Wisconsin

Bayfield

16,220
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Bayfield

Bayfield, Wisconsin, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 489. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 16,220.

Its recorded population peaked at 17,201 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 6 percent.

On the ground today, 25 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202016,220
201015,014
200015,013
199014,008
198013,822
197011,683
196011,910
195013,760
194015,827
193015,006
192017,201
191015,987
190014,392
18907,390
1880564
1870344
1860353
1850489
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Bayfield

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bayfield, Wisconsin.

Christ Episcopal Church
Bayfield
Bayfield County Courthouse
Washburn
THOMAS FRIANT shipwreck (gill net tug)
Port Wing
Washburn Public Library
Washburn
OTTAWA (Tug) Shipwreck Site
Russell
East Third Street Residential Historic District
Washburn
Pureair Sanatorium
Bayfield
Palo, John and Justina, Homestead
Oulu
Boutin, Frank, Jr., House
Bayfield
Old Bayfield County Courthouse
Bayfield
Bank of Washburn
Washburn
Bayfield Fish Hatchery
Salmo
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Explore census history and historic records for more Wisconsin counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Bayfield County, Wisconsin

This page charts the census history of Bayfield County, Wisconsin. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bayfield

When does Bayfield first appear in the US census?
Bayfield, Wisconsin first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 489.
What is the population of Bayfield?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bayfield had a recorded population of 16,220.
When did Bayfield's population peak?
Bayfield's recorded population peaked at 17,201 in 1920.
How many historic places are in Bayfield?
25 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bayfield, Wisconsin.
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