Burnett County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,526. Its county seat is Siren, with the majority of county governmental services located at the Burnett County Government Center. The county was created in 1856 and organized in 1865. The St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin have reservation lands in Burnett County and are the county's largest employer. The county is considered a high-recreation retirement destination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (6.6%) is water. Saginaw Lake is located in the county,http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/lakepages/LakeDetail.aspx?wbic=2494700 Wisconsin DNR: Saginaw Lake south of the Namekagon River.

Adjacent counties Douglas County – northeast Washburn County – east Barron County – southeast Polk County – south Chisago County, Minnesota – southwest Pine County, Minnesota – west

Major highways Highway 35 (Wisconsin) Highway 48 (Wisconsin) Highway 70 (Wisconsin) Highway 77 (Wisconsin) Highway 87 (Wisconsin)

Buses

Airports Burnett County Airport (KRZN) serves the county and surrounding communities. Grantsburg Municipal Airport (KGTG) enhances county service.

National protected area Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (part)

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Burnett County, Wisconsin – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980 Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)11,86612,46214,56314,06714,65896.16%95.25%92.91%91.01%88.70%Black or African American alone (NH)11225481650.09%0.17%0.34%0.52%0.39%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)3995316757046973.23%4.06%4.31%4.55%4.22%Asian alone (NH)15243752530.12%0.18%0.24%0.34%0.32%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census9310xx0.06%0.02%0.06%Other race alone (NH)25226320.20%0.02%0.01%0.04%0.19%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census214350757xx1.37%2.26%4.58%Hispanic or Latino (any race)24431201942540.19%0.33%0.77%1.26%1.54%Total12,34013,08415,67415,45716,526 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,526. The population density was . There were 15,201 housing units at an average density of .

The median age was 54.4 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 29.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 104.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.2 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 89.3% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 4.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.5% of the population.

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,499 households in the county, of which 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.9% were married-couple households, 22.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Of those housing units, 50.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.6% were owner-occupied and 17.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,674 people, 6,613 households, and 4,503 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 12,582 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.25% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 4.45% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.9% were of German, 15.4% Swedish, 12.8% Norwegian and 6.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 6,613 households, out of which 25.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.10% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 28.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 101.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.30 males.

In 2017, there were 118 births, giving a general fertility rate of 58.5 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 23rd lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Additionally, there were no reported induced abortions performed on women of Burnett County residence in 2017.Reported Induced Abortions in Wisconsin, Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013-2017, Table 18, pages 17-18

Communities Burnett County is one of only three Wisconsin counties that have no incorporated cities. It is the only Wisconsin county to have villages but no cities.

Villages Grantsburg Siren (seat) Webster

Towns

Anderson Blaine Daniels Dewey Grantsburg Jackson La Follette Lincoln Meenon Oakland Roosevelt Rusk Sand Lake Scott Siren Swiss Trade Lake Union Webb Lake West Marshland Wood River

Census-designated place Danbury

Unincorporated communities

Alpha Bashaw Benson Branstad Coomer Falun Four Corners Gaslyn Hertel Lind Oakland Pole Cat Crossing (partial) Randall Riverside Timberland Trade Lake Trade River Webb Lake Woodland Corner

Politics

During the 1930s and 1940s at the state level Burnett county was a stronghold for the Wisconsin Progressive Party - National Progressives. voting consistently for Philip La Follette during gubernatorial elections and Robert M. La Follette Jr. for senate.

See also Burnett County Airport National Register of Historic Places listings in Burnett County, Wisconsin USS Burnett County (LST-512)

References

Further reading Peet, Ed. L. Burnett County, Wisconsin: A Pamphlet Descriptive of Northern Wisconsin in General and of Burnett County in Detail. Grantsburg, Wis.: Burnett County Board of Immigration, 1902.

External links Burnett County government website Old maps: 1878 1901 1915 plat Burnett County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Brief History of Burnett County Fort Folle Avoine Historical Park