Plover

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Plover had a population of 13,519. The median age was 38.2. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.5 males age 18 and over.

97.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 5,717 households in Plover, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.5% were married-couple households, 17.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 5,936 housing units, of which 3.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.6%.

History

Early settlement and portage

The area was originally recognized as "Plover Portage," a name derived from the portage between the lower and upper Wisconsin River. In 1825, a treaty established the site as a boundary between the Chippewa and Winnebago tribes. In 1844, the site was selected as the first county seat of Portage County, with the village officially platted in 1845.

Incorporation and seat removal

Plover was incorporated as a village on March 6, 1857. However, after a heated legislative battle in 1868, the county seat was moved to Stevens Point. The loss of its administrative status led to the village's dissolution in 1870. The village underwent two further cycles of incorporation and dissolution in 1912 and 1931, primarily due to financial instability during the Great Depression. Its fourth and current incorporation was finalized on September 28, 1971. Since the 1970s, the village has expanded its land area significantly through nearly annual annexations of the surrounding Town of Plover.

Geography and recreation

Plover is a gateway to one of the Midwest's most interconnected trail networks and diverse aquatic ecosystems.

Waterways

The Wisconsin River, forming the western boundary, is accessed via Galecke County Park for powerboating and fishing for walleye and bass. The Little Plover River is a premier destination for fly-fishing. At the village center, Lake Pacawa offers a 36-acre man-made recreational space featuring the Wisconsin Korean War Veterans Memorial.