Vilas County, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Vilas County is a county
in the U.S. state
of Wisconsin
. As of 2000, the population was 21,033. Its county seat
is Eagle River
.
on April 12, 1893 and named for William Freeman Vilas
. The earliest inhabitants of Vilas County were members of the Chippewa band of Native Americans; the first recorded white settler was a man named Ashman who established a trading post in Lac du Flambeau in 1818. In the 1850s a number of wagon roads and trails were constructed through Vilas County including the Ontonogan Mail Trail and a Military Road from Fort Howard to Fort Wilkins
in Copper Harbor, Michigan
.
. Vilas County residents massed in angry throngs to interfere with Native Americans who had gained recognition for their natural resource management jurisdiction off of a federal ethnic reservation, throwing rocks and trying to capsize boats from which families gathered their annual quota of fish.
, the county has a total area of 1018 square miles (2,636.6 km²), of which 874 square miles (2,263.6 km²) is land and 144 square miles (373 km²) (14.16%) is water. There are 1,318 lakes in the county. Much of Vilas County is covered by the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
and the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
as well as extensive county forest lands. Vilas County waters drain to Lake Superior
, Lake Michigan
, and the Mississippi River
. The Wisconsin
, Flambeau
, and Presque Isle River
s all find their headwaters in Vilas County.
Although these two forests have been administratively combined into the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
, it is important to note that the county contains portions of both original forests.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 21,033 people, 9,066 households, and 6,300 families residing in the county. The population density
was 24 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 22,397 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.69% White
, 0.20% Black
or African American
, 9.08% Native American
, 0.18% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.19% from other races
, and 0.65% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 37.8% were of German, 7.9% Polish, 6.6% Irish
and 5.3% English
ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.9% spoke English
, 1.3% Spanish
and 1.2% German
as their first language.
There were 9,066 households out of which 23.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples
living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the county, the population was spread out with 20.70% under the age of 18, 5.00% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 28.50% from 45 to 64, and 22.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. As of 2000, the population was 21,033. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Eagle River
Eagle River, Wisconsin
Eagle River is a city in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,443 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Vilas County. The city is known for being a popular "Northwoods" vacation town...
.
Settlement
Vilas County was set off from Oneida CountyOneida County, Wisconsin
Oneida County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 36,776. Its county seat is Rhinelander.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,236 square miles , of which 1,124 square miles is land and 111 square...
on April 12, 1893 and named for William Freeman Vilas
William Freeman Vilas
William Freeman Vilas was a member of the Democratic Party who served in the United States Senate for the state of Wisconsin from 1891 to 1897. He was a prominent Bourbon Democrat....
. The earliest inhabitants of Vilas County were members of the Chippewa band of Native Americans; the first recorded white settler was a man named Ashman who established a trading post in Lac du Flambeau in 1818. In the 1850s a number of wagon roads and trails were constructed through Vilas County including the Ontonogan Mail Trail and a Military Road from Fort Howard to Fort Wilkins
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park
Fort Wilkins Historic State Park is a historical park operated by the U.S. state of Michigan at Copper Harbor, Michigan. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, and is a "Cooperating Site" of the Keweenaw National Historical Park....
in Copper Harbor, Michigan
Copper Harbor, Michigan
Copper Harbor is a small unincorporated community in northeastern Keweenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is within Grant Township on the Keweenaw Peninsula that juts from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan into Lake Superior.-History:...
.
Logging Era
Vilas County's forests were extensively logged in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many dams were built throughout the county to assist loggers as they sent their timber downstream to the lumber and paper mills in the Wisconsin River valley.Wisconsin Walleye War
Governor Tommy Thompson was ordered by a federal court to mobilize hundreds of policemen to keep the peace in Vilas County in 1989 during the Wisconsin Walleye WarWisconsin Walleye War
Civil unrest erupted in Wisconsin after U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb handed down a ruling on August 21, 1987 that affirmed the treaty right of six Ojibwe or Chippewa tribal governments to regulate their members' hunting and fishing outside of the reservation boundaries, based on the...
. Vilas County residents massed in angry throngs to interfere with Native Americans who had gained recognition for their natural resource management jurisdiction off of a federal ethnic reservation, throwing rocks and trying to capsize boats from which families gathered their annual quota of fish.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 1018 square miles (2,636.6 km²), of which 874 square miles (2,263.6 km²) is land and 144 square miles (373 km²) (14.16%) is water. There are 1,318 lakes in the county. Much of Vilas County is covered by the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is a 1,530,647 acre U.S. National Forest in northern Wisconsin in the United States. Much of the old growth forest in this region was destroyed by logging in the early part of the 20th century...
and the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest is a Wisconsin state forest of more than across Vilas, Oneida, and Iron counties in north-central Wisconsin. The state forest includes numerous lakes, rivers, and streams. The most prominent rivers are the Wisconsin, Flambeau, and Manitowish...
as well as extensive county forest lands. Vilas County waters drain to Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
, Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
, and the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The Wisconsin
Wisconsin River
-External links:* * * , Wisconsin Historical Society* * * *...
, Flambeau
Flambeau River
The Flambeau River is a tributary of the Chippewa River in northern Wisconsin, USA. It drains an area of and descends from an elevation of approximately to above sea level. The Flambeau is an important recreational destination in the region. It is notable among canoeists in the Midwestern USA...
, and Presque Isle River
Presque Isle River
The Presque Isle River runs through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and empties into Lake Superior. Along its course, it flows through the Ottawa National Forest and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. It has 300 mi2 of drainage area in Upper Michigan and Northern Wisconsin.Several...
s all find their headwaters in Vilas County.
Adjacent counties
- Gogebic County, MichiganGogebic County, Michigan-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,370 people, 7,425 households, and 4,581 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile . There were 10,839 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
- north - Iron County, MichiganIron County, Michigan-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 13,138 people, 5,748 households, and 3,615 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile . There were 8,772 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
- northeast - Forest CountyForest County, WisconsinForest County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,304. Its county seat is Crandon.-Indian Reservations:...
- southeast - Oneida CountyOneida County, WisconsinOneida County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 36,776. Its county seat is Rhinelander.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,236 square miles , of which 1,124 square miles is land and 111 square...
- south - Price CountyPrice County, WisconsinPrice County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 15,822. Its county seat is Phillips.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water...
- southwest - Iron CountyIron County, WisconsinIron County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 6,861. Its county seat is Hurley.-Geography:According to the U.S...
- west
Major highways
|
 Highway 47 (Wisconsin)Highway 47 (Wisconsin) State Trunk Highway 47 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs in a diagonal northwest-southeast in northeastern and northern Wisconsin from Manitowish to Menasha....  Highway 70 (Wisconsin)Highway 70 (Wisconsin) State Trunk Highway 70 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs east–west in northern Wisconsin from a shared terminus with WIS 101 at US 2 and US 141 near Florence to a connection with Minnesota State Highway 70 at the St. Croix River west of Grantsburg in Burnett County...  Highway 155 (Wisconsin)Highway 155 (Wisconsin) State Trunk Highway 155 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs in north–south in north-central Wisconsin from St. Germain to Sayner. Its southern terminus is at STH 70 in St. Germain and it ends at the northern of two junctions with CTH N in Sayner... |
U.S. Highway 45
U.S. Highway 51
National Protected Areas
- Chequamegon National Forest (part)
- Nicolet National Forest (part)
Although these two forests have been administratively combined into the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is a 1,530,647 acre U.S. National Forest in northern Wisconsin in the United States. Much of the old growth forest in this region was destroyed by logging in the early part of the 20th century...
, it is important to note that the county contains portions of both original forests.
Demographics
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 21,033 people, 9,066 households, and 6,300 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 24 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 22,397 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.69% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.20% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 9.08% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.19% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.65% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 37.8% were of German, 7.9% Polish, 6.6% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 5.3% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.9% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, 1.3% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and 1.2% German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as their first language.
There were 9,066 households out of which 23.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the county, the population was spread out with 20.70% under the age of 18, 5.00% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 28.50% from 45 to 64, and 22.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.
Economy
The economy in Vilas County is based on tourism centered around its high concentration of lakes and forests. Hunting and sport fishing are the backbones of the fall economy, and ice fishing and especially snowmobiling makes up the bulk of the economy in the wintertime. Logging, forestry, construction and government also account for important parts of the local economy.Towns
- Arbor VitaeArbor Vitae, WisconsinArbor Vitae is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,153 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Arbor Vitae is located in the town.-Geography:...
- Boulder JunctionBoulder Junction, WisconsinBoulder Junction is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 958 at the 2000 census.-Economy:The town's economy depends heavily on tourism, as do many towns in the surrounding lakeland area...
- CloverlandCloverland, Vilas County, WisconsinCloverland is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 919 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.2 square miles , of which, 31.4 square miles of it is land and 3.8 square miles of it ...
- ConoverConover, WisconsinConover is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,137 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Conover is located in the town.- History :...
- Lac du Flambeau (town)
- Land O' Lakes
- LincolnLincoln, Vilas County, WisconsinLincoln is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,579 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.2 square miles , of which, 32.6 square miles of it is land and 4.6 square miles of it ...
- Manitowish WatersManitowish Waters, WisconsinManitowish Waters is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 646 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Manitowish Waters is located in the town.-Tourism:The town is best known for its chain of lakes...
- PhelpsPhelps, WisconsinPhelps is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,350 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Phelps is located in the town.-Geography:...
- Plum LakePlum Lake, WisconsinPlum Lake is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 486 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Sayner, and Star Lake, Wisconsin are located in the town.-Geography:...
- Presque IslePresque Isle, WisconsinPresque Isle is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 513 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Katinka Village is located in the town.-Name:...
- St. GermainSt. Germain, WisconsinSt. Germain is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,932 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of St...
- WashingtonWashington, Vilas County, WisconsinWashington is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,577 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.5 square miles , of which, 41.4 square miles of it is land and 6.2 square miles of it...
- WinchesterWinchester, Vilas County, WisconsinWinchester is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 454 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Winchester is located in the town.-Geography:...
Unincorporated communities
- Arbor VitaeArbor Vitae (community), WisconsinArbor Vitae is an unincorporated community located in the town of Arbor Vitae, Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. Arbor Vitae is located on Wisconsin Highway 70 west of Eagle River....
- Boulder Junction
- ConoverConover (community), WisconsinConover is an unincorporated community located in the town of Conover, Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. Conover is located on U.S. Route 45 and Wisconsin Highway 32 north of Eagle River. Conover has a post office with ZIP code 54519....
- Katinka VillageKatinka Village, WisconsinKatinka Village is an unincorporated community in the town of Presque Isle, Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. Katinka Village is located on the western shore of Katinka Lake southeast of Hurley....
- Land O' LakesLand O' Lakes (community), WisconsinLand O' Lakes is an unincorporated community in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located in the town of Land O' Lakes on U.S. Route 45...
- MarlandsMarlands, WisconsinMarlands is an unincorporated community in the town of Lac du Flambeau, Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. Marlands is located on the eastern shore of Fence Lake east-southeast of the community of Lac du Flambeau....
- PhelpsPhelps (community), WisconsinPhelps is an unincorporated community located in the town of Phelps, Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. Phelps is located on Wisconsin Highway 17 northeast of Eagle River. Phelps has a post office with ZIP code 54554. The community was established in 1902....
- Presque IslePresque Isle (community), WisconsinPresque Isle is an unincorporated community located in the town of Presque Isle, Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. Presque Isle is northwest of Eagle River and approximately south of the Michigan state line. Presque Isle has a post office with ZIP code 54557.-History:In 1905 J.J...
- SaynerSayner, WisconsinSayner is an unincorporated census-designated place in the town of Plum Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. It is located at the intersection of Highway 155 and County N, about 15 miles northwest of Eagle River. As of the 2010 census, its population is 207...
- St. GermainSt. Germain (community), WisconsinSt. Germain is an unincorporated community located in the town of St. Germain, Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. St. Germain is located at the junction of Wisconsin Highway 70 and Wisconsin Highway 155 west of Eagle River. St. Germain has a post office with ZIP code 54558....
- Star LakeStar Lake, WisconsinStar Lake is an unincorporated community located in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. Star Lake is located on the northeast shore of Star Lake northwest of Eagle River, in the town of Plum Lake. Star Lake had a post office, which closed on February 8, 1997.-External links:*...
- WinchesterWinchester (community), Vilas County, WisconsinWinchester is an unincorporated community located on the west shore of South Turtle Lake in the town of Winchester, Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. Winchester is southeast of Hurley. It is locally referred to as the "Winchester Townsite" and is the location of the Winchester Town Library....
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Vilas County, Wisconsin