A former logging town on the banks of the Wisconsin River
In the century and a half since the lumber industry thrived in Merrill, some things have remained constant. Main Street is still lined with small businesses, the population holds at less than 10,000 and the Lincoln County Courthouse towers nearly 200 feet above it all. The Wisconsin River, bordered by walking trails and boat ramps, allows for year-round recreation, while annual fairs, festivals and rodeos bring community members together. Highways connect Merrill to the nearby city of Wausau, which is home to 40,000 people and more employment opportunities about 20 miles south past orchards, horseback riding trails and gun clubs.
Merrill's historic Lincoln County Courthouse towers over Main Street.
The Wisconsin River allows for year-round recreation in Merrill.
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Sale prices below the national median and backyard gardens
The city's oldest properties date back to the late 19th century and are situated on numbered streets branching off from the central business district. Sidewalks are shaded by mature trees, and some homes are decorated with Victorian molding. Prospective buyers will also find pockets of midcentury homes and single-family options built in the late 1990s, and there are several multi-acre undeveloped lots south of the river. According to Laurie Ollhoff, library director at the T.B. Scott Free Library, "We have a lot of gardeners and home farmers that have their own gardens in their backyard. That tells you a little bit about the community: people here like to be self-sufficient and grow their own vegetables." The median sales price hovers around $175,000, which is just a fraction of the national median.
Prospective buyers in Merrill will find midcentury homes built in the late 1990s.
Colorful Victorian homes add charm to Merrill's neighborhood streets.
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Manufacturing jobs and Wausau 20 miles south
It's common for today's residents to work in manufacturing or product wholesale; there are several warehouses and a vocational training facility near Merrill Municipal Airport. Wasau, Merrill's larger neighbor, can be reached via U.S. Route 51 and is home to additional manufacturing jobs and an increasing number of IT positions. Public transportation is limited in Lincoln County, and the Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee offers commercial flights to Chicago O'Hare and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Medical care is accessible at Aspirus Merrill Hospital, which is also a major local employer. Crime has slightly increased in Merrill since 2020, and most incidents are non-violent. Property crime rates are slightly higher than state averages.
Merrill Area Public Schools and MAPS Community Education classes
Students are incorporated into the Merrill Area Public Schools system, which earns an overall B-plus grade from Niche. Two elementary schools feed into one middle school and one high school, and the district is also home to MAPS Community Education. Courses — which meet at the high school — are open to the public for a fee and include everything from jelly-making to beekeeping and foraging. Public resources are also available through the local library. "We also provide adult programming like technical assistance and technical training," says Ollhoff, adding, "We also provide a monthly movie for seniors, and they get their own free popcorn. That's always a popular day of the month."
Merrill High School is a public school with about 803 students in grades 9-12.
Prairie River Middle School is a public school with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1.
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Year-round recreation beside the Wisconsin River
Recreation is concentrated along the Wisconsin River and in rural areas on the outskirts of the city, where residents will find horse trails and public hunting grounds. Closer to town, canoes and kayaks launch from the boat ramp in Riverside Park, where there's also a public-use golf course. Fishermen can rent out poles from the public library and cast off from Prairie Trails Park. Historical markers are placed along the Riverbend Trail, providing information on everything from early Chippewa settlements to "The Giant Spider Invasion," a 1975 movie largely based in Merrill; the city hopes to expand the route all the way to Wausau in coming years. During single-digit winters, when several inches of snow collect at a time, residents bundle up to go sledding or ice skating in Lions Park and snowshoeing outside the Merrill Area Recreation Complex, also known as the MARC/Smith Center. "We have a lot of hiking trails in the area, and we provide snowshoeing equipment for our patrons and cross-country skis," says Ollhoff, speaking about the equipment available for rent from the library. The Bierman Family Aquatic Center's outdoor pool is open June through August when temperatures rarely exceed 80 degrees and evenings drop down into the 50s.
Residents of Merrill can play 18 holes at Merrill Public Golf Club.
Merrill's residents can enjoy the disc golf course at Riverside Park.
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Summertime fairs, rodeos and concerts
The Lincoln County Fair comes to the city in August. There's a demolition derby, live music and a livestock pavilion, and the festival grounds also host Merrill's Food Truck-A-Palooza each May. The Wisconsin River Pro Rodeo is scheduled over a weekend in June, where families can watch steer wrestling, bull riding and the Rodeo Queen Competition from the comfort of the bleachers. There's free live music at the Normal Park gazebo throughout the summer and fireworks at the MARC around the Fourth of July.
Shopping and dining north of the river
Merrill's central business district is located to the north of the river, and retail options are primarily concentrated along Main Street, 1st Street and Central Avenue. Stores sell discount clothes and antiques, auto parts and hardware, and there's a small selection of pizza joints and greasy spoons. Chip's Hamburgers of Merrill has been a drive-thru staple in the city since the 1960s, and Hugo's Pizza is popular for eat-in and grab-and-go. The Cosmo Theatre, which screens new releases, is also located in Merrill's historic downtown.
Chips Hamburgers is a locally owned burger joint and has been serving Merrill since 1969.
Catch the latest showing at the Cosmo Theatre in Merrill.
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Written By
Sara Caskey
Video By
Pasha Chichagov
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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