| Bayfield | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Wisconsin |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Wisconsin |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Wisconsin |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Bayfield |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 2.23 |
| Area Land Km2: | 2.23 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 584 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 678.3 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation M: | 253 |
| Coordinates: | 46.8117°N -139.2°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Postal Code: | 54814 |
| Area Codes: | 715 and 534 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 55-05350 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1582764 |
| Blank2 Name: | Public Transit |
| Blank2 Info: | Bay Area Rural Transit |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 0.86 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 0.86 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
Bayfield is a city in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 584 at the 2020 census. This makes it the city with the smallest population in Wisconsin. In fact, for a new city to be incorporated today, state regulations require a population of at least 1,000 residents, so it would have to be incorporated as a village instead.[2]
Wisconsin Highway 13 serves as a main route in the community. It is a former county seat, lumbering town, and commercial fishing community, which today is a tourist and resort destination. There are many restaurants, hotels, bed & breakfast establishments, specialty shops, and marine services. The local Chamber of Commerce refers to Bayfield as the "Gateway to the Apostle Islands".[3]
Bayfield was named in 1856 for Henry Bayfield, a British Royal Topographic Engineer who explored the region in 1822–23.[4] [5] A post office has been in operation at Bayfield since 1856.[6]
The first Catholic church was built in Bayfield in 1860, with the Franciscans following in 1878. Mass was held in the English and Ojibwe languages. In 1879, the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate established an Indian residential school in Bayfield at the request of the Franciscan pastor.[7] Bayfield Mission Boarding and Day School, also known as Holy Family Mission School, included students from the Fond du Lac Band Chippewa and the Saulteaux Ojibwe.[8] In an 1889 report the school's superintendent said that his goals for the school were "civilizing the children and entirely abolishing the use of the Chippewa language."[9] The school operated until 1999.
Bayfield is located at 46.8117°N -139.2°W (46.8115, -90.8203).[10]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.87sqmi, of which, 0.86sqmi is land and 0.01sqmi is water.[11]
Bayfield is the main gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, a group of 21 islands in Lake Superior. Madeline Island is the largest of the Apostle Islands and the only one not in the National Lakeshore. A ferry to Madeline Island links Bayfield with La Pointe, Wisconsin, a community on the island.
As of the census of 2020,[12] the population was 584. The population density was 678.3PD/sqmi. There were 458 housing units at an average density of 531.9/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 80.1% White, 11.0% Native American, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 7.5% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
At the 2010 census there were 487 people in 261 households, including 130 families, in the city. The population density was 566.3PD/sqmi. There were 482 housing units at an average density of 560.5/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 77.8% White, 0.2% African American, 14.8% Native American, 1.0% Asian, and 6.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8%.[13]
Of the 261 households, 16.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 50.2% were non-families. 44.1% of households were one person and 18.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.87 and the average family size was 2.58.
The median age was 53.2 years. 15.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.6% were from 25 to 44; 36% were from 45 to 64; 26.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.
At the 2000 census there were 611 people in 289 households, including 167 families, in the city. The population density was 703.3 people per square mile (271.2/km). There were 403 housing units at an average density of 463.8 per square mile (178.8/km). The racial makeup of the city was 76.92% White, 0.65% Black or African American, 15.22% Native American, 1.31% from other races, and 5.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49%.[14] 10.5% were of American, 10.1% German, 9.4% Norwegian, 8.1% Irish, 7.4% Swedish and 5.4% English ancestry according to Census 2000.
Of the 289 households, 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 41.9% were non-families. 35.6% of households were one person and 15.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.64.
The age distribution was 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median household income was $32,266 and the median family income was $36,500. Males had a median income of $34,375 versus $25,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,377. About 10.5% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
The city of Bayfield is known in the Anishinaabe language as Oshki-oodena ("New-town"), as opposed to Superior, Wisconsin, which is known as Gete-oodena ("Old-town"), in reference to the Ojibwa migration.
The Bayfield Maritime Museum and Bayfield Heritage Museum are the city's two museums. There are several art galleries. Nearby is the 950 seats all-canvas tent theater known as Big Top Chautauqua which during its summer season has hosted such entertainers as Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett.[15]
Bayfield's annual Apple Fest draws about 60,000 visitors during the first weekend in October. Popular summertime events include the Bayfield Race Week regatta, held during the week of the 4th of July, and the Festival of Arts and Gallery Tour, which takes place the third weekend of July. It features artists from across the midwest, along with tours and demos at a diverse array of local galleries.
The Apostle Islands Sled Dog Race takes place the first weekend of February. It is the largest sled dog race in the Midwest, with between 50 and 75 teams competing annually.[16]
Bus service to the community is provided by Bay Area Rural Transit.
Bayfield receives three radio stations from Ashland; WATW, WBSZ and WJJH. Television stations come from the Duluth–Superior market; KDLH, KBJR, WDSE and WDIO.