Forest County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,304. Its county seat is Crandon. The Forest County Potawatomi Community and the Sokaogon Chippewa Community have reservations in Forest County.
History
Forest County was created by the Wisconsin State Legislature in 1885 from portions of neighboring Langlade and Oconto counties. The county was named for the forests contained within its limits.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (3.1%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Florence County - northeast
Marinette County - east
Oconto County - southeast
Langlade County - southwest
Oneida County - west
Vilas County - northwest
Iron County, Michigan - north
Major highways
Airport
Y55 - Crandon Municipal Airport
National protected area
Nicolet National Forest (part)
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,024 people, 4,043 households, and 2,769 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km2). There were 8,322 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.86% White, 11.30% Native American, 1.18% Black or African American, 0.17% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.3% were of German, 11.4% Polish, 7.4% Irish and 5.4% American ancestry. 95.5% spoke English, 1.4% Spanish and 1.0% Potawatomi as their first language.
Out of the 4,043 households, 29.20% had children under the age of 18, 54.00% had a married couple living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 13.20%, of individuals of 65 years of age or older living alone. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.89.
The age distribution in the county's population was as follows: 25.30% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.00 males.
In 2017, there were 102 births, giving a general fertility rate of 71.1 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 14th highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. There were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Forest County residence in 2017.
Communities
City
Crandon (county seat)
Towns
Alvin
Argonne
Armstrong Creek
Blackwell
Caswell
Crandon
Freedom
Hiles
Laona
Lincoln
Nashville
Popple River
Ross
Wabeno
Census-designated places
Argonne
Laona
Mole Lake
Newald
Wabeno
Unincorporated communities
Alvin
Armstrong Creek
Atkins
Blackwell
Blackwell Junction
Bonneval
Carter
Cavour
Hiles
Laona Junction
Nashville
Nelma
Padus
Popple River
Soperton
Wisconsin Junction
Woodlawn
Ghost towns/neighborhoods
Bagdad
Keith
Images
Politics
