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| Clark County, Wisconsin | |
 Clark County Courthouse
| |
 Location in the state of Wisconsin | |
 Wisconsin's location in the U.S. | |
| Founded | 1854 |
|---|---|
| Named for | George Rogers Clark |
| Seat | Neillsville |
| Largest city | Neillsville |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,219 sq mi (3,157 km²) 1,210 sq mi (3,134 km²) 9.0 sq mi (23 km²), 0.7 |
| Population - (2020) - Density |
34,659 |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website | www.co.clark.wi.us/ |
Clark County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,659.[1] Its county seat is Neillsville.[2]
History[]
By the early 1800s, the land and streams that are now Clark County were the hunting grounds of Chippewa, Dakota, Ho-Chunk and possibly Menominee peoples. In 1836 these Indians were joined by a party of French-Canadian fur traders who started a temporary post for the American Fur Company on the Black River's East Fork.[3]
The next White arrival was probably Mormon loggers in 1844, come to cut pine logs from the forests along the Black River and float them down to a sawmill at Black River Falls. From there the sawed wood would be floated down the river to be used in construction of the Mormon temple in Nauvoo, Illinois. They had camps on the river at what is called Mormon Riffle, a mile below Neillsville, near Weston's Rapids, and south of Greenwood. This project probably ended by 1846, when most of the Mormons headed west after the murder of Joseph Smith.[4]
In June of 1845, James and Henry O'Neill led a party overland, cutting a road up through the brush, with a wagon of tools and supplies pulled by oxen. They built a cabin on O'Neill Creek, then a sawmill. Lumber sawed by the mill was rafted down the river to Black River Falls, and from there to Alexander O'Neill in Burlington, Iowa. Not all was good, as a storm in June 1847 flooded the Black River and took out all mills then existing. But the pioneers rebuilt.[5]
Clark County fairgrounds
Clark County was founded in 1853 and organized the following year.[6] It was named for A. W. Clark, an early settler,[7] or for General George Rogers Clark.[8][9]
Electricity became available around 1900 in some of the towns and villages from private power plants - e.g. in 1902 the Paulsen mill began offering electrical service within the village of Withee. For farms out in the country, it took another 35 years, with electric lines finally put up starting around 1937 by the new Clark Electric Cooperative, funded by a loan from the New Deal Rural Electrification Administration.[10]
Geography[]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,219 square miles (3,160 km2), of which 1,210 square miles (3,100 km2) is land and 9.0 square miles (23 km2) (0.7%) is water.[11]
Adjacent counties[]
- Taylor County – north
- Marathon County – east
- Wood County – southeast
- Jackson County – south
- Eau Claire County – west
- Chippewa County – northwest
Major highways[]
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Railroads[]
- Union Pacific
- Watco
- Canadian National
Buses[]
- List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin
Airport[]
- KVIQ - Neillsville Municipal Airport
Climate[]
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Demographics and religion statistics[]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 789 | ||
| 1870 | 3,450 | 337.3% | |
| 1880 | 10,715 | 210.6% | |
| 1890 | 17,708 | 65.3% | |
| 1900 | 25,848 | 46.0% | |
| 1910 | 30,074 | 16.3% | |
| 1920 | 35,120 | 16.8% | |
| 1930 | 34,165 | −2.7% | |
| 1940 | 33,972 | −0.6% | |
| 1950 | 32,459 | −4.5% | |
| 1960 | 31,527 | −2.9% | |
| 1970 | 30,361 | −3.7% | |
| 1980 | 32,910 | 8.4% | |
| 1990 | 31,647 | −3.8% | |
| 2000 | 33,557 | 6.0% | |
| 2010 | 34,690 | 3.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[13] 1790–1960[14] 1900–1990[15] 1990–2000[16] 2010[17] 2020[1] | |||
2020 census[]
As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 34,659. The population density was 28.7 inhabitants per square mile (11.1 /km2). There were 14,755 housing units at an average density of 12.2 per square mile (4.7 /km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.2% White, 0.5% Native American, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 3.4% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 6.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
2000 census[]
  2000 Census Age Pyramid for Clark County |
As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 33,557 people, 12,047 households, and 8,673 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11/km2). There were 13,531 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.05% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 54.0% were of German, 9.0% Polish, 6.2% Norwegian and 6.1% United States or American ancestry. 6.62% reported speaking German, Pennsylvania German, or Dutch at home; an additional 1.34% speak Spanish.[19]
There were 12,047 households, out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.90% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.70 males.
In 2017, there were 554 births, giving a general fertility rate of 99.2 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the second highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. 184 of the births occurred at home, more than any other Wisconsin county.[20]
In 2010, the largest religious groups by reported number of adherents in Clark County were Catholic at 9,535 adherents, Missouri Synod Lutheran at 2,459 adherents, ELCA Lutheran at 2,281 adherents, Amish at 1,986 adherents, United Church of Christ at 959 adherents, Wisconsin Synod Lutheran at 891 adherents, and United Methodist at 577 adherents.[21]
Communities[]
Clark County sign
Cities[]
- Abbotsford (partly in Marathon County)
- Colby (partly in Marathon County)
- Greenwood
- Loyal
- Neillsville (county seat)
- Owen
- Thorp
- Stanley (mostly in Chippewa County)
Villages[]
- Curtiss
- Dorchester (partly in Marathon County)
- Granton
- Unity (mostly in Marathon County)
- Withee
Towns[]
- Beaver
- Butler
- Colby
- Dewhurst
- Eaton
- Foster
- Fremont
- Grant
- Green Grove
- Hendren
- Hewett
- Hixon
- Hoard
- Levis
- Longwood
- Loyal
- Lynn
- Mayville
- Mead
- Mentor
- Pine Valley
- Reseburg
- Seif
- Sherman
- Sherwood
- Thorp
- Unity
- Warner
- Washburn
- Weston
- Withee
- Worden
- York
Census-designated places[]
- Chili
- Humbird
Unincorporated communities[]
- Atwood
- Bright
- Christie
- Clark
- Columbia
- Eadsville
- Eidsvold
- Globe
- Hemlock
- Junction
- Lombard
- Longwood
- Lynn
- Nevins
- Reseburg
- Riplinger
- Sherwood
- Shortville
- Tioga
- Sidney
- Spokeville
- Veefkind
- Willard
Ghost towns/neighborhoods[]
- Kurth
- Maple Works
- Romeo
- Trow
- Worden
Religion[]
Along with modern farmers, the county has many Amish, who farm using old techniques.
In 2013 there were 16 Amish church districts in Clark County.[22]
Politics[]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 10,002 | 67.14% | 4,524 | 30.37% | 372 | 2.50% |
| 2016 | 8,652 | 63.28% | 4,221 | 30.87% | 800 | 5.85% |
| 2012 | 7,412 | 53.71% | 6,172 | 44.72% | 217 | 1.57% |
| 2008 | 6,383 | 44.99% | 7,454 | 52.54% | 350 | 2.47% |
| 2004 | 7,966 | 52.67% | 6,966 | 46.06% | 193 | 1.28% |
| 2000 | 7,461 | 52.73% | 5,931 | 41.92% | 757 | 5.35% |
| 1996 | 4,622 | 35.94% | 5,540 | 43.08% | 2,699 | 20.99% |
| 1992 | 4,977 | 33.44% | 5,540 | 37.22% | 4,368 | 29.34% |
| 1988 | 6,296 | 48.30% | 6,642 | 50.95% | 98 | 0.75% |
| 1984 | 8,099 | 58.24% | 5,647 | 40.61% | 160 | 1.15% |
| 1980 | 7,921 | 52.73% | 6,091 | 40.54% | 1,011 | 6.73% |
| 1976 | 6,095 | 44.35% | 7,238 | 52.67% | 409 | 2.98% |
| 1972 | 7,138 | 56.47% | 4,617 | 36.52% | 886 | 7.01% |
| 1968 | 6,325 | 51.20% | 4,601 | 37.24% | 1,428 | 11.56% |
| 1964 | 4,897 | 38.55% | 7,781 | 61.25% | 26 | 0.20% |
| 1960 | 7,368 | 55.22% | 5,934 | 44.47% | 41 | 0.31% |
| 1956 | 7,941 | 62.26% | 4,765 | 37.36% | 48 | 0.38% |
| 1952 | 9,406 | 71.71% | 3,652 | 27.84% | 58 | 0.44% |
| 1948 | 5,885 | 52.66% | 4,840 | 43.31% | 450 | 4.03% |
| 1944 | 7,948 | 62.80% | 4,612 | 36.44% | 97 | 0.77% |
| 1940 | 9,501 | 65.89% | 4,683 | 32.48% | 236 | 1.64% |
| 1936 | 5,196 | 39.57% | 6,931 | 52.78% | 1,005 | 7.65% |
| 1932 | 3,132 | 26.10% | 8,372 | 69.77% | 495 | 4.13% |
| 1928 | 6,948 | 62.48% | 3,938 | 35.41% | 235 | 2.11% |
| 1924 | 3,130 | 31.27% | 552 | 5.51% | 6,328 | 63.22% |
| 1920 | 6,246 | 79.74% | 745 | 9.51% | 842 | 10.75% |
| 1916 | 3,371 | 64.84% | 1,614 | 31.04% | 214 | 4.12% |
| 1912 | 2,035 | 45.61% | 1,528 | 34.24% | 899 | 20.15% |
| 1908 | 3,491 | 65.73% | 1,576 | 29.67% | 244 | 4.59% |
| 1904 | 4,091 | 75.68% | 1,050 | 19.42% | 265 | 4.90% |
| 1900 | 3,864 | 74.78% | 1,157 | 22.39% | 146 | 2.83% |
| 1896 | 3,328 | 69.41% | 1,318 | 27.49% | 149 | 3.11% |
| 1892 | 2,039 | 51.52% | 1,711 | 43.23% | 208 | 5.26% |
See also[]
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Clark County, Wisconsin
References[]
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census: Clark County, Wisconsin". U.S. Census Bureau. https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US55019&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx.
- ^ Curtiss-Wedge, Franklin (1918). History of Clark County Wisconsin. Chicago and Winona: H.C. Cooper Jr & Co. pp. 35-36. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wch/id/20187/rec/1.
- ^ Curtiss-Wedge, p. 36.
- ^ Curtiss-Wedge, p. 37-38.
- ^ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". The Newberry Library. 2007. http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/WI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off.. pp. 83. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ.
- ^ "Here's How Iron Got Its Name". The Rhinelander Daily News: p. 2. June 16, 1932. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/909510/wisconsin_county_names/.
- ^ "About Us". https://www.clarkcountywi.gov/aboutus.
- ^ Leonhardt, Kris (2022-01-04). "It's electrifying - The advent of Clark County's electrical service". The Sentinel & Rural News. Multi Media Channels LLC.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_55.txt.
- ^ "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/dataset_index.php.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wi190090.txt.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55019.html.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov.
- ^ "Language Map Data Center". http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=55&county_id=19&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r.
- ^ "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publication/p01161-2019-tb.xlsx.
- ^ thearda.com 2010 County Membership Report data
- ^ Donald B. Kraybill, Karen M. Johnson-Weiner, Steven M. Nolt: The Amish. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013, p. 142.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS.
Further reading[]
- Biographical History of Clark and Jackson Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: Lewis Publishing, 1891.
- Clark County: The Garden of Wisconsin. Neillsville, Wis.: Satterlee and Tifft, 1890.
- Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn (comp.) History of Clark County Wisconsin. Chicago: H. C. Cooper, Jr., 1918.
External links[]
- Clark County government website
- Clark County Economic Development Corporation
- Clark County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
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Chippewa County | Taylor County |
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| Eau Claire County | 
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Marathon County | ||
   Clark County, Wisconsin | ||||
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| Jackson County | Wood County |
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