Pierce County, Wisconsin

County in Wisconsin, United States

U.S. county in Wisconsin

Pierce County

U.S. county

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Pierce County Courthouse

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Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin

Wisconsin's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Wisconsin
Founded| 1853
Named for| Franklin Pierce[1]
Seat| Ellsworth
Largest city| River Falls
Area

• Total| 592 sq mi (1,530 km2)
• Land| 574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Water| 18 sq mi (50 km2)  3.1%%
Population

(2020)[2]

• Total| 42,212
• Density| 73.5/sq mi (28.4/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 3rd
Website| www.co.pierce.wi.us

Pierce County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,212.[2] Its county seat is Ellsworth.[3]

Pierce County is part of the Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Adjacent counties
* 2.2 National protected area
* 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 Unincorporated communities
* 4.6 Ghost town/neighborhood
* 5 Transportation
* 5.1 Railroads
* 5.2 Buses
* 6 Politics
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 Further reading
* 10 External links

## History

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Native American 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 fourteenth president of the United States.[4][5]

## Geography

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File:Pierce Co WI Pie Chart No Text Version.pdfSoils of Pierce County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 592 square miles (1,530 km2), of which 574 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (3.1%) is water.[6]

### Adjacent counties

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* 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

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* Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (part)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 4,672| | —
1870| 9,958| | 113.1%
1880| 17,744| | 78.2%
1890| 20,385| | 14.9%
1900| 23,943| | 17.5%
1910| 22,079| | −7.8%
1920| 21,663| | −1.9%
1930| 21,043| | −2.9%
1940| 21,471| | 2.0%
1950| 21,448| | −0.1%
1960| 22,503| | 4.9%
1970| 26,652| | 18.4%
1980| 31,149| | 16.9%
1990| 32,765| | 5.2%
2000| 36,804| | 12.3%
2010| 41,019| | 11.5%
2020| 42,212| | 2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[2]

### 2020 census

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As of the census of 2020,[2] the population was 42,212. The population density was 73.5 inhabitants per square mile (28.4/km2). There were 16,780 housing units at an average density of 29.2 per square mile (11.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.3% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 1.1% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

### 2000 census

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

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 36,804 people, 13,015 households, and 9,032 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile (25/km2). There were 13,493 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (9/km2). 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.[13]

## Communities

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File:Pierce County Wisconsin Sign WIS35.jpgThe sign for Pierce County on WIS35

See also: Administrative divisions of Wisconsin

### Cities

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

### Villages

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

### Towns

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* 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

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* Diamond Bluff
* Hager City

### Unincorporated communities

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* 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

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* Brasington

## Transportation

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### Railroads

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* BNSF

### Buses

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* List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

## Politics

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

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 12,815  | 54.96% | 9,796  | 42.01%  | 706  | 3.03%
2016 | 11,272  | 52.73% | 8,399  | 39.29%  | 1,705  | 7.98%
2012 | 10,397  | 49.46% | 10,235  | 48.69%  | 388  | 1.85%
2008 | 9,812  | 44.38%  | 11,803  | 53.39% | 492  | 2.23%
2004 | 10,437  | 47.71%  | 11,176  | 51.09% | 263  | 1.20%
2000 | 8,169  | 45.48%  | 8,559  | 47.65% | 1,234  | 6.87%
1996 | 4,599  | 30.66%  | 7,970  | 53.13% | 2,431  | 16.21%
1992 | 4,844  | 28.05%  | 7,824  | 45.30% | 4,604  | 26.66%
1988 | 6,045  | 40.87%  | 8,659  | 58.55% | 85  | 0.57%
1984 | 7,612  | 50.74% | 7,289  | 48.58%  | 102  | 0.68%
1980 | 6,209  | 39.68%  | 7,312  | 46.73% | 2,125  | 13.58%
1976 | 5,676  | 40.36%  | 8,039  | 57.16% | 349  | 2.48%
1972 | 5,899  | 50.35% | 5,611  | 47.89%  | 206  | 1.76%
1968 | 4,990  | 48.76% | 4,783  | 46.74%  | 461  | 4.50%
1964 | 3,291  | 34.05%  | 6,351  | 65.70% | 24  | 0.25%
1960 | 5,632  | 56.56% | 4,317  | 43.35%  | 9  | 0.09%
1956 | 5,782  | 61.13% | 3,644  | 38.53%  | 32  | 0.34%
1952 | 6,763  | 67.49% | 3,241  | 32.34%  | 17  | 0.17%
1948 | 3,753  | 45.18%  | 4,395  | 52.91% | 158  | 1.90%
1944 | 5,137  | 62.40% | 3,033  | 36.84%  | 63  | 0.77%
1940 | 6,624  | 66.25% | 3,259  | 32.59%  | 116  | 1.16%
1936 | 3,935  | 42.70%  | 4,061  | 44.06% | 1,220  | 13.24%
1932 | 3,537  | 44.32%  | 4,115  | 51.57% | 328  | 4.11%
1928 | 6,491  | 67.65% | 3,017  | 31.44%  | 87  | 0.91%
1924 | 2,788  | 40.97%  | 298  | 4.38%  | 3,719  | 54.65%
1920 | 4,441  | 82.62% | 644  | 11.98%  | 290  | 5.40%
1916 | 1,945  | 51.88% | 1,650  | 44.01%  | 154  | 4.11%
1912 | 986  | 29.13%  | 985  | 29.10%  | 1,414  | 41.77%
1908 | 2,988  | 71.62% | 978  | 23.44%  | 206  | 4.94%
1904 | 3,492  | 82.28% | 594  | 14.00%  | 158  | 3.72%
1900 | 3,433  | 72.95% | 1,041  | 22.12%  | 232  | 4.93%
1896 | 3,724  | 69.79% | 1,412  | 26.46%  | 200  | 3.75%
1892 | 2,315  | 57.66% | 1,210  | 30.14%  | 490  | 12.20%

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Pierce County, Wisconsin
* The First Review of Pierce County

## References

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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. p. 163.
2. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census: Pierce County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ "The History of Pierce County". University of Wisconsin at River Falls. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
5. ^ "Pierce County Pre-1800s". Pierce County Historical Association. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
10. ^ "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 8, 2015.
11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
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 19, 2019.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved February 20, 2021.

## Further reading

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* Weld, Allen P. The Story of Pierce County. La Crosse, Wis.: Brookhaven Press.
* Saxton, Mark L. (1937). History of Pierce County, Wisconsin: For Use in the Pierce County Common Schools. Spring Valley, Wis.: Spring Valley Publishing Co., UWRF ARC F 587 .P6 H5
* Peterson, Ursula, ed. (1971). Pierce County's Heritage. Vol. 1\. River Falls, Wis.: Pierce County Historical Society., UWRF ARC F 587 .P6 P5 vol. 1.

## External links

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

Places adjacent to Pierce County, Wisconsin

|  | St. Croix County | Dunn County

|
|

|  |
Washington County, Minnesota |

Pierce County, Wisconsin

|  |
Dakota County, Minnesota | Goodhue County, Minnesota | Pepin County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Pierce County, Wisconsin, United States

County seat: Ellsworth

Cities|

* Prescott
* River Falls‡

Error creating thumbnail:

Villages|

* Bay City
* Ellsworth
* Elmwood
* Maiden Rock
* Plum City
* Spring Valley‡

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

CDPs|

* Diamond Bluff
* Hager City

Unincorporated
communities|

* Beldenville
* El Paso
* Esdaile
* Exile
* Hatchville‡
* Lawton
* Lund‡
* Martell
* Moeville
* Morton Corner
* Nerike
* North Red Wing
* Oakridge
* Olivet
* Ono
* Ottman Corners
* Pucketville
* Rock Elm
* Salem
* Snows Corner
* Trenton
* Trimbelle
* Viking‡
* Warrentown
* Waverly

Footnotes|

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

* United States portal

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State of Wisconsin

Madison (capital)

Topics|

* Outline
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Society|

* Administrative divisions
* Crime
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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
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* 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
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* Green Lake
* Iowa
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* Juneau
* Kenosha
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* 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°43′N 92°25′W﻿ / ﻿44.72°N 92.42°W﻿ / 44.72; -92.42
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