Burnett County, Wisconsin
County in Wisconsin, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Burnett County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,526.[2] Its county seat is Siren,[1][3] with the majority of county governmental services located at the Burnett County Government Center. The county was created in 1856 and organized in 1865.[4] The St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin have reservation lands in Burnett County and are the county's largest employer.[5] The county is considered a high-recreation retirement destination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.[6]
Burnett County, Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
| |
 Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin | |
| Coordinates: 45°52′N 92°22′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| Founded | 1865 |
| Named after | Thomas P. Burnett |
| Seat | Siren[1] |
| Largest village | Grantsburg |
| Area | |
• Total | 880 sq mi (2,300 km2) |
| • Land | 822 sq mi (2,130 km2) |
| • Water | 58 sq mi (150 km2) 6.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 16,526 |
• Estimate (2025) | 17,223  |
| • Density | 20.1/sq mi (7.76/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | burnettcounty |
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 880 square miles (2,300 km2), of which 872 square miles (2,260 km2) is land and 58 square miles (150 km2) (6.6%) is water.[8] Saginaw Lake is located in the county,[9] south of the Namekagon River.
Adjacent counties
- Douglas County – northeast
- Washburn County – east
- Barron County – southeast
- Polk County – south
- Chisago County, Minnesota – southwest
- Pine County, Minnesota – west
Major highways
Buses
Airports
- Burnett County Airport (KRZN) serves the county and surrounding communities.
- Grantsburg Municipal Airport (KGTG) enhances county service.
National protected area
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 12 | — | |
| 1870 | 706 | 5,783.3% | |
| 1880 | 3,140 | 344.8% | |
| 1890 | 4,393 | 39.9% | |
| 1900 | 7,478 | 70.2% | |
| 1910 | 9,026 | 20.7% | |
| 1920 | 10,735 | 18.9% | |
| 1930 | 10,233 | −4.7% | |
| 1940 | 11,382 | 11.2% | |
| 1950 | 10,236 | −10.1% | |
| 1960 | 9,214 | −10.0% | |
| 1970 | 9,276 | 0.7% | |
| 1980 | 12,340 | 33.0% | |
| 1990 | 13,084 | 6.0% | |
| 2000 | 15,674 | 19.8% | |
| 2010 | 15,457 | −1.4% | |
| 2020 | 16,526 | 6.9% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 17,223 | [10] | 4.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010[2] 2020[15] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[16] | Pop 1990[17] | Pop 2000[18] | Pop 2010[19] | Pop 2020[20] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 11,866 | 12,462 | 14,563 | 14,067 | 14,658 | 96.16% | 95.25% | 92.91% | 91.01% | 88.70% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 11 | 22 | 54 | 81 | 65 | 0.09% | 0.17% | 0.34% | 0.52% | 0.39% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 399 | 531 | 675 | 704 | 697 | 3.23% | 4.06% | 4.31% | 4.55% | 4.22% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 15 | 24 | 37 | 52 | 53 | 0.12% | 0.18% | 0.24% | 0.34% | 0.32% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [21] | x [22] | 9 | 3 | 10 | x | x | 0.06% | 0.02% | 0.06% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 25 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 32 | 0.20% | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.19% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [23] | x [24] | 214 | 350 | 757 | x | x | 1.37% | 2.26% | 4.58% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 24 | 43 | 120 | 194 | 254 | 0.19% | 0.33% | 0.77% | 1.26% | 1.54% |
| Total | 12,340 | 13,084 | 15,674 | 15,457 | 16,526 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,526. The population density was 20.1 people per square mile (7.8 people/km2). There were 15,201 housing units at an average density of 18.5 units per square mile (7.1 units/km2).[25][15]
The median age was 54.4 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 29.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 104.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.2 males age 18 and over.[26]
The racial makeup of the county was 89.3% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 4.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.5% of the population.[25]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[27]
There were 7,499 households in the county, of which 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.9% were married-couple households, 22.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[26]
Of those housing units, 50.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.6% were owner-occupied and 17.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.[26]
2000 census
As of the census[28] of 2000, there were 15,674 people, 6,613 households, and 4,503 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km2). There were 12,582 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.25% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 4.45% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.9% were of German, 15.4% Swedish, 12.8% Norwegian and 6.3% Irish ancestry.
There were 6,613 households, out of which 25.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 26.90% 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 2.33 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.10% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 28.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 101.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.30 males.
In 2017, there were 118 births, giving a general fertility rate of 58.5 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 23rd lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[29] Additionally, there were no reported induced abortions performed on women of Burnett County residence in 2017.[30]
Communities
Burnett County is one of only three Wisconsin counties that have no incorporated cities. It is the only Wisconsin county to have villages but no cities.[citation needed]
Villages
- Grantsburg
- Siren (seat)
- Webster
Towns
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 406 | 56.70% | 55 | 7.68% | 255 | 35.61% |
| 1896 | 800 | 67.51% | 349 | 29.45% | 36 | 3.04% |
| 1900 | 1,112 | 80.23% | 218 | 15.73% | 56 | 4.04% |
| 1904 | 1,262 | 86.50% | 82 | 5.62% | 115 | 7.88% |
| 1908 | 1,181 | 72.19% | 296 | 18.09% | 159 | 9.72% |
| 1912 | 403 | 26.74% | 305 | 20.24% | 799 | 53.02% |
| 1916 | 1,007 | 53.97% | 638 | 34.19% | 221 | 11.84% |
| 1920 | 2,025 | 79.57% | 187 | 7.35% | 333 | 13.08% |
| 1924 | 958 | 30.34% | 76 | 2.41% | 2,124 | 67.26% |
| 1928 | 2,742 | 74.71% | 880 | 23.98% | 48 | 1.31% |
| 1932 | 1,281 | 33.42% | 2,437 | 63.58% | 115 | 3.00% |
| 1936 | 1,422 | 31.88% | 2,801 | 62.80% | 237 | 5.31% |
| 1940 | 2,510 | 49.17% | 2,513 | 49.23% | 82 | 1.61% |
| 1944 | 2,119 | 52.72% | 1,868 | 46.48% | 32 | 0.80% |
| 1948 | 1,590 | 40.78% | 2,177 | 55.83% | 132 | 3.39% |
| 1952 | 2,683 | 60.43% | 1,741 | 39.21% | 16 | 0.36% |
| 1956 | 2,198 | 52.36% | 1,986 | 47.31% | 14 | 0.33% |
| 1960 | 2,483 | 54.03% | 2,095 | 45.58% | 18 | 0.39% |
| 1964 | 1,536 | 34.42% | 2,921 | 65.45% | 6 | 0.13% |
| 1968 | 2,056 | 45.81% | 2,010 | 44.79% | 422 | 9.40% |
| 1972 | 2,972 | 54.37% | 2,389 | 43.71% | 105 | 1.92% |
| 1976 | 2,573 | 39.93% | 3,720 | 57.74% | 150 | 2.33% |
| 1980 | 3,027 | 44.81% | 3,200 | 47.37% | 528 | 7.82% |
| 1984 | 3,528 | 51.01% | 3,331 | 48.16% | 57 | 0.82% |
| 1988 | 2,884 | 44.61% | 3,537 | 54.71% | 44 | 0.68% |
| 1992 | 2,340 | 31.47% | 3,172 | 42.66% | 1,924 | 25.87% |
| 1996 | 2,452 | 34.20% | 3,625 | 50.56% | 1,092 | 15.23% |
| 2000 | 3,967 | 48.67% | 3,626 | 44.49% | 558 | 6.85% |
| 2004 | 4,743 | 50.89% | 4,499 | 48.27% | 79 | 0.85% |
| 2008 | 4,200 | 48.34% | 4,337 | 49.92% | 151 | 1.74% |
| 2012 | 4,550 | 52.44% | 3,986 | 45.94% | 141 | 1.62% |
| 2016 | 5,410 | 61.91% | 2,949 | 33.75% | 379 | 4.34% |
| 2020 | 6,462 | 63.72% | 3,569 | 35.19% | 110 | 1.08% |
| 2024 | 7,008 | 64.83% | 3,665 | 33.90% | 137 | 1.27% |
During the 1930s and 1940s at the state level Burnett county was a stronghold for the Wisconsin Progressive Party - National Progressives. voting consistently for Philip La Follette during gubernatorial elections and Robert M. La Follette Jr. for senate.[32]