Village History

Rudolph, the second town to be established in Wood County, is located about seven miles to the north of Wisconsin Rapids. It was named after Rudolph Hecox, the first Caucasian male born here. A large sawmill, stave mill and plenty of farmland drew many men into the area. Incorporated in 1960, the Village of Rudolph now has a population of 432 and combining the population of both the Village and Town of Rudolph, the total is approximately 1,814. Rudolph is primarily a community of single-family residences. Each home has its own well. A village sanitary sewer system is available for all buildings. Garbage pickup is also village-wide. Quarterly cost of sewer and garbage pickup is $180.00 per residence.

Rudolph is one of the best dairy areas in Wisconsin. Dairy State Cheese, located at the corner of Main Street and Highway 34, is known throughout the United States. It sells over 100 varieties of cheeses, as well as Pete's Market homemade sausage, and novelty cheeses.

Pete's Market is a combination local butcher shop, small grocery store, and meat processing plant. Successful deer hunters from mid-Wisconsin and northern Wisconsin areas bring their venison to be processed at Pete's Market.

The Rudolph Fire Department has two paid personnel as well as 76 volunteers. The department has four stations serving a 226 square mile radius and a population of 5,600. Communities included in their protection are the Village of Rudolph, Town of Rudolph, Town of Siegel, Town of Linwood, and Town of Eau Plaine. The Rudolph Fire Department has an insurance rating of 6.

Active organizations in the village are the American Legion Elmer Blonien Post #485, American Legion Auxillary, Senior Citizens, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Rudolph's Country Christmas, Rudolph Firefighters Auxiliary, and 4-H.

St. Philip's Catholic Church is a part of the Rudolph community.  St. Philip's celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2003. The Moravian Church celebrated its centennial in 1995 but sadly burned down in 2014.

Rudolph public elementary school is recognized for its educational excellence.

Solarus provides phone, cable, and high-speed internet via "fiber-to-the-home" service to the community.

Three baseball diamonds are busy every night in the summer with Little Leagues as well as an adult league. The adult league has two softball tournaments, one in June and one in July. The baseball diamonds are on the premises of the Rudolph Community Park. The enclosed shelter house at the park can be rented for a nominal fee. Reservations can be made by completing this form. 

Financial needs can be fulfilled at the First State Bank. Bank-A-Count Corporation is also located in Rudolph. This firm produces amortization schedules, loan payment coupon books, Christmas club coupon books, personalized and business checks for the U.S. finance industry.

The R-Store (gas station) on Highway 34 is open seven days a week at convenient hours. 34 Truck and Auto Body Shop is a local repair service. Patsy’s Bar and Bowl is open Tuesday through Sunday. Main Street Hair Styles is available for hair care.

Rudolph is also known as "Home of the famous Grotto Shrine and Wonder Cave" where there are 30,000 annual visitors. The Grotto Shrine can be viewed at http://www.rudolphgrotto.org.

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, is highly regarded in his namesake Wood County community. The post office has a special reindeer stamp, RUDOLPH WISCONSIN, Home of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, that can be imprinted on outgoing mail. The Rudolph Postmistress commissions an elementary student to draw a one-day cancellation stamp using Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. "Welcome to Rudolph" signs feature a picture of a reindeer with a "lighted nose" to greet visitors entering the community on Highway 34. Even street signs in the community have a picture of the red-nosed reindeer.

The annual Rudolph Country Christmas event, held the second Saturday in December, is the year-end climax to the celebration of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The first celebration was held in 2002. In 2003 a lighted Christmas parade was added. For details, click the link for Rudolph Country Chrismas in the menu.