Editing Florence County, Wisconsin

{{Short description|County in Wisconsin, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Florence County
 | state                = Wisconsin
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1882
 | founded date         = 
 | named for            = Florence Terry Hulst
 | seat                 = [[Florence (CDP), Wisconsin|Florence]]
 | largest city         = [[Florence (town), Wisconsin|Florence]]
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 498
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 488
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 9.3
 | area percentage      = 1.9
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 4558
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 4682 {{gain}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = 9.3
 | population_footnotes = <ref name="2020-census-55037" />
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.florencecountywi.com
 | named                = 
 | ex image             = FlorenceCountyWisconsinCourtHouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Florence County Courthouse and Jail|Florence County Courthouse]]
 | district             = 7th
}}

'''Florence County''' is a [[county (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Wisconsin]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 4,558,<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55037.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 18, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606160433/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55037.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> making it the second-least populous county in Wisconsin after [[Menominee County, Wisconsin|Menominee County]]. Its [[county seat]] is [[Florence (CDP), Wisconsin|Florence]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county is considered a high-recreation retirement destination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/county-typology-codes/descriptions-and-maps |access-date=April 16, 2025 |title=County Typology Codes - Descriptions and Maps |publisher=USDA}}</ref>

Florence County is part of the [[Iron Mountain, Michigan|Iron Mountain]], [[Michigan|MI]]–WI [[Iron Mountain micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Florence County was created by the legislature of 1882 from portions of [[Marinette County, Wisconsin|Marinette County]] and [[Oconto County, Wisconsin|Oconto County]]. The first white man to document his journey through Florence County was [[Thomas J. Cram]], who surveyed northeast Wisconsin in 1840 and 1841. The region belonged to the [[Menominee]] tribe, who mingled with the [[Chippewa]] there. Florence County continued to be a region for hunting and trapping until the 1870s when iron was discovered in the region. The Florence mine was discovered in 1874 by H. D. Fisher. In 1879, Fisher named the mine and town after the wife of [[Nelson Powell Hulst]], Florence Terry Hulst, establishing the name for the county as well.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wood |first1=Howard |title=The History of Florence County |journal=The Wisconsin Magazine of History |date=1920 |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=466–467 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4630263?seq=1 |access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Usher |first1=Ellis B. |title=Nelson Powell Hulst |journal=The Wisconsin Magazine of History |date=1923 |volume=7 |pages=394–395 |url=https://archive.org/details/wisconsinmagazin7192quai/page/n419/mode/2up |access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pioneer Life on the Menominee Iron Range |url=https://www.uproc.lib.mi.us/dclpdf/LH%20File%202/PIONEER%20LIFE%20ON%20THE%20MENOMINEE%20IRON%20RANGE.pdf |website=uproc.lib.mi.us |publisher=Menominee Range Historical Foundation |access-date=February 19, 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|498|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|488|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|9.3|sqmi}} (1.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_55.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 4, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Iron County, Michigan]] - north
* [[Dickinson County, Michigan]] - east
* [[Marinette County, Wisconsin]] - southeast
* [[Forest County, Wisconsin]] - southwest

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 2.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 2 in Wisconsin|U.S. Highway 2]]
* [[Image:US 141 (WI).svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 141|U.S. Highway 141]]
* [[Image:WIS 70.svg|20px]] [[Highway 70 (Wisconsin)|Highway 70]]
* [[Image:WIS 101.svg|20px]] [[Highway 101 (Wisconsin)|Highway 101]]
* [[Image:WIS 139.svg|20px]] [[Highway 139 (Wisconsin)|Highway 139]]

===Buses===

===National protected area===
* [[Nicolet National Forest]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 2604
|1900= 3197
|1910= 3381
|1920= 3602
|1930= 3768
|1940= 4177
|1950= 3756
|1960= 3437
|1970= 3298
|1980= 4172
|1990= 4590
|2000= 5088
|2010= 4423
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 4, 2015|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wi190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
|2020=4558
|estyear= 2021
|estimate= 4593
|estref=}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|census of 2020]],<ref name="2020-census-55037">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Florence County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US55037&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 13, 2022}}</ref> the population was 4,558. The [[population density]] was {{convert|9.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 4,601 housing units at an average density of {{convert|9.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.2% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.3% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 3.9% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.4% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

===2000 census===
{{Stack|[[Image:USA Florence County, Wisconsin age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|2000 Census Age Pyramid for Florence County]]}}

At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 5,088 people, 2,133 households, and 1,441 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 4,239 housing units at an average density of {{convert|9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 98.17% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. 0.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.6% were of [[German people|German]], 11.6% [[Swedish people|Swedish]], 8.4% [[Polish people|Polish]], 8.2% [[Italian people|Italian]], 6.6% [[French people|French]], 5.9% [[English people|English]], 5.4% [[French Canadian]] and 5.2% [[Irish people|Irish]] ancestry.<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
Of the 2,133 households 27.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 27.90% of households were one person and 12.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 22.90% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 27.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.50 males.

In 2017, there were 31 births, giving a general fertility rate of 57.9 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 21st lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. 10 of the births were to unmarried mothers, 21 were to married mothers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publication/p01161-2019-tb.xlsx |title=Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables |access-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619175940/https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publication/p01161-2019-tb.xlsx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Florence County residence in 2017.<ref>[https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p45360-17.pdf 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>
{{Clear}}

==Communities==
[[File:Florence County Wisconsin Fairgrounds.jpg|thumb|right|Fairgrounds]]
[[File:Florence County Wisconsin Sign Town of Homestead.jpg|thumb|right|Florence County sign]]

Florence County is one of only two counties in Wisconsin with no incorporated communities, the other being [[Menominee County, Wisconsin|Menominee County]].

===Towns===
{{div col}}
* [[Aurora, Florence County, Wisconsin|Aurora]]
* [[Commonwealth, Wisconsin|Commonwealth]]
* [[Fence, Wisconsin|Fence]]
* [[Fern, Wisconsin|Fern]]
* [[Florence (town), Wisconsin|Florence]]
* [[Homestead, Wisconsin|Homestead]]
* [[Long Lake, Florence County, Wisconsin|Long Lake]]
* [[Tipler, Wisconsin|Tipler]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Aurora (community), Florence County, Wisconsin|Aurora]]
* [[Commonwealth (community), Wisconsin|Commonwealth]]
* [[Fence (community), Wisconsin|Fence]]
* [[Fern, Wisconsin|Fern]]
* [[Hematite, Wisconsin|Hematite]]
* [[Pulp, Wisconsin|Pulp]]
* [[Ridgetop, Wisconsin|Ridgetop]]
* [[Spread Eagle, Wisconsin|Spread Eagle]]
* [[Tipler (community), Wisconsin|Tipler]]
* [[Tyran, Wisconsin|Tyran]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Florence County has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in every election since 1996.
{{PresHead|place=Florence County, Wisconsin|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=February 8, 2021}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,356|783|19|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,133|781|26|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,898|665|93|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,645|953|27|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,512|1,134|39|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,703|993|28|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,528|816|61|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|927|869|346|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|942|978|726|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,106|1,018|18|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,227|870|18|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,187|943|130|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|922|965|34|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|971|757|68|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|821|718|160|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|596|1,029|2|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|928|858|5|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,003|723|5|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,147|809|7|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|756|885|117|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|765|897|16|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,008|980|23|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|800|1,037|95|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|714|965|65|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|993|540|12|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|594|49|540|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|912|97|40|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|412|162|20|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|262|131|207|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|541|102|24|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|562|83|13|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|514|110|22|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|488|129|8|Wisconsin}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|449|195|17|Wisconsin}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Florence County, Wisconsin]]

==References==
{{reflist|1}}

==External links==
* [http://www.florencecountywi.com/ Florence County government website]
* [http://www.exploreflorencecounty.com/ Florence County Tourism & Economic Development]
* [http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/florence.pdf Florence County map] from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Florence County, Wisconsin
|North     = [[Iron County, Michigan]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Dickinson County, Michigan]]
|Southeast = [[Marinette County, Wisconsin|Marinette County]]
|South     = [[Forest County, Wisconsin|Forest County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Forest County, Wisconsin|Forest County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Florence County, Wisconsin}}
{{Wisconsin}}

{{coord|45.85|-88.40|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WI_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Florence County, Wisconsin| ]]
[[Category:1882 establishments in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1882]]