St. Croix County, Wisconsin

Saint Croix County
County
Old St. Croix County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°02′N92°27′W / 45.04°N 92.45°W / 45.04; -92.45
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Founded	1849
Named for	St. Croix River
Seat	Hudson
Largest city	Hudson
Area
• Total	736 sq mi (1,910 km2)
• Land	722 sq mi (1,870 km2)
• Water	13 sq mi (30 km2)  1.8%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	93,536
• Estimate  (2023)	96,763
• Density	129.5/sq mi (50.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th
Website	www.sccwi.gov

St. Croix County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 93,536. ^[1] Its county seat is Hudson. ^[2] The county was created in 1840 (then in the Wisconsin Territory) and organized in 1849. ^[3] St. Croix County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. Between 2000 and 2010, it was the fastest-growing county in Wisconsin. ^[4]

Soils of St. Croix County

Soils of Willow River State Park area

History

St. Croix County of 1840 and today

St. Croix County was created on August 3, 1840 ^[5] by the legislature of the Wisconsin Territory. It was named after the river on its western border. ^[6] Sources vary on the origin of the name; the St. Croix River may have been named after Monsieur St. Croix, an explorer who drowned at the mouth of the river late in the seventeenth century. Another account credits Father Hennepin with giving this region the French name St^e Croix (Holy Cross) because of the burial markers located at the mouth of the river. ^[7]

La Pointe County (now extinct, see Bayfield County) was created from the northern portions of Wisconsin Territory's St. Croix County on February 19, 1845. ^[8] When Wisconsin was admitted into the union as a state on May 29, 1848, the territorial St. Croix County was further divided, with the territory from the Mississippi River to the current border of Minnesota continuing as de facto Wisconsin Territory until on March 3, 1849, ^{[9] [10] [11]} it and unorganized federal territory lying north of Iowa were used in the creation of the Minnesota Territory. ^[12] Itasca, Washington, Ramsey and Benton Counties were created by the Minnesota Territory on October 27, 1849 ^[13] from the de facto Wisconsin Territory that had been separated from the Wisconsin Territory's La Pointe County.

The part of St. Croix County allocated to 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 400 yards (370 m) wide and 46 miles (74 km) long. The tornado formed on the banks of the St. Croix River, south of Hudson. Moving to the northeast across St. Croix County, the tornado passed through the villages of Burkhardt and Boardman before striking New Richmond head on leveling the entire business district and half the town's residences. The storm continued on towards the northeast, narrowly missing the town of Deer Park before crossing into Polk County, where it again narrowly missed the towns of Clear Lake, Richardson and Clayton. Once the tornado passed into Barron County, it struck the village of Arland (No reported fatalities or serious injuries) before breaking up southwest of Barron. The tornado killed 117 people (Four at Boardman, two in Polk County and the rest at New Richmond), including at least 20 people who died from their injuries in the days after the storm. Largely in thanks to state aid and donations, most of the town was rebuilt by the following winter. Today, the tornado stands as the deadliest ever recorded in Wisconsin and the 9th deadliest tornado in U.S. history.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 736 square miles (1,910 km²), of which 722 square miles (1,870 km²) is land and 13 square miles (34 km²) (1.8%) is water. ^[14]

Major highways

Interstate 94 US Highway 12 US Highway 63

Wisconsin Highway 29 Wisconsin Highway 35 Wisconsin Highway 46

Wisconsin Highway 64 Wisconsin Highway 65 Wisconsin Highway 128

Wisconsin Highway 170 List of county roads

Railroads

• Canadian National
• Union Pacific

Buses

• List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

Airport

New Richmond Regional Airport (KRNH) serves the county and surrounding communities.

National protected area

• Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (part)

Adjacent counties

• Polk County - north
• Barron County - northeast
• Dunn County - east
• Pierce County - south
• Washington County, Minnesota - west

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	809		—
1850	624		−22.9%
1860	5,392		764.1%
1870	11,035		104.7%
1880	18,956		71.8%
1890	23,139		22.1%
1900	26,830		16.0%
1910	25,910		−3.4%
1920	26,106		0.8%
1930	25,455		−2.5%
1940	24,842		−2.4%
1950	25,905		4.3%
1960	29,164		12.6%
1970	34,354		17.8%
1980	43,262		25.9%
1990	50,251		16.2%
2000	63,155		25.7%
2010	84,345		33.6%
2020	93,536		10.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [15] 1790–1960 [16] 1900–1990 [17] 1990–2000 [18] 2010–2020 [19]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, ^[1] the population was 93,536. The population density was 129.5 people per square mile (50.0 people/km²). There were 37,369 housing units at an average density of 51.7 units per square mile (20.0 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.2% White, 1.1% Asian, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for St. Croix County.

2000 census

As of the census ^[20] of 2000, there were 63,155 people, 23,410 households, and 16,948 families residing in the county. The population density was 88 people per square mile (34 people/km²). There were 24,265 housing units at an average density of 34 units per square mile (13 units/km²). 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. 34.4% were of German, 19.3% Norwegian, 8.2% Irish and 5.4% Swedish ancestry.

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, 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.

In 2017, there were 988 births, giving a general fertility rate of 59.0 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 25th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. ^{[21] [22]}

Communities

The sign for St. Croix County on US63

Cities

• Glenwood City
• Hudson (county seat)
• New Richmond
• River Falls (mostly in Pierce County)

Villages

• Baldwin
• Deer Park
• Hammond
• North Hudson
• Roberts
• Somerset
• Spring Valley (mostly in Pierce County)
• Star Prairie
• Wilson
• Woodville

Towns

• Baldwin
• Cady
• Cylon
• Eau Galle
• Emerald
• Erin Prairie
• Forest
• Glenwood
• Hammond
• Hudson
• Kinnickinnic
• Pleasant Valley
• Richmond
• Rush River
• Somerset
• Springfield
• St. Joseph
• Stanton
• Star Prairie
• Troy
• Warren

Census-designated places

• Emerald
• Houlton

Unincorporated communities

• Boardman
• Burkhardt
• Burkhardt Station
• Centerville
• Cylon
• Dahl
• Erin Corner
• Forest
• Glover
• Hatchville (partial)
• Hersey
• Huntington
• Jewett
• Johannesburg
• Northline
• Palmer
• Sono Junction
• Stanton
• Viking (partial)
• Wildwood

Politics

United States presidential election results for St. Croix County, Wisconsin ^[23]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	32,199	56.78%	23,190	40.89%	1,318	2.32%
2016	26,222	55.19%	17,482	36.80%	3,804	8.01%
2012	25,503	55.17%	19,910	43.07%	812	1.76%
2008	22,837	50.95%	21,177	47.25%	807	1.80%
2004	22,679	54.21%	18,784	44.90%	372	0.89%
2000	15,240	50.88%	13,077	43.66%	1,637	5.47%
1996	8,253	35.55%	11,384	49.04%	3,576	15.41%
1992	8,114	31.60%	10,281	40.04%	7,281	28.36%
1988	9,960	46.25%	11,392	52.90%	181	0.84%
1984	11,367	52.54%	10,127	46.81%	141	0.65%
1980	9,265	42.56%	10,203	46.87%	2,299	10.56%
1976	7,685	41.16%	10,601	56.77%	386	2.07%
1972	8,553	52.50%	7,488	45.96%	250	1.53%
1968	6,595	46.61%	6,807	48.11%	746	5.27%
1964	4,565	33.92%	8,864	65.86%	29	0.22%
1960	7,113	52.77%	6,341	47.05%	24	0.18%
1956	6,956	55.72%	5,499	44.05%	29	0.23%
1952	7,607	59.78%	5,094	40.03%	25	0.20%
1948	4,326	40.43%	6,173	57.69%	202	1.89%
1944	5,660	53.01%	4,930	46.17%	88	0.82%
1940	6,857	57.74%	4,898	41.24%	121	1.02%
1936	4,316	38.47%	4,679	41.71%	2,223	19.82%
1932	4,059	37.94%	6,374	59.58%	265	2.48%
1928	6,855	62.17%	4,083	37.03%	88	0.80%
1924	3,600	39.68%	718	7.91%	4,755	52.41%
1920	5,601	73.34%	1,638	21.45%	398	5.21%
1916	2,731	51.09%	2,352	44.00%	262	4.90%
1912	1,728	37.18%	1,806	38.86%	1,114	23.97%
1908	3,228	62.29%	1,773	34.21%	181	3.49%
1904	3,898	68.33%	1,569	27.50%	238	4.17%
1900	3,368	58.98%	2,076	36.36%	266	4.66%
1896	3,462	56.38%	2,475	40.31%	203	3.31%
1892	2,467	47.04%	2,220	42.33%	557	10.62%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Croix County, Wisconsin

References

1. "2020 Decennial Census: St. Croix County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
4. "Urban areas siphon Wisconsin's rural residents - USATODAY.com". USATODAY.COM. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
5. Laws of the Territory of Wisconsin. Belmont and Milwaukee, 1836–1848. no. 20, sec. 1/pp. 25-6
6. "Winnebago Took Its Name from an Indian Tribe". The Post-Crescent. December 28, 1963. p. 14. Retrieved August 25, 2014– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2008. History of St. Croix County
8. Laws of the Territory of Wisconsin. Belmont and Milwaukee, 1836–1848. 1845 pp. 52-3
9. Statutes at Large of the United States of America, 1789–1873. 17 vols. Boston: Little, Brown, 1845–1874. vol. 9, ch. 89 [1846]/pp. 56-58
10. Statutes at Large of the United States of America, 1789–1873. 17 vols. Boston: Little, Brown, 1845–1874. vol. 9, ch. 50 [1848]/pp. 233-235
11. Van Zandt, Franklin K. Boundaries of the United States and the Several States. Geological Survey Professional Paper 909. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1976. pp. 128-130
12. Statutes at Large of the United States of America, 1789–1873. 17 vols. Boston: Little, Brown, 1845–1874.vol. 9, ch. 121 [1849]/pp. 403-9
13. Session Laws of the Territory of Minnesota. St. Paul, 1850-1857. [1849] ch. 5, secs. 2-5, 7-9, 19-20/pp. 7-9
14. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
15. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
16. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
17. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 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 9, 2015.
19. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
20. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
21. "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 20, 2019.
22. Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013–2017, Table 18, pages 17-18
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

Further reading

• Johnson, Helen Sophia. Early History of St. Croix County, Wisconsin . Madison: University of Wisconsin, 1921.

External links

• St. Croix County government website
• St. Croix County map at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation

45°02′N92°27′W / 45.04°N 92.45°W / 45.04; -92.45