City in Oneida County
Rhinelander
- Population
- 8,285
- County
- Oneida County
- Location
- 45.636, -89.426
Rhinelander is an incorporated city and the county seat of Oneida County in Wisconsin's Northwoods, with a 2020 Census population of 8,285 across about 8.42 square miles of land. It runs a mayor-council government (part-time Mayor Kristopher Hanus, an eight-member Common Council, City Administrator Patrick Reagan, and City Clerk Austyn Zarda) and anchors a regional economy built on specialty paper and packaging manufacturing, healthcare, county government, and Northwoods tourism. Rhinelander is best known as the home of the folkloric Hodag, hosts the Hodag Country Festival each July, and serves as the area's transportation hub via U.S. Route 8 and the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport, the only commercial airport in the immediate Northwoods. Key anchors include Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital, the School District of Rhinelander, the Rhinelander District Library, and the Northwoods River News as the county's paper of record.
The record
6,599 records name Rhinelander
- 3,730 news
- 2,805 obituaries
- 54 government
- 10 opinion
- Powers Bluff County Park has new history signs installed on older portion News October 5, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Antigo holds first-ever Vintage Day to raise money for youth sports News October 5, 2026 via wjfw.com
- While fall colors attract tourists, musky fishermen swarm local lakes for prime season fishing News October 5, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Death investigation underway after man found dead in Price County News October 5, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Wisconsin League of Women Voters to hold constitutional amendment education event in Rhinelander News October 5, 2026 via wxpr.org
- Octobers with the most precipitation in Wisconsin since 1895 News October 5, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Wisconsin-based suppliers benefit from data center boom News October 5, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Historic ski jump in Ironwood, Michigan, undergoes renovation to host international tournaments News October 5, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Cross country: Tomahawk races in Athens, holds annual Homecoming relay News October 5, 2026 via tomahawkleader.com paywalled
- Formerly incarcerated men reach out to change lives inside prison News October 5, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Snider, Ferg author top-15 finishes at Athens Invitational News October 4, 2026 via antigojournal.com paywalled
- FRIDAY NIGHT BLITZ: Week 7 recap News October 3, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Medford Area Elementary celebrates May Prodigy National Cup win with students News October 2, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Walleye hatchery pond liners blamed for skewed sex ratio News October 2, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Milwaukee County votes to remove Flock cameras from parks News October 2, 2026 via wjfw.com
- 9 wolves euthanized in Price County due to safety concerns, DNR confirms News October 2, 2026 via wjfw.com
- ZONE COVERAGE: Week 7 Blitz Scoreboard News October 2, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Langlade County Sheriff's Office seeks public help to find missing woman, 36, last seen in Elcho News October 2, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Wisconsin governor candidates have divergent plans for state's energy policy News October 2, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Wisconsin test scores show less than half of students reading at grade level News October 2, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Y-Watch 10-2-26 News October 2, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Red Robins hope to take Lumberjacks to the woodshed News October 2, 2026 via antigojournal.com paywalled
- Ogema man arrested for attempted murder News October 2, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- James A. Polinski News October 2, 2026 via rivernewsonline.com paywalled
- Report: Rhinelander Flowage ranked No. 2 in the country for fall foliage boating News October 2, 2026 via rivernewsonline.com paywalled
- ‘Rocktober’ events and more for kids in October at Rhinelander District Library News October 2, 2026 via rivernewsonline.com paywalled
- Medical Matters: Breast cancer survivor shares journey, advocates for awareness and early detection News October 1, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Merrill domestic violence agency raises awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. News October 1, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Wisconsin Elections Commission meets ahead of midterms News October 1, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Two teens arrested after displaying gun near Wausau middle school News October 1, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Group calls for audit of UW-Madison BadgersVote registration efforts News October 1, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Health and safety vending machine installed at Oneida County Health Department News October 1, 2026 via wjfw.com
- New Raising Cane's opens Monday in Rib Mountain with double drive-thru News October 1, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Rhinelander swim team hosts 6 team invite, winning 4 events and 3 relays - Northwoods Star Journal News October 1, 2026 via starjournalnow.com
- Poll: Wisconsin voters believe Flock cameras are invasion of privacy News October 1, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Hottest Octobers in Wisconsin since 1895 News October 1, 2026 via wjfw.com
- JV football: Tomahawk takes down Lakeland, falls to Rhinelander News October 1, 2026 via tomahawkleader.com paywalled
- Ridglan defendants, DA lay out their legal strategies News October 1, 2026 via wjfw.com
- Court filing: Police chief gave PFC verbal recommendation on captain promotion - Northwoods Star Journal News October 1, 2026 via starjournalnow.com
- Cranberry harvest season celebration with Lake Nokomis Cranberries begins today 10-1-26 News October 1, 2026 via wjfw.com
Showing the 40 most recent of 6,599. Every one is held, cited, and searchable in the archive.
What the records show
34 of 48 independently verified
Authoritative data
- Population: 8285 (2020 census), 8252 (latest official estimate) via doa.wi.gov
- Area: 8.419 sq mi land, 0.253 sq mi water, at 45.636129, -89.425517 via www2.census.gov
- Oneida County holds 441 named lakes and flowages via prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com
- Named lakes nearest this town: Boom Lake, Hanson Lake, Boom Lake, Lake Julia, Timber Lake, Twin Lakes, Bass Lake, Townline Lake, Langley Lake, Hess Lake, Davis Lake, Faust Lake, Vicks Lake, Landberg Lake and 5 more via prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com
Overview
- Name: City of Rhinelander via rhinelanderwi.us
- Type: city secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- County: Oneida County (county seat) via oneidacountywi.gov
- Coordinates: 45.63944 N, 89.41222 W secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Land area: 8.42 secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Elevation: 1549 unverified via en.wikipedia.org We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
Population and demographics
- 2020 census: 8285 via data.census.gov
- Acs estimate: 8316 unverified via censusreporter.org We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
- Median income: 51421 unverified via censusreporter.org We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
- Per capita income: 29065 unverified via censusreporter.org We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
- Median age: 38.2 unverified via censusreporter.org We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
- Seasonal swing: large seasonal influx (not quantified) unverified via rhinelanderchamber.com We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
Government and civic
- Form: mayor-council (part-time mayor + 8-member council) via rhinelanderwi.us
- Mayor: Kristopher Hanus secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Administrator: Patrick Reagan via rhinelanderwi.us
- Clerk: Austyn Zarda via rhinelanderwi.us
- Meeting schedule: 2nd & 4th Monday monthly, 6pm, City Hall via rhinelanderwi.us
- Site: rhinelanderwi.us; 135 S Stevens St via rhinelanderwi.us
- Notices: posted on rhinelanderwi.us (City Clerk agendas) via rhinelanderwi.us
Schools
- District: School District of Rhinelander via rhinelander.k12.wi.us
- Enrollment: 2300 via rhinelander.k12.wi.us
- Schools: 6 schools + outdoor classroom via rhinelander.k12.wi.us
- Site: rhinelander.k12.wi.us via rhinelander.k12.wi.us
Economy and employers
- Employer hospital: Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital via locations.aspirus.org
- Tourism: tourism a core economic pillar via rhinelanderchamber.com
- Industry: manufacturing + healthcare + government + tourism unverified via en.wikipedia.org We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
- Employer paper: Ahlstrom (Rhinelander paper mill) unverified via en.wikipedia.org We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
- Employer printpack: Printpack unverified via en.wikipedia.org We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
- Employer county: Oneida County government unverified via oneidacountywi.gov We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
Institutions and anchors
- Hospital: Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital via locations.aspirus.org
- Library: Rhinelander District Library via rhinelanderlibrary.org
Business and commerce
- Chamber: Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce via rhinelanderchamber.com
- Downtown identity: Hodag (city symbol) via rhinelanderchamber.com
Media
- Paper of record: Northwoods River News via rivernewsonline.com
- Tv: WJFW-TV (Newswatch 12) unverified via en.wikipedia.org We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
Recreation and natural assets
- Hodag: Hodag via rhinelanderchamber.com
- Water: Wisconsin River, Boom Lake, Pelican River secondary source via explorerhinelander.com Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Forest trails: Oneida County Forest; Bearskin State Trail nearby unverified via explorerhinelander.com We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
Events and seasonal rhythm
- Hodag country fest: Hodag Country Festival (July) via hodag.com
- Other: Oktoberfest; Hodag Heritage Festival secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
Infrastructure and access
- Highways: US 8; WI 17, 47 secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Airport: Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport (KRHI) secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Hub role: Rhinelander is the hub; Minocqua ~25-30 mi NW unverified via en.wikipedia.org We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
- Broadband: broadband present (unquantified) unverified via en.wikipedia.org We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
Local government
In memory, from Rhinelander
Every figure here traces to a primary public record, linked at the fact. We gather and cite; we do not author. See something off? Tell us.