Bayfield, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bayfield
City
Bayfield from the harbor
Location of Bayfield in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.
Bayfield Location in Wisconsin
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Bayfield
Area
• Total	0.86 sq mi (2.23 km2)
• Land	0.86 sq mi (2.23 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	830 ft (253 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	584
• Density	678.3/sq mi (261.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	54814
Area codes	715 and 534
FIPS code	55-05350
GNIS feature ID	1582764
Public Transit	Bay Area Rural Transit

Bayfield is a city in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 584 at the 2020 census. This makes it the city with the smallest population in Wisconsin. In fact, for a new city to be incorporated today, state regulations require a population of at least 1,000 residents, so it would have to be incorporated as a village instead.

Wisconsin Highway 13 serves as a main route in the community. It is a former county seat, lumbering town, and commercial fishing community, which today is a tourist and resort destination. There are many restaurants, hotels, bed & breakfast establishments, specialty shops, and marine services. The local Chamber of Commerce refers to Bayfield as the "Gateway to the Apostle Islands".

History

Bayfield was named in 1856 for Henry Bayfield, a British Royal Topographic Engineer who explored the region in 1822–23. A post office has been in operation at Bayfield since 1856.

Geography

Bayfield is located at 46°48.7′N 90°49.2′W / 46.8117°N 90.8200°W / 46.8117; -90.8200 (46.8115, -90.8203).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.87 square miles (2.25 km²), of which, 0.86 square miles (2.23 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water.

Bayfield is the main gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, a group of 21 islands in Lake Superior. Madeline Island is the largest of the Apostle Islands and the only one not in the National Lakeshore. A ferry to Madeline Island links Bayfield with La Pointe, Wisconsin, a community on the island.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 584. The population density was 678.3 inhabitants per square mile (261.9/km²). There were 458 housing units at an average density of 531.9 per square mile (205.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.1% White, 11.0% Native American, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 7.5% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 487 people in 261 households, including 130 families, in the city. The population density was 566.3 inhabitants per square mile (218.6/km²). There were 482 housing units at an average density of 560.5 per square mile (216.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.8% White, 0.2% African American, 14.8% Native American, 1.0% Asian, and 6.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8%.

Of the 261 households, 16.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 50.2% were non-families. 44.1% of households were one person and 18.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.87 and the average family size was 2.58.

The median age was 53.2 years. 15.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.6% were from 25 to 44; 36% were from 45 to 64; 26.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

Arts and culture

Bayfield Maritime Museum

The city of Bayfield is known in the Anishinaabe language as Oshki-oodena ("New-town"), as opposed to Superior, Wisconsin, which is known as Gete-oodena ("Old-town"), in reference to the Ojibwa migration.

The Bayfield Maritime Museum and Bayfield Heritage Museum are the city's two museums. There are several art galleries. Nearby is the 950 seats all-canvas tent theater known as Big Top Chautauqua which during its summer season has hosted such entertainers as Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett.

Bayfield's annual Apple Fest draws about 60,000 visitors during the first weekend in October. Popular summertime events include the Bayfield Race Week regatta, held during the week of the 4th of July, and the Festival of Arts and Gallery Tour, which takes place the third weekend of July. It features artists from across the midwest, along with tours and demos at a diverse array of local galleries.

Recreation

Emily Larson - 2007 Apostle Island Sled Dog Race

The Apostle Islands Sled Dog Race takes place the first weekend of February. It is the largest sled dog race in the Midwest, with between 50 and 75 teams competing annually.

Transportation

Bus service to the community is provided by Bay Area Rural Transit.

Local media

Bayfield receives three radio stations from Ashland; WATW, WBSZ and WJJH. Television stations come from the Duluth–Superior market; KDLH, KBJR, WDSE and WDIO.

Gallery

• 

  The headquarters of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, in Bayfield, is actually made out of rock quarried from the islands before they were made a park

• 

  Downtown Bayfield

• 

  Rittenhouse Inn

• 

  City hall

• 

  Bayfield Marina

• 

  Bayfield sign

• 

  Bayfield, Wisconsin seen from the harbor

• 

  Bayfield in winter

Notable people

• Laurie E. Carlson, Wisconsin State Representative, 1937–42, born in Bayfield
• Norris J. Nelson, Los Angeles City Council member, 1939–43, born in Bayfield
• Nathan Van Cleave, Composer for Television, including "The Twilight Zone," born in Bayfield
• Lou Alta Melton (1895 – 1974), an American civil engineer and bridge engineer

See also

In Spanish: Bayfield (Wisconsin) para niños