Merrill, Wisconsin
Merrill is a city of 9,356 people in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, founded in 1881.
Why visit Merrill
Townapedia lists 14 museums and landmarks, 18 parks and trails, 7 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Cosmo Theatre, Merrill City Hall, First Street Bridge and Council Grounds State Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 80°F; January lows average 3°F, and about 54 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Merrill
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Merrill
Merrill is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located to the south of and adjacent to the Town of Merrill. The population was 9,347, according to the 2020 census. Merrill is part of the United States Census Bureau's Merrill MSA, which includes all of Lincoln County.
From the Wikipedia article Merrill, Wisconsin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks14
Merrill City Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
City hall in Wisconsin, United States of America
First Street Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places
Stone arch bridge in Merrill, Wisconsin, United States
Lincoln County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
County courthouse in Merrill, Wisconsin
Champagne Lumber Co/Now-Occupied by Lincolnwood
Monument and historic site · 0.7 mi
Mihill Lumber Co/Now-Unoccupied Hurd Millwork
Monument and historic site · 0.4 mi
2 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds18
Merrill Area Recreation Complex (M.A.R.C.)
Park · 1.5 mi
1100 Marc Drive, Merrill
6 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes7
History
Merrill was first inhabited by the Chippewa Native Americans. The first European settlement there was a logging town named Jenny Bull Falls. By 1843, a trading post was constructed near the town; John Faely was the first settler. Within four years a dam, started by Andrew Warren, was constructed over the Wisconsin River. Warren then established the first mill powered by the dam, and other saw mills in the area. In 1870, T. B. Scott succeeded Warren, and the mill soon became increasingly successful. In 1899 the mill burned down. During that time the name of the community was changed to Merrill, in honor of Sherburn S. Merrill (1818–1885), the general manager of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad.
In 1881, the Wisconsin Telephone Company began operation, with 20 phones in service. In 1883, the first City Council met and T. B. Scott was named the first mayor. By 1885, the population had risen to 7,000, approximately 3,000 less than Merrill's population today. The railroad and passenger depot was a hub of social activity through the lumber industry's boom years and after. It later became a community youth center, but has since been razed. By 1900, the timber industry was in decline and the community was compelled to diversify its economy.
In 1892, the Weinbrenner Shoe Company was established with Merrill headquarters.
From the History section of Merrill, Wisconsin on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Churches and places of worship1
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries18
T. B. Scott Free Library
Library · National Register of Historic Places
106 West First Street, Merrill
Pine River School For Young Learners (Prsyl)
School · 3.2 mi
W4165 Highway 64, Merrill
Northcentral Technical College Public Safety Center of Excellence
School · 1.1 mi
1603 Champagne Street, Merrill
Healthcare7
Eye Clinic of Wisconsin
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.0 mi
503 South Center Avenue, Merrill
Marshfield Clinic Merrill Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.0 mi
1205 O'Day Street, Merrill
Map of Merrill
80 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°F | 3°F | 1.2 in | 12.4 in |
| Feb | 27°F | 5°F | 1.1 in | 11.6 in |
| Mar | 39°F | 17°F | 1.8 in | 7.2 in |
| Apr | 53°F | 30°F | 2.9 in | 5.5 in |
| May | 67°F | 43°F | 3.7 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 53°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 80°F | 57°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 78°F | 55°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 70°F | 46°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 55°F | 34°F | 3.2 in | 0.9 in |
| Nov | 40°F | 23°F | 2.1 in | 5.0 in |
| Dec | 27°F | 11°F | 1.5 in | 11.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Merrill (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Lincoln County has had 4 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2005-09-13: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2002-09-10: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding (Tornado)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Merrill Municipal Airport (RRL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Maine 9 mi south, about 14 min by car
- Wausau 15 mi south, about 25 min by car
- Marathon City 18 mi southwest, about 29 min by car
- Weston 21 mi south, about 34 min by car
- Athens 21 mi southwest, about 34 min by car
- Kronenwetter 26 mi south, about 41 min by car
- Antigo 27 mi east, about 43 min by car
- Medford 31 mi west, about 51 min by car
- Colby 35 mi southwest, about 57 min by car
- Marshfield 43 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Merrill City Hall - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- TB Scott Free Library Merrill Wisconsin, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Merrill Wisconsin City Hall Historic, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lincoln County Wisconsin Courthouse, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Street Bridge, Merrill, Wisconsin, Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.