Richland County, Wisconsin

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 589 sqmi, of which 586 sqmi is land and 3.1 sqmi (0.5%) is water.

Major highways

• [[Image:US 14.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 14
• [[Image:WIS 56.svg|20px]] Highway 56 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 58.svg|20px]] Highway 58 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 60.svg|20px]] Highway 60 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 80.svg|20px]] Highway 80 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 130.svg|20px]] Highway 130 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 131.svg|20px]] Highway 131 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 133.svg|20px]] Highway 133 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 154.svg|20px]] Highway 154 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 171.svg|20px]] Highway 171 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 193.svg|20px]] Highway 193 (Wisconsin)

Airport

Richland Airport (93C) serves the county and surrounding communities.

Adjacent counties

• Vernon County – north
• Sauk County – east
• Iowa County – southeast
• Grant County – southwest
• Crawford County – west

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 17,304, the median age was 45.4 years, 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18, 23.4% were 65 years of age or older, and there were 104.5 males for every 100 females (102.4 per 100 females age 18 and over).

The population density was 29.5 /mi2 with 8,475 housing units at an average density of 14.5 /mi2.

The racial makeup of the county was 93.4% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian,

28.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 71.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,141 households in the county, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.1% were married-couple households, 21.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Of those housing units, 15.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.4% were owner-occupied and 25.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 17,924 people, 7,118 households, and 4,833 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 /mi2. There were 8,164 housing units at an average density of 14 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.39% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.7% were of German, 12.5% Norwegian, 10.3% Irish, 9.5% English and 8.8% American ancestry. 97.1% spoke English, 1.1% German, and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 7,118 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% 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 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% 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 94.90 males.

Communities

City

• Richland Center (county seat)

Villages

• Boaz
• Cazenovia (partly in Sauk County)
• Lone Rock
• Viola (partly in Vernon County)
• Yuba

Towns

• Akan
• Bloom
• Buena Vista
• Dayton
• Eagle
• Forest
• Henrietta
• Ithaca
• Marshall
• Orion
• Richland
• Richwood
• Rockbridge
• Sylvan
• Westford
• Willow

Census-designated places

• Gotham
• Sextonville

Unincorporated communities

• Ash Ridge
• Aubrey
• Balmoral
• Basswood
• Bear Valley
• Bloom City
• Bosstown
• Buck Creek
• Bunker Hill
• Byrds Creek
• Eagle Corners
• Excelsior
• Five Points
• Germantown
• Gillingham
• Hub City
• Ithaca
• Jimtown
• Keyesville
• Loyd
• Neptune
• Nevels Corners
• Orion
• Port Andrew
• Rockbridge
• Sabin
• Sand Prairie
• Sylvan
• Tavera
• Tunnelville (partial)
• Twin Bluffs
• West Lima
• Westport
• Wild Rose
• Woodstock

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

• Ashford
• Corwin
• Henrietta
• McGrew
• Mill Creek

Politics

Richland County has been a Republican-leaning county for most of its existence, only backing Democratic candidates six times and never giving them a vote share of more than 60%.

Notes

References

References

1. "Richland County, Wisconsin".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (2007). "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". [[Newberry Library.
4. (June 16, 1932). "Here's How Iron Got Its Name". The Rhinelander Daily News.
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
8. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
9. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
13. "2020 Decennial Census: Richland County, Wisconsin". U.S. Census Bureau.
14. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
15. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".