[1] It is connected by road to McAllister to the north, Goll to the south, and Wisconsin Highway 180 to the east.

Wagner was born in Austria and emigrated to the United States in 1865, initially to Chicago and then relocating to Mankato, Minnesota, where he met and married Susan Dauffenbach (1860–1941).

Wagner was gradually settled by Swedish, French-Canadian, German, Dutch, Polish, and Czech immigrants.

[3] Wagner formerly had a railroad depot, two small hotels, a cheese factory, sawmills and a shingle mill, a dance hall, taverns, and a general store.

[3] Wagner was a stop between Goll and McAllister on the Wisconsin & Michigan (W. & M.) Railway line from Bagley Junction to Iron Mountain.