Washburn County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is named after Governor Cadwallader C. Washburn. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,911. Its county seat is Shell Lake. The county was created in 1883.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (6.6%) is water.
Major highways
20px U.S. Highway 53
20px U.S. Highway 63
20px Highway 48 (Wisconsin)
20px Highway 70 (Wisconsin)
20px Highway 77 (Wisconsin)
20px Highway 253 (Wisconsin)
Airport
Shell Lake Municipal Airport (KSSQ) serves the county and surrounding communities.
Adjacent counties
Douglas County - north
Bayfield County - northeast
Sawyer County - east
Rusk County - southeast
Barron County - south
Burnett County - west
National protected area
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (part)
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 16,036 people, 6,604 households, and 4,530 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (8/km2). There were 10,814 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.27% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 1.01% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.9% were of German, 11.4% Norwegian, 7.0% Irish, 6.2% Swedish, 6.1% English and 5.6% American ancestry.
There were 6,604 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.
In 2017, there were 153 births, giving a general fertility rate of 70.0 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 17th highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Washburn County residence in 2017.
Communities
Cities
Shell Lake (county seat)
Spooner
Villages
Birchwood
Minong
Towns
Barronett
Bashaw
Bass Lake
Beaver Brook
Birchwood
Brooklyn
Casey
Chicog
Crystal
Evergreen
Frog Creek
Gull Lake
Long Lake
Madge
Minong
Sarona
Spooner
Springbrook
Stinnett
Stone Lake
Trego
Census-designated places
Springbrook
Stone Lake (part)
Trego
Other unincorporated communities
Beaver Brook
Chicago Junction
Chittamo
Earl
Lampson
Madge
Nobleton
Sarona
Springbrook
Stanberry
Ghost towns
Harmon
Politics
