Bayfield

Formed January 1, 1845 (24^th county)

Bayfield County (16,213), Washburn (2,039)

The outstanding Classical Revival courthouse was built in 1894 to replace an 1874 structure.  The building is on 5^th Street between 1^st and 2^nd avenues.  Wisconsin State Highway 13 is three blocks southeast of the facility.  Orff and Joralemon are the designers.  The building was enlarged in 1998 and renovated in 2008.  Bayfield County was founded on January 1, 1845 from Ashland County as the 24^th county.  Bayfield was the first county seat until 1892 when Washburn took over.  The county is named for English Admiral Henry W. Bayfield.  The county seat was named for Governor Cadwallader C. Washburn.  He is also the namesake of Washburn County. 

Bayfield County government consists of a sheriff and 13 Supervisors.  One Circuit Court Judge serves Bayfield County.  The county is in the northwest part of Wisconsin.  Canada, Minnesota, and Michigan are on its border.  Lake Superior forms its northern border.  The county center is 16.6 miles West-Southwest of Washburn nearer Moquah.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Minnesota, Canada, and Michigan and Ashland, Sawyer, Washburn, and Douglas counties. 

The area of the county is 1477.8 square miles.  It is 2 out of 72 in the state.  It ranks 61 out of 72 in population in the state.  It has a density of 11.0 persons per square mile making it 69 out of 72 in the state.  Bayfield County has 16.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 2 crosses through the county from east to west from Ashland County to Douglas County.  United States Highway 63 originates and heads southwest into Sawyer County.  The county resembles a watering can with bubbles coming out of the neck.  Washburn is located on the northeast border of the county.  Washburn is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 12.6% of the county population.

Ashland