Editing List of counties in Wisconsin

{{Short description|None}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox subdivision type
| name               = Counties of Wisconsin
| alt_name           =  
| map                = [[File:Wisconsin-counties-map.gif|400px]]
| category           = 
| territory          = [[State of Wisconsin]]
| start_date         =
| current_number     = 72
| number_date        =
| population_range   = 4,286 ([[Menominee County, Wisconsin|Menominee]]) – 924,740 ([[Milwaukee County, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]])
| area_range         = {{Convert|231.98|sqmi}} ([[Pepin County, Wisconsin|Pepin]]) – {{Convert|1544.91|sqmi}} ([[Marathon County, Wisconsin|Marathon]])
| government         = [[County government]]
| subdivision        = cities, villages, towns
}}

There are 72 [[County (United States)|counties]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Wisconsin]]. The land that eventually became Wisconsin was transferred from British to American control with the 1783 signing of the [[Treaty of Paris (1783)|Treaty of Paris]].<ref name=HistoryBuffaloPepinCounties>{{cite book|last=Curtiss-Wedge|first=Franklyn|title=History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties, Wisconsin, Volume 1|year=1919|publisher=Higginson Book Company|pages=3–4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SNYqAQAAMAAJ&q=wisconsin+counties+lake+michigan&pg=PA4|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=September 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922115855/https://books.google.com/books?id=SNYqAQAAMAAJ&q=wisconsin+counties+lake+michigan&pg=PA4|url-status=live}}</ref> It was an unorganized part of the [[Northwest Territory]] until 1802 when all of the land from St. Louis north to the Canadian border was organized as [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair County]].<ref name=HistoryBuffaloPepinCounties />  When [[Illinois]] was admitted to the union in 1818, Wisconsin became part of the [[Territory of Michigan]] and divided into two counties: [[Brown County, Wisconsin|Brown County]] in the northeast along [[Lake Michigan]] and [[Crawford County, Wisconsin|Crawford County]] in the southwest along the [[Mississippi River]].<ref name=HistoryBuffaloPepinCounties /> [[Iowa County, Wisconsin|Iowa County]] was formed in 1829 from the Crawford County land south of the [[Wisconsin River]].<ref name=HistoryBuffaloPepinCounties /> Brown County's southern portion was used to form [[Milwaukee County, Wisconsin|Milwaukee County]] in 1834.<ref name=HistoryBuffaloPepinCounties /> The state of Wisconsin was created from [[Wisconsin Territory]] on May 29, 1848, with 28 counties.

The most populous county in the state is [[Milwaukee County, Wisconsin|Milwaukee County]] at 924,740 people at the 2024 Census estimate.<ref name="cen" /> The county with the least population is [[Menominee County, Wisconsin|Menominee County]] with 4,286 residents; the [[Menominee Indian Reservation]] is co-extensive with the county.<ref name="cen" /> [[Pepin County, Wisconsin|Pepin County]] is the smallest in area, with {{convert|231.98|sqmi|km2}}; [[Marathon County, Wisconsin|Marathon]] is the largest, having {{convert|1544.91|sqmi|km2}}.<ref name="cen" />

The [[Federal Information Processing Standard]] (FIPS) code, which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify states and counties, is provided with each entry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip6-4.htm|title= FIPS Publish 6-4|publisher= National Institute of Standards and Technology|access-date= February 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929074056/http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip6-4.htm|archive-date= September 29, 2013|url-status= dead}}</ref> Wisconsin's code is 55, which when combined with any county code would be written as 55XXX. The FIPS code for each county links to census data for that county.<ref name="epa">{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/wi.html |title=EPA County FIPS Code Listing |access-date=February 11, 2008 |work=US Environmental Protection Agency |archive-date=October 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007105136/http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/wi.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Governance ==
Each county has a [[county seat]], often a populous or centrally located community, where the county's governmental offices are located. Some of the services provided by the county include: law enforcement, [[Wisconsin Circuit Court|circuit courts]], social services, vital records and deed registration, road maintenance, and snow removal. County officials include sheriffs, district attorneys, clerks, treasurers, coroners, surveyors, registers of deeds, and clerks of circuit court; these officers are elected for four-year terms. In most counties, elected coroners have been replaced by appointed medical examiners. State law permits counties to appoint a registered land surveyor in place of electing a surveyor.

Counties in Wisconsin are governed by county boards, headed by a chairperson. Counties with a population of 500,000 or more must also have a [[county executive]].  Smaller counties may have either a county executive or a county administrator.<ref>Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. ''[https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2011_2012 State of Wisconsin 2011–2012 Blue Book] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171604/https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2011_2012 |date=December 28, 2017 }}''. Madison: Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, 2011, p. 736.</ref> As of 2011, 13 counties had elected county executives: [[Brown County, Wisconsin|Brown]], [[Chippewa County, Wisconsin|Chippewa]], [[Dane County, Wisconsin|Dane]], [[Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin|Fond du Lac]], [[Kenosha County, Wisconsin|Kenosha]], [[Manitowoc County, Wisconsin|Manitowoc]], [[Milwaukee County, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]], [[Outagamie County, Wisconsin|Outagamie]], [[Portage County, Wisconsin|Portage]], [[Racine County, Wisconsin|Racine]], [[Sawyer County, Wisconsin|Sawyer]], [[Waukesha County, Wisconsin|Waukesha]], and [[Winnebago County, Wisconsin|Winnebago]]. 23 had an appointed county administrator, 34 had an appointed administrative coordinator, and 2 had neither an executive nor an administrator. Waukesha County had both an executive and an administrator.<ref>Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. ''[https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2011_2012 State of Wisconsin 2011–2012 Blue Book] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171604/https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2011_2012 |date=December 28, 2017 }}''. Madison: Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, 2011, p. 732.</ref>

==List of counties==
{{Countytabletop
| region_width      = 
| fips_ref          =<ref name="epa" />
| region_seat_title = County seat
| region_seat_width =
| region_seat_ref   =<ref name="NACO">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|title=NACo – Find a county|publisher=National Association of Counties|access-date=February 11, 2008|archive-date=May 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.|url-status=live}}</ref>
| data2_title       = {{abbr|Est.|Established}}
| data2_width       =
| data2_ref         =<ref>Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. ''[https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2011_2012 State of Wisconsin 2011–2012 Blue Book] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171604/https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2011_2012 |date=December 28, 2017 }}''. Madison: Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, 2011, p. 731.</ref>
| data3_title       = Formed from
| data3_width       = 
| data3_ref =<ref name="WI Formed">{{cite book |title= Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin at its Fifty-Seventh Annual Meeting|last= Carver |first= Jonathon |year= 1910|publisher= Democrat Printing Company |edition= 1st|location= Madison WI}} (WV County Founding Dates and Etymology). Other editions available at {{ISBN|1130567257}} and [https://books.google.com/books?id=nbQTAAAAYAAJ&dq=%27Organization%2C+Boundaries+and+Names+of+Wisconsin+Counties&pg=PA184 Google Books] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404010324/https://books.google.com/books?id=nbQTAAAAYAAJ&dq=%27Organization%2C+Boundaries+and+Names+of+Wisconsin+Counties&pg=PA184 |date=April 4, 2023 }}</ref>
| data4_title       = Etymology
| data4_width       = 
| data4_ref         =<ref name="WI Formed" />
| data4_unsortable  = yes
| population_ref    =<ref name="cen">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/WI/PST045219|title=Wisconsin QuickFacts|work=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=March 14, 2025|archive-date=November 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119003300/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/WI/PST045219|url-status=live}} (2024 Census estimates)</ref>
| area_ref          =<ref name="cen" />
}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=001|Name=Adams|Noseat=[[Friendship (village), Wisconsin|Friendship]]|Data2=1848|Data3=[[Portage County, Wisconsin|Portage County]]|Data4=[[John Quincy Adams]] <small>(1767–1848)</small>, [[President of the United States]] <small>(1825–29)</small>|Population=21352|Area=645.65|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=003|Name=Ashland|Seat=Ashland|Data2=1860|Data3=La Pointe County|Data4=[[Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate|Ashland]], [[Henry Clay]]'s estate in [[Kentucky]] |Population=16196|Area=1045.04|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=005|Name=Barron|Seat=Barron|Data2=1859|Data3=[[Polk County, Wisconsin|Polk County]]|Data4=[[Henry D. Barron]], [[Wisconsin State Senate|state senator]] and [[United States circuit court|circuit court]] judge. |Population=46810|Area=862.71|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=007|Name=Bayfield|Seat=Washburn|Data2=1845|Data3=[[St. Croix County, Wisconsin|St. Croix County]]|Data4=[[Henry Bayfield]], [[Royal Navy|Royal naval]] officer and first to survey [[Great Lakes]] area |Population=16838|Area=1477.86|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=009|Name=Brown|Seat=Green Bay|Data2=1818|Data3=[[Territories of the United States#Formerly unorganized territories|unorganized territory]]|Data4= [[Major general (United States)|Major General]] [[Jacob Brown (general)|Jacob Brown]] <small>(1775–1828)</small>, commanding general of the [[United States Army]] during the [[War of 1812]]|Population=273909|Area=529.71|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=011|Name=Buffalo|Seat=Alma|Data2=1853|Data3=[[Jackson County, Wisconsin|Jackson County]]|Data4=The [[Buffalo River (Wisconsin)|Buffalo River]], which flows through the county.|Population=13464|Area=671.64|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=013|Name=Burnett|Seat=Siren|Data2=1856|Data3=[[Polk County, Wisconsin|Polk County]]|Data4=[[Thomas P. Burnett]], [[Wisconsin Legislature|state legislator]]|Population=17187|Area=821.85|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=015|Name=Calumet|Seat=Chilton|Data2=1836|Data3=[[Brown County, Wisconsin|Brown County]]|Data4=The French word for a [[Menominee]] [[Ceremonial pipe]].|Population=53602|Area=318.24|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=017|Name=Chippewa|Seat=Chippewa Falls|Data2=1845|Data3=[[Crawford County, Wisconsin|Crawford County]]|Data4= [[Ojibwe|Chippewa]] Indians|Population=67323|Area=1008.37|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=019|Name=Clark|Seat=Neillsville|Data2=1853|Data3=[[Crawford County, Wisconsin|Crawford County]]|Data4=[[George Rogers Clark]] <small>(1752–1812)</small>, [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] [[General officer|general]] |Population=34801|Area=1209.82|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=021|Name=Columbia|Seat=Portage|Data2=1846|Data3=[[Portage County, Wisconsin|Portage County]]|Data4=[[Christopher Columbus]] (1451–1506), navigator and explorer|Population=58113|Area=765.53|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=023|Name=Crawford|Seat=Prairie du Chien|Data2=1818|Data3=unorganized territory|Data4=[[William Harris Crawford]] <small>(1772–1834)</small>, [[United States Congressional Delegations from Georgia|United States Senator from Georgia]] <small>(1807–13)</small> and [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]] <small>(1816–25)</small>|Population=16008|Area=570.66|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=025|Name=Dane|Seat=Madison|Data2=1836|Data3=Crawford, Iowa, and Milwaukee Counties|Data4=[[Nathan Dane]] <small>(1752–1835)</small>, delegate to the [[First Continental Congress]] <small>(1785–88)</small>|Population=588347|Area=1197.24|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=027|Name=Dodge|Seat=Juneau|Data2=1836|Data3=Brown and Milwaukee Counties|Data4=[[Henry Dodge]] <small>(1782–1867)</small>, [[List of Governors of Wisconsin#Governors of Wisconsin Territory|Territorial Governor of Wisconsin]] <small>(1845–48)</small>|Population=88635|Area=875.63|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=029|Name=Door|Seat=Sturgeon Bay|Data2=1851|Data3=[[Brown County, Wisconsin|Brown County]]|Data4=A dangerous water passage near [[Door Peninsula]] known as ''[[Porte des Morts]]'' or "door of the dead" in [[French language|French]]|Population=30512|Area=481.98|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=031|Name=Douglas|Seat=Superior|Data2=1854|Data3=La Pointe County|Data4=[[Stephen Douglas]] <small>(1813–61)</small>, [[United States Senator]] from Illinois <small>(1847–61)</small>|Population=44276|Area=1304.14|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=033|Name=Dunn|Seat=Menomonie|Data2=1854|Data3=[[Chippewa County, Wisconsin|Chippewa County]]|Data4=[[Charles Dunn (Wisconsin politician)|Charles Dunn]], [[Wisconsin Senate|state senator]] and [[chief justice]] of [[Wisconsin Territory]]|Population=46135|Area=850.11|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=035|Name=Eau Claire|Seat=Eau Claire|Data2=1856|Data3=[[Chippewa County, Wisconsin|Chippewa County]]|Data4=[[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|City of Eau Claire]] French for "clear water"|Population=108830|Area=637.98|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=037|Name=Florence|Noseat=[[Florence (CDP), Wisconsin|Florence]]|Data2=1881|Data3=Marinette and Oconto Counties|Data4=Florence Hulst (1851-1942), the first white woman to settle in the area|Population=4673|Area=488.20|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=039|Name=Fond du Lac|Seat=Fond du Lac|Data2=1836|Data3=Brown County|Data4=French for "bottom of the lake"|Population=104269|Area=719.55|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=041|Name=Forest|Seat=Crandon|Data2=1885|Data3=Langlade and Oconto Counties|Data4=Forest which covered the area when it was settled|Population=9506|Area=1014.07|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=043|Name=Grant|Seat=Lancaster|Data2=1837|Data3=Iowa County|Data4=Probably a trader named Grant who made contact with area natives in 1810 but about whom little else is known |Population=52330|Area=1146.85|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=045|Name=Green|Seat=Monroe|Data2=1837|Data3=Iowa County and unorganized territory|Data4=[[Nathanael Greene]] <small>(1742–86)</small>, [[quartermaster general]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]]|Population=37183|Area=583.96|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=047|Name=Green Lake|Seat=Green Lake|Data2=1858|Data3=Marquette County|Data4=[[Green Lake (Wisconsin)|Green Lake]] located within the county|Population=19370|Area=349.44|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=049|Name=Iowa|Seat=Dodgeville|Data2=1829|Data3=Crawford County|Data4=[[Iowa tribe]] of [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indians]]|Population=23963|Area=762.58|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=051|Name=Iron|Seat=Hurley|Data2=1893|Data3=Ashland and Oneida Counties|Data4=Local [[iron]] deposits|Population=6235|Area=758.17|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=053|Name=Jackson|Seat=Black River Falls|Data2=1853|Data3=La Crosse County|Data4=[[Andrew Jackson]] <small>(1767–1845)</small>, [[President of the United States]] <small>(1829–37)</small>|Population=21027|Area=987.72|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=055|Name=Jefferson|Seat=Jefferson|Data2=1836|Data3=Milwaukee County|Data4=[[Thomas Jefferson]] <small>(1743–1826)</small>, [[President of the United States]] <small>(1801–09)</small>|Population=86245|Area=556.47|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=057|Name=Juneau|Seat=Mauston|Data2=1856|Data3=Adams County|Data4=[[Solomon Juneau]] <small>(1793–1856)</small>, founder of what would become [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]]|Population=26590|Area=766.93|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=059|Name=Kenosha|Seat=Kenosha|Data2=1850|Data3=Racine County|Data4=[[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indian]] word meaning "place of the [[Esox|pike]]"|Population=168754|Area=271.99|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=061|Name=Kewaunee|Seat=Kewaunee|Data2=1852|Data3=Door County|Data4=Either a [[Potawatomi language|Potawatomi]] word meaning "river of the lost" or an [[Ojibwe language|Ojibwe]] word meaning "[[Greater Prairie Chicken|prairie hen]]" "wild [[duck]]" or "to go around"|Population=20751|Area=342.52|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=063|Name=La Crosse|Seat=La Crosse|Data2=1851|Data3=Crawford County|Data4=[[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indian]] game of [[lacrosse]]|Population=121060|Area=451.69|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=065|Name=Lafayette|Seat=Darlington|Data2=1846|Data3=Iowa County|Data4=[[Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette|Gilbert du Motier]] [[marquis de La Fayette]] <small>(1757–1834)</small>, a French [[General officer|general]] in the [[American Revolutionary War]]|Population=17306|Area=633.59|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=067|Name=Langlade|Seat=Antigo|Data2=1879|Data3=Oconto County|Data4=[[Charles de Langlade]] <small>(1729 – {{circa|1800}})</small>, [[American Revolutionary War]] veteran and [[United States Indian Agent]] in Green Bay| Population=19535|Area=870.64|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=069|Name=Lincoln|Seat=Merrill|Data2=1874|Data3=[[Marathon County, Wisconsin|Marathon County]]|Data4=[[Abraham Lincoln]] <small>(1809–65)</small>, [[President of the United States]] <small>(1861–65)</small>| Population=28461|Area=878.97|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=071|Name=Manitowoc|Seat=Manitowoc|Data2=1836|Data3=Brown County|Data4=''Munedoo-owk'', an Ojibwe word meaning "the place of the good spirit"|Population=81513|Area=589.08|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=073|Name=Marathon|Seat=Wausau|Data2=1850|Data3=[[Portage County, Wisconsin|Portage County]]|Data4=[[Marathon, Greece]]|Population=139091|Area=1544.98|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=075|Name=Marinette|Seat=Marinette|Data2=1879|Data3=Oconto County|Data4=Marie Antoinette Chevalier, Indian wife of an early fur trapper |Population=42343|Area=1399.35|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=077|Name=Marquette|Seat=Montello|Data2=1836|Data3=Brown County|Data4=[[Jacques Marquette]] <small>(1637–75)</small>, missionary and explorer|Population=15743|Area=455.60|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=078|Name=Menominee|Seat=Keshena|Data2=1959|Data3=[[Menominee Indian Reservation]], Shawano, and Oconto Counties |Data4=[[Menominee]] Indians|Population=4286|Area=357.61|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=079|Name=Milwaukee|Seat=Milwaukee|Data2=1834|Data3=Brown County|Data4=''Mahnawaukee-Seepe'', an Indian word meaning "gathering place by the river"|Population=924740|Area=241.40|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=081|Name=Monroe|Seat=Sparta|Data2=1854|Data3=La Crosse County|Data4=[[James Monroe]] <small>(1758–1831)</small>, [[President of the United States]] <small>(1817–25)</small>|Population=46370|Area=900.78|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=083|Name=Oconto|Seat=Oconto|Data2=1851|Data3=Brown County|Data4=An Indian settlement and the [[Oconto River]], whose name means "plentiful with fish"|Population=40037|Area=997.99|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=085|Name=Oneida|Seat=Rhinelander|Data2=1885|Data3=Lincoln County|Data4=[[Oneida tribe|Oneida]] Indians|Population=38175|Area=1112.97|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=087|Name=Outagamie|Seat=Appleton|Data2=1851|Data3=Brown County|Data4=[[Outagamie]] Indians|Population=195390|Area=637.52|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=089|Name=Ozaukee|Seat=Port Washington|Data2=1853|Data3=Washington County|Data4=The [[Ojibwe]] word for the [[Sauk people|Sauk]] nation|Population=93956|Area=233.08|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=091|Name=Pepin|Seat=Durand|Data2=1858|Data3=[[Dunn County, Wisconsin|Dunn County]]|Data4=Pierre and Jean Pepin du Chardonnets, explorers|Population=7555|Area=231.98|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=093|Name=Pierce|Seat=Ellsworth|Data2=1853|Data3=Saint Croix County|Data4=[[Franklin Pierce]] <small>(1804–69)</small>, [[President of the United States]] <small>(1853–57)</small>|Population=43380|Area=573.75|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=095|Name=Polk|Seat=Balsam Lake|Data2=1853|Data3=Saint Croix County|Data4=[[James Polk]] <small>(1795–1849)</small>, [[President of the United States]] <small>(1845–49)</small>| Population=45831|Area=913.96|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=097|Name=Portage|Seat=Stevens Point|Data2=1836|Data3=Brown, Crawford, Iowa, and Milwaukee Counties|Data4=[[Portage Canal|Passage]] between the [[Fox River (Green Bay tributary)|Fox]] and [[Wisconsin River|Wisconsin]] Rivers |Population=72040|Area=800.68|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=099|Name=Price|Seat=Phillips|Data2=1879|Data3=Chippewa and Lincoln Counties|Data4=[[William T. Price]] <small>(1824–86)</small>, [[United States Congressional Delegations from Wisconsin|Representative]] from Wisconsin <small>(1883–86)</small>|Population=14087|Area=1254.38|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=101|Name=Racine|Seat=Racine|Data2=1836|Data3=Milwaukee County|Data4=''Racine'', the French word for "root", after the [[Root River (Wisconsin)|Root River]], which flows through the county| Population=198651|Area=332.5|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=103|Name=Richland|Seat=Richland Center|Data2=1842|Data3=[[Iowa County, Wisconsin|Iowa County]]|Data4=The rich [[soil]] of the area|Population=17123|Area=586.15|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=105|Name=Rock|Seat=Janesville|Data2=1836|Data3=Milwaukee County|Data4=[[Rock River (Mississippi River)|Rock River]], which flows through the county|Population=165461|Area=718.14|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=107|Name=Rusk|Seat=Ladysmith|Data2=1901|Data3=Chippewa County|Data4=[[Jeremiah McLain Rusk]] <small>(1830–93)</small>, [[Governor of Wisconsin]] <small>(1882–89)</small>|Population=14168|Area=913.59|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=111|Name=Sauk|Seat=Baraboo|Data2=1840|Data3=Crawford, Dane and Portage Counties|Data4=[[Sauk people|Sauk]] Indians|Population=66486|Area=830.9|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=113|Name=Sawyer|Seat=Hayward|Data2=1883|Data3=Ashland and Chippewa Counties|Data4=[[Philetus Sawyer]] <small>(1816–1900)</small>, [[United States Congressional Delegations from Wisconsin|Representative]] <small>(1865–75)</small> and [[United States Congressional Delegations from Wisconsin|Senator]] <small>(1881–93)</small> from Wisconsin|Population=18835|Area=1257.31|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=115|Name=Shawano|Seat=Shawano|Data2=1853|Data3=[[Oconto County, Wisconsin|Oconto County]]|Data4=An Ojibwe word meaning "southern"|Population=41299|Area=893.06|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=117|Name=Sheboygan|Seat=Sheboygan|Data2=1836|Data3=Brown County|Data4=''Shawb-wa-way-kun'', an Indian word meaning "great noise underground"|Population=118331|Area=511.27|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=109|Name=St. Croix|Seat=Hudson|Data2=1840|Data3=Crawford County, and unorganized territory|Data4=An early French explorer named St. Croix, about whom little is known |Population=97954|Area=722.33|Map=Map of Wisconsin highlighting Saint Croix County.svg|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=119|Name=Taylor|Seat=Medford|Data2=1875|Data3=Clark, Lincoln, Marathon and Chippewa Counties|Data4=[[William Robert Taylor]] <small>(1820–1909)</small>, [[Governor of Wisconsin]] 1874–76|Population=20167|Area=974.88|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=121|Name=Trempealeau|Seat=Whitehall|Data2=1854|Data3=Buffalo, Chippewa, Jackson, and La Crosse Counties|Data4=Trempealeau Mountain (from the French for "mountain with its foot in the water"), a [[hill|bluff]] located in a bend of the [[Trempealeau River]],<ref>{{cite book | author=Elkins, Winston | title=Trempealeau and the Mississippi River Dam | location=Trempealeau County, WI | publisher=Trempealeau County Historical Society | year=1985 }}</ref> which flows through the county
|Population=30801|Area=732.97|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=123|Name=Vernon|Seat=Viroqua|Data2=1851|Data3=Richland and Crawford Counties|Data4=[[Mount Vernon]], home of [[George Washington]]|Population=31351|Area=791.58|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=125|Name=Vilas|Seat=Eagle River|Data2=1893|Data3=Oneida County|Data4=[[William Freeman Vilas|William Vilas]] <small>(1840–1908)</small>, officer in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] [[United States Postmaster General]] <small>(1885–88)</small> [[United States Secretary of the Interior]] <small>(1888–89)</small> and [[List of United States Senators from Wisconsin|Senator from Wisconsin]] <small>(1891–97)</small>|Population=23948|Area=856.60|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=127|Name=Walworth|Seat=Elkhorn|Data2=1836|Data3=Milwaukee County|Data4=[[Reuben Hyde Walworth]] <small>(1788–1867)</small>, [[jurist]] from [[New York (state)|New York]]|Population=106029|Area=555.13|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=129|Name=Washburn|Seat=Shell Lake|Data2=1883|Data3=Burnett County|Data4=[[Cadwallader C. Washburn|Cadwallader Washburn]] <small>(1818–82)</small>, [[Governor of Wisconsin|Governor]] <small>(1872–74)</small> and [[United States congressional delegations from Wisconsin|Representative from Wisconsin]] <small>(1867–71)</small>|Population=16982|Area=797.11|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=131|Name=Washington|Seat=West Bend|Data2=1836|Data3=Brown and Milwaukee Counties|Data4=[[George Washington]] <small>(1732–99)</small>, [[American Revolutionary War]] leader <small>(1775–83)</small> and first [[President of the United States]] <small>(1789–97)</small>| Population=138727|Area=430.70|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=133|Name=Waukesha|Seat=Waukesha|Data2=1846|Data3=Milwaukee County|Data4=''Waugooshance'', a [[Pottawatomi]] word meaning "little [[fox]]es"|Population=417029|Area=549.57|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=135|Name=Waupaca|Seat=Waupaca|Data2=1851|Data3=Brown and Winnebago Counties|Data4=''wau-pa-ka-ho-nak'', a [[Menominee language|Menominee]] word meaning "white sand bottom" or "brave young hero"|Population=51171|Area=747.71|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=137|Name=Waushara|Seat=Wautoma|Data2=1851|Data3=Marquette County|Data4=An Indian word meaning "good earth"|Population=25079|Area=626.15|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=139|Name=Winnebago|Seat=Oshkosh|Data2=1840|Data3=Brown, Calumet, and Fond du Lac Counties|Data4=[[Winnebago Indians]]|Population=173307|Area=434.49|Size=100px}}
{{Countyrow |N=55|Num=141|Name=Wood|Seat=Wisconsin Rapids|Data2=1856|Data3=[[Portage County, Wisconsin|Portage County]]|Data4=[[Joseph Wood (Wisconsin)|Joseph Wood]] <small>(1809–90)</small>, state legislator <small>(1856–58)</small>|Population=73943|Area=793.12|Size=100px}}
|}

==Renamed counties==
Five counties in Wisconsin have been renamed, but otherwise kept their same borders.<ref name="CountiesByYear">{{cite web |url=https://mapgeeks.org/maps-of-wisconsin/ |title=Interactive Map of Wisconsin County Formation History |access-date=September 15, 2014 |work=mapgeeks.org |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328102944/https://mapgeeks.org/maps-of-wisconsin/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* Bad Axe County existed from 1851 to 1862. It was named after the [[Bad Axe River]] and the [[Battle of Bad Axe]]. It was renamed to [[Vernon County, Wisconsin|Vernon County]] in 1862.<ref name="Vernon">{{cite book |title= History of Vernon County, Wisconsin|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofvernonc01spri|year= 1884|publisher= Union Publishing|location= Viroqua, WI|page= [https://archive.org/details/historyofvernonc01spri/page/132 132]}} (Bad Ax County). Other editions available: {{ISBN|1178120341}} and [https://books.google.com/books?id=-0EVAAAAYAAJ Google Books]</ref>
* Dallas County existed for 10 years, from 1859 to 1869. It was named after [[George M. Dallas]], the 11th vice president of the United States. It was named to [[Barron County, Wisconsin|Barron County]] in 1869.<ref name="Barron">{{cite web |url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=2253&keyword=barron |title=Dictionary of Wisconsin History |access-date=February 27, 2013 |work=Wisconsin Historical Society |archive-date=August 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080824125629/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Gates County existed from 1901 to 1905. It was named after Milwaukee land speculator James L. Gates.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|last = Gannett|first = Henry|publisher = Govt. Print. Off.|year = 1905|pages = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n134 135]|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> It was renamed to [[Rusk County, Wisconsin|Rusk County]] in 1905.<ref>[http://ruskcountymuseum.webs.com/gatescountycourthouse.htm Rusk County Museum] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022021623/http://ruskcountymuseum.webs.com/gatescountycourthouse.htm |date=October 22, 2013 }}</ref> 
* [[La Pointe County, Wisconsin|La Pointe County]] existed from 1845 to 1866. In 1848, when Wisconsin achieved statehood, La Pointe County was split between Wisconsin and Minnesota. It was renamed to [[Bayfield County, Wisconsin|Bayfield County]] in 1866.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=9327&keyword=la+pointe|title=Wisconsin Historical Society-La Pointe County, Wisconsin (obsolete)|access-date=March 4, 2013|archive-date=May 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508030459/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=9327&keyword=la+pointe|url-status=live}}</ref>
* New County existed briefly between 1879 and 1880. It was formed from part of [[Oconto County, Wisconsin|Oconto County]]. It was renamed to Langlade County in 1880.<ref>'History of Langlade County, Wisconsin from U.S. Government Survey to Present Time, With Biographical Sketches,' Robert Dessueran, Bernier Bros Publishing Co., Antigo, Wisconsin: 1922, History of Langlade County, Chapter V: Organization of Langlade County, pg. 12</ref> 

== Proposed counties ==
Two proposed counties were ultimately not established.

* In 1850, Tuskola County was proposed as a new subdivision of [[Washington County, Wisconsin|Washington County]].<ref name="WI Formed" /> The proposed borders lie within the modern Washington and Ozaukee counties.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DGqbAAAAMAAJ&q=tuskola+county+wisconsin&pg=PA77 |title = Acts and Resolves Passed by the Legislature of Wisconsin |author1 = Wisconsin |year = 1850 |access-date = June 25, 2021 |archive-date = September 22, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230922115855/https://books.google.com/books?id=DGqbAAAAMAAJ&q=tuskola+county+wisconsin&pg=PA77 |url-status = live }}</ref>

* In 1997, Century County was proposed, for creation after the year 2000, as a merger of [[Wood County, Wisconsin|Wood]], [[Clark County, Wisconsin|Clark]], and [[Marathon County, Wisconsin|Marathon]] counties that would be centered around the city of [[Marshfield, Wisconsin|Marshfield]]. The name was selected to represent "a new county for a new century".<ref name="CenturyCo">{{cite news |url=http://journaltimes.com/news/new-county-only-solution-to-poor-service-some-say/article_76708d68-ba6f-5e0d-8862-4a836bee3f63.html |title=New county only solution to poor service, some say |date=September 28, 1997 |access-date=January 9, 2017 |newspaper=The Journal Times |first=Anita |last=Clark |archive-date=November 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105142736/http://journaltimes.com/news/new-county-only-solution-to-poor-service-some-say/article_76708d68-ba6f-5e0d-8862-4a836bee3f63.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Problems associated with [[Sand mining|Frac Sand mining]] rekindled the idea in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sean |last=Kirkby |title=Professor advocates creating a new state county |url=https://badgerherald.com/news/2012/03/04/professor-advocates/ |access-date=March 4, 2012 |website=Badger Herald |publisher=The Badger Herald |date=March 4, 2012 |archive-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628145420/https://badgerherald.com/news/2012/03/04/professor-advocates/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[BOW counties]]
*[[WOW counties]]
*[[Political subdivisions of Wisconsin]]
*[[List of cities in Wisconsin]]
*[[List of villages in Wisconsin]]
*[[List of towns in Wisconsin]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite web |last1=writer |first1=Statf |author-link1= |collaboration= |df= |year=2022 |location= |title=WISCONSIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT OVERVIEW |url=https://ce.naco.org//app/profiles/CountyGov/CountyGov_55000.pdf |url-access= |format= |department= |website=ce.naco.org |type= |language= |edition= |agency=National Association of Counties (NACo) |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-format= |archive-date= |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |ref= }}

== External links ==
* [https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/pages/Wisconsin.html Wisconsin historical county boundaries map] from ''Atlas of Historical County Boundaries'' at [[Newberry Library]] website

{{U.S. Counties}}
{{Wisconsin}}

[[Category:Lists of counties of the United States by state|Wisconsin, counties in]]
[[Category:Wisconsin counties| ]]
[[Category:Wisconsin geography-related lists|Counties]]