Abrams, Wisconsin

Abrams is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,960 at the 2020 Census. The census-designated place of Abrams is located in the town. It is located near U.S. Route 41 and U.S. Route 141 8 miles (13 km) south-southeast of Oconto Falls. Abrams has a post office that has been operating since 1882^[3] with ZIP code 54101.^[4] As of the 2020 census, the census-designated place had a population of 358.^[5]

Abrams, Wisconsin
Town
Town Hall
Location of Abrams, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 44°48′27″N 88°4′20″W
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Oconto
Area
• Total	37.6 sq mi (97.3 km2)
• Land	37.5 sq mi (97.0 km2)
• Water	0.12 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation [1]	696 ft (212 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,960
• Density	47/sq mi (18.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	920
FIPS code	55-00175[2]
GNIS feature ID	1582651[1]
Website	http://www.townofabrams.com

History

Abrams was first settled in 1854 when Richard B. Yeaton built a sawmill on the Pensaukee River.^[6] A community formed and he called the place West Pensaukee. The town was planned to be named Pumpkin Pine. It was renamed Abrams in the 1880s after W. J. Abrams, a former state representative and former mayor of Green Bay. Abrams owned land where a railroad depot was built.^[6][7] The town of Abrams was platted and established in 1917.^[8] By the 1890s, there were nearly 30 homes, multiple hotels, 3 general stores, a train depot, and multiple sawmills. Most of the earliest white settlers were from New England. By 1910, a bank and telephone service was added to the town. Fires nearly destroyed the town twice, one being the Peshtigo Fire and the other being a fire in 1923. The mystery of a murder of a local tavern keeper still haunts the town as it has never been solved.^[9]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.6 square miles (97 km²), 37.5 square miles (97 km²) of which (99.71%) is land, and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of which (0.29%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2010	340		—
2020	358		5.3%
U.S. Census[2]

As of the census^[2] of 2020, there were 1,960 people. The racial makeup of the town was 95.8% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.3% other race, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

Notable people

• C. J. Greaves, professional American off-road racing driver, was born in the town
• Johnny Greaves, professional American off-road racing driver, was born in the town
• Pee Wee King, pioneer in the country and western music industry; wrote "Tennessee Waltz" and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1974
• Lyle Lahey, cartoonist
• Arthur J. Whitcomb, Wisconsin State Representative and lawyer, was born in the town^[10]
• Bob Wickman, Major League Baseball player, relief pitcher