Map of Laona CDP

Laona is an unincorporated census-designated place in the town of Laona in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States. U.S. Route 8 travels east–west through the community and Wisconsin Highway 32 travels south and west of the community. The community park has a sign stating that the community donated the 1979 Christmas tree at the nation’s capitol. As of the 2010 census, its population is 583.

Laona CDP overview:
Name:	Laona CDP
LSAD Code:	57
LSAD Description:	CDP (suffix)
State:	Wisconsin
County:	Forest County
Elevation:	1,572 ft (479 m)
Total Area:	1.948 sq mi (5.05 km²)
Land Area:	1.948 sq mi (5.05 km²)
Water Area:	0 sq mi (0 km²)
Total Population:	583
Population Density:	300/sq mi (120/km²)
Area code:	715 & 534
FIPS code:	5542475
GNISfeature ID:	1583528

Online Interactive Map

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Laona online map. Source: Basemap layers from Google Map, Open Street Map (OSM), Arcgisonline, Wmflabs. Boundary Data from Database of Global Administrative Areas.

Laona location map. Where is Laona CDP?

Laona location on the U.S. Map. Where is Laona CDP. — Laona location on the U.S. Map.

Laona location on the Wisconsin map. Where is Laona CDP. — Location of Laona in Wisconsin.

History

The town was established in 1903, although settlement had begun in 1896 by William D. Connor, a lumberman and President of his R. Connor Lumber and Land Company. The community was named for the daughter of Norman Johnson, an early resident; the first child born to a settler.

In 1896, W.D. Connor backpacked sixty miles from Gillett, Wisconsin to explore the region along a proposed Chicago and North Western Railway route. Living off the abundant fish and game, he found several potential sites for mills and towns. The first was to become Wabeno, Wisconsin the second was to become Laona. Connor ultimately purchased over 100,000 acres (400 km) surrounding Laona.

The Laona area was a Potowatomi and Chippewa domicile. It was the location of early summer annual porcupine hunts, attracting Indians from all over Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan for days of killing and cooking porcupines and nights of feasting and dancing. There were also annual fall wild rice harvest festivals. Along what is now Laona’s central street had been a long brush fence with spaced intervals. This was a deer hunting range, behind which Indians had lain in wait with bows, awaiting deer drives.

A classic company town, Laona’s mill, bank, hospital, store, school, library, and housing were all built by the Connor company. The town’s economy revolved around the company’s lumber mill. During business downturns of the 19th and early 20th century, “company scrip” or privately issued company money was issued and used as currency in the town.

Laona remains a foundation of Wisconsin’s lumber history. The private forestland surrounding the town has been selectively managed for the past 100 years and the forest is an example of sustainable management.