Dunn County, Wisconsin

Adjacent counties

• Barron County – north
• Chippewa County – east
• Eau Claire County – southeast
• Pepin County – south
• Pierce County – southwest
• Polk County – northwest
• Saint Croix County – west

Major highways

Railroads

• Canadian National
• Union Pacific

Buses

• Dunn County Transit

Airports

• Menomonie Municipal Airport (KLUM) serves the county and surrounding communities.
• Boyceville Municipal Airport (3T3) enhances county service.

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 45,440.^[1] The median age was 35.8 years, 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18, and 16.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.4 males age 18 and over.^[23]

The population density was 53.4 people per square mile (20.6 people/km²). There were 18,693 housing units at an average density of 22.0 units per square mile (8.5 units/km²); 6.8% of those units were vacant, 66.5% of occupied units were owner-occupied, and 33.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%.^[23]

The racial makeup of the county was 90.7% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.3% of the population.^[24]

37.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 62.5% lived in rural areas.^[25]

There were 17,414 households in the county, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.1% were married-couple households, 21.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[23]

2000 census

As of the census^[26] of 2000, there were 39,858 people, 14,337 households, and 9,261 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile (18 people/km²). There were 15,277 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.08% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 2.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.3% were of German, 22.6% Norwegian and 5.1% Irish ancestry. 95.7% spoke English, 1.6% Spanish and 1.5% Hmong as their first language.

There were 14,337 households, out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.10% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.40% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 19.80% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 19.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 101.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.20 males.

In 2017, there were 443 births, giving a general fertility rate of 47.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the fourth lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.^[27]

City

• Menomonie (county seat)

Villages

• Boyceville
• Colfax
• Downing
• Elk Mound
• Knapp
• Ridgeland
• Wheeler

Towns

Census-designated places

• Downsville
• Rock Falls
• Tainter Lake

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

• Old Tyrone
• Welch Point