Pierce County, Wisconsin

Adjacent counties

• St. Croix County – north
• Dunn County – northeast
• Pepin County – southeast
• Goodhue County, Minnesota – south
• Dakota County, Minnesota – southwest
• Washington County, Minnesota – west

National protected area

• Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (part)

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 42,212.^[22] The median age was 38.0 years; 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.0% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.8 males age 18 and over.^[23] The 2020 redistricting data also reports these totals.^[2]

The population density was 73.5 per square mile (28.4/km²). There were 16,780 housing units at an average density of 29.2 unitsper square mile (11.3 units/km²). Of those housing units, 4.9% were vacant, 74.5% of occupied units were owner-occupied, and 25.5% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.0%.^[23]

There were 15,958 households in the county, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.7% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[23]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.3% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.9% of the population.^[22]

30.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 70.0% lived in rural areas.^[24]

2000 census

As of the census^[25] of 2000, there were 36,804 people, 13,015 households, and 9,032 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile (25 people/km²). There were 13,493 housing units at an average density of 23 units per square mile (8.9 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.01% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.0% were of German, 16.2% Norwegian, 7.1% Swedish and 7.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 13,015 households, out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 17.00% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 9.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

In 2017, there were 386 births, giving a general fertility rate of 43.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.^[26]

Cities

• Prescott
• River Falls (partly in St. Croix County)

Villages

• Bay City
• Ellsworth (county seat)
• Elmwood
• Maiden Rock
• Plum City
• Spring Valley (partly in St. Croix County)

Towns

Census-designated places

• Diamond Bluff
• Hager City

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town/neighborhood

• Brasington

Railroads

• BNSF

Buses