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History · Auburndale

Auburndale dates to 1872, and 34% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1954 on and the census since 1890.

1872founded
0on the National Register
34%homes built before 1940
2famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Auburndale began

When was Auburndale founded?

1872

Auburndale dates its founding to 1872 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1890.

First census: 253 in 18902020 census: 790154 years
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year.The full story ↓

What stands out about Auburndale’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Auburndale are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Auburndale’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Auburndale’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story

How Auburndale came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Auburndale.

Read it all →

Auburndale was established in 1872 by John Connor and his brother Robert Connor, father of William D. Connor, the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, and named after the auburn hair of the Connor children. Another tradition maintains the name is a transfer from Auburndale, Massachusetts.

Auburndale's WLBL (AM) is one of the oldest radio stations in the United States (1923). It was the second station in the Wisconsin Public Radio Network, relaying programs of WHA (AM) Madison for northern Wisconsin listeners. They are still the only two AM stations on the network.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Auburndale, 1872 to 1986

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1872
    FoundingAuburndale is established
  3. 20th century
  4. 1952Born hereDon Vruwink is born here
  5. 1954On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  6. 1986Born hereJordan Zimmermann is born here
By decade

Auburndale, decade by decade

Today6 recent
Farms near Marshfield2012Farms near MarshfieldCN railroad Tracks2012CN railroad TracksAuburndale Wisconsin Sign Looking East US102012Auburndale Wisconsin Sign Looking East US10Auburndale Wisconsin Looking West US102012Auburndale Wisconsin Looking West US10Auburndale Wisconsin Looking East US102012Auburndale Wisconsin Looking East US10Auburndale Wisconsin Elementary School2012Auburndale Wisconsin Elementary School
On the map

Auburndale on the map, 1954 to 1979

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Auburndale. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Auburndale on the 1954 USGS mapAuburndale on the 1979 USGS map1954Marshfield sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Auburndale.

People over time

Auburndale, census by census

02004006008001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 738

Between 241 and 738 people in every census since 1890.

14 censuses, 1890–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Auburndale’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

2 famous people were born in Auburndale

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Jordan ZimmermannAmerican baseball pitcher · b. 1986
D
Don VruwinkAmerican educator and politician · b. 1952
Places that used to be

Places now gone and burying grounds

Gone or out of use
Hillside SchoolschoolPleasant Hill SchoolschoolWhite Oak Schoolschool
3cemeteries and burying grounds inside Auburndale
AuburndaleNorth AuburndaleSlidre

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

DayIts storyB−MarshfieldIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townArpinIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townMilladoreIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Auburndale’s history

What year was Auburndale founded?

In 1872, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1890 counted 253 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.