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Forest County, Wisconsin facts for kids

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Forest County
U.S. county
Forest County Courthouse
Forest County Courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Forest County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Wisconsin
Founded 1885
Seat Crandon
Largest city Crandon
Area
 • Total 1,046 sq mi (2,710 km2)
 • Land 1,014 sq mi (2,630 km2)
 • Water 32 sq mi (80 km2)  3.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 9,179
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 9,325 Increase
 • Density 9.1/sq mi (3.5/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 7th

Forest County is a special area called a county located in the state of Wisconsin in the United States. In 2020, about 9,179 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Crandon. Two important Native American groups, the Forest County Potawatomi Community and the Sokaogon Chippewa Community, also have their lands (reservations) in Forest County.

History of Forest County

Forest County was officially created in 1885. The government of Wisconsin decided to form it from parts of two nearby counties: Langlade and Oconto. It got its name, 'Forest County,' because of the many beautiful forests found within its borders.

Geography of Forest County

Forest County covers a total area of about 1,046 square miles. Most of this area, about 1,014 square miles, is land. The remaining 32 square miles, or 3.1%, is water. One of the highest points in Wisconsin, Sugarbush hill, is located right here in Forest County.

Counties Nearby

Forest County shares its borders with several other counties:

Main Roads in Forest County

These are the most important highways that run through Forest County:

  • US 8.svg U.S. Highway 8
  • WIS 32.svg Highway 32 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 52.svg Highway 52 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 55.svg Highway 55 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 70.svg Highway 70 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 101.svg Highway 101 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 139.svg Highway 139 (Wisconsin)

Railroads and Airport

  • Watco operates a railroad line in the county.
  • The main airport is Y55 - Crandon Municipal Airport.

Protected Natural Areas

A part of the large Nicolet National Forest is located within Forest County. This area helps protect nature and offers places for outdoor activities.

People of Forest County

In 2020, the population of Forest County was 9,179 people. This means there were about 9.1 people living in each square mile.

When looking at the different groups of people in the county:

  • About 80.7% were White.
  • About 13.4% were Native American.
  • Smaller groups included Black or African American (0.3%), Asian (0.2%), and Pacific Islander (0.1%).
  • About 5.1% of people identified with two or more races.
  • About 1.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Communities in Forest County

Forest County Wisconsin Sign WIS139
A sign welcoming you to Forest County on Highway 139.

City

  • Crandon is the only city and the county seat.

Towns

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or villages:

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not part of a city or town government:

Ghost Towns or Old Neighborhoods

These are places that used to be communities but are now mostly abandoned:

Images for kids

  • ForestCountyLawEnforcementCenter

    Law Enforcement Center

  • ForestCountyWisconsinVeteransMemorialUS8WIS32WIS55

    Forest County Veterans Memorial

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Forest (Wisconsin) para niños

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Forest County, Wisconsin Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.