Barron County, Wisconsin

Adjacent counties

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 8
• U.S. Highway 53
• U.S. Highway 63
• Highway 25 (Wisconsin)
• Highway 48 (Wisconsin)

Railroads

• Wisconsin Northern Railroad
• Canadian National

Buses

Airports

• KRPD - Rice Lake Regional Airport serves Barron County.
• KUBE - Cumberland Municipal Airport is located three miles south of Cumberland.
• Y23 - Chetek Municipal–Southworth Airport also serves the county and surrounding communities.
• 9Y7 - Barron Municipal Airport enhances county service.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,711. The population density was 54.1 people per square mile (20.9 people/km²). There were 23,779 housing units at an average density of 27.6 units per square mile (10.7 units/km²).^[15][16]

The racial makeup of the county was 91.1% White, 1.8% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.7% of the population.^[15]

The median age was 45.1 years, 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18, and 22.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.5 males.^[16]

21.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 78.3% lived in rural areas.^[17]

There were 19,630 households in the county, of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.8% were married-couple households, 19.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[16]

There were 23,779 housing units, of which 17.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.2% were owner-occupied and 26.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.^[16]

2000 census

As of the census^[18] of 2000, there were 44,963 people, 17,851 households, and 12,352 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km²). There were 20,969 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.69% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.81% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.4% were of German, 21.8% Norwegian and 5.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 17,851 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

In 2017, there were 504 births, giving a general fertility rate of 70.6 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 15th highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.^[19] Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Barron County residence in 2017.^[20]

Cities

• Barron (county seat)
• Chetek
• Cumberland
• Rice Lake

Villages

• Almena
• Cameron
• Dallas
• Haugen
• New Auburn (mostly in Chippewa County)
• Prairie Farm
• Turtle Lake (partly in Polk County)

Towns

Census-designated place

• Barronett

Unincorporated communities