Buffalo County, Wisconsin

County in Wisconsin, United States

U.S. county in Wisconsin

Buffalo County

U.S. county

Alma Area Museum in Old Buffalo County Training School and Teachers College Building in Alma, Wisconsin.

Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin

Wisconsin's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Wisconsin
Founded| 1854
Named for| Buffalo River
Seat| Alma
Largest city| Mondovi
Area

• Total| 710 sq mi (1,800 km2)
• Land| 672 sq mi (1,740 km2)
• Water| 38 sq mi (100 km2)  5.3%
Population

(2020)[1]

• Total| 13,317
• Density| 19.7/sq mi (7.6/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 3rd
Website| www.buffalocounty.com

Buffalo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,317.[1] Its county seat is Alma.[2] The county was created in 1853 and organized the following year.[3][4]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Adjacent counties
* 2.2 Major highways
* 2.3 Railroads
* 2.4 Buses
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 2020 census
* 3.2 2000 census
* 4 Communities
* 4.1 Cities
* 4.2 Villages
* 4.3 Towns
* 4.4 Census-designated places
* 4.5 Other unincorporated communities
* 4.6 Ghost towns/neighborhoods
* 5 Politics
* 6 Notable people
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 Further reading
* 10 External links

## History

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Buffalo County, founded in 1853, is named for the Buffalo River, which flows from Strum to Alma, where it empties into the Mississippi River. The Buffalo River obtained its name from the French voyager Father Louis Hennepin, who named it Riviere des Boeufs in 1680. The first permanent settlement was established in 1839, located in what is now Fountain City. This settlement was originally named Holmes' Landing after a family who traded with the Sioux and Chippewa. Buffalo County was settled primarily by Swiss, German, and Norwegian immigrants who were drawn to the area by the growing lumber industry, fertile soils, access to the Mississippi, and available land. By 1848, a second community was established called Twelve Mile Bluff, which is now known as Alma.

Soils of Buffalo County

Agriculture developed during the 1850s on top of the ridges where natural prairies and oak savannas occurred, which made working the land much easier. With the lack of good roads, settlement remained along the Mississippi River, where farmers could ship their grain on steamboats. The development of the Northern Rail from Winona, Minnesota, allowed for development away from the river, and by 1890, farmers were transporting their goods predominantly by rail.

The Civil War gave a boost to the local economy with the rising demand for wheat, which was the main crop of the county. The postwar period brought a large influx of settlers; however, because of declining soil fertility, many moved west rather than adopt crop rotation and fertilization.[citation needed] With the price of wheat falling, farmers turned to dairy farming, and by the 1880s, local creameries had started to appear.

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 710 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 672 square miles (1,740 km2) are land and 38 square miles (98 km2) (5.3%) are covered by water.[5]

### Adjacent counties

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* Pepin County – north
* Eau Claire County – northeast
* Trempealeau County – east
* Winona County, Minnesota – south
* Wabasha County, Minnesota – west

### Major highways

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* U.S. Highway 10
* Highway 25 (Wisconsin)
* File:WIS 35.svg Highway 35 (Wisconsin)
* File:WIS 37.svg Highway 37 (Wisconsin)

* Highway 54 (Wisconsin)
* File:WIS 88.svg Highway 88 (Wisconsin)
* File:WIS 95.svg Highway 95 (Wisconsin)
* File:WIS 121.svg Highway 121 (Wisconsin)

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### Railroads

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* BNSF

### Buses

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* List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 3,864| | —
1870| 11,123| | 187.9%
1880| 15,528| | 39.6%
1890| 15,997| | 3.0%
1900| 16,765| | 4.8%
1910| 16,006| | −4.5%
1920| 15,615| | −2.4%
1930| 15,330| | −1.8%
1940| 16,090| | 5.0%
1950| 14,719| | −8.5%
1960| 14,202| | −3.5%
1970| 13,743| | −3.2%
1980| 14,309| | 4.1%
1990| 13,584| | −5.1%
2000| 13,804| | 1.6%
2010| 13,587| | −1.6%
2020| 13,317| | −2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[1]

### 2020 census

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As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 13,317. The population density was 19.7 inhabitants per square mile (7.6/km2). There were 6,506 housing units at an average density of 9.6 per square mile (3.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.0% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

### 2000 census

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

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 13,804 people, 5,511 households, and 3,780 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (8/km2). There were 6,098 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.69% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.3% were of German, 22.1% Norwegian and 8.8% Polish ancestry. 96.9% spoke English, 1.6% Spanish and 1.1% German as their first language.

There were 5,511 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.40 males.

In 2017, there were 121 births, giving a general fertility rate of 58.4 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 22nd lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. 33 of the births were to unmarried mothers, 88 to married mothers.[12] Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Buffalo County residence in 2017.[13]

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Alma (county seat)
* Buffalo City
* Fountain City
* Mondovi

### Villages

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* Cochrane
* Nelson

### Towns

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* Alma
* Belvidere
* Buffalo
* Canton
* Cross
* Dover
* Gilmanton
* Glencoe
* Lincoln
* Maxville
* Milton
* Modena
* Mondovi
* Montana
* Naples
* Nelson
* Waumandee

### Census-designated places

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* Gilmanton
* Waumandee

### Other unincorporated communities

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* Bluff Siding
* Cream
* Czechville
* East Winona
* Glencoe
* Herold
* Lookout
* Marshland
* Maxville
* Misha Mokwa
* Modena
* Montana
* Praag
* Tell
* Trevino
* Urne

### Ghost towns/neighborhoods

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* Anchorage
* Bohri
* Savoy
* Springdale

## Politics

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United States presidential election results for Buffalo County, Wisconsin[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

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|
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No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 4,834  | 61.85% | 2,860  | 36.59%  | 122  | 1.56%
2016 | 4,048  | 57.99% | 2,525  | 36.17%  | 408  | 5.84%
2012 | 3,364  | 47.79%  | 3,570  | 50.72% | 105  | 1.49%
2008 | 2,923  | 41.76%  | 3,949  | 56.41% | 128  | 1.83%
2004 | 3,502  | 46.13%  | 3,998  | 52.67% | 91  | 1.20%
2000 | 3,038  | 45.75%  | 3,237  | 48.74% | 366  | 5.51%
1996 | 1,800  | 32.39%  | 2,681  | 48.25% | 1,076  | 19.36%
1992 | 2,029  | 29.19%  | 2,996  | 43.11% | 1,925  | 27.70%
1988 | 2,783  | 44.08%  | 3,481  | 55.14% | 49  | 0.78%
1984 | 3,325  | 52.74% | 2,921  | 46.34%  | 58  | 0.92%
1980 | 3,569  | 48.11% | 3,276  | 44.16%  | 573  | 7.72%
1976 | 2,844  | 44.25%  | 3,448  | 53.65% | 135  | 2.10%
1972 | 3,079  | 54.40% | 2,461  | 43.48%  | 120  | 2.12%
1968 | 2,992  | 54.21% | 2,112  | 38.27%  | 415  | 7.52%
1964 | 2,091  | 36.31%  | 3,663  | 63.60% | 5  | 0.09%
1960 | 3,464  | 55.37% | 2,790  | 44.60%  | 2  | 0.03%
1956 | 3,387  | 59.83% | 2,266  | 40.03%  | 8  | 0.14%
1952 | 4,233  | 67.92% | 1,988  | 31.90%  | 11  | 0.18%
1948 | 2,350  | 47.07%  | 2,563  | 51.33% | 80  | 1.60%
1944 | 3,416  | 63.19% | 1,948  | 36.03%  | 42  | 0.78%
1940 | 4,056  | 60.76% | 2,516  | 37.69%  | 103  | 1.54%
1936 | 2,481  | 40.05%  | 3,434  | 55.44% | 279  | 4.50%
1932 | 1,711  | 34.03%  | 3,252  | 64.68% | 65  | 1.29%
1928 | 3,027  | 61.88% | 1,836  | 37.53%  | 29  | 0.59%
1924 | 1,324  | 33.05%  | 176  | 4.39%  | 2,506  | 62.56%
1920 | 3,082  | 85.40% | 299  | 8.28%  | 228  | 6.32%
1916 | 1,492  | 56.54% | 1,043  | 39.52%  | 104  | 3.94%
1912 | 1,239  | 48.65% | 848  | 33.29%  | 460  | 18.06%
1908 | 1,937  | 63.72% | 1,027  | 33.78%  | 76  | 2.50%
1904 | 2,147  | 68.35% | 911  | 29.00%  | 83  | 2.64%
1900 | 2,091  | 62.40% | 1,205  | 35.96%  | 55  | 1.64%
1896 | 2,301  | 61.89% | 1,302  | 35.02%  | 115  | 3.09%
1892 | 1,523  | 49.46% | 1,393  | 45.24%  | 163  | 5.29%

## Notable people

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* Chauncey H. Cooke (1846–1919), American soldier in the U.S. Civil War[15]

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Buffalo County, Wisconsin
* Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge
* Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

## References

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1. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census: Buffalo County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Home Page". Archived from the original on December 20, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
4. ^ "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.
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 June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
12. ^ "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.
13. ^ 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
14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
15. ^ Mulligan, William H. Jr.; Cooke, Chauncey Herbert (2007). A Badger Boy in Blue: The Civil War Letters of Chauncey H. Cooke. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 1\. ISBN 978-0-8143-3343-3. Retrieved March 29, 2016.

## Further reading

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* Biographical History of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: Lewis Publishing, 1892.
* Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn (ed.). History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin. Winona, Minn.: H. C. Cooper, 1919.
* Kessinger, L. History of Buffalo County, Wisconsin. Alma, Wis.: 1888.

## External links

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Wikisource has the text of an 1879 American Cyclopædia article about Buffalo County, Wisconsin.

* Buffalo County government website
* Buffalo County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Places adjacent to Buffalo County, Wisconsin

|  | Pepin County | Eau Claire County

|
|

|  |
Wabasha County, Minnesota |

Buffalo County, Wisconsin

| Trempealeau County
|  |
| Winona County, Minnesota |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States

County seat: Alma

Cities|

* Alma
* Buffalo City
* Fountain City
* Mondovi

Error creating thumbnail:

Villages|

* Cochrane
* Nelson

Towns|

* Alma
* Belvidere
* Buffalo
* Canton
* Cross
* Dover
* Gilmanton
* Glencoe
* Lincoln
* Maxville
* Milton
* Modena
* Mondovi
* Montana
* Naples
* Nelson
* Waumandee

CDPs|

* Gilmanton
* Waumandee

Unincorporated
communities|

* Bluff Siding
* Cream
* Czechville
* East Winona
* Glencoe
* Herold
* Lookout
* Marshland
* Maxville
* Misha Mokwa
* Modena
* Montana
* Praag
* Tell
* Trevino
* Urne

Ghost towns|

* Anchorage
* Bohri
* Savoy
* Springdale

* 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: 44°23′N 91°45′W﻿ / ﻿44.38°N 91.75°W﻿ / 44.38; -91.75
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