Welcome to the Village of Hawkins!
Hawkins, named in honor of the former secretary of the Soo Line, M.P. Hawkins, has its origin in the logging industry. The area was legendary among loggers for the immense size of its beautiful white pines.
Also, north of Hawkins is an area known as South Fork of the Flambeau River. Polish immigrants settled there in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Known as the South Fork Community, its bonds were as much ethnic as geographic. Most of the settlers cleared land and farmed. The settlement retained its independence from Hawkins, which had many residents of Scandinavian background. For more local history on Hawkins, stop by the Hawkins Area Library and Historical Society, one of three Historical museums in the County.
After logging dwindled, the Hawkins economy was bolstered by Norco Windows, Inc. which came to the community in 1922 as Northern Sash and Door Co. Norco employed 700 workers, making the manufacturer of quality windows one of the two largest industries in Rusk County. In 1996 Norco Windows was purchased by Jeld-Wen, Inc. The Hawkins plant was known for building quality windows and doors. April 2024 Jeld-Wen announced the closure of the Hawkins plant.
The area is also rich in year round recreation. The Hawkins Lions Park provides overnight camping, with water and electrical hook-ups. Over Labor Day Weekend, the park holds the annual Hawkins’ Harvest Festival.
The South Fork of Main Creek runs through the center of the Village on its way through the Town of Richland. The untamed creek sports some of the best trout fishing in Rusk County. The Hawkins Area Wheeler Club (HAWK) worked hard to open up trails in the Hawkins area for UTV/ATV enthusiasts. For winter wanderers, the Sno-Hawks snowmobile club maintains miles of trails in the area, forming the hub of the trail system connecting Rusk to Taylor, and Price Counties, and constructed a log cabin warming shelter North of the Village in the Rusk County Forest. The abundant wildlife and beautiful forest terrain, and flowing creeks, provide a breathtaking setting for anyone who loves to hike, go for a UTV/ATV ride, or snowmobile.
