| Official Name: | Washburn, Wisconsin |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Bayfield |
| Government Type: | Mayor–council |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Mary D. Motiff |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 10.14 |
| Area Land Km2: | 10.13 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.01 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 3.92 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 3.91 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 2051 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 524.2 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation M: | 211 |
| Coordinates: | 46.6739°N -90.8978°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 54891 |
| Area Code: | 715 & 534 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 55-83525 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1576230 |
Washburn is a city and the county seat of Bayfield County, in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,051 at the 2020 census. The city is just east of and adjacent to the Town of Washburn. It is in northern Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay.
Wisconsin Highway 13 and County Highway C are the main routes in the community.
In 1659, the French explorers Radisson and Groseilliers touched here on their trip along the south shore of Lake Superior. In 1665 the Jesuit Claude-Jean Allouez established on the shore of the bay, a short distance south of the present city, the first French mission in Wisconsin. He named it "French: La Pointe du Saint Esprit|italics=no," and in 1669 it was placed in charge of Father Jacques Marquette. The place was visited by Daniel Greysolon (Du Luth) in 1681–1682, and here in 1693 Pierre-Charles Le Sueur built a stockaded post. In 1718 a fort was erected and a French garrison placed in it. About 1820–1821 a trading post of the American Fur Company was established in the area.
The city itself was founded in 1883, named for Cadwallader C. Washburn, Republican governor of Wisconsin from 1872 until 1874.[2] [3] It was chartered in 1904.
Washburn is located at 46.6739°N -90.8975°W (46.673989, -90.897674).[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.17sqmi, of which, 3.9sqmi is land and 2.27sqmi is water.[5]
As of the census of 2020,[6] the population was 2,051. The population density was 524.2PD/sqmi. There were 1,059 housing units at an average density of 270.6/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 85.9% White, 5.2% Native American, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 6.8% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 2,117 people, 934 households, and 531 families living in the city. The population density was 542.8PD/sqmi. There were 1,070 housing units at an average density of 274.4/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 88.4% White, 0.8% African American, 5.9% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.
There were 934 households, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.1% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.82.
The median age in the city was 45.9 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.1% were from 25 to 44; 32.2% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 2,280 people, 938 households, and 589 families living in the city. The population density was 581.5 people per square mile (224.6/km2). There were 1,004 housing units at an average density of 256.1 per square mile (98.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.06% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 5.61% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population. 26.8% were of German, 14.2% Norwegian, 7.1% French, 7.1% Polish, 6.7% Irish, 5.6% English and 5.5% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 938 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,257, and the median income for a family was $40,781. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $23,235 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,331. About 7.5% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Initially, the city's economy was based on lumbering, with sawmills lining the busy waterfront. It was also a popular summer resort, being especially well known for its boating and fishing. In 1905, the DuPont company opened an explosives plant just outside town, providing an important source of employment as timber resources were growing scarce. The closing of the DuPont plant in 1971 was a severe blow to the local economy.
Currently, the city's economy focuses on the tourist industry and its position as county seat.
Bus service is provided by Bay Area Rural Transit.
Washburn uses a mayor–council form of government. As of March 2020, the current mayor of Washburn is Mary Motiff.[9] [10]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 24.9% 320 | 73.6% 944 | 1.5% 19 | |
| 2016 | 27.0% 329 | 65.2% 792 | 7.7% 94 | |
| 2012 | 24.5% 290 | 74.1% 878 | 1.4% 17 | |
| 2008 | 26.0% 311 | 72.6% 868 | 1.4% 17 | |
| 2004 | 30.5% 383 | 67.9% 854 | 1.6% 20 | |
| 2000 | 31.4% 327 | 59.6% 620 | 8.9% 93 |
Washburn receives three radio stations from Ashland; WATW, WBSZ and WJJH. Television stations come from the Duluth–Superior market; KDLH, KBJR, WDSE and WDIO.