# 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.

## 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 km$^2$), of which 1,478 square miles (3,830 km$^2$) is land and 564 square miles (1,460 km$^2$) (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

| U.S. Highway 2 U.S. Highway 63 Highway 13 (Wisconsin) | Highway 27 (Wisconsin) Highway 118 (Wisconsin) Highway 137 (Wisconsin) |

### 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
### 2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 16,220. The population density was 11.0 people per square mile (4.2 people/km$^2$). There were 13,238 housing units at an average density of 9.0 units per square mile (3.5 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 83.2% White, 10.5% Native American, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 5.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.7% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

### 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/km$^2$). There were 11,640 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km$^2$). 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

* Barksdale
* Barnes
* Bayfield
* Bayview
* Bell
* Cable
* Clover
* Delta
* Drummond
* Eileen
* Grand View
* Hughes
* Iron River
* Kelly
* Keystone
* Lincoln
* Mason
* Namakagon
* Orienta
* Oulu
* Pilsen
* Port Wing
* Russell
* Tripp
* Washburn

### Census-designated places

* Cable
* Cornucopia
* Drummond
* Grand View
* Herbster
* Iron River
* Port Wing

### Unincorporated communities

* Ashland Junction
* Barksdale
* Bark Point
* Benoit
* Delta
* Ino
* Lake Owen
* Leonards
* Moquah
* Muskeg
* Namekagon
* Pike River
* Radspur
* Pureair
* Oulu
* Red Cliff
* Salmo
* Sand Bay
* Sioux
* Sutherland
* Topside
* Wills

## Politics

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.
United States presidential election results for Bayfield County, Wisconsin :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 4,860 | 43.24% | 6,107 | 54.33% | 273 | 2.43% |
| 2020 | 4,617 | 42.44% | 6,147 | 56.50% | 116 | 1.07% |
| 2016 | 4,124 | 42.90% | 4,953 | 51.53% | 535 | 5.57% |
| 2012 | 3,603 | 36.81% | 6,033 | 61.64% | 152 | 1.55% |
| 2008 | 3,365 | 35.54% | 5,972 | 63.08% | 131 | 1.38% |
| 2004 | 3,754 | 38.71% | 5,845 | 60.26% | 100 | 1.03% |
| 2000 | 3,266 | 39.54% | 4,427 | 53.60% | 566 | 6.85% |
| 1996 | 2,250 | 30.65% | 3,895 | 53.07% | 1,195 | 16.28% |
| 1992 | 2,393 | 29.50% | 3,873 | 47.74% | 1,846 | 22.76% |
| 1988 | 3,095 | 41.50% | 4,323 | 57.96% | 40 | 0.54% |
| 1984 | 3,474 | 45.91% | 4,034 | 53.31% | 59 | 0.78% |
| 1980 | 3,278 | 42.08% | 3,705 | 47.57% | 806 | 10.35% |
| 1976 | 2,624 | 39.21% | 3,885 | 58.05% | 184 | 2.75% |
| 1972 | 3,045 | 51.92% | 2,736 | 46.65% | 84 | 1.43% |
| 1968 | 2,333 | 40.92% | 3,036 | 53.24% | 333 | 5.84% |
| 1964 | 1,886 | 32.65% | 3,875 | 67.08% | 16 | 0.28% |
| 1960 | 2,841 | 46.88% | 3,196 | 52.74% | 23 | 0.38% |
| 1956 | 3,096 | 53.32% | 2,691 | 46.35% | 19 | 0.33% |
| 1952 | 3,419 | 55.98% | 2,616 | 42.84% | 72 | 1.18% |
| 1948 | 2,338 | 40.07% | 3,081 | 52.80% | 416 | 7.13% |
| 1944 | 2,475 | 42.02% | 3,362 | 57.08% | 53 | 0.90% |
| 1940 | 2,829 | 38.53% | 4,387 | 59.75% | 126 | 1.72% |
| 1936 | 2,071 | 31.08% | 4,366 | 65.53% | 226 | 3.39% |
| 1932 | 2,035 | 38.14% | 2,981 | 55.88% | 319 | 5.98% |
| 1928 | 3,279 | 63.41% | 1,709 | 33.05% | 183 | 3.54% |
| 1924 | 1,675 | 36.41% | 205 | 4.46% | 2,720 | 59.13% |
| 1920 | 2,536 | 73.34% | 589 | 17.03% | 333 | 9.63% |
| 1916 | 1,320 | 51.10% | 996 | 38.56% | 267 | 10.34% |
| 1912 | 514 | 23.03% | 666 | 29.84% | 1,052 | 47.13% |
| 1908 | 1,957 | 70.27% | 579 | 20.79% | 249 | 8.94% |
| 1904 | 2,665 | 84.98% | 350 | 11.16% | 121 | 3.86% |
| 1900 | 2,428 | 76.93% | 632 | 20.03% | 96 | 3.04% |
| 1896 | 2,244 | 72.57% | 770 | 24.90% | 78 | 2.52% |
| 1892 | 1,467 | 50.50% | 1,349 | 46.44% | 89 | 3.06% |