Oneida County, Wisconsin offers a unique opportunity for people seeking to mix business with an enjoyable lifestyle.  The Oneida County Economic Development profile of the Oneida County business community demonstrates this natural opportunity In selecting a location for your business, a variety of factors must be investigated including:

• availability and cost of a qualified work force
• technical training
• surface and air transportation
• utility costs
• availability of buildings or sites
• taxes

The lifestyle, which your employees and perhaps you will enjoy, is critical to your decision as well.  You need to know the emphasis placed by the community on quality of life factors such as:

• quality education
• four-season recreation
• professional health care
• affordable housing

Oneida County can meet your demands in each of these areas.  This document offers you the current information you will need to make your location decision. Oneida County, located in the heart of Wisconsin’s Northwoods, had a 2000 population of 36,776.  The county covers 1,200 square miles with 74,415 acres of lakes and rivers, which is approximately 10% of the total area.  Three of Wisconsin’s largest lakes are found in Oneida County and there are four organized lake districts. Within Oneida County, we have in excess of 1,000 lakes.  There are 20 townships in the county; the City of Rhinelander is the sole incorporated municipality.  The City of Rhinelander has a mayor/council government.  Each of the 20 townships in Oneida County is supervised by the town board, while a 21-member board of supervisors oversees county government.

The major centers and their Estimated 2006 population figures are:

City of Rhinelander	8033
Town of Minocqua	5272
Town of Three Lakes	2405
Town of Woodruff	2115

Oneida County enjoyed a substaintial population increase in the last ten years and the growing trend is projected to continue.  Oneida County is the most densely populated county in Northeastern Wisconsin.  Rhinelander, the county seat of Oneida County, is the largest city in Northeastern Wisconsin.  Rhinelander is the economic and industrial hub serving not only Northeastern Wisconsin but also the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  The total year round population of our service area is estimated at 200,000.  At given times during the year, the population of the region is estimated to be in the vicinity of 750,000. In 2004, the median household income for Oneida County was estimated at $42,833 compared to $46,142 in the state of Wisconsin. Oneida County maintains a unique balance between recreation and manufacturing sectors. 

WORKFORCE
Oneida County offers your company a stable pool of educated and trained workers.  At present the civilian labor force is estimated at nearly 25,000.  Northern Advantage Job Center, located in Rhinelander, provides recruitment and prescreening services to area employers.  Jobnet, a self-service computerized database, maintains current information on job postings statewide and nationwide to provide wider exposure to jobs and job seekers. Labor costs for the county are most favorable to the employers.  Although unemployment rates average between 7 and 9% in the county, the local workforce has kept pace with growth in the industrial, commercial and retail business base.  The exceptional quality of life enjoyed in Oneida County continues to be a competitive advantage for our employers in recruiting qualified workers.

County   Commute	From Oneida County	Into Oneida County	Net
Lincoln	759	672	-87
Vilas	1,106	2,051	945
Forest	129	343	214
Marathon	243	98	-145
Langlade	103	220	117
Elsewhere	451	388	-63
Total	2,791	3,772	981
Work within Oneida County			1,4010
Source: WI DWD, Bureau of Workforce Information.

ONEIDA COUNTY COMMUTING PATTERNS

In Oneida County, 2,791 workers leave the area each day to work elsewhere.  About 1,100 make the trip to Vilas County.  By contrast, about 3,772 workers commute to work in Oneida County from neighboring counties, the largest number coming from Vilas County, which is contiguous with Oneida County.  Construction employment has seldom registered more than 800-900 total jobs in Oneida County.  One interesting thing about this area is the triangular relationship between Eagle River, Rhinelander and the Woodruff-Minocqua area (which includes Hazelhurst and environs).  This area constitutes a single labor force market, even though it crosses the county lines between Vilas and Oneida counties.  The heavy commuting between these two counties point this out.

When one looks at the industrial landscape of Oneida County, one of the most obvious features is the relatively small size of individual businesses.  The largest employers in the county have between 500 and 999 employees, with many of the top twenty list having between 100 and 249 workers.  Several of the larger employers are health care related, manufacturers, or are in the retail market, which has grown significantly in the last several years. Oneida County and adjacent areas of the state have always relied heavily on tourism.  It is certain, however, that the trade sector is particularly involved in the tourist business, along with elements of the service sector, especially the hotel/motel and resort business.  This explains the relative health of these industries in recent years, as tourism in the north has been generally healthy, with only occasional areas of weakness.

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SURFACE AND AIR TRANSPORTATION

An extensive network of highways and modern air service connect Oneida County with major metropolitan areas throughout the Great Lakes states.  The distance to Chicago is approximately 330 miles; to Minneapolis, 240 miles; to Madison, 200 miles; and to Milwaukee, approximately 240 miles. U.S. Highway 51 is a primary north-south artery, linking Oneida County to Interstates 90 and 94 in south-central Wisconsin.  U.S. 51 is a four-lane highway with controlled access to Merrill and two lanes of recent vintage throughout the county.  Provisions to extend the four-lane highway to Minocqua have been incorporated into the state Corridors 2020 highway improvement program. U.S. Highway 8 is the major east-west corridor through the county, providing access to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Minneapolis/St. Paul. U.S. Highway 45, traversing the eastern edge of the county, is a second north-south route between Wisconsin’s Fox River Valley and the Upper Peninsula.  Both highways are modern two lane structures.  State highways 70 and 47 provide further access routes.  The county maintains 165 miles of trunk roads.  All highways within the county carry an 80,000-pound load limit throughout the year.  Permits are offered for larger loads.

Fore Way Express provides overnight less-than-truckload motor freight service to major markets.  United Parcel Service and Federal Express each operate terminals and distribution centers in Rhinelander, and other express services are available.  Fed Ex and United Parcel Service all contract daily courier service at the Rhinelander/Oneida County Airport.  Wisconsin Central Ltd. Railroad operates on tracks running east to west through the southern and central portion of the county.  Piggyback service is available in Rhinelander.

The Rhinelander- Oneida County Airport is the largest airport serving Oneida County and the surrounding Northwoods, plus a sizeable portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  Northwest Airlink and Midwest Airlines provide daily schedules to link you to anywhere in the world. Rhinelander Flying Service, Inc. is a full service fixed base operator providing air charter, air ambulance, fuel, aircraft repair, flying lessons, aircraft rental, and scenic airplane rides.   

Lakeland Airport at Noble F. Lee Memorial Field in Arbor Vitae offers a 5150-foot and 3602 foot runway.  Aviation fuel and jet fuel are available, as well as aircraft maintenance and other services.

Three Lakes Municipal Airport offers a 3,400-foot turf runway.  The airport runway is lighted, but is closed in the winter.  The facility does not have fuel available.

UTILITIES

Wisconsin Public Service Corporation provides natural gas and electricity throughout the county.  Three-phase electric is available in each of the population centers and in many other locations in the county, generally along major transportation routes. Utility rates in Wisconsin are very competitive with surrounding areas.  Wisconsin Public Service rates can be found on the following links:

Wisconsin Electric Rates - http://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/business/wielecrate.asp
Wisconsin Gas Rates - http://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/news/sales.pdf

The Rhinelander Water Utility and sanitary districts in Minocqua/Woodruff and Three Lakes provide sanitary sewer and water service.  The capacity of the Rhinelander system and the current usage can be found on the following link: http://www.rhinelandercityhall.org/rates.cfm.

TAXES

The State of Wisconsin concentrates on reducing the cost of doing business while maintaining the high level of government services traditionally offered.  Wisconsin recognizes that worker’s compensation insurance premiums are a factor in attracting industry to the state and encouraging expansion. Among Midwestern states, Wisconsin rates remained very competitive. The total of State and County sales tax is 5.5%.  Manufacturing machinery and equipment are exempt from property tax in Wisconsin, as are manufacturers’ inventory, pollution control and computer equipment.  Professional state-trained assessors value all manufacturing property. Property taxes collected in 2006 were based on the following effective rates per thousand dollars of assessed value.  All property in Wisconsin is assessed at full value; property tax exemptions are prohibited by the state constitution.

2006 Property Tax Rates Per Thousand Dollars Assessed Value

Minocqua	13.77
Three Lakes	14.16
Woodruff	19.17
City of Rhinelander	18.65

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EDUCATION

Excellence in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education is a key to why Oneida County is such an enjoyable place to live. Elementary schools are modern structures and well distributed throughout the county.  Three parochial schools supplement the public school system. 

Three high schools, Rhinelander High School, Three Lakes High School, and Lakeland Union High School, serve students in the county.  Four National Merit scholar winners at Rhinelander High School and the statistics shown below indicate the emphasis placed on academic training.  Here too, modern facilities are a prerequisite as demonstrated by recently built Three Lakes High School.

Student scores on the American College Testing (ACT) standardized tests, taken each year by high school seniors, are a further measure of academic achievement.  The average ACT score of exams for the Rhinelander School District was 23.2 in 2006, compared to a State average of 22.2 and the national average of 21.1. Wisconsin’s seniors ranked second highest in the nation on the 2006 test.

For over thirty years, Nicolet Area Technical College’s mission has been to meet the higher educational needs of the citizens of our vast Northwoods area. To meet those needs Nicolet College offers a variety of instructional programs. One-year and two-year technical programs are available for people who want to acquire knowledge and skills required for employment. A two-year university transfer program is available for people who have their sights set on a degree from a four-year college or university. Tens of thousands of people have benefited from these programs and from the numerous auxiliary programs and services that the college provides.

Nicolet Area Technical College also provides specific programming for businesses through their Center for Business and Industry. Programs range from Business Communications, Small Business Solutions, to Manufacturing Strategies: Flow Manufacturing making Nicolet Area Technical College a full business partner.

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HEALTH CARE

The two general medical and surgical hospitals in Oneida County, St. Mary’s Hospital in Rhinelander and Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff provide professional health care to residents throughout the Northwoods region. Doctors at both of these hospitals have advanced diagnostic equipment at hand, while patients enjoy attractive facilities. Construction is underway for the new Aspirus Rhinelander Clinic, scheduled to open in 2008.

Peterson Health Care in Rhinelander and Howard Young’s Dr. Kate and Woodland Manor homes in Woodruff offers long-term nursing care.  Health care providers continually upgrade the services available to the growing population.  As an indication of their commitment to quality health care, Marshfield Clinic has constructed a 65,000 square foot clinic in Minocqua.  Specialists in oncology, cardiology and other areas serve the needs of the region. 

COMMUNICATION

Oneida County is served by the Rhinelander Daily News and bi-weekly Lakeland Times. The weekly Three Lakes News provides local coverage of the northeastern portion of the county.  Several shopper newspapers are available for home delivery and at newsstands. Two AM and two FM commercial stations cover the area, as well as a listener-sponsored FM station broadcasting NPR and Wisconsin Public Radio programs. The Rhinelander NBC affiliate television station broadcasts throughout the Northwoods and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with 316,000 watts and two translators. With studios in Rhinelander and a bureau in Wausau, WJFW provides complete local news coverage. 

Cable television systems in Rhinelander, Minocqua/Woodruff and Three Lakes carry major regional and national stations. Post offices in each population center are class one facilities.

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CLIMATE

The climate varies between long, relatively cold winters and warm summers.  The average annual rainfall is approximately 25 inches.  Snowfall during the winter averages 57 inches in the southern section of the county and about 65 inches in the north.

RECREATION

Oneida County is well known for its wide variety of recreational and cultural opportunities.  The Northern Highland American Legion State Forest covers 165,000 acres in Vilas and Oneida Counties.  There are over 30 miles of marked trails for hiking, 35 campgrounds and more than 100 canoe campsites. 

An additional 80,000 acres of county forest and seven recreation areas offer 245 miles of cross-country ski trails and over 343 miles of snowmobile trails.  For biking enthusiasts, the Bearskin State Park Trail is a scenic 18-mile tour running from Nokomis to Minocqua.

The Northeastern area of Wisconsin is an area with year-round recreational opportunities. Fishing and hunting abound in the area.  There are over 400 named and 800 other lakes and more than 50 named streams and rivers.  Muskie, walleye pike, trout and pan fish are favorites of fishermen, while grouse, duck and deer hunting draw sportsmen from throughout the Great Lakes states. 

There are more than ten public and private golf courses throughout the region including the Rhinelander Northwoods Golf Course, which opened in 1988 and continues to draw rave reviews for its beauty and difficulty. Over 100 restaurants throughout the county cater to tastes ranging from Chinese to German, but the Friday night fish fry will remain a fixture here. 

There are two seasonal theater groups and a year-round dinner theater.  Additionally, Rhinelander is the home of two state-of-the-art movie theaters. The Hodag Country Music Festival in Rhinelander is one of the nation’s largest, held annually in July.

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HOUSING

The quality of life enjoyed in Oneida County is unencumbered by a high cost of living.  Housing prices are extremely attractive, particularly in light of the diversity of settings.  Homes on lakes and rivers are the norm, not the exception. Oneida County’s has had a continued growth pattern, which has existed for the past 15 years and appears to be getting stronger each year as more families choose to come the the Northwoods to experience our high quality of life.

SHOPPING, RETAIL AND LODGING

Rhinelander is a commercial and retail center for northern Wisconsin, while Minocqua offers a surprising mix of specialty stores aimed at the seasonal visitor. Several major discount stores offer competitive prices.  Combined, these retail outlets make Oneida County an attractive shopping locale. This year, Rhinelander has seen the addition of Kohl's among many other shopping outlets add to our economic base.

We invite you to consider why Oneida County is a natural opportunity. 

Additional Profile Information
Census Quick Facts

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