Pierce

Formed January 1, 1853 (44^th county)

Pierce County (42,205), Ellsworth (3,350), River Falls (16,185)

The domed Beaux Arts and Classical Revival tan brick and stone courthouse was built in 1905.  It is located on Main Street between Oak and Plum streets.  Main Street is United States Highway 10 in this part of the town.  Buechner and Orth are the architects.  An Administration Building augments the courthouse.  The courthouse features a tower and veterans memorials are on the grounds.  The county was formed on January 1, 1853 from St. Croix County as the 44^th county with Ellsworth as the only county seat.  Pierce County is named for United States President Franklin Pierce.  The county seat was named for Civil War hero Elmer E. Ellsworth.  Pierce County is the birthplace of 1 Wisconsin Governor, Warren P. Knowles. 

Pierce County government consists of a sheriff and 17 Supervisors.  One Circuit Court Judge and Two Municipal Court Judges serve Pierce County.  The county is located on the western border with Minnesota.  The Mississippi River is its western border.  Minneapolis, Minnesota is west and Madison, Wisconsin is southeast of the county.  The county center is 4.5 miles East-Southeast of Ellsworth nearer Lawton.  The county is surrounded clockwise by St. Croix, Dunn, and Pepin counties and Minnesota. 

The area of the county is 573.8 square miles.  It is 51 out of 72 in the state.  It ranks 35 out of 72 in population in the state.  It has a density of 73.6 persons per square mile making it 27 out of 72 in the state.  Pierce County has 55.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 10 passes east to west in the county from Pepin County to Minnesota.  United States Highway 63 enters from the north, St. Croix County, and exits to the southwest, Minnesota.  The county resembles a wedge turned upside down.  Ellsworth is located in the northwest quarter of the county.  River Falls is on the northwest border of the county and extends into St. Croix County.  Ellsworth is the county seat and River Falls is the largest city.  Ellsworth is 7.9% of the county population while River Falls is 38.4% of the county population.  This county is in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MSA.