Marathon & Edgar

Marathon is just west of Wausau and Rib Mt. The village dates back to 1856. The name of the village commemorates the Battle of Marathon, part of the first invasion of Persia into Greece. Located right by Granite Peak Ski Area, State park Speedway Auto Racing Tracks, the Mountain-Bay State Trail, Rib Mt State Park and close to Half Moon Hill winery. The Menzner Lumber & Supply Company was incorporated in Marathon in 1894, is the oldest operating business in Marathon City and continues to operate to this day. County Materials Corp. and Marathon Cheese Corp. were both founded by village residents just after the end of World War II, and have grown into multi-state operations, continuing to be headquartered in Marathon City. The current population is estimated to be around 1,500 people, and it is roughly 33 square miles. Famous people from Marathon include Theophilus Riesinger, a Catholic priest, exorcist and writer, Joseph Barber, a state Senator, Jerry Dahlke, a baseball player, and Claude Taugher, an NFL player.

The Village of Edgar is located about 15 miles west of Wausau. In 1889, the Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western Railroad Company staked out a railroad to be built between Wausau and Marshfield. In the midst of the forest, was a little stream called Scotch Creek. One of the men employed at setting stakes for the railroad, spoke of his opinion “that this spot would be a nice place to start a little village”. “It would be near the railroad and about halfway between two large cities.” The rest agreed with him and immediately called the place Edgar in honor of him. By 1898, the year the village officially became incorporated, the population was 346. Within fifteen years the population would explode to 1,000. Edgar currently has a population of about 1,479, and has maintained the title of “Tree City USA” since 1995!