The general area that would become Arthur was first surveyed in 1848 by a crew working for the U.S. government. In 1849 a different crew marked all the section corners of the township, walking through the woods and swamps, measuring with chain and compass. When done, the deputy surveyor filed this general description of the square which became the east half of Arthur and the west part of Colburn:
The Surface in this Township is generally level, the Soil cold and wet. In the Northern part there is a considerable quantity of good Pine timber. The currents of the two principal Streams in the South and West are swift - and rocky bottoms - the banks low, and Subject to frequent overflows. But a Small portion of the Township adapted to farming or grazing. It is heavily timbered with Birch, Sugar, Pine, AshOak & e. There is a Small Lake in the Eastern part of the Township, the shores of which are low and marshy the water clear and bottom gravel.
A different crew, surveying the square that includes the west end of today's town of Arthur, found some settlers:
There are six dwelling Houses in this Township, one on the N.W. 1/4 of the NW. 1/4 of Section 2 One on the S.W. 1/4 of NW. 1/4 of Section 2 belonging to Daniel McCan.
Founded January 27, 1885, the town was named after Chester A. Arthur, the 21st president of the United States. It was created from the towns of Anson and Sigel. Arthur's first town chairman was H.P. Buchanan who held office until 1890.
Geography
The town is in east-central Chippewa County and is bordered on its northwest corner by the Chippewa River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and, or 0.42%, is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 710 people, 258 households, and 192 families residing in the town. The population density was 16.5 people per square mile. There were 275 housing units at an average density of 6.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 98.73% White, 0.14% African American, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population. There were 258 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were married couplesliving together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.22. In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.5 males. The median income for a household in the town was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $44,464. Males had a median income of $25,446 versus $21,830 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,570. About 13.9% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
