Bayfield County History Timeline

1787: Wisconsin became part of the original Northwest Territory

1800: Wisconsin became part of the Indiana Territory

1809: Wisconsin became part of the Illinois Territory

1818: Wisconsin was part of the Michigan Territory, Bayfield County became part of Michilimackinac County

1826: Bayfield County became part of Chippewa County.

1836: What is now Wisconsin became the Wisconsin Territory, What is now Bayfield County became part of Crawford County.

1840: What is now Bayfield County became part of St. Croix County.

1845: What is now Bayfield County became part of La Pointe County. La Pointe on Madeline became the County Seat.

1848: The Wisconsin Territory became the State of Wisconsin.

1854: Douglas County was set apart from La Pointe County.

1858: Bayfield became the County Seat of La Pointe County.

1860: Ashland County was set apart from La Pointe County.

1866: La Pointe County was renamed Bayfield County. The entire county was included in the Town of Bayfield.

1880: Town of Cable created.

1882: Town of Mason created.

1882: Town of Drummond created.

1884: Town of Washburn created.

1885: Population of Bayfield County is 3, 431.

1892: Washburn became the County Seat of Bayfield County. Town of Iron River created.

1898: Town of Pratt created.

1901: Town of Port Wing created.

1903: Town of Bell created. Town of Barnes created.

1904: Town of Eileen created. Town of Cable created. Town of Orienta created. Town of Oulu created. City of Washburn incorporated.

1906: Town of Clover created.

1907: Town of Hughes created. Town of Barksdale created.

1909: Town of Lincoln created. Town of Pilsen created.

1911: Town of Tripp created.

1912: Town of Kelly created.

1918: Town of Keystone created.

1924: Town of Delta created.

1925: Village of Mason was incorporated.

1925: Dance Hall Inspectors: Nels Nelson, Alois Habelt, L.H. McCarty

Soldiers’ Relief: Robert Inglis, H.G. Mertens and John Holman

Number of school children in Bayfield County: 7,041 Number of dairy cattle in Bayfield County: 14,262

(Official Directory, State, County and Town Officers, Bayfield County, Wis. (1925-1926)

1938: School-aged children in Bayfield County: 4,924. Number of cattle in Bayfield County: 14,344

1950: Population of Bayfield County: 13,685

1960: Population of Bayfield County: 11,910

1969: Town of Pratt renamed Town of Grand View.

1970: Population of Bayfield County: 11,683