Pierce County
County
Pierce County Courthouse
Pierce County Courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Pierce County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°43′N 92°25′W / 44.72°N 92.42°W / 44.72; -92.42
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1853
Named forFranklin Pierce[1]
SeatEllsworth
Largest cityRiver Falls
Area
 • Total592 sq mi (1,530 km2)
 • Land574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water18 sq mi (50 km2)  3.1%
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total42,212
 • Density73.5/sq mi (28.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.co.pierce.wi.us

Pierce County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,212.[2] Its county seat is Ellsworth.[3]

Pierce County is part of the Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Native American were the first to live in what became Pierce County, as evidenced in the burial mounds near Diamond Bluff. Evidence indicates that this area has been inhabited for 10,000 to 12,000 years. In 1840, St. Croix County covered a large portion of northwest Wisconsin Territory. In 1853, the Wisconsin State Legislature split St. Croix County into Pierce, Polk, and Saint Croix counties. Pierce County was named for Franklin Pierce, the fourteenth president of the United States.[4][5]

Geography

Soils of Pierce County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 592 square miles (1,530 km2), of which 574 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (3.1%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18604,672—
18709,958113.1%
188017,74478.2%
189020,38514.9%
190023,94317.5%
191022,079−7.8%
192021,663−1.9%
193021,043−2.9%
194021,4712.0%
195021,448−0.1%
196022,5034.9%
197026,65218.4%
198031,14916.9%
199032,7655.2%
200036,80412.3%
201041,01911.5%
202042,2122.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[2]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020,[2] the population was 42,212. The population density was 73.5 people per square mile (28.4 people/km2). There were 16,780 housing units at an average density of 29.2 units per square mile (11.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.3% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 1.1% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Pierce County

As of the census[12] 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.[13]

Communities

The sign for Pierce County on WIS35

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town/neighborhood

  • Brasington

Transportation

Railroads

Buses

Politics

United States presidential election results for Pierce County, Wisconsin[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 12,815 54.96% 9,796 42.01% 706 3.03%
2016 11,272 52.73% 8,399 39.29% 1,705 7.98%
2012 10,397 49.46% 10,235 48.69% 388 1.85%
2008 9,812 44.38% 11,803 53.39% 492 2.23%
2004 10,437 47.71% 11,176 51.09% 263 1.20%
2000 8,169 45.48% 8,559 47.65% 1,234 6.87%
1996 4,599 30.66% 7,970 53.13% 2,431 16.21%
1992 4,844 28.05% 7,824 45.30% 4,604 26.66%
1988 6,045 40.87% 8,659 58.55% 85 0.57%
1984 7,612 50.74% 7,289 48.58% 102 0.68%
1980 6,209 39.68% 7,312 46.73% 2,125 13.58%
1976 5,676 40.36% 8,039 57.16% 349 2.48%
1972 5,899 50.35% 5,611 47.89% 206 1.76%
1968 4,990 48.76% 4,783 46.74% 461 4.50%
1964 3,291 34.05% 6,351 65.70% 24 0.25%
1960 5,632 56.56% 4,317 43.35% 9 0.09%
1956 5,782 61.13% 3,644 38.53% 32 0.34%
1952 6,763 67.49% 3,241 32.34% 17 0.17%
1948 3,753 45.18% 4,395 52.91% 158 1.90%
1944 5,137 62.40% 3,033 36.84% 63 0.77%
1940 6,624 66.25% 3,259 32.59% 116 1.16%
1936 3,935 42.70% 4,061 44.06% 1,220 13.24%
1932 3,537 44.32% 4,115 51.57% 328 4.11%
1928 6,491 67.65% 3,017 31.44% 87 0.91%
1924 2,788 40.97% 298 4.38% 3,719 54.65%
1920 4,441 82.62% 644 11.98% 290 5.40%
1916 1,945 51.88% 1,650 44.01% 154 4.11%
1912 986 29.13% 985 29.10% 1,414 41.77%
1908 2,988 71.62% 978 23.44% 206 4.94%
1904 3,492 82.28% 594 14.00% 158 3.72%
1900 3,433 72.95% 1,041 22.12% 232 4.93%
1896 3,724 69.79% 1,412 26.46% 200 3.75%
1892 2,315 57.66% 1,210 30.14% 490 12.20%

See also

References

  1. ↑ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 163.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "2020 Decennial Census: Pierce County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "The History of Pierce County". University of Wisconsin at River Falls. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Pierce County Pre-1800s". Pierce County Historical Association. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  14. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved February 20, 2021.

Further reading

  • Weld, Allen P. The Story of Pierce County. La Crosse, Wis.: Brookhaven Press.
  • Saxton, Mark L. (1937). History of Pierce County, Wisconsin: For Use in the Pierce County Common Schools. Spring Valley, Wis.: Spring Valley Publishing Co., UWRF ARC F 587 .P6 H5
  • Peterson, Ursula, ed. (1971). Pierce County's Heritage. Vol. 1. River Falls, Wis.: Pierce County Historical Society., UWRF ARC F 587 .P6 P5 vol. 1.

44°43′N 92°25′W / 44.72°N 92.42°W / 44.72; -92.42

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