 miles; Green Bay, WI; FT enrollment: 6,069) 
• Fox Valley Technical College (about 105 miles; Appleton, WI; FT enrollment: 5,682) 
• Saint Norbert College (about 106 miles; De Pere, WI; FT enrollment: 2,324) 
• University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (about 107 miles; Green Bay, WI; FT enrollment: 5,415)

Top Public Schools Serving Crescent

• Northwoods Community Elementary School
• Crescent Elementary School
• Rhinelander High School
• Central Elementary School
• James Williams Middle School

Healthcare

Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital, Marshfield Clinic in Minocqua and Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff are the nearest medical facilities.

Hospitals and medical centers near Crescent: 

• FRIENDLY VILLAGE (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; RHINELANDER, WI) 
• FRIENDLY VILLAGE NURSING AND REHAB CENTER (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; RHINELANDER, WI) 
• HORIZONS UNLIMITED (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; RHINELANDER, WI) 
• TAYLOR PARK NURSING AND REHAB CTR (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; RHINELANDER, WI) 
• MINISTRY HM CR HH RHINELANDER (Home Health Center, about 4 miles away; RHINELANDER, WI) 
• SACRED HEART, ST MARY’S INC HOSPICE (Hospital, about 5 miles away; RHINELANDER, WI) 
• DAVITA – PINE CREST DIALYSIS (Dialysis Facility, about 5 miles away; RHINELANDER, WI)

Outdoor Points of Interest

Northwood Golf Club. Northwood Golf Club is a beautiful 18-hole municipal golf course. We have a full clubhouse with a restaurant and bar, and we operate a busy summer schedule of public programming, like weekday and weekend golf leagues, junior events and teaching, and golf social events for friends and family. 

Townline County Park is located in the town on CTH K. This 21-acre park has a beach, boat launch ramp, restrooms and changing area, playground equipment, picnic area and grills, nature trails, and parking lots. 

There is a State-owned boat landing on Crescent Lake. The Town owns three boat landings on Lake Julia, Emma Lake and Squash Lake.

Nearest cities: 

• Rhinelander, WI (2.1 miles )
• Pelican, WI (2.5 miles )
• Woodboro, WI (2.5 miles )
• Pine Lake, WI (2.6 miles )

Great Lakes or Chains

Together the ponds, lakes, streams and wetlands total about 5,058 acres in the town or 22.7 percent of the total acres. The major water bodies are Crescent Lake, Emma Lake, Squash Lake, Lake Julia, the Wisconsin River and the Hat Rapids Flowage. There are numerous smaller lakes (over 20 named lakes) and streams, as well as extensive wetlands. Wetlands cover 2,883 acres in the town

Crescent Lake. Crescent Lake is a 616 acre lake located in Oneida 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, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye. The lake’s water is moderately clear.

Emma Lake. Emma Lake is a 227 acre lake located in Oneida County. It has a maximum depth of 17 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Walleye.

Squash Lake. Squash Lake is a 398 acre lake located in Oneida County. It has a maximum depth of 74 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout and Walleye. The lake’s water clarity is very clear.

Lake Julia. Lake Julia is a 241 acre lake located in Oneida County. It has a maximum depth of 19 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye. The lake’s water is moderately clear.

Art Centers, Community Centers, and ETC

Crescent Town Hall

3231 Golf Course Rd, Rhinelander, WI, 54529

Phone: 715-282-6543

The Crescent Town Hall can be rented by Crescent residents and non-residents. There are approximately 80 padded chairs, 50 folding chairs and 15 tables available for use with the hall. The hall is approximately 52 feet long and 25 feet wide. 

Average Home Price Sold

2018 Ave Price Sold: $243,545.24

2021 Ave Price Sold: $261,648.00

2023 Ave Price Sold: $363,900.00