Bayfield County, Wisconsin

County in Wisconsin, United States

U.S. county in Wisconsin

Bayfield County

U.S. county

Bayfield County Courthouse

Bayfield County Courthouse

Map of Wisconsin highlighting Bayfield County

Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin

Wisconsin's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State| File:Flag of Wisconsin.svg Wisconsin
Founded| 1845
Named for| Henry Bayfield
Seat| Washburn
Largest city| Washburn
Area

• Total| 2,042 sq mi (5,290 km2)
• Land| 1,478 sq mi (3,830 km2)
• Water| 564 sq mi (1,460 km2)  28%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 16,220
• Density| 7.9/sq mi (3.1/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 7th
Website| www.bayfieldcounty.org

Bayfield County is the northernmost county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, its population is 16,220.[1] Its county seat is Washburn.[2] The county was created in 1845 and organized in 1850.[3] The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has a reservation in Bayfield County and is the county's largest employer.[4]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Adjacent counties
* 2.2 Major highways
* 2.3 Buses
* 2.4 Airport
* 2.5 National protected areas
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 2020 census
* 3.2 2010 census
* 3.3 2000 census
* 4 Communities
* 4.1 Cities
* 4.2 Village
* 4.3 Towns
* 4.4 Census-designated places
* 4.5 Unincorporated communities
* 5 Politics
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 8 Further reading
* 9 External links

## History

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Originally, in 1848 it was named La Pointe County, Wisconsin. After Douglas (1854) and Ashland (1860) Counties were split off from the original La Pointe County, the remainder was renamed Bayfield County on April 12, 1866.

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,042 square miles (5,290 km2), of which 1,478 square miles (3,830 km2) is land and 564 square miles (1,460 km2) (28%) is water.[5] It is the third-largest county in Wisconsin by total area and second-largest by land area.

### Adjacent counties

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* Ashland County – east
* Sawyer County – south
* Washburn County – southwest
* Douglas County – west
* Lake County, Minnesota – north

### Major highways

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* U.S. Highway 2
* U.S. Highway 63
* Highway 13 (Wisconsin)

* File:WIS 27.svg Highway 27 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 118 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 137 (Wisconsin)

|

### Buses

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* Bay Area Rural Transit
* Indian Trails
* List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

### Airport

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Cable Union Airport (FAA LID: 3CU) serves Bayfield County and the surrounding communities.

### National protected areas

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* Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (part)
* Chequamegon National Forest (part)
* Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1850| 489| | —
1860| 353| | −27.8%
1870| 344| | −2.5%
1880| 564| | 64.0%
1890| 7,390| | 1,210.3%
1900| 14,392| | 94.7%
1910| 15,987| | 11.1%
1920| 17,201| | 7.6%
1930| 15,006| | −12.8%
1940| 15,827| | 5.5%
1950| 13,760| | −13.1%
1960| 11,910| | −13.4%
1970| 11,683| | −1.9%
1980| 13,822| | 18.3%
1990| 14,008| | 1.3%
2000| 15,013| | 7.2%
2010| 15,014| | 0.0%
2020| 16,220| | 8.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[11]

### 2020 census

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As of the census of 2020,[11] the population was 16,220. The population density was 11.0 inhabitants per square mile (4.2/km2). There were 13,238 housing units at an average density of 9.0 per square mile (3.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 83.2% White, 10.5% Native American, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 5.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.7% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

### 2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 15,014 people living in the county. 86.7% were White, 9.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.2% of some other race and 2.9% of two or more races. 1.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

### 2000 census

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File:USA Bayfield County, Wisconsin age pyramid.svg2000 Census Age Pyramid for Bayfield County

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 15,013 people, 6,207 households, and 4,276 families living in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km2). There were 11,640 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.46% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 9.39% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.3% were of German, 10.4% Norwegian, 8.4% Swedish, 6.1% Irish, 5.9% Polish, 5.7% Finnish and 5.0% English ancestry. 96.8% spoke English as their first language.

There were 6,207 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 28.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.70 males.

In 2017, there were 116 births, giving a general fertility rate of 66.6 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 23rd highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[13] Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Bayfield County residence in 2017.[14]

## Communities

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File:Bayfield County Wisconsin Sign US2 WIS13.jpgCounty sign on US2 / WIS13

### Cities

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* Ashland (mostly in Ashland County)
* Bayfield
* Washburn (county seat)

### Village

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* Mason

### Towns

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* Barksdale
* Barnes
* Bayfield
* Bayview
* Bell
* Cable
* Clover
* Delta
* Drummond
* Eileen
* Grand View
* Hughes
* Iron River
* Kelly
* Keystone
* Lincoln
* Mason
* Namakagon
* Orienta
* Oulu
* Pilsen
* Port Wing
* Russell
* Tripp
* Washburn

### Census-designated places

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* Cable
* Cornucopia
* Drummond
* Grand View
* Herbster
* Iron River
* Port Wing

### Unincorporated communities

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* Ashland Junction
* Barksdale
* Bark Point
* Benoit
* Delta
* Ino
* Lake Owen
* Leonards
* Moquah
* Muskeg
* Namekagon
* Pike River
* Radspur
* Pureair
* Oulu
* Red Cliff
* Salmo
* Sand Bay
* Sioux
* Sutherland
* Topside
* Wills

## Politics

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Bayfield County has voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1960, except 1972.

United States presidential election results for Bayfield County, Wisconsin[15] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 4,617  | 42.44%  | 6,147  | 56.50% | 116  | 1.07%
2016 | 4,124  | 42.90%  | 4,953  | 51.53% | 535  | 5.57%
2012 | 3,603  | 36.81%  | 6,033  | 61.64% | 152  | 1.55%
2008 | 3,365  | 35.54%  | 5,972  | 63.08% | 131  | 1.38%
2004 | 3,754  | 38.71%  | 5,845  | 60.26% | 100  | 1.03%
2000 | 3,266  | 39.54%  | 4,427  | 53.60% | 566  | 6.85%
1996 | 2,250  | 30.65%  | 3,895  | 53.07% | 1,195  | 16.28%
1992 | 2,393  | 29.50%  | 3,873  | 47.74% | 1,846  | 22.76%
1988 | 3,095  | 41.50%  | 4,323  | 57.96% | 40  | 0.54%
1984 | 3,474  | 45.91%  | 4,034  | 53.31% | 59  | 0.78%
1980 | 3,278  | 42.08%  | 3,705  | 47.57% | 806  | 10.35%
1976 | 2,624  | 39.21%  | 3,885  | 58.05% | 184  | 2.75%
1972 | 3,045  | 51.92% | 2,736  | 46.65%  | 84  | 1.43%
1968 | 2,333  | 40.92%  | 3,036  | 53.24% | 333  | 5.84%
1964 | 1,886  | 32.65%  | 3,875  | 67.08% | 16  | 0.28%
1960 | 2,841  | 46.88%  | 3,196  | 52.74% | 23  | 0.38%
1956 | 3,096  | 53.32% | 2,691  | 46.35%  | 19  | 0.33%
1952 | 3,419  | 55.98% | 2,616  | 42.84%  | 72  | 1.18%
1948 | 2,338  | 40.07%  | 3,081  | 52.80% | 416  | 7.13%
1944 | 2,475  | 42.02%  | 3,362  | 57.08% | 53  | 0.90%
1940 | 2,829  | 38.53%  | 4,387  | 59.75% | 126  | 1.72%
1936 | 2,071  | 31.08%  | 4,366  | 65.53% | 226  | 3.39%
1932 | 2,035  | 38.14%  | 2,981  | 55.88% | 319  | 5.98%
1928 | 3,279  | 63.41% | 1,709  | 33.05%  | 183  | 3.54%
1924 | 1,675  | 36.41%  | 205  | 4.46%  | 2,720  | 59.13%
1920 | 2,536  | 73.34% | 589  | 17.03%  | 333  | 9.63%
1916 | 1,320  | 51.10% | 996  | 38.56%  | 267  | 10.34%
1912 | 514  | 23.03%  | 666  | 29.84%  | 1,052  | 47.13%
1908 | 1,957  | 70.27% | 579  | 20.79%  | 249  | 8.94%
1904 | 2,665  | 84.98% | 350  | 11.16%  | 121  | 3.86%
1900 | 2,428  | 76.93% | 632  | 20.03%  | 96  | 3.04%
1896 | 2,244  | 72.57% | 770  | 24.90%  | 78  | 2.52%
1892 | 1,467  | 50.50% | 1,349  | 46.44%  | 89  | 3.06%

## See also

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* Lake Namakagon
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Bayfield County, Wisconsin
* Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
* USS Bayfield (APA-33)

## References

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1. ^ Bureau, US Census. "2020 Population and Housing State Data". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
4. ^ "Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa". Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. September 5, 2017.
5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
11. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census: Bayfield County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. ^ "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
14. ^ 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
15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

## Further reading

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* Bayfield County, Wisconsin: Its Past, Present and Future. n.p., 1905.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bayfield County, Wisconsin.

* Bayfield County government website
* Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation
* Bayfield County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Places adjacent to Bayfield County, Wisconsin

|  | Lake County, Minnesota | Cook County, Minnesota

|
|

|  |
Douglas County |

Bayfield County, Wisconsin

| Ashland County
|  |
Washburn County | Sawyer County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States

County seat: Washburn

Cities|

* Ashland‡
* Bayfield
* Washburn

File:Map of Wisconsin highlighting Bayfield County.svg

Village|

* Mason

Towns|

* Barksdale
* Barnes
* Bayfield
* Bayview
* Bell
* Cable
* Clover
* Delta
* Drummond
* Eileen
* Grandview
* Hughes
* Iron River
* Kelly
* Keystone
* Lincoln
* Mason
* Namakagon
* Orienta
* Oulu
* Pilsen
* Port Wing
* Russell
* Tripp
* Washburn

CDPs|

* Cable
* Cornucopia
* Drummond
* Grand View
* Herbster
* Iron River
* Port Wing

Unincorporated
communities|

* Ashland Junction
* Bark Point
* Barksdale
* Benoit
* Delta
* Ino
* Lake Owen
* Leonards
* Moquah
* Muskeg
* Namekagon
* Oulu
* Pike River
* Pureair
* Radspur
* Red Cliff
* Salmo
* Sand Bay
* Sioux
* Sutherland
* Topside
* Wills

Indian
reservation|

* Red Cliff

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Wisconsin

Madison (capital)

Topics|

* Outline
* Agriculture
* Dairy industry
* Geography
* Islands
* Lakes
* Governors
* Delegations
* History
* People
* Sports
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Administrative divisions
* Crime
* Culture
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Politics

Regions|

* Apostle Islands
* Central Plain
* Chippewa Valley
* Door Peninsula
* Driftless Area
* Eastern Ridges and Lowlands
* Fox River Valley
* Great River Road
* Lake Superior Lowland
* Northern Highland
* Western Upland

Major metropolitan areas
(pop. over 500,000)|

* Chicago metropolitan area
* Madison metropolitan area
* Milwaukee metropolitan area
* Twin Cities metropolitan area

Largest cities
(pop. over 50,000)|

* Appleton
* Eau Claire
* Green Bay
* Janesville
* Kenosha
* La Crosse
* Madison
* Milwaukee
* Oshkosh
* Racine
* Waukesha
* West Allis

Smaller cities
(pop. 15,000 to 50,000)|

* Beaver Dam
* Beloit
* Brookfield
* Cudahy
* De Pere
* Fitchburg
* Fond du Lac
* Franklin
* Greenfield
* Hartford
* Hudson
* Kaukauna
* Manitowoc
* Marshfield
* Menasha
* Menomonie
* Mequon
* Middleton
* Muskego
* Neenah
* New Berlin
* Oak Creek
* Oconomowoc
* Onalaska
* River Falls
* Sheboygan
* South Milwaukee
* Stevens Point
* Sun Prairie
* Superior
* Watertown
* Wausau
* Wauwatosa
* West Bend
* Wisconsin Rapids

Largest villages
(pop. over 15,000)|

* Ashwaubenon
* Bellevue
* Caledonia
* Fox Crossing
* Germantown
* Howard
* Menomonee Falls
* Mount Pleasant
* Pleasant Prairie

Counties|

* Adams
* Ashland
* Barron
* Bayfield
* Brown
* Buffalo
* Burnett
* Calumet
* Chippewa
* Clark
* Columbia
* Crawford
* Dane
* Dodge
* Door
* Douglas
* Dunn
* Eau Claire
* Florence
* Fond du Lac
* Forest
* Grant
* Green
* Green Lake
* Iowa
* Iron
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Juneau
* Kenosha
* Kewaunee
* La Crosse
* Lafayette
* Langlade
* Lincoln
* Manitowoc
* Marathon
* Marinette
* Marquette
* Menominee
* Milwaukee
* Monroe
* Oconto
* Oneida
* Outagamie
* Ozaukee
* Pepin
* Pierce
* Polk
* Portage
* Price
* Racine
* Richland
* Rock
* Rusk
* Sauk
* Sawyer
* Shawano
* Sheboygan
* St. Croix
* Taylor
* Trempealeau
* Vernon
* Vilas
* Walworth
* Washburn
* Washington
* Waukesha
* Waupaca
* Waushara
* Winnebago
* Wood

Coordinates: 46°38′N 91°11′W﻿ / ﻿46.63°N 91.18°W﻿ / 46.63; -91.18
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