Dunn

Formed January 1, 1854 (47^th county)

Dunn County (45,434), Menomonie (16,846)

The Modern stone and concrete building was constructed in 1998.  The old 1960 courthouse now serves as the Administration Center.  It is at the intersection of Stokke Parkway and Parkway Drive.  Wisconsin State Highway 29 passes in front as Parkway Drive.  Ayer Associates are the architects.  A traditional 1872 facility existed earlier.  The county was formed from Chippewa County on January 1, 1854 as the 47^th county.  Dunnville was the first county seat until 1861 when Menomonie became the seat.  Dunn County is named for Judge Charles Dunn.  The county seat name is Native American for “wild rice.” 

Dunn County government consists of a sheriff and 29 Supervisors.  Two Circuit Court Judges and Two Municipal Court Judges serve Dunn County.  The county is located in the northwest part of the state.  Minneapolis, Minnesota is west and Madison, Wisconsin is southeast of the county.  The county center is 5.7 miles North of Menomonie nearer Cedar Falls.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Barron, Chippewa, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Saint Croix, and Polk counties. 

The area of the county is 850.1 square miles.  It is 26 out of 72 in the state.  It ranks 32 out of 72 in population in the state.  It has a density of 53.4 persons per square mile making it 35 out of 72 in the state.  Dunn County has 47.1% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 94 crosses through the county from east to west from Eau Claire County to Saint Croix County.  United States Highway 12 parallels Interstate Highway 94 from Eau Claire to Saint Croix counties.  The county is a rectangle.  Menomonie is located in the southern third of the county.  Menomonie is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 37.1% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced ME-NOM-O-NEE.  This county is in the Menomonie Micropolitan Statistical Area.