Jump to content

Clark County, Wisconsin

Coordinates: 44°44′N 90°37′W / 44.73°N 90.61°W / 44.73; -90.61
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Clark County
County
Clark County Courthouse
Clark County Courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Clark 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°44′N 90°37′W / 44.73°N 90.61°W / 44.73; -90.61
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1854
Named afterGeorge Rogers Clark
SeatNeillsville
Largest cityNeillsville
Area
 • Total
1,219 sq mi (3,160 km2)
 • Land1,210 sq mi (3,100 km2)
 • Water9.0 sq mi (23 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
34,659
 • Estimate 
(2024)[1]
34,801 Increase
 • Density28.8/sq mi (11.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.clarkcountywi.gov%20www.clarkcountywi.gov

Clark County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, its population was 34,659.[2] The county seat is Neillsville.[3]

History

[edit]

By the early 1800s, the land and streams that are now Clark County were the hunting grounds of the Chippewa, Dakota, Ho-Chunk, and possibly Menominee peoples. In 1836, these Indigenous groups were joined by a party of French-Canadian fur traders who established a temporary post for the American Fur Company on the East Fork of the Black River.[4]

The next European-American arrivals were likely Mormon loggers in 1844, who came to harvest pine logs from the forests along the Black River. They floated the logs downstream to a sawmill at Black River Falls, where the lumber was processed and transported further downriver for use in constructing the Mormon temple in Nauvoo, Illinois. The Mormons established logging camps along the river at sites including Mormon Riffle (about a mile below Neillsville), near Weston's Rapids, and south of Greenwood. This logging operation likely ended by 1846, when most of the Mormons left the area following the murder of Joseph Smith.[5]

In June 1845, James and Henry O'Neill led a party overland from Black River Falls, cutting a road through the brush. They used oxen to pull a wagon carrying tools and supplies. Upon arriving, they built a cabin on O'Neill Creek, followed by a sawmill. Lumber from the mill was rafted down the Black River to Black River Falls and then transported to Alexander O'Neill in Burlington, Iowa. However, a storm in June 1847 caused severe flooding of the Black River, destroying all the existing sawmills. Despite this setback, the settlers rebuilt.[6]

Clark County fairgrounds

Clark County was founded in 1853 and officially organized the following year.[7] The county's name origin is uncertain—it was either named for A. W. Clark, an early settler,[8] or for General George Rogers Clark.[9][10]

Electricity became available in some towns and villages around 1900 through private power plants. For example, in 1902, the Paulsen mill began supplying electricity to the village of Withee. However, rural farms remained without electricity until the late 1930s. In 1937, the newly formed Clark Electric Cooperative, funded by a loan from the New Deal's Rural Electrification Administration, began installing power lines to serve the county's rural areas.[11]

In 1920, construction began on the Clark County Asylum, located two miles east of Owen. It was the last in a network of 35 county mental hospitals established in Wisconsin, designed to provide long-term care for patients unlikely to recover. Twelve patients from the Wausau asylum assisted with construction and became the facility’s first residents. The asylum operated a farm to keep patients engaged while supplying food for the institution. By 1924, patients cultivated 60 acres of corn, 25 acres of potatoes, 16 acres of barley, 40 acres of oats, 6 acres of buckwheat, and 3 acres of millet. A dairy herd was later introduced, along with hog farming and a slaughterhouse by 1948. Over time, the institution's mission shifted from a "custodial asylum" to a "treatment hospital" and eventually to a skilled nursing facility. Today, it is known as the Clark County Rehab and Living Center.[12]

Geography

[edit]
Rolling farmland on the shoulders of North Bluff north of Willard

According to the United States Census Bureau, Clark 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.[13]

Adjacent counties

[edit]

Major highways

[edit]

Railroads

[edit]

Buses

[edit]

Airport

[edit]

Climate

[edit]
Clark County
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
34
 
 
−11
−15
 
 
41
 
 
−10
−17
 
 
47
 
 
1
−9
 
 
112
 
 
15
2
 
 
158
 
 
18
11
 
 
157
 
 
24
13
 
 
61
 
 
25
17
 
 
100
 
 
23
12
 
 
70
 
 
21
9
 
 
126
 
 
14
2
 
 
43
 
 
6
−6
 
 
40
 
 
−8
−11
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [14]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1.3
 
 
12
5
 
 
1.6
 
 
14
1
 
 
1.9
 
 
34
16
 
 
4.4
 
 
59
36
 
 
6.2
 
 
64
52
 
 
6.2
 
 
75
55
 
 
2.4
 
 
77
63
 
 
3.9
 
 
73
54
 
 
2.8
 
 
70
48
 
 
5
 
 
57
36
 
 
1.7
 
 
43
21
 
 
1.6
 
 
18
12
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Demographics and religion statistics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860789—
18703,450337.3%
188010,715210.6%
189017,70865.3%
190025,84846.0%
191030,07416.3%
192035,12016.8%
193034,165−2.7%
194033,972−0.6%
195032,459−4.5%
196031,527−2.9%
197030,361−3.7%
198032,9108.4%
199031,647−3.8%
200033,5576.0%
201034,6903.4%
202034,659−0.1%
2024 (est.)34,8010.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
1790–1960[16] 1900–1990[17]
1990–2000[18] 2010[19] 2020[2] 2024[1]

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census,[2] the population of Clark County was 34,659. The population density was 28.7 people per square mile (11.1 people/km2). There were 14,755 housing units at an average density of 12.2 units per square mile (4.7 units/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
  • 3.2% from two or more races

Additionally, 6.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

[edit]
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Clark County

As of the 2000 census,[20] Clark County had a population of 33,557, with 12,047 households and 8,673 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11 people/km2). There were 13,531 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km2).

The racial composition 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
  • 0.47% from two or more races

Additionally, 1.20% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The most common ancestries reported were:

In terms of language, 6.62% of residents spoke German, Pennsylvania Dutch, or Dutch at home, while an additional 1.34% spoke Spanish.[21]

There were 12,047 households, of which:

  • 35.0% had children under 18 living with them
  • 61.2% were married couples living together
  • 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present
  • 28.0% were non-families

Additionally, 23.8% of all households consisted of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.73, while the average family size was 3.27.

The county’s population was distributed as follows:

  • 29.9% under the age of 18
  • 7.7% from 18 to 24
  • 26.2% from 25 to 44
  • 20.2% from 45 to 64
  • 16.0% aged 65 or older

The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.5 males. Among adults 18 and older, there were 98.7 males per 100 females.

In 2017, there were 554 births in the county, resulting in a general fertility rate of 99.2 births per 1,000 women aged 15–44—the second-highest rate among Wisconsin’s 72 counties. Of these, 184 births occurred at home, more than in any other county in the state.[22]

Religion

[edit]
Religion in Clark County, according to ARDA (2020) [23]
  1. Catholic Church (22.9%)
  2. Anabaptist Churches (Amish and Mennonite) (12.5%)
  3. Evangelical Churches (11.9%)
  4. Mainline Protestant Churches (9.2%)
  5. 0.00%
  6. Others (1.4%)
  7. None (42.1%)

In 2010, the largest religious groups by reported number of adherents in Clark County were:

  • Catholicism: 9,535 adherents
  • Missouri Synod Lutheranism: 2,459 adherents
  • ELCA Lutheranism: 2,281 adherents
  • Amish: 1,986 adherents
  • United Church of Christ: 959 adherents
  • Wisconsin Synod Lutheran: 891 adherents
  • United Methodist: 577 adherents.[24]

Communities

[edit]
Clark County sign

Cities

[edit]

Villages

[edit]

Towns

[edit]

Census-designated places

[edit]

Unincorporated communities

[edit]
Globe is a remnant of a rural farming community, with the church remaining.

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

[edit]
Along with modern farmers, the county is home to many Amish, who continue to farm using traditional methods.

In 2013, there were 16 Amish church districts in Clark County.[25]

Politics

[edit]
United States presidential election results for Clark County, Wisconsin[26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 10,481 68.32% 4,509 29.39% 350 2.28%
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%

Education

[edit]

School districts include:[27]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b QuickFacts Clark County, Wisconsin
  2. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census: Clark County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Curtiss-Wedge, Franklin (1918). History of Clark County, Wisconsin. Chicago and Winona: H.C. Cooper Jr & Co. pp. 35–36. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  5. ^ Curtiss-Wedge, p. 36.
  6. ^ Curtiss-Wedge, pp. 37–38.
  7. ^ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  8. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 83.
  9. ^ "Here's How Iron Got Its Name". The Rhinelander Daily News. June 16, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ "About Us". Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  11. ^ Leonhardt, Kris (January 4, 2022). "It's Electrifying: The Advent of Clark County's Electrical Service". Multi Media Channels LLC. The Sentinel & Rural News.
  12. ^ [1], Marshfield News-Herald, July 15, 1983
  13. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  14. ^ "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  15. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  16. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  17. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  18. ^ "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 2, 2015.
  19. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  20. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  21. ^ "Language Map Data Center".
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "Clark County, Ohio - County Membership Report (2020)". The Association of Religion Data Archives.
  24. ^ thearda.com 2010 County Membership Report data
  25. ^ Donald B. Kraybill, Karen M. Johnson-Weiner, Steven M. Nolt: The Amish. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013, p. 142.
  26. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  27. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Marathon County, WI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 3, 2024. - Text list

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clark County, Wisconsin.

44°44′N 90°37′W / 44.73°N 90.61°W / 44.73; -90.61

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clark_County,_Wisconsin&oldid=1282794647"