Barron County, Wisconsin

History

The county was created in 1859 as Dallas County (named after Vice President George M. Dallas), with the county seat located at Barron. It was renamed Barron County on March 4, 1869. The county's name honors Wisconsin lawyer and politician Henry D. Barron, who served as circuit judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Barron County was organized in 1874.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a community of Russian immigrants moved to Barron County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 890 sqmi, of which 863 sqmi is land and 27 sqmi (3.0%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Washburn County – north
• Sawyer County – northeast
• Rusk County – east
• Chippewa County – southeast
• Dunn County – south
• St. Croix County – southwest
• Polk County – west
• Burnett County – northwest

Major highways

• [[Image:US 8.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 8
• [[Image:US 53.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 53
• [[Image:US 63.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 63
• [[Image:WIS 25.svg|20px]] Highway 25 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 48.svg|20px]] Highway 48 (Wisconsin)

Railroads

• Wisconsin Northern Railroad
• Canadian National

Buses

Airports

• KRPD - Rice Lake Regional Airport serves Barron County.
• KUBE - Cumberland Municipal Airport is located three miles south of Cumberland.
• Y23 - Chetek Municipal–Southworth Airport also serves the county and surrounding communities.
• 9Y7 - Barron Municipal Airport enhances county service.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,711. The population density was 54.1 /mi2. There were 23,779 housing units at an average density of 27.6 /mi2.

The racial makeup of the county was 91.1% White, 1.8% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian,

The median age was 45.1 years, 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18, and 22.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.5 males.

21.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 78.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 19,630 households in the county, of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.8% were married-couple households, 19.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 23,779 housing units, of which 17.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.2% were owner-occupied and 26.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 44,963 people, 17,851 households, and 12,352 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 /mi2. There were 20,969 housing units at an average density of 24 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.69% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.81% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.4% were of German, 21.8% Norwegian and 5.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 17,851 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

In 2017, there were 504 births, giving a general fertility rate of 70.6 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 15th highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Barron County residence in 2017.

Communities

Cities

• Barron (county seat)
• Chetek
• Cumberland
• Rice Lake

Villages

• Almena
• Cameron
• Dallas
• Haugen
• New Auburn (mostly in Chippewa County)
• Prairie Farm
• Turtle Lake (partly in Polk County)

Towns

• Almena
• Arland
• Barron
• Bear Lake
• Cedar Lake
• Chetek
• Clinton
• Crystal Lake
• Cumberland
• Dallas
• Dovre
• Doyle
• Lakeland
• Maple Grove
• Maple Plain
• Oak Grove
• Prairie Farm
• Prairie Lake
• Rice Lake
• Sioux Creek
• Stanfold
• Stanley
• Sumner
• Turtle Lake
• Vance Creek

Census-designated place

• Barronett

Unincorporated communities

• Angus
• Arland
• Brill
• Campia
• Canton
• Comstock
• Dobie
• Graytown (part)
• Hillsdale
• Horseman
• Lehigh
• Mikana
• Poskin
• Reeve
• Sumner
• Twin Town
• Tuscobia
• Wickware

Politics

Barron County has been a longtime swing county, though it tended to more often vote Republican. The last Democrat to win the county was Barack Obama in 2008 and since then it has been consistently Republican. Donald Trump's performances in 2020 and subsequently in 2024 were the best by a Republican since the 1952 landslide election.

References

References

1. "2020 Decennial Census: Barron County, Wisconsin". U.S. Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (comp.) ''[http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=goto&id=WI.WIBlueBk1991&page=731&isize=L State of Wisconsin 1991-1992 Blue Book]''. Madison: Author, 1991, p. 731.
4. "''Dictionary of Wisconsin History'' (Wisconsin Historical Society)".
5. (June 16, 1932). "Here's How Iron Got Its Name". The Rhinelander Daily News.
6. (2007). "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". [[Newberry Library.
7. (August 3, 2012). "Russians in Wisconsin".
8. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates Tables". United States Census Bureau.
10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
12. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
13. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
14. "2020 Census Population and Housing Map". United States Census Bureau.
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
17. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
18. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
19. "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables".
20. [https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p45360-17.pdf Reported Induced Abortions in Wisconsin], Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013-2017, Table 18, pages 17-18
21. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
23. The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912). Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 968 votes, while Socialist candidate [[Eugene V. Debs. Eugene Debs]] received 265 votes, [[Prohibition Party. Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene W. Chafin. Eugene Chafin]] received 253 votes, and [[Independent politician. Independent]] candidate [[Arthur Reimer]] received 5 votes.