Overview
Taylor County is a county located in the north‑central portion of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population of 20,684. The county seat and largest city is Gilman.
Geography
- Total area: 825 sq mi (2,138 km²), of which 818 sq mi is land and 7 sq mi (0.9 %) is water.
- Topography: The county lies within the Northern Highland region, characterized by rolling hills, forests, and numerous lakes and wetlands.
- Major water bodies: The East Fork of the Black River, the Pine River, and several smaller lakes, including Lake Yates and Little Lake McDill.
- Adjacent counties: Marathon (south), Marathon (southwest), Lincoln (west), Oneida (northwest), Langlade (north), Menominee (northeast), and Shawano (southeast).
History
- Establishment: Taylor County was created in 1875 from portions of Lincoln, Marathon, and Chippewa counties and was organized in 1879.
- Naming: The county is named after William Robert Taylor (1820 – 1909), who served as the 12th governor of Wisconsin (1874–1876).
- Early settlement: The region was originally inhabited by the Menominee and Ojibwe peoples. European‑American settlement accelerated after the construction of the Chicago & North Western Railway in the 1880s, facilitating logging and agriculture.
Demographics (2020 Census)
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 20,684 |
| Population density | 25.3 people per sq mi (9.8 km²) |
| Racial composition | 96.2 % White, 0.8 % Native American, 0.5 % Black or African American, 0.4 % Asian, 0.1 % Pacific Islander, 1.0 % two or more races |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.5 % |
| Median household income (2015‑2019 ACS) | $53,780 |
| Poverty rate | 13.2 % |
Economy
- Primary sectors: Forestry, agriculture (particularly dairy farming), and manufacturing.
- Major employers: Taylor County government, Gilman Area School District, and several timber and wood product companies.
- Tourism: Outdoor recreation such as hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing attracts visitors to state forests (e.g., Chequamegon‑Nicolet National Forest) and local parks.
Government
- County Board: 13 elected supervisors representing geographic districts; responsible for budgeting, land use, and county services.
- Elected officials (2023‑2025 term): County Executive, Sheriff, Treasurer, District Attorney, Clerk of Courts, and Register of Deeds (names subject to change with elections).
- Judicial district: Part of Wisconsin’s 7th Judicial Circuit.
Education
- School districts: Gilman School District, Jump River School District, St. Croix Valley School District, and a portion of Medford Area School District.
- Higher education: No colleges are located within the county; residents commonly attend nearby institutions such as Northcentral Technical College (Merrill, WI) or the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (Stevens Point, WI).
Transportation
- Highways: U.S. Route 8 runs east‑west through the county; Wisconsin State Highways 13, 64, 73, and 102 provide regional connectivity.
- Rail: Freight service is provided by the Canadian National Railway via former Chicago & North Western lines; no passenger rail service currently operates.
- Airports: Taylor County Airport (KTYL) is a public-use general‑aviation field located near Gilman.
Communities
- City: McKinley (partially in the county).
- Villages: Gilman (county seat), Stetsonville.
- Towns: 23 towns, including Cleveland, Deer Creek, and Woodford.
- Unincorporated communities: Bethany, Pella, Rhyme, and others.
Points of Interest
- Chequamegon‑Nicolet National Forest (portion) – offers extensive trail systems and camping facilities.
- Taylor County Courthouse – historic building in Gilman, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Lake Mohawksin State Recreation Area – popular for boating and fishing.
References
- United States Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.
- Wisconsin Historical Society, “Taylor County.”
- Taylor County Official Website (www.taylorcountywi.gov).
All data are sourced from publicly available governmental and historical records.
