Grand Chute The meaning of this name is not clear. Howver, it evidently refers to the osuthernmost of a series of rapids and chutes comprising the Grand Rapids, which extended from sec 9,T22N,R6E, to just N of the Grand Ave bridge in N sec 17, T22N, R6E within the Wisconsin Rapids city limits. The foot of this chute was once the site of R C Lyon's dam. The report which mentions the location of this dam uses the spelling "Grand Shute". This spelling is also used in County Rep, Jan 14,1864, where, however, the name is not capitalized. >From the French grand, "large," and chute, "a fall". Grand Rapids Originally the name of the present E side of Wisconsin Rapids: between 1900 and 1920 the name of the entire city now called Wisconsin Rapids. The original settlement supposedly grew up around a sawmill built at the Grand Rapids in 1838 by Nelson Strong and R Bloomer; in actuality Joshua Hathaway's 1839 survey notes on the site speak of "two extensive lumbering establishments.....owned by Bloomer, Chamberlain, Adams, Strong, Hill and others....". The first plat of the city, Cruikshank's Plat, was taken out in 1847, but was superseded ten years later by Lang's Replat. The city was incorporated on April 6, 1869, and was consolidated with Centralia in 1900 under the name Grand Rapids; this name was changed to Wisconsin Rapids in 1920 because of frequent confusion in the US mails with Grand Rapids, Mich. Grand Rapids, the Joshua Hathaway, the 1839 surveyor of the area along the Wisconsin R in what became Wood Co, describes the Grand Rapids in these words: "A succession of rapids and chutes called the Grand Rapids....:. He located the head of these rapids in sec 9, T22N, R6E, the area just N of the Grand Ave bridge in the city of Wisconsin Rapids. The name describes the relative size of the rapids, "Grand" coming from French grand, "large". It is no longer current; dams have eliminated the rapids, and people now call the former rapids, "the Wisconsin Rapids" after the city's name. Grand Rapids PO A PO established on Jan 14, 1845, and kept in the general store of Eliphalet S Miner, the postmaster, in the settlement at the Grand Rapids. Lemuel Kromer was also postmaster for a time. Discontinued on June 30, 1880, and reestablished on July 1, 1880, with George F Witter, a physician, as postmaster. The name was changed to Wisconsin Rapids PO in 1920 when the city was renamed. Unlimately named for the rapids. Grand Rapids Township A township first established in 1850 as one of the townships of Portage Co, and named after the village of Grand Rapids within its boundaries. When Wood Co was set off from Portage Co in 1856, it was the only township in the county and actually included all of the county's territory. It now includes all of T22N, R6E, except for those sections in Wisconsin Rapids and Port Edwards. Granite PO A PO established on Oct 4, 1888, with James O McNutt as postmaster; discontinued on Nov 19, 1890. It was located somewhere in secs 2,3,10, or 11, Cary Township (map in State Gaz, 1895-6). Possibly named for the granite quarried by George Hiles near Cary. Mc NUtt is reported to have been superintendent of the Hiles lumbering operations at Hilestown. Green Bay, Winona, And St Paul Railroad The third name for the present Green Bay and Western RR, used from Sept 13,1881, when the railroad bought the Green Bay and MInnesota RR, until June 5, 1896, when it was deeded to the Green Bay and Western RR. Named for its terminus points. Green Bay and Lake Pepin Railroad The original name for the present Green Bay and Western RR. IN 1870-3 this railroad company laid tracks from Green Bay in Brown Co, W across Wisconsin to the Mississippi R in S Buffalo Co, S of L Pepin, through which the river flowed. On Sept 9, 1873, the name was changed to Green Bay and Minnesota RR. Named for its terminus points. Green Bay and Minnesota Railroad The second name for the present Green Bay and Western RR. It was used from Sept 9, 1873, when it replaced the former name, Green Bay and Lake Pepin RR, to Sept 13,1881, when the line was sold to the Green Bay, Winona, and St Paul RR. Named for its terminus points. Green Bay and Western Railroad A railroad in Wood Co running E-W through T22N from NE sec 1, T22N,R6E, to SW sec 30, T22N, R2E. On June 5, 1896, the Green Bay, Winona, and St Paul RR was deeded to the Green Bay and Western RR. Named for its point of origin and general direction. Green Elm School A school (Joint Dist No 4 for Sherry and Arpin townships) on co trunk P in NE sec 31, Sherry Township. Descriptive? Green Grove School A school on state highway 54, in SE sec 33, T22N, R5E (Port Edwards Township). Descriptive? Greenwood County The name Joseph Wood proposed for Wood Co. He is reported to have felt the name was pleasant and descriptive. However, his companions in the Wisconsin state legislature insisted upon naming the county in his honor. Subjectively descriptive.