Bayfield County, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bayfield County
U.S. county
Bayfield County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Founded	April 12, 1850
Named for	Henry Bayfield
Seat	Washburn
Largest city	Washburn
Area
• Total	2,042 sq mi (5,290 km2)
• Land	1,478 sq mi (3,830 km2)
• Water	564 sq mi (1,460 km2)  28%
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,220
• Density	7.943/sq mi (3.0669/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th

Bayfield County is the northernmost county 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.

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

Airport

Cable Union Airport (FAA LID: 3CU) serves Bayfeild County and the surrounding communities.

National protected areas

• Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (part)
• Chequamegon National Forest (part)
• Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Bayfield County

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).

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 (4/km²). There were 11,640 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/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.

Communities

County sign on US2 / WIS13

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

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Bayfield para niños