Barron County, Wisconsin

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Barron County, Wisconsin is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,711. The county seat is Barron. The county was created in 1859 and organized in 1874.

History

Barron County was originally part of Chippewa County. It was named after Henry D. Barron, a Wisconsin lawyer and politician. The county has a rich history of logging and agriculture, which have been the primary industries since its establishment.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 890 square miles (2,300 km²), of which 863 square miles (2,240 km²) is land and 27 square miles (70 km²) (3.0%) is water. The county is characterized by its rolling hills, numerous lakes, and rivers, including the Red Cedar River.

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

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 46,711 people, 19,000 households, and 12,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile (21/km²). The racial makeup of the county was predominantly White, with small percentages of Native American, Asian, and African American residents.

Economy

The economy of Barron County is diverse, with significant contributions from agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. The county is known for its dairy farms, cheese production, and cranberry bogs. Manufacturing includes food processing, metal fabrication, and machinery production.

Education

Barron County is served by several school districts, including the Barron Area School District, Rice Lake Area School District, and Cumberland School District. Higher education is provided by University of Wisconsin–Barron County and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College.

Transportation

Major highways in Barron County include U.S. Route 8, U.S. Route 53, and Wisconsin Highway 48. The county is also served by the Rice Lake Regional Airport.

Communities

Cities

• Barron
• Chetek
• Cumberland
• Rice Lake

Villages

• Almena
• Cameron
• Dallas
• Haugen
• Prairie Farm
• Turtle Lake

Towns

• Arland
• Barron
• Bear Lake
• Cedar Lake
• Chetek
• Clinton
• Crystal Lake
• Dovre
• Doyle
• Lakeland
• Maple Grove
• Oak Grove
• Prairie Farm
• Prairie Lake
• Rice Lake
• Sioux Creek
• Stanfold
• Stanley
• Sumner
• Turtle Lake
• Vance Creek

See also

• List of counties in Wisconsin
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Barron County, Wisconsin
• Wisconsin