The area that eventually became the city of Rhinelander was originally called Pelican Rapids by early settlers, named for the stretch of rapids just above the convergence of the Wisconsin and Pelican Rivers.

Upon arriving at the meeting point of the Wisconsin and Pelican Rivers at the site of John Curran's trading post, and seeing the high banks along the rapids and the excellent pine stands, Anderson Brown envisioned a mill town with a lumber mill powered by the waters of the Wisconsin River.

Brown's vision did not come to fruition for some years, but after subsequent expeditions with others, including his brother and Rhinelander's first mayor, Webster Brown, the brothers managed to convince their father and uncle to purchase the land from the federal government and build a town.

[5] This was part of a bid by the Brown brothers to induce the railroad to extend a spur to the location to further their lumbering business.

Ultimately, after over ten years of negotiations, the Brown family agreed to convey half their land holdings in the area to the railroad in exchange for a rail line to their future city.

Because of its location, it is prone to Arctic cold snaps, and without the western Föhn winds[further explanation needed] its winter average is lower than other places in the US at 45 °N even at high elevations.

Rhinelander is a commercial, industrial, and recreation hub for the Northwoods area of Wisconsin.

Because of the forests, lakes, and trails in the area, it is both a summer and winter vacation destination.

The Rhinelander area has numerous vacation destinations, offering fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, ATVing, mountain biking and hiking, hunting, golfing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and bird watching.

A popular summer tourist destination is the Pioneer Park Historical Complex, which is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend and features many interactive displays and spaces to explore Rhinelander's rich history.

[16] Rhinelander is the home of the hodag, a folkloric green and white creature said to stalk the local woods.

Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport (KRHI) serves Rhinelander and the surrounding Oneida County communities with both scheduled commercial jet service and general aviation services.

In addition, the Rhinelander VORTAC (RHI) navigational facility is located on the field.