Barron County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,870. Its county seat is Barron. The county was created in 1859 and later organized in 1874.
History
The county was created in 1859 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 took the name Barron in honor of Wisconsin lawyer and politician Henry D. Barron, who served as circuit judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Barron County was organized in 1874. In the late 1800s and early 1900s a community of Russian immigrants moved to Barron County.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (3.0%) is water.
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
20px U.S. Highway 8
20px U.S. Highway 53
20px U.S. Highway 63
20px Highway 25 (Wisconsin)
20px Highway 48 (Wisconsin)
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
As of the census 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/km2). There were 20,969 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/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. Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Barron County residence in 2017.
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
