Bayfield County, Wisconsin

Bayfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, its population is 16,220. Its county seat is Washburn. The county was created in 1845 and organized in 1850. The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has a reservation in Bayfield County and is the county's largest employer. The county is considered a high-recreation retirement destination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. History Originally, in 1848 it was named La Pointe County, Wisconsin. After Douglas (1854) and Ashland (1860) Counties were split off from the original La Pointe County, the remainder was renamed Bayfield County on April 12, 1866. Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,042 square miles (5,290 km2), of which 1,478 square miles (3,830 km2) is land and 564 square miles (1,460 km2) (28%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Wisconsin by total area and second-largest by land area. Adjacent counties Ashland County – east Sawyer County – south Washburn County – southwest Douglas County – west Lake County, Minnesota – north Major highways Buses Bay Area Rural Transit Indian Trails Airport Cable Union Airport (FAA LID: 3CU) serves Bayfield County and the surrounding communities. National protected areas Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (part) Chequamegon National Forest (part) Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge Demographics Racial and ethnic composition 2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,220. The population density was 11.0 people per square mile (4.2 people/km2). There were 13,238 housing units at an average density of 9.0 units per square mile (3.5 units/km2). The median age was 54.2 years. 17.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 29.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.7 males age 18 and over. The racial makeup of the county was 83.2% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 10.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 5.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.7% of the population. <0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas. There were 7,432 households in the county, of which 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.1% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Of the 13,238 housing units, 43.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.8% were owner-occupied and 19.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.9%. 2010 census As of the 2010 census, there were 15,014 people living in the county. 86.7% were White, 9.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.2% of some other race and 2.9% of two or more races. 1.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 15,013 people, 6,207 households, and 4,276 families living in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km2). There were 11,640 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.46% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 9.39% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.3% were of German, 10.4% Norwegian, 8.4% Swedish, 6.1% Irish, 5.9% Polish, 5.7% Finnish and 5.0% English ancestry. 96.8% spoke English as their first language. There were 6,207 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 28.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.70 males. In 2017, there were 116 births, giving a general fertility rate of 66.6 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 23rd highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Bayfield County residence in 2017. Communities Cities Ashland (mostly in Ashland County) Bayfield Washburn (county seat) Village Mason Towns Census-designated places Cable Cornucopia Drummond Grand View Herbster Iron River Port Wing Unincorporated communities Politics During the 1930s and 1940s at the state level Bayfield county was a stronghold for the Wisconsin Progressive Party - National Progressives. voting consistently for Philip La Follette during gubernatorial elections and Robert M. La Follette Jr. for senate. Today Bayfield County is a Democratic bastion, having voted for the Democrat in every presidential election since 1932 except for three nationwide Republican landslides in 1952, 1956, and 1972. See also Lake Namakagon National Register of Historic Places listings in Bayfield County, Wisconsin Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa USS Bayfield (APA-33) List of counties in Wisconsin References Further reading Bayfield County, Wisconsin: Its Past, Present and Future. n.p., 1905. External links Bayfield County government website Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation Old plat maps: 1906 1954 Bayfield County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation