St. Croix County, Wisconsin

St. Croix County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 63,155. Its county seat is Hudson ⁶.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,906 km² (736 mi²). 1,870 km² (722 mi²) of it is land and 36 km² (14 mi²) of it (1.90%) is water.

History

St. Croix County is named after the St. Croix River. St. Croix County was established in 1840 by the Territorial Legislature of the Wisconsin Territory by cleaving off portion of Crawford County north of the line formed from where Rush River empties into Lake Pepin, up the Rush River to its first major branch (Lost Creek), then northeasterly to where Wilson Creek empties into the Red Cedar River (in Menomonie), up the Red Cedar River to Brill River (near Rice Lake, up the Brill River, Long Lake, Slim Creek and Slim Lake, through the Long Lake-Sissabagama Lake Portage, down Sissabagama Creek, Sand Lake, Sand Creek, Whitefish Lake and into Lac Courte Oreilles, to the eastern most point of Lac Courte Oreilles, then northeast to the western branch of the Montreal River.

La Pointe County was formed from the northern portions of St. Croix County in 1845. When Wisconsin was admitted into union as a State on May 29, 1848, St. Croix County was divided into two. The portion of St. Croix County of the Wisconsin Territory that did not become part of State of Wisconsin was re-organized a year later as part of Minnesota Territory, forming Washington, Ramsey and Benton Counties.

St. Croix County that became part of Wisconsin became the parental county to Pierce and Polk Counties, and formed significant portions of Dunn, Barron, Washburn and Burnett Counties.

On June 12, 1899, a deadly F5 tornado struck New Richmond. The tornado's damage path was 300 yards wide and 30 miles long. It killed 117 people and injured 200 others, making it the 8th deadliest tornado in U.S. history.

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 63,155 people, 23,410 households, and 16,948 families residing in the county. The population density was 34/km² (88/mi²). There were 24,265 housing units at an average density of 13/km² (34/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.85% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 23,410 households out of which 38.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 9.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.

Cities and towns

Reference

^* - Historical Tornadoes

External links

^* - An eyewitness account of the New Richmond tornado
St. Croix County

Minneapolis-St. Paul | Wisconsin counties | St. Croix County, Wisconsin