Wheaton is a town in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin.

The population was 2,759 at the 2020 census, up from 2,366 at the 2000 census.

The unincorporated communities of Old Albertville and Pine Grove are located in the town.

The town of Wheaton is in the southwest corner of Chippewa County, bordered by Dunn County to the west and Eau Claire County to the south. The Chippewa River forms the southeast border of the town, across which is the city of Chippewa Falls in the north, the village of Lake Hallie in the center, and the city of Eau Claire in the south. Chippewa Falls also has a land border with Wheaton in the northeast, and Eau Claire has a land border to the south of Wheaton. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 54.8 square miles (142.0 km2), of which 54.4 square miles (140.8 km2) is land and 0.46 square miles (1.2 km2), or 0.86%, is water.

WHEATON HISTORY

Hamlin A. Town, a representative of one of the best known pioneer families in Chippewa County, served as the first member of the first town board of Wheaton and later as chairman of the town board, clerk, and justice of the peace.  He also organized the first school in Wheaton. 

Works Cited:  Chippewa County Wisconsin Past and Present - A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement.  Volume II.  (1913).  The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company.

EDUCATION

The Town of Wheaton had five rural one-room schoolhouses called Longview, Prairie View, Oak Knoll, Sunnyside, and Sunny Valley until 1962.  In 1962 a significant legislative change by the state required all territory to be part of a district operating a high school thus reducing thousands of one-room schoolhouses into larger districts across the state.  Wheaton territory was then split between Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, and Elk Mound high schools.    

Many of these Town of Wheaton schoolhouses still exist today and have become private property. There is one schoolhouse still open to the public.  The Sunny Valley School House Museum was turned into a schoolhouse museum in 1965 and is viewable at Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls Wisconsin.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

For history on our fire department we encourage you to visit Wheaton Fire & Rescue About Us page.

PARKS AND RECREATION

The Wheaton boat landing broke ground back in 1985 as a partnership project between the Town of Wheaton and Department of Natural Resources.  The property was purchased from the Ralph Liddell farm.  In the Wheaton archives we found Arley Engel President of Wheaton Parks and Planning Commission set out to make Wheaton history by giving citizens public access to the Chippewa River right in the Town of Wheaton.  Total project cost was $6,145.00 which included 1000’ x 20’ roadway, 250’ x 150’ parking lot, 10’ of cement planks, concrete approach, and labor.  Funding for part of the project was through the County Conservation Aids program with Chippewa County being a sponsor.