Clark County, Wisconsin

Clark County
County
Clark County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°44′N90°37′W / 44.73°N 90.61°W / 44.73; -90.61
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Founded	1854
Named for	George Rogers Clark
Seat	Neillsville
Largest city	Neillsville
Area
• Total	1,219 sq mi (3,160 km2)
• Land	1,210 sq mi (3,100 km2)
• Water	9.0 sq mi (23 km2)  0.7%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	34,659
• Estimate  (2023)	34,744
• Density	28.7/sq mi (11.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th
Website	www.clarkcountywi.gov

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 arrivals were probably Mormon loggers in 1844, who came 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 1845, James and Henry O'Neill led a party overland from Black River Falls, 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]

In 1920 construction began on the Clark County Asylum two miles east of Owen - the forerunner of today's Clark County Rehab and Living Center. It was the last built of a network of 35 county mental hospitals in Wisconsin, providing long-term care for patients who were unlikely to recover. Twelve patients from the Wausau asylum helped with construction, and they became the first patients. Some of the patients farmed, both keeping themselves busy and supplying the facility. In 1924 they grew 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. Soon a dairy herd was added, and hogs and a slaughterhouse by 1948. Over the years the institution's mission has shifted from "custodial asylum" to "treatment hospital," to skilled nursing facility. ^[11]

Geography

Rolling farmland on the shoulders of North Bluff north of Willard

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. ^[12]

Adjacent counties

• Taylor County – north
• Marathon County – east
• Wood County – southeast
• Jackson County – south
• Eau Claire County – west
• Chippewa County – northwest

Major highways

U.S. Highway 10 U.S. Highway 12 Highway 13 (Wisconsin) Highway 27 (Wisconsin)

Highway 29 (Wisconsin) Highway 73 (Wisconsin) Highway 95 (Wisconsin) Highway 98 (Wisconsin)

Railroads

• Union Pacific
• Watco
• Canadian National

Airport

• KVIQ – Neillsville Municipal Airport

Climate

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: [13] Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     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

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
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%
2020	34,659		−0.1%
2023 (est.)	34,774	[14]	0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [15] 1790–1960 [16] 1900–1990 [17] 1990–2000 [18] 2010 [19] 2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, ^[1] the population 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, 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 of 2000, ^[20] 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 people/km²). There were 13,531 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/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 Dutch, or Dutch at home; an additional 1.34% spoke Spanish. ^[21]

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. ^[22]

Religion

Religion in Clark County, according to ARDA (2020) ^[23]

  Catholic Church (22.9%)

  Anabaptist Churches (Amish and Mennonite) (12.5%)

  Evangelical Churches (11.9%)

  Mainline Protestant Churches (9.2%)

  Others (1.4%)

  None (42.1%)

In 2010, the largest religious groups by reported number of adherents in Clark County were Catholicism at 9,535 adherents, Missouri Synod Lutheranism at 2,459 adherents, ELCA Lutheranism 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. ^[24]

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

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

• 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

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. ^[25]

Politics

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

School districts include: ^[27]

• Abbotsford School District
• Alma Center School District
• Colby School District
• Granton Area School District
• Greenwood School District
• Loyal School District
• Marshfield School District
• Neillsville School District
• Osseo-Fairchild School District
• Owen-Withee School District
• Pittsville School District
• Spencer School District
• Stanley-Boyd Area School District
• Thorp School District

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Clark County, Wisconsin

References

1. "2020 Decennial Census: Clark County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Curtiss-Wedge, Franklin (1918). History of Clark County Wisconsin. Chicago and Winona: H.C. Cooper Jr & Co. pp. 35–36. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
4. Curtiss-Wedge, p. 36.
5. Curtiss-Wedge, p. 37-38.
6. "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.
7. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  83.
8. "Here's How Iron Got Its Name". The Rhinelander Daily News. June 16, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2014– via Newspapers.com.
9. "About Us". Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
10. Leonhardt, Kris (January 4, 2022). "It's electrifying - The advent of Clark County's electrical service". Multi Media Channels LLC. The Sentinel & Rural News.
11. , Marshfield News Herald, July 15, 1983
12. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
13. "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
14. QuickFacts Clark County, Wisconsin
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

• 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
• Old county maps: 1873 1880 1893 1906 1914 ca 1920
• Clark County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation

44°44′N90°37′W / 44.73°N 90.61°W / 44.73; -90.61