Marathon County Forestry Department

About forestry service, 54454, Milladore, WI, US, Wisconsin

Wausau ( WAW-saw) is a city in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. Located along the Wisconsin River, it had a population of 39,994 at the 2020 census, while the Wausau metropolitan statistical area including all of Marathon County had a population of 138,000. The city's suburbs include Schofield, Weston, Mosinee, Maine, Rib Mountain, Kronenwetter, and Rothschild. Wausau was originally inhabited by various indigenous peoples, including the Ojibwe, and was settled by European immigrants in the mid-19th century. It developed as a lumbering center due to its access to abundant pine forests and river transport. Over time, the local economy diversified to include paper manufacturing, insurance, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. Cultural institutions such as the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and Grand Theater contribute to the city's arts scene, while popular recreational attractions include Granite Peak Ski Area, Rib Mountain State Park, and the Wisconsin River. == History == === Establishment and early history === This area has for millennia changed hands between various indigenous peoples. The Ojibwe (also known in the United States as the Chippewa) occupied it in the period of European encounter. They had a lucrative fur trade for decades with French colonists and French Canadians.