Town in Vilas County
Town of Phelps
- Population
- 1,238
- County
- Vilas County
- Location
- 46.047, -89.067
The Town of Phelps is a civil town in northeastern Vilas County, Wisconsin, roughly 15 miles northeast of Eagle River in the Greater Northwoods. Chartered in 1905 and shaped first by the logging industry, it now identifies as a four-season Northwoods vacation destination (branded #PhelpsOnTheLake) built around 41 lakes and the surrounding Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, which covers about three-quarters of the township. Its 2020 census population was 1,238, with a Wisconsin DOA final estimate of 1,246 for 2025 and an older, retirement-heavy age profile (ACS median age near 61). Government runs through a five-member town board (Chairman Steve Doyen) with a Clerk/Treasurer, the town is reached by Wisconsin Highway 17, and its anchors include the Phelps School District, the Eleanor Ellis Public Library, and a volunteer EMS and fire department.
What the records show
- Population: 1238 (2020 census), 1246 (latest official estimate) via doa.wi.gov
- Area: 93.905 sq mi land, 14.516 sq mi water, at 46.047199, -89.067194 via www2.census.gov
- Vilas County holds 570 named lakes and flowages via prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com
- Named lakes nearest this town: Stub Walsh Lake, Noseeum Lake, Ellen Lake, Camp One Lake, Muskeg Lake, Manuel Lake, Long Lake, Long and Big Sand Lakes 15, Baker Lake, Afterglow Lake, Camp Two Lake, Vista Lake, Goodall Lake, Catherine Lake and 23 more via prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com
- Name: Town of Phelps via phelpswi.gov
- County: Vilas County via phelpswi.gov
- Type: chartered 1905 via phelpswi.gov
- Land area: 92.4 via phelpswi.gov
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