Barron

Formed January 1, 1859 (57^th county)

Barron County (46,709), Barron (3,732), Rice Lake (9,035)                

The Modern concrete and glass structure was erected in 1963.  It is sited on La Salle Avenue at 3^rd Street.  Wisconsin State Highway 25 is one block to the north of the site.  The building was renovated and enlarged in 1989.  Jane Hirsch & Associate designed the courthouse.  There was a classic 1901 facility earlier.  A Justice Center was added in 2004.  The county was established on January 1, 1859 from Polk County as the 57^th county and Barron has always been the county seat.  The county and county seat are named for Judge Henry D. Barron. 

Barron County government consists of a sheriff and 29 Supervisors.  Three Circuit Court Judges and Six Municipal Court Judges serve Barron County.  The county is located in the northwest part of the state.  Green Bay, Wisconsin is southeast and Minneapolis, Minnesota is southwest of the county.  The county center is 2.5 miles East of Barron.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Washburn, Sawyer, Rusk, Chippewa, Dunn, Saint Croix, Polk, and Burnett counties. 

The area of the county is 862.7 square miles.  It is 24 out of 72 in the state.  It ranks 30 out of 72 in population in the state.  It has a density of 54.1 persons per square mile making it 34 out of 72 in the state.  Barron County has 46.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 8 passes east to west in the county from Rusk County to Polk County.  United States Highway 53 enters from the north, Washburn County, and exits to the southeast, Chippewa County.  United States Highway 63 comes from Washburn County and goes to Polk County.  The county is a rectangle.  The City of Barron is located near the center of the county.  Rice Lake is in the northeast quarter of the county.  Barron is the county seat and Rice Lake is the largest city.  Barron is 8.0% of the county population while Rice Lake is 19.3% of the county population.