Iron County, Wisconsin

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County in Wisconsin, United States

Iron County

General Information
Name
Native Name
Other Names
Settlement Type	U.S. county
Transliteration
Language 1
Type 1
Info 1
Location
Coordinates	{{{1}}}°{{{2}}} {{{3}}}°{{{4}}}
Map
Population
Total	5,687
Density	per km²
Area
Total	km²
Land	km²
Water	km²
Government
Type
Leader
Time Zone
Standard	UTC
DST	UTC

Iron County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,687. Its county seat is Hurley. The county was founded in 1893 and is named for the valuable iron ore found within its borders.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 919 square miles (2,380 km²), of which 758 square miles (1,960 km²) is land and 161 square miles (420 km²) (17.5%) is water. The county is known for its numerous lakes and rivers, including the Gile Flowage and the Montreal River.

Adjacent counties

• Ashland County - west
• Price County - south
• Vilas County - southeast
• Gogebic County, Michigan - east

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 2
• U.S. Highway 51
• Highway 47
• Highway 77

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 5,687 people, 2,758 households, and 1,567 families residing in the county. The population density was 7.5 people per square mile (2.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was predominantly White, with small percentages of other races.

Communities

City

• Hurley

Towns

• Anderson
• Carey
• Gurney
• Kimball
• Knight
• Mercer
• Oma
• Pence
• Saxon
• Sherman

Census-designated places

• Mercer

Unincorporated communities

• Gile
• Iron Belt
• Montreal
• Pine Lake
• Upson

Economy

Iron County's economy has historically been based on mining, particularly iron ore mining. Today, the economy is more diversified, with significant contributions from tourism, forestry, and agriculture.

Education

The county is served by several school districts, including the Hurley School District and the Mercer School District. Higher education opportunities are available at nearby institutions such as Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, Michigan.

Attractions

Iron County is known for its natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities. Popular attractions include:

• Copper Falls State Park
• Turtle-Flambeau Flowage
• Iron County Historical Museum

See also

• List of counties in Wisconsin
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Iron County, Wisconsin

External links

• Iron County official website

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