Pierce County, Wisconsin

History

Native Americans were the first to live in what became Pierce County, as evidenced in the burial mounds near Diamond Bluff. Evidence indicates that this area has been inhabited for 10,000 to 12,000 years. In 1840, St. Croix County covered a large portion of northwest Wisconsin Territory. In 1853, the Wisconsin State Legislature split St. Croix County into Pierce, Polk, and Saint Croix counties. Pierce County was named for Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 592 sqmi, of which 574 sqmi is land and 18 sqmi (3.1%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• St. Croix County – north
• Dunn County – northeast
• Pepin County – southeast
• Goodhue County, Minnesota – south
• Dakota County, Minnesota – southwest
• Washington County, Minnesota – west

National protected area

• Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (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 42,212. The median age was 38.0 years; 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.0% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.8 males age 18 and over. The 2020 redistricting data also reports these totals.

The population density was 73.5 /mi2. There were 16,780 housing units at an average density of 29.2 /mi2. Of those housing units, 4.9% were vacant, 74.5% of occupied units were owner-occupied, and 25.5% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.0%.

There were 15,958 households in the county, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.7% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The racial makeup of the county was 92.3% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian,

30.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 70.0% lived in rural areas.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 36,804 people, 13,015 households, and 9,032 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 /mi2. There were 13,493 housing units at an average density of 23 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.01% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.0% were of German, 16.2% Norwegian, 7.1% Swedish and 7.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 13,015 households, out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 17.00% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 9.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

In 2017, there were 386 births, giving a general fertility rate of 43.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.

Communities

Cities

• Prescott
• River Falls (partly in St. Croix County)

Villages

• Bay City
• Ellsworth (county seat)
• Elmwood
• Maiden Rock
• Plum City
• Spring Valley (partly in St. Croix County)

Towns

• Clifton
• Diamond Bluff
• El Paso
• Ellsworth
• Gilman
• Hartland
• Isabelle
• Maiden Rock
• Martell
• Oak Grove
• River Falls
• Rock Elm
• Salem
• Spring Lake
• Trenton
• Trimbelle
• Union

Census-designated places

• Diamond Bluff
• Hager City

Unincorporated communities

• Beldenville
• El Paso
• Esdaile
• Exile
• Hatchville (partial)
• Lawton
• Lund
• Martell
• Moeville
• Morton Corner
• Nerike
• North Red Wing
• Oakridge
• Olivet
• Ono
• Ottman Corners
• Pucketville
• Rock Elm
• Salem
• Smith Landing
• Snows Corner
• Trenton
• Trimbelle
• Viking (partial)
• Warrentown
• Waverly

Ghost town/neighborhood

• Brasington

Transportation

Railroads

• BNSF

Buses

Politics

Originally a swing county, Pierce joined the Democratic column beginning in 1988. In 2012, Republican Mitt Romney won the county by a narrow 162-vote plurality, and it has trended more Republican ever since. In 2024, Donald Trump's performance was the strongest for a Republican in the county since Dwight Eisenhower in 1956.

References

References

1. Chicago and North Western Railway Company. (1908). "A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "The History of Pierce County".
4. (June 2015). "Pierce County Pre-1800s".
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates Tables". United States Census Bureau.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
9. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
10. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. "2020 Decennial Census: Pierce County, Wisconsin". U.S. Census Bureau.
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables".
18. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".