The name is from the Chippewa language, meaning "southern". In the related Menominee language, it is known as Sāwanoh; this translates into English as "south".
Geography
Shawano is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which, is land and is water.
As of the census of 2010, there were 9,305 people, 3,960 households, and 2,299 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 4,309 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 82.4% White, 0.7% African American, 12.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population. There were 3,960 households of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couplesliving together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.9% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age in the city was 39.8 years. 23% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 19.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,298 people, 3,432 households, and 2,076 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 3,587 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 89.03% White, 0.33% African American, 7.88% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population. There were 3,432 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.91. 24.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $31,546, and the median income for a family was $41,241. Males had a median income of $30,709 versus $19,905 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,380. About 8.9% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
