Barron County, Wisconsin

Barron County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,711.^[1] Its county seat is Barron.^[2] The county was created in 1859 and organized in 1874.^[3]

Barron County
County
Barron County Government Center
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°25′N 91°51′W
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Founded	1874
Named after	Henry D. Barron
Seat	Barron
Largest city	Rice Lake
Area
• Total	890 sq mi (2,300 km2)
• Land	863 sq mi (2,240 km2)
• Water	27 sq mi (70 km2)  3.0%
Population  (2020)
• Total	46,711
• Estimate  (2023)	46,833
• Density	52/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th
Website	www.barroncountywi.gov

History

The county was created in 1859^[4] as Dallas County (named after Vice President George M. Dallas), with the county seat located at Barron. It was renamed Barron County on March 4, 1869. The county's name honors Wisconsin lawyer and politician Henry D. Barron, who served as circuit judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.^[5][6] Barron County was organized in 1874.^[3]

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a community of Russian immigrants moved to Barron County.^[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 890 square miles (2,300 km²), of which 863 square miles (2,240 km²) is land and 27 square miles (70 km²) (3.0%) is water.^[8]

Adjacent counties

• Washburn County – north
• Sawyer County – northeast
• Rusk County – east
• Chippewa County – southeast
• Dunn County – south
• St. Croix County – southwest
• Polk County – west
• Burnett County – northwest

Major highways

The county sign for Barron County on County G

• U.S. Highway 8
• U.S. Highway 53
• U.S. Highway 63
• Highway 25 (Wisconsin)
• Highway 48 (Wisconsin)

Railroads

• Wisconsin Northern Railroad
• Canadian National

Buses

Airports

• KRPD - Rice Lake Regional Airport serves Barron County.
• KUBE - Cumberland Municipal Airport is located three miles south of Cumberland.
• Y23 - Chetek Municipal–Southworth Airport also serves the county and surrounding communities.
• 9Y7 - Barron Municipal Airport enhances county service.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	13		—
1870	538		4,038.5%
1880	7,024		1,205.6%
1890	15,416		119.5%
1900	23,677		53.6%
1910	29,114		23.0%
1920	34,281		17.7%
1930	34,301		0.1%
1940	34,289		0.0%
1950	34,703		1.2%
1960	34,270		−1.2%
1970	33,955		−0.9%
1980	38,730		14.1%
1990	40,750		5.2%
2000	44,963		10.3%
2010	45,870		2.0%
2020	46,711		1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010[13] 2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020,^[1] the population was 46,711. The population density was 54.1 people per square mile (20.9 people/km²). There were 23,779 housing units at an average density of 27.6 units per square mile (10.7 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.1% White, 1.8% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 1.2% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.7% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Barron County

As of the census^[14] of 2000, there were 44,963 people, 17,851 households, and 12,352 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km²). There were 20,969 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.69% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.81% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.4% were of German, 21.8% Norwegian and 5.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 17,851 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% 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 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% 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 96.00 males.

In 2017, there were 504 births, giving a general fertility rate of 70.6 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 15th highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.^[15] Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Barron County residence in 2017.^[16]

Communities

Cities

• Barron (county seat)
• Chetek
• Cumberland
• Rice Lake

Villages

• Almena
• Cameron
• Dallas
• Haugen
• New Auburn (mostly in Chippewa County)
• Prairie Farm
• Turtle Lake (partly in Polk County)

Towns

• Almena
• Arland
• Barron
• Bear Lake
• Cedar Lake
• Chetek
• Clinton
• Crystal Lake
• Cumberland
• Dallas
• Dovre
• Doyle
• Lakeland
• Maple Grove
• Maple Plain
• Oak Grove
• Prairie Farm
• Prairie Lake
• Rice Lake
• Sioux Creek
• Stanfold
• Stanley
• Sumner
• Turtle Lake
• Vance Creek

Census-designated place

• Barronett

Unincorporated communities

• Angus
• Arland
• Brill
• Campia
• Canton
• Comstock
• Dobie
• Graytown (part)
• Hillsdale
• Horseman
• Lehigh
• Mikana
• Poskin
• Reeve
• Sumner
• Twin Town
• Tuscobia
• Wickware

Politics

Barron County has been a longtime swing county, though it tended to more often vote Republican. The last Democrat to win the county was Barack Obama in 2008 and since then it has been consistently Republican. Donald Trump's performances in 2020 and subsequently in 2024 were the best by a Republican since the 1952 landslide election.^[17]

United States presidential election results for Barron County, Wisconsin^[18][19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	16,726	62.39%	8,941	33.35%	1,142	4.26%
2020	15,803	62.35%	9,194	36.27%	349	1.38%
2016	13,614	60.05%	7,889	34.80%	1,168	5.15%
2012	11,443	50.43%	10,890	47.99%	359	1.58%
2008	10,457	45.69%	12,078	52.77%	351	1.53%
2004	12,030	50.26%	11,696	48.86%	211	0.88%
2000	9,848	49.48%	8,928	44.86%	1,128	5.67%
1996	6,158	35.82%	8,025	46.68%	3,008	17.50%
1992	6,572	32.49%	8,063	39.86%	5,595	27.66%
1988	8,527	48.53%	8,951	50.94%	92	0.52%
1984	9,587	53.94%	8,061	45.36%	124	0.70%
1980	8,791	47.05%	8,654	46.32%	1,240	6.64%
1976	7,393	45.13%	8,678	52.97%	311	1.90%
1972	8,418	59.94%	5,376	38.28%	251	1.79%
1968	7,526	55.38%	5,183	38.14%	880	6.48%
1964	5,701	40.56%	8,332	59.28%	23	0.16%
1960	8,640	57.05%	6,464	42.68%	41	0.27%
1956	8,634	61.12%	5,419	38.36%	73	0.52%
1952	10,013	66.84%	4,902	32.72%	66	0.44%
1948	5,516	45.91%	6,148	51.17%	352	2.93%
1944	7,137	55.66%	5,585	43.55%	101	0.79%
1940	7,806	54.87%	6,183	43.46%	238	1.67%
1936	5,067	37.94%	7,419	55.55%	869	6.51%
1932	3,852	32.92%	7,413	63.35%	436	3.73%
1928	8,455	71.98%	3,185	27.12%	106	0.90%
1924	2,703	29.44%	377	4.11%	6,100	66.45%
1920	6,887	84.23%	742	9.08%	547	6.69%
1916	2,746	54.95%	1,863	37.28%	388	7.76%
1912	1,414	35.62%	1,065	26.83%	1,491	37.56%
1908	3,247	66.46%	1,266	25.91%	373	7.63%
1904	3,575	78.30%	625	13.69%	366	8.02%
1900	2,950	72.77%	943	23.26%	161	3.97%
1896	2,772	64.74%	1,324	30.92%	186	4.34%
1892	1,818	57.37%	767	24.20%	584	18.43%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Barron County, Wisconsin
• List of counties in Wisconsin