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Wisconsin's Last Wilderness

Photo by Dawn Roper

Surrounded by state and federal forest, this Northwoods area is a splendid four season retreat destination.

Its shimmering glacier lakes, vast dense forest and abundance of wildlife is an oasis for sports, adventure or relaxation.

From golfing to resting on a beach, Presque Isle provides an array of awesome beauty to enhance any activity of preference.

Location

The land area of Presque Isle is 61.07 square miles in Vilas County. Latitude: 46.21 N, Longitude: 87.70 W. It is 121.5 miles S.E. of Duluth MN and 318.7 miles N.W. of Chicago, IL. The nearest city to Presque Isle with a population of 200,000+ is St. Paul, MN which is 186.7 miles S.W.

History

Presque Isle, which means 'Almost an Island' was a name given to this area by a french priest about 300 years ago. The era of logging brought development in the early 1900s. The Vilas County Lumber Company was built in 1905 by J.J. Foster and the community it supported was called Fosterville. In 1910 William S. Winegar bought the Foster mill and the town was renamed Winegar. By 1933 the logging industry was winding down and the mill was closed however the town remained and managed to grow. The old mill grounds were transformed into the world's largest walleye rearing ponds. The village name changed again in 1955 reflecting its natural composition as Presque Isle.

Elevation

1675 ft.

Population

535 (as of 2009)

Snowfall

The annual snowfall for the Presque Isle area will range from 79 to 143 inches.