Washburn County, Wisconsin

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Washburn County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is named after Governor Cadwallader C. Washburn.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref> As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,623.<ref name="2020-census-55129" /> Its county seat is Shell Lake.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was created in 1883.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county is considered a high-recreation retirement destination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

File:Washburn Co WI Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf

Soils of Washburn County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (6.6%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

File:Washburn County Wisconsin Sign WIS48.jpg

The sign for Washburn County on WIS48

Railroads

Buses

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

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2020 census

As of the census of 2020,<ref name="2020-census-55129">Template:Cite web</ref> the population was 16,623. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 12,708 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 92.9% White, 1.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 4.8% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.8% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

Template:Stack As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 16,036 people, 6,604 households, and 4,530 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 10,814 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Washburn County residence in 2017.<ref>Reported Induced Abortions in Wisconsin, Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013-2017, Table 18, pages 17-18</ref> Template:Clear left

Communities

Cities

Shell Lake (county seat)
Spooner

Villages

Towns

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Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

Harmon

Politics

File:Washburn County Services Center.jpg

Washburn County Services Center

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot Between 1964 and 2008, Washburn County backed the nationwide winner in every election except for 1988. In 2012, Mitt Romney defeated Barack Obama in the county by a margin of less than 3%, after Obama had won the county by more than 4% in 2008 over John McCain. Washburn County moved significantly to the right in 2016, as Donald Trump took over 59% of the county's vote and won by a margin of over 23%, the best margin of victory for any candidate in the county since 1964. He slightly increased his margin of victory to nearly 24% in 2020 and further increased it to more than 28% in 2024 while turning in the best vote share for a Republican in the county since 1928 at over 63%.

Education

Template:Expand section School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

In 1918, the loss of the SS Tuscania prompted the county to burn its German textbooks as part of anti-German sentiment in World War I.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>