Forest County, Wisconsin

History

Forest County was created by the Wisconsin State Legislature in 1885 from portions of neighboring Langlade and Oconto counties. The county was named for the forests contained within its limits.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1046 sqmi, of which 1014 sqmi is land and 32 sqmi (3.1%) is water. The second highest elevation in the state of Wisconsin is Sugarbush hill which is in Forest County.

Adjacent counties

• Florence County - northeast
• Marinette County - east
• Oconto County - southeast
• Langlade County - southwest
• Oneida County - west
• Vilas County - northwest
• Iron County, Michigan - north

Major highways

• [[Image:US 8.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 8
• [[Image:WIS 32.svg|20px]] Highway 32 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 52.svg|20px]] Highway 52 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 55.svg|20px]] Highway 55 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 70.svg|20px]] Highway 70 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 101.svg|20px]] Highway 101 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 139.svg|20px]] Highway 139 (Wisconsin)

Railroads

• Watco

Buses

Airport

• Y55 - Crandon Municipal Airport

National protected area

• Nicolet National Forest (part)

Demographics

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 9,179. The population density was 9.1 /mi2. There were 8,604 housing units at an average density of 8.5 /mi2.

The median age was 49.5 years, 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18, and 25.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 104.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 105.1 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 80.7% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 13.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.2% from some other race, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.7% of the population.

There were 4,034 households in the county, of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.7% were married-couple households, 22.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Of the 8,604 housing units, 53.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.8% were owner-occupied and 20.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.3%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,024 people, 4,043 households, and 2,769 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 /mi2. There were 8,322 housing units at an average density of 8 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 85.86% White, 11.30% Native American, 1.18% Black or African American, 0.17% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.3% were of German, 11.4% Polish, 7.4% Irish and 5.4% American ancestry. 95.5% spoke English, 1.4% Spanish and 1.0% Potawatomi as their first language.

Out of the 4,043 households, 29.20% had children under the age of 18, 54.00% had a married couple living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 13.20%, of individuals of 65 years of age or older living alone. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution in the county's population was as follows: 25.30% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.00 males.

In 2017, there were 102 births, giving a general fertility rate of 71.1 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 14th highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. There were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Forest County residence in 2017.

Communities

City

• Crandon (county seat)

Towns

• Alvin
• Argonne
• Armstrong Creek
• Blackwell
• Caswell
• Crandon
• Freedom
• Hiles
• Laona
• Lincoln
• Nashville
• Popple River
• Ross
• Wabeno

Census-designated places

• Argonne
• Laona
• Mole Lake
• Newald
• Wabeno

Unincorporated communities

• Alvin
• Armstrong Creek
• Atkins
• Blackwell
• Blackwell Junction
• Bonneval
• Carter
• Cavour
• Hiles
• Laona Junction
• Nashville
• Nelma
• Padus
• Popple River
• Soperton
• Wisconsin Junction
• Woodlawn

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

• Bagdad
• Keith
• Minertown-Oneva

Images

Image:ForestCountyLawEnforcementCenter.jpg|Law Enforcement Center Image:ForestCountyWisconsinVeteransMemorialUS8WIS32WIS55.jpg|Forest County Veterans Memorial

Politics

From its founding in 1885 until 1928, Forest County voted for the Republican candidate in all but three elections, voting for the Democratic candidate in 1892 and 1912, and voting for Progressive candidate and native Wisconsinite Robert M. La Follette in 1924. Then, from 1932 to 1996, the county voted Democratic in every election with the exception of four nationwide Republican landslides in 1952, 1956, 1972, and 1984. In 2000 and 2004, Forest County backed George W. Bush in both of his successful runs for the presidency, though doing so by less than 6% both times. The county shifted back to Democratic hands in 2008 and 2012, with Barack Obama taking the county in his two successful elections. However, since 2016, Forest County has shifted significantly to the right. In 2016, Donald Trump received over 61% of the vote in the county, the highest any candidate has received since 1964, winning by over 26% against Hillary Clinton. Trump further improved on his numbers in 2020, taking over 65% of the county's vote and winning by a margin of over 30% against Joe Biden. Trump yet again improved in the county in 2024, with more than 66% of the county's voters supporting him and more than doubling the support of Kamala Harris, turning in the best performance by a Republican in Forest County since Warren G. Harding more than a century earlier.

References

References

1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
2. "County Typology Codes - Descriptions and Maps". USDA.
3. "Forest County, Wis., government website".
4. (2007). "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". [[Newberry Library.
5. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. (August 14, 2023). "These are the 10 tallest peaks in Wisconsin". Journal Sentinel.
8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates Tables". United States Census Bureau.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
11. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
12. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
13. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
14. "2020 Decennial Census: Forest County, Wisconsin". U.S. Census Bureau.
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
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. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".