dunn county conditions & trends report table of contents

DUNN COUNTY 

CONDITIONS AND TRENDS REPORT 

ur Interval 

P o pu la tion by A ge G r ou p 

Dunn County Age/Labor Force Projection (2005-2030) 

16,000 

14,000 

12,000 

10,000 

8,000 

6,000 

4,000 

2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 

Year 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING 

JANUARY 2009 

0-19 

20-44 

45-64 

65+ 

Age Groups 

PREPARED BY WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION

Dunn County 

Conditions and Trends Report 

Presented to: 

Dunn County and its Communities 

By: 

West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission 

Mail Box 9 

800 Wisconsin Street, Bldg D2-401 

Dunn, WI 54703-3606 

715.836.2918 

With financial assistance from: 

Wisconsin Department of Administration 

Division of Intergovernmental Relations 

January 1, 2009

Forward 

The Dunn County Conditions and Trends Report provides the majority of background 

information and existing resource maps as required for comprehensive planning efforts under the 

Wisconsin Comprehensive Planning Law (Wis. Act 9). It is a compilation of the “best available” 

data available which would be needed for a typical planning effort. 

There are two companion documents to this report: 

Dunn County Resource and Land Use Map Atlas DVD-ROM: This is a compilation of 

existing resource and land use maps for the county and its municipalities in digital form. 

Land use data in these maps may need to be updated at the local level. West Central 

Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission will provide the geographic information 

system files for these maps upon request. 

Inventory of Existing Plans, Programs, and Land Use Policies in West-Central 

Wisconsin: As its title relates, this special addendum provides a summary of the primary 

programs, plans, and land use policies being implemented within the seven counties of 

west-central Wisconsin. 

This report should be considered a starting point for local planning efforts. Certain data and 

maps will need to be provided at a local level (e.g., maps and details on municipal utilities, 

special or regulatory districts, park systems, mining interests). Communities may also identify 

special issues or unique circumstances for which additional data may be collected locally. And, 

for the most part, this report merely presents the data; the county and each community will need 

to analyze the data to determine local needs, issues, and important trends. 

West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (WCWRPC) compiled this report in 

2008 as part of its regional comprehensive planning effort. Data sources used represent the best 

available data as of the summer and fall of 2008. A similar report was compiled for each of the 

other six counties in our region. Once complete, a regional level analysis will be undertaken 

based on the data in the individual county reports. The regional analysis may incorporate 

additional or updated information not available during the preparation of this report. 

This report was compiled independent of the Dunn County comprehensive planning effort which 

is nearing conclusion at the time that this report was issued. Additional data on existing 

conditions and trends for the county may be found within documents produced as part of the 

county’s comprehensive planning effort. 

WCWRPC would like to thank everyone who provided input and data for this document, 

including: Dunn County, the regional comprehensive planning effort’s Technical Advisory 

Group, and various State agencies (e.g., Dept. of Administration, Dept. of Natural Resources, 

Dept. of Commerce, Office of Economic Advisors, Dept. of Workforce Development, Dept. of 

Transportation, Dept. of Health and Family Services).

DUNN COUNTY 

CONDITIONS & TRENDS REPORT 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. Issues and Opportunities Information........................................................................ 1 

Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1 

The County Setting .................................................................................................... 1 

Element Context......................................................................................................... 2 

Socio-Economic Profile...................................................................................................... 3 

Population .................................................................................................................. 3 

Educational Attainment ............................................................................................. 8 

Employment............................................................................................................... 8 

Income...................................................................................................................... 10 

Population Projections ............................................................................................. 11 

Household Projections ............................................................................................. 13 

Employment Projections.......................................................................................... 13 

Summary........................................................................................................................... 14 

Data Tables ....................................................................................................................... 15 

2. Housing Information .................................................................................................. 49 

Element Context................................................................................................................ 49 

Housing Supply................................................................................................................. 50 

Seasonal Units................................................................................................................... 50 

Occupancy and Structural Characteristics ........................................................................ 51 

Age Characteristics ........................................................................................................... 51 

Housing Value Characteristics.......................................................................................... 52 

Housing Affordability....................................................................................................... 52 

Housing Unit and Household Projections......................................................................... 53 

Housing Programs............................................................................................................. 54 

Summary........................................................................................................................... 54 

Data Tables and Map ........................................................................................................ 56 

3. Transportation Information ...................................................................................... 75 

Element Context................................................................................................................ 75 

Background Data/Existing Conditions ............................................................................. 77 

Dunn County Conditions and Trends Report i

Highways ................................................................................................................. 77 

Highway Projects in the County .............................................................................. 83 

Bridges .................................................................................................................... 83 

Rustic Roads System................................................................................................ 85 

Access Management ................................................................................................ 86 

Designated Truck Routes......................................................................................... 86 

Transit ...................................................................................................................... 87 

Bicycles.................................................................................................................... 87 

Pedestrian Facilities ................................................................................................. 88 

Safety ....................................................................................................................... 92 

Commuting Patterns................................................................................................. 95 

Railroads .................................................................................................................. 95 

Air Transportation.................................................................................................... 98 

Water Transportation ............................................................................................... 99 

Summary........................................................................................................................... 99 

4. Utilities and Community Facilities Information .................................................... 101 

Element Context.............................................................................................................. 101 

Inventory of Utilities....................................................................................................... 102 

Sanitary Sewer and Wastewater Treatment ........................................................... 102 

On-Site Septic Systems.......................................................................................... 103 

Water Supply ......................................................................................................... 104 

Stormwater Management....................................................................................... 105 

Telecommunications Facilities .............................................................................. 107 

Power Plants, Substations, and Transmission Lines.............................................. 109 

Electric Utilities ..................................................................................................... 109 

Natural Gas Utilities .............................................................................................. 109 

Inventory of Educational Facilities................................................................................. 110 

Non-Public Schools ............................................................................................... 110 

Public Schools........................................................................................................ 111 

Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA) ............................................. 112 

Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education ......................................................... 112 

University of Wisconsin System............................................................................ 113 

Other Colleges and Universities ............................................................................ 113 

Inventory of Other Community Facilities and Services ................................................. 114 

Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Facilities ..................................................... 114 

Law Enforcement................................................................................................... 115 

ii Table of Contents

Hazardous Materials Response.............................................................................. 116 

Medical Facilities................................................................................................... 116 

Child Care Services................................................................................................ 117 

Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes, and Senior Programs........................ 119 

Parks and Recreation Facilities.............................................................................. 121 

Cemeteries.............................................................................................................. 124 

Dams ...................................................................................................................... 127 

Other Government Facilities.................................................................................. 128 

Summary......................................................................................................................... 128 

Utilities and Community Facilities Maps ....................................................................... 130 

5. Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources Information................................ 133 


Agricultural Resources.................................................................................................... 135 

Local Agricultural Industry Trends ....................................................................... 135 

Prime Agricultural Lands....................................................................................... 139 

Natural Resources – Physical Features........................................................................... 140 

Topography............................................................................................................ 141 

Bedrock Geology ................................................................................................... 141 

Soils........................................................................................................................ 141 

Mineral Resources ................................................................................................. 142 

Watersheds & Surface Waters ............................................................................... 142 

Water Quality by Watershed.................................................................................. 143 

Impaired Waters..................................................................................................... 143 

Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters..................................................... 144 

Point Source Discharges ........................................................................................ 144 

Groundwater .......................................................................................................... 145 

Air Quality ............................................................................................................. 146 

Natural Resources – Sensitive Lands.............................................................................. 146 

Shorelands.............................................................................................................. 147 

Floodplains............................................................................................................. 147 

Wetlands ................................................................................................................ 151 

Steep Slopes........................................................................................................... 151 

Forests and Woodlands.......................................................................................... 152 

Grasslands and Prairie............................................................................................ 153 

Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat and Open Space ........................................................... 154 

Rare and Endangered Species and Natural Communities....................... 155 

Dunn County Conditions and Trends Report iii

State Natural Areas ................................................................................. 155 

Wisconsin’s Land Legacy Report........................................................... 155 

Parks and Recreational Resources ......................................................................... 155 

Cultural Resources.......................................................................................................... 157 

Summary ....................................................................................................................... 159 

Dunn County Natural Resource Map Series................................................................... 161 

6. Economic Development Information ...................................................................... 163 


The Wisconsin Economy ................................................................................................ 163 

Recent Economic Trends ....................................................................................... 164 

The Current Economic Slowdown......................................................................... 165 

Wisconsin’s Economic Outlook ............................................................................ 166 

Dunn County Economic Profile...................................................................................... 167 

Economic Data....................................................................................................... 167 

Demographic Overview......................................................................................... 169 

Population and Labor Force.................................................................... 169 

Housing Market ...................................................................................... 170 

Education ................................................................................................ 170 

Income and Wages.................................................................................. 171 

Employment Trends................................................................................ 173 

Commuting Patterns................................................................................ 175 

Economic Base....................................................................................................... 176 

Industry Composition.............................................................................. 176 

Employment by Industry......................................................................... 177 

Employment by Occupation ................................................................... 180 

Employment Projections......................................................................... 181 

Tourism ................................................................................................................. 186 

Environmentally Contaminated Sites ............................................................................. 188 

Summary......................................................................................................................... 188 

7. Land Use Information .............................................................................................. 195 


Existing Land Use and Land Use Trends ....................................................................... 195 

Agricultural Land Use............................................................................................ 196 

Forest Land Use ..................................................................................................... 198 

Public Natural Resource Lands.............................................................................. 198 

iv Table of Contents

Residential Land Use ............................................................................................. 199 

Commercial Land Use ........................................................................................... 200 

Industrial Land Use................................................................................................ 200 

Land Demand and Prices ....................................................................................... 201 

Summary......................................................................................................................... 203 

Land Use Tables ............................................................................................................. 205 

Municipality Land Use Maps.......................................................................................... 216 

Limitations to Development Maps......................................................................... 216 

Existing Land Use Maps........................................................................................ 216 

Dunn County Conditions and Trends Report v

List of Figures 

Figure 1.1 – Dunn County Historical Population ................................................................3 

Figure 1.2 – County Population Distribution by Incorporated & Rural Residents..............6 

Figure 1.3 – County Components of Population Change ....................................................7 

Figure 1.4 – County Racial Population Characteristics.......................................................8 

Figure 3.1 – Crashes by Highway Type (1998-2007) .......................................................93 

Figure 4.1 – Typical Septic System .................................................................................103 

Figure 5.1 – Number and Average Size of Farms ...........................................................135 

Figure 5.2 – Number of Farms and Dairy Farms (1987-2002)........................................138 

Figure 6.1 – Composite Index of Leading Indicators for Wisconsin (1990-2008)..........164 

Figure 6.2 – Gasoline & Medical Costs Compared to Consumer Price Index ................165 

Figure 6.3 – Dunn County Age/Labor Force Projection (2005-2030).............................170 

Figure 6.4 – Dunn County vs. State Per Capita Personal Income (1997-2006) ..............172 

Figure 6.5 – Dunn County & Wisconsin Monthly Unemployment Rate (1990-2008)........ 173 

Figure 6.6 – Dunn County Monthly Total Potential Labor Force (1990-2008) ..............174 

Figure 6.7 – Dunn County Travel Time to Work (1990, 2000).......................................175 

Figure 6.8 – Dunn County Employment by Industry (2006)...........................................178 

Figure 6.9 – West Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Area.............................180 

Figure 6.10 – Traveler Expenditures in Dunn County (1998-2007)................................186 

Figure 6.11 – Seasonality of Traveler Expenditures in Dunn County (2007) .................187 

List of Tables 

Table 1.1 – County Historical Population..........................................................................15 

Table 1.2 – County and Surrounding Counties Historical Population Change .................15 

Table 1.3 – County Historical Population Change by Municpality...................................16 

Table 1.4 – County Components of Population Change ...................................................17 

Table 1.5 – County Historical Population by Age and Sex ...............................................17 

Table 1.6 – County Change in Age-Sex Structure.............................................................17 

Table 1.7 – Population by Age and Sex by Municipality (2000) ......................................18 

Table 1.8 – Population by Age by Municipality (1990) ....................................................21 

Table 1.9 – Percent Change in Age by Municipality.........................................................24 

Table 1.10 – Population Projections, County and Municpality.........................................27 

Table 1.11 – Household Projections, County and Municpality.........................................28 

Table 1.12 –West Central Wisconsin Region Occupation Projections (2014)..................29 

Table 1.13 – West Central Wisconsin Region Industry Projections (2004-2014).............29 

Table 1.14 – Race Characteristics, County and Municipality ...........................................30 

Table 1.15 – Educational Attainment Levels, County and Municipality ..........................31 

Table 1.16 – Labor Force, County and Municipality (2000).............................................38 

Table 1.17 – Labor Force, County and Municipality (1990).............................................39 

Table 1.18 – Dunn County Employment (1990-2006) ......................................................40 

Table 1.19 – Employment by Industry, County and Municipality (2000).........................41 

Table 1.20 – Employment by Industry, County and Municipality (1990).........................42 

Table 1.21 – Employment by Occupation, County and Municipality (2000) ...................43 

Table 1.22 – Employment by Occupation, County and Municipality (1990) ...................44 

Table 1.23 – Travel Time to Work by Municipality..........................................................45 

Table 1.24 – Place of Work, County and Municipality .....................................................45 

Table 1.25 – Households by Household Income by Municipality.....................................46 

Table 1.26 – Median Household Income (comparison of counties)..................................46 

vi Table of Contents

Table 1.27 – Median Household Income (municipalities).................................................47 

Table 2.1 – Housing Units, County and Municipality.......................................................56 

Table 2.2 – Seasonal Units, County and Municipality ......................................................57 

Table 2.3 – Housing Characteristics by County ................................................................58 

Table 2.4 – Units in Structure, County and Municipality..................................................59 

Table 2.5 – Year Structure Built, County and Municipality..............................................60 

Table 2.6 – Housing Value of Specified Owner-Occupied Units, County and MCD.......61 

Table 2.7 – Contract Rent (Renter-Occupied Units), County and Municipality ...............62 

Table 2.8 – Owner-Occupied Housing Costs as Percentage of Household Income 

County and Municipality.................................................................................63 

Table 2.9 – Renter-Occupied Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household Income 

County and Municipality.................................................................................64 

Table 2.10 – Housing Unit Projections, County and Municipality....................................65 

Table 2.11 – Housing Characteristics by Municipality .....................................................66 

Table 3.1 – Road Mileage by Jurisdiction (2008)..............................................................77 

Table 3.2 – Traffic Volume History (1999-2007) ............................................................79 

Table 3.3 – Functionally Classified Road Mileage by Municipality.................................82 

Table 3.4 – WisDOT 6-year Plan project for Dunn County..............................................83 

Table 3.5 – Ownership of Bridges in Dunn County ..........................................................84 

Table 3.6 – Functionally Obsolete/Structurally Deficient Bridges, Dunn County............84 

Table 3.7 – Dunn County Crash History (1998-2007) ......................................................93 

Table 3.8 – Highway Crashes by Municipality (2003-2007) ............................................94 

Table 3.9 – Commuting Patterns of Dunn County Residents by Municipality .................96 

Table 3.10 – Major Airport Improvement Projects ...........................................................99 

Table 4.1 – Municipal Wastewater Systems in Dunn County.........................................102 

Table 4.2 – Municipal and Community Water Systems in Dunn County .......................105 

Table 4.3 – Telephone Providers in Dunn County ..........................................................108 

Table 4.4 – Private Schools in Dunn County...................................................................110 

Table 4.5 – Public Schools in Dunn County....................................................................111 

Table 4.6 – Enrollment of UW Campuses in West Central Wisconsin...........................113 

Table 4.7 – Licensed Child Care Facilities in Dunn County ...........................................118 

Table 4.8 – Assisted Living Facilities in Dunn County...................................................120 

Table 4.9 – Primary Parks in Dunn County.....................................................................122 

Table 4.10 –Dunn County Cemeteries.............................................................................125 

Table 5.1 – Acres in Farmland.........................................................................................136 

Table 5.2 – Number of Farms by Ownership ..................................................................136 

Table 5.3 – Assessed Agricultural Parcels and Acreage, County and Municipality .......137 

Table 5.4 – Soil Capability Classification for Agricultural Lands ..................................140 

Table 5.5 – Outstanding and Exceptional Waters............................................................144 

Table 5.6 – Permitted Municipal and Industrial Discharges............................................145 

Table 5.7 – Potential 100-Year Floodplain Improvements..............................................150 

Table 5.8 – Assessed Forest Parcels and Acreage, County and Town ............................152 

Table 5.9 – Parks and Recreational Lands.......................................................................156 

Table 5.10 – Sites and Structures on the National Register of Historic Places ...............157 

Table 5.11 – Architectural and History Inventory Listings .............................................158 

Table 6.1 – Dunn County Educational Attainment (1990 and 2000) ..............................171 

Table 6.2 – Dunn County Average Annual Wages by Industry (2001-2006) .................172 

Table 6.3 – Dunn County Number of Establishments by Industry (1998-2006).............176 

Dunn County Conditions and Trends Report vii

Table 6.4 – Dunn County Employment by Industry (2001-2006)...................................177 

Table 6.5 – Dunn County Top Employers (as of March 2007) .......................................179 

Table 6.6 – West Central Wi. Estimated Employment and Salary by Occup. (2004).....181 

Table 6.7 – West Central Wi. Industry Projections (2004-2014) ....................................183 

Table 6.8 – West Central Wi. Occupation Projections and Est. Wages (2004-2014) .....184 

Table 6.9 – West Central Wi. Occupation Projections (2014) ........................................185 

Table 6.10 – Contaminated Sites in Dunn County ..........................................................191 

Table 7.1 – County Land Use (1997 and 2007)...............................................................196 

Table 7.2 – Leading Acreage Loss of Agricultural Land by Municipality......................196 

Table 7.3 – Leading Percentage Loss of Agricultural Land by Municipality .................197 

Table 7.4 – Most Agricultural Acres by Municipality.....................................................197 

Table 7.5 – Public Natural Resource Lands (2008).........................................................199 

Table 7.6 – Assessed Residential Acres, County and Municipality ................................205 

Table 7.7 – Assessed Commercial Acres, County and Municipality ..............................205 

Table 7.8 – Assessed Industrial Acres, County and Municipality...................................207 

Table 7.9 – Assessed Agricultural Parcels and Acreage, County and Municipality .......208 

Table 7.10 – Assessed Forest Parcels and Acreage by Town..........................................209 

Table 7.11 – Land Use Acreage, County and Municipality (1987).................................210 



Table 7.14 – Agricultural Land Sales ..............................................................................213 

Table 7.15 – Forested Land Sales....................................................................................214 

Table 7.16 – Land Value Per Acre by Town ...................................................................214 

Table 7.17 – Land Value Per Acre by City or Village.....................................................215 

viii Table of Contents

List of Maps 

1.1 – Dunn County Locational Map ....................................................................................1 

1.2 – Dunn County Population Change (1970-2000) ..........................................................5 

1.3 – Dunn County Population Projections (2000-2030)...................................................12 

2.1 – Dunn County Housing Unit Change (1980-2000)....................................................74 

3.1 – County Roads, Airports, and Railroads ....................................................................76 

3.2 – County Rural Functional Classification....................................................................80 

3.3 – Menomonie Urban Functional Classification ...........................................................81 

3.4 – Rustic Roads in the County ......................................................................................85 

3.5 – Dunn County Bicycle Routes....................................................................................89 

3.6 – City of Menomonie Bicycle Routes..........................................................................90 

3.7 – Dunn County Bicycling Suitability Rating ..............................................................91 

3.8 – Railroad Ownership in West Central Wisconsin ......................................................97 

4.1 – Vocational Districts in the Region .........................................................................112 

4.2 – Electric Service in West Central Wisconsin ...........................................................130 

4.3 – Natural Gas Service in West Central Wisconsin ....................................................131 

4.4 – Dunn County School Districts ................................................................................132 

Appendix A: Dunn County Resource and Development Limitations Maps 

5.1 – Agricultural Lands (Cultivated Fields) 

5.2 – Soil Capability for Common Agricultural Crops 

5.3 – Elevation 

5.4 – Potential Sand and Gravel Deposits 

5.5 – Water Resources 

5.6 – Watersheds 

5.7 – Floodplain (100-year) and Frequently Flooded Soils 

5.8 – Wetlands 

5.9 – Steep Slopes 

5.10 – Forested Areas 

5.11 – Grasslands 

5.12 – Endangered Species and Natural Communities 

7.1 – Shallow Depth to Bedrock 

7.2 – Shallow Depth to Groundwater 

7.3 – Limitations for Septic Systems 

7.4 – Limitations for Residential Basements 

7.5 – Limitations for Small Commercial Buildings 

Dunn County Conditions and Trends Report ix

Dunn County Resource and Land Use Atlas DVD 

Base Maps........................................................... for cities, villages, and towns in the Atlas 

Agricultural Lands (cultivated fields)............................. for County and towns in the Atlas 

Prime Farmland............................................................... for County and towns in the Atlas 

Elevation .............................................................................for all communities in the Atlas 

Potential Sand & Gravel Deposits ............................. for all County and towns in the Atlas 

Surface Water Resources ....................................................for all communities in the Atlas 

Watersheds........................................................................................for County in the Atlas 

Floodplains (100-year) & Frequently Flooded Soils ..........for all communities in the Atlas 

Wetlands .............................................................................for all communities in the Atlas 

Steep Slopes........................................................................for all communities in the Atlas 

Forested Areas ................................................................ for County and towns in the Atlas 

Shallow Depth to Bedrock..................................................for all communities in the Atlas 

Shallow Depth to Groundwater ..........................................for all communities in the Atlas 

Limitations for Septic Systems ...........................................for all communities in the Atlas 

Limitations for Residential Basements ...............................for all communities in the Atlas 

Limitations for Small Commercial Buildings.....................for all communities in the Atlas 

Endangered Species and Natural Communities................................for County in the Atlas 

Town Land Use & Land Cover (2000) ..............................................for towns in the Atlas 

Village Land Use (2000)..................................................................for villages in the Atlas 

x Table of Contents

1. ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES INFORMATION 

Introduction 

The County Setting 

Dunn County is located in west-central Wisconsin (see Map 1.1 below). The County has 

a total of 552,422 acres, or 863 square miles, of land, measuring approximately 37 miles 

north-to-south and 23 miles east-to-west. The County is bordered to the north by Barron 

County, to east by Eau Claire and Chippewa counties, to the west by Polk, St. Croix, and 

Pierce Counties, and by Pepin County to the south. Dunn County lies approximately 60 

miles east of the growing Minneapolis-St. Paul urban area. Interstate 94, the primary 

land transportation arterial between Minneapolis and the urban areas of Milwaukee and 

Chicago, bisects Dunn County. 

Map 1.1 - Dunn County Locational Map 

Dunn County had a 2008 

population estimate of 43,292 

which is a 8.6 percent increase 

since 2000. The County is 

made up of 30 minor civil 

divisions, which includes 22 

towns, 7 villages, and 1 city. 

The City of Menomonie is the 

county seat and the county’s 

largest municipality with a 

2008 population estimate of 

15,950. 

The topography of Dunn 

County varies from flat plains 

in the eastern and southeastern 

areas of the county to 

extremely hilly areas in the 

west and north. Glaciation and 

erosion has reduced the 

landscape to a nearly flat plain 

in eastern Dunn County with 

isolated remnants locally called “mounds” occurring. Further west, geologic erosion has 

partially dissected the county’s sandstone bedrock, resulting in more topographic relief 

with irregular and sometimes steep slopes. The elevation ranges from 1,000 to 1,250 feet 

above sea level in the northern part of the county and from 750 to 1,000 feet above sea 

level in southern Dunn County. 

Dunn County Conditions and Trends Report 1

About 30,000 years ago, a continental glacier covered Dunn County. The advancing 

glacier tended to plane off the hills and fill in deeply entrenched stream valleys with rock 

debris (drift) carried by the ice. When the glacier melted, streams carried the drift into 

the valleys and formed thick, relatively flat deposits of stratified sand, gravel, silt, and 

clay called outwash. These glacial deposits are thin in the bedrock hills and uplands of 

the county. Following glaciation, wind-blown silt (loess) was then deposited over much 

of the county, with deeper loess deposits in the southwestern areas of Dunn County. 

Dunn County is located entirely within the Lower Chippewa River Basin with eight 

major watersheds in the county: 

Wilson Creek Pine-Red Cedar River 

Hay River Eau Galle River 

South Fork Hay River Muddy Creek 

Chippewa River Chippewa-Durand 

The County also contains two large lakes, Lake Menomin, with 1,405 surface acres, and 

Upper and Lower Tainter Lakes, with 1,752 surface acres. Dunn County has a total 

surface water area of approximately 6,522 surface acres or 10.2 square miles, ranking it 

40 th among the 72 Wisconsin counties. 

The climate of Dunn County is classified as mid-latitude continental. Warm, humid 

summers and cold, snowy winters are the main characteristics. The average daily 

temperature ranges from a 5 degrees Fahrenheit minimum in January to an 84 degrees 

Fahrenheit maximum in July. Annual precipitation averages 32 inches, with 

approximately 65% occurring as rain between the months of May through September. 

Seasonal snowfall ranges from 11 to 92 inches. 

Dunn County has a strong transportation network. Major transportation corridors in 

Dunn County are Interstate 94, U.S. Highway 12, and seven state trunk highways (STH 

25, 40, 64, 72, 79, 85, and 170). A relatively fine network of town roads distributes 

traffic to numerous county trunk highways. 

Element Context 

This section is a primary source for the necessary background information for the Issues 

and Opportunities Element of a comprehensive plan for communities in Dunn County. A 

socio-economic profile for all of Dunn County is provided, which provides the 

demographic context for communities developing their individual plans. 

Overall comprehensive planning goals and objectives for the county are not provided in 

this section; instead, each community’s comprehensive plan will contain its own 

individual vision, goals, and objectives. Existing governmental programs and policies are 

also not provided here, but are reviewed in the Special Addendum: Inventory of Existing 

Plans, Programs, & Land Use Policies in West Central Wisconsin. 

2 Issues and Opportunities Information

Socio-Economic Profile 

Population 

Analyzing population size, growth, density, characteristics and distribution trends reveals 

important facts about the most important component of growth and development in Dunn 

County ⎯ its residents. Reviewing population characteristics will reveal important 

indicators of change that must be recognized to effectively prepare for change. 

Dunn County’s population fluctuated relatively little overall between 1900 and 1960, 

with steady growth since 1960. The county’s highest growth decade during the past 100 

years was in the 1970s (+17.7%). More recently, the population growth rate has declined 

to a rate of 4.6 percent during the 1980s and 11.0 percent in the 1990s. Between 2000 

and 2008, the county’s population increased by 3,434 people, or 8.6 percent. If such a 

rate of growth were continued throughout the decade it would result in a decennial rate of 

about 10.8 percent. See Figure 1.1 below, and Table 1.1 and 1.2 at the end of this 

section. 

Figure 1.1 - Dunn County Historical Population (1900-2008) 

Population 

50,000 

45,000 

40,000 

35,000 

30,000 

25,000 

20,000 

15,000 

10,000 

5,000 

0 

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008 

Year 

source: U.S. Census Bureau; Wisconsin Department of Administration 2008 estimate 

From 1990 to 2000, the Towns of Elk Mound, Otter Creek, and Colfax had the highest 

rates of growth as a percentage of its population in Dunn County (see Table 1.3 at end of 

section). The following communities had the most significant population growth in Dunn 

County between 1990 to 2000: 

Town of Elk Mound 49.7% 

Town of Otter Creek 39.8% 

Town of Colfax 31.5% 

Town of Peru 21.7% 


Town of Tainter 20.5% 

Town of Red Cedar 18.1% 

Town of Menomonie 16.2% 

In terms of actual population increases, the City of Menomonie had the largest number of 

new residents (+1,390) between 1990 and 2000. In fact, 35.2 percent of the county’s 

population increase of 3,949 during the 1990s were new residents in the City of 

Menomonie. The next largest increases occurred in unincorporated areas with the Towns 

of Menomonie, Elk Mound, Tainter, Red Cedar, Colfax, and Dunn leading the way. 

Only the Town of New Haven and the Village of Wheeler decreased in population during 

this timeframe. 

Map 1.2 shows the population change for Dunn County communities between 1970 and 

2000. The Towns of Elk Mound, Otter Creek, and Tainter all grew by over 100 percent 

during this timeframe. 

Overall, the towns of Dunn County have had the highest rates of population growth since 

the 1970s. The City of Menomonie grew at a slightly faster pace than the villages 

overall. Those municipalities closest to the City of Menomonie then east towards the 

City of Eau Claire tended to have the highest rates of growth, including the Towns of 

Tainter and Colfax. 


Map 1.2 - Dunn County Population Change (1970-2000) 


Like most of west-central Wisconsin, with the exception of Eau Claire County to the east, 

the percentage of Dunn County’s population in unincorporated areas has been increasing 

in recent years (see Figure 1.2). The most significant change since 1950 is the large 

reduction in the rural farm population from 13,445 in 1950 to 2,898 in 2000. 

Dunn County Population Distribution by Incorporated and Unincorporated Communities 

(1950-2008) 

Area 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008 

Incorporated 11,551 11,678 14,396 16,709 17,598 19,161 20,306 

Unincorporated 15,790 14,478 14,595 17,605 18,311 20,697 22,986 

% Incorporated 42.2 49.9 49.7 48.7 49.0 48.1 46.9 

source: U.S. Census Bureau, WisDOA Demographic Services 2008 

Figure 1.2 - Dunn County Population Distribution by Incorporated & Rural Residents 

(1950-2000) 

Percent of Total Population 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 

Year 

source: U.S. Census Bureau 

City or Village Rural Farm Rural Non-Farm 

The 1970s and 1990s are the only recent decades in which the population increase in 

Dunn County has been more from the in-migration of new residents than natural increase 

(see Table 1.4 and Figure 1.3). In the 1980s, net migration was negative with natural 

increase constituting the far majority of the county’s population increase. In 1990's, the 

population increase from in-migration and births vs. deaths were comparable, with the 

total net migration being slightly higher. 


Figure 1.3 - Dunn County Components of Population Change (1950- 2000) 

People 

6,000 

4,000 

2,000 

0 

-2,000 

-4,000 

-6,000 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 

1950-60 1960-70 1970-80 1980-90 1990-00 

Year 

Natural Increase Net Migration 

The average age of Dunn County residents increased 5.2 years from 1980 to 2000 to a 

median age of 30.6 years in 2000 (see Table 1.5), which is still well below the State of 

Wisconsin 2000 median age of 36.0. Population decreased in a number of the age groups 

between 1990 and 2000: 0-4, 15-19, 20-24, 25-34, and 65-74 (see Table 1.5 and Table 

1.6). However, these decreases were in large part offset by increases in the middle-age 

groups (35-64) during the timeframe. 

The 1990 and 2000 age-by-sex breakdowns and percentage change for each municipality 

in Dunn County are included at the end of this section in Tables 1.7, 1.8., and 1.9, at the 

end of this section. 

Overall, Dunn County’s population is relatively homogenous, with 95.7 percent of the 

population in the white, non-Hispanic racial group as of 2000. Figure 1.4 shows the 

distribution of the population by race for much of the remaining population 1 (representing 

about 1,315 persons in 2000) for 1990 and 2000. During the past decade, the population 

in all racial groups except Blacks increased, with the White Hispanic group more than 

doubling. The Asian population continues to be the county’s largest minority population. 

Table 1.14 shows the race characteristics of Dunn County by municipality in 2000. 

Hispanic/Latino is not shown in Table 1.14 since this is considered an ethnicity by 

Census standards and not a race; individuals of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity are included 

as part of the other race categories shown. In 2000, a total of 413 persons in Dunn 

1 Due to differences between the 1990 and 2000 Censuses in the collection of data by race and ethnicity, 

Figure 1.4 does not include persons of two or more races and Pacific Islanders in the 2000 figures. 


County were identified as being of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, an increase of 252 

persons from 1990. 

Figure 1.4 - Dunn County Racial/Ethnic Population Characteristics (1990 and 2000) 

People 

800 

700 

600 

500 

400 

300 

200 

100 

0 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 

Educational Attainment 

The Decennial Census provides information on educational attainment levels, which are 

listed in Table 1.15. All Dunn County communities saw a greater percentage of residents 

25 years or older with high school or higher education levels in 2000 than in 1990. These 

indicators certainly demonstrate a well-educated population. 

It should be no surprise with the large investments in education and the increasing 

requirement for technical or post-secondary degrees for job placement that larger 

numbers of people are pursuing higher education. Dunn County communities have had a 

significant percentage of people who have attained high school or higher educational 

levels (86.6 percent in 2000). Since 1990, more Dunn County residents have pursued 

post-secondary education. In 2000, 49.8 percent of Dunn County residents 25 years or 

older had attended a post-secondary institution, with 29.4 percent achieving a degree. 

Employment 

Black American Indian Asian White Hispanic Other 

Year 

1990 2000 

The area’s current economic growth is a major contributor to the employment 

opportunities available to Dunn County residents. The principal economic factors that 

influence an individual's quality of life and provide a choice of residential options are 

employment opportunities and income. A comparison of labor force and employment 


statistics for 1990 to 2000 provides some insight into the economic well-being of Dunn 

County community residents. 

Personal income is derived primarily from employment wages. An individual's 

occupation determines the range of that wage scale and influences the personal standard 

of living. A comparison of the occupations of those employed in the labor force helps to 

determine the economic affect of the employment opportunities available to area 

residents, and the ability to increase their standard of living. 

While the segment of the population eligible for the labor force in Dunn County grew by 

13.6 percent between 1990 and 2000 (see Table 1.16 and Table 1.17), the actual number 

in the labor force increased by 23.8 percent. The employed residents in the labor force 

increased by 22.7 percent over the same period, while the number of unemployed 

residents only increased by 480. Based on these statistics, it appears that a growing 

number of county residents had been finding employment opportunities in the 1990s. 

Table 1.18 shows the employment trends between 1990 and 2006 for employers in Dunn 

County based on tax and employee information. However, the Census Bureau collects 

place-of-residence employment data. This means these data can tell us in what industries 

or occupations the residents of Dunn County communities work, but not where they 

work. Tables 1.19 and 1.20 at the end of this section compare the industries in which 

Dunn County residents worked between 1990 and 2000. During this timeframe, the 

largest increases occurred in the manufacturing, education and health services, and arts, 

entertainment, accommodation, and food service industries. Perhaps surprising is the 

decrease in employment in the retail trade industry. 

Tables 1.21 and 1.22 show in what occupations Dunn County residents were employed as 

opposed to the industries in which they work. The number of residents in all occupations 

increased, except for farming, forestry, and fishing. Production, transportation, and 

material moving occupations saw a very small decrease. No 1990 data for construction 

occupations was available for comparison. 

The economic downturn early in the decade starting in 2000 makes it uncertain how the 

labor force and employment has been affected in Dunn County. Table 1.18 may provide 

indicators in employment for Dunn County that reflect the recent economic slowdown. 

Table 1.18 shows Dunn County non-farm employment for 1990 through 2006. Although 

one cannot see what is happening in each municipality, one could infer that the trend 

defined for Dunn County is likely to show changes in employment opportunities for the 

residents of most Dunn County communities. Table 1.18 shows that employment in the 

county has increased overall since 1990, though significant increases often come in 

“spurts” and there can be periods of decreasing employment (e.g., 1998-2000). Between 

2002 and 2006, employment has been growing slowly in Dunn County compared to the 

growth rate of the 1990s. 

Although the Decennial Census’s standard available information limits employment 

information to place of residence, it also provides information that can indicate Dunn 


County’s commuting characteristics. Table 1.23 shows how long it took Dunn County 

residents to get to work in 1990 and 2000. During this period, the number of residents 

who worked at home or commuted less than 20 minutes to work increased by 2.8 percent 

between 1990 and 2000, while the number of residents who commuted 20 minutes or 

more to work increased by 62.4 percent. In 1990, 31.1 percent of employed residents 

commuted 20 minutes or longer, which increased to 41.6 percent by 2000. In general, 

Dunn County residents are experiencing even longer commutes to work. 

Studying the special distribution of workers and employment centers is helpful with 

economic development efforts and transportation infrastructure management. The Census 

information that reveals actual commuting patterns is called Place of Residence/Place of 

Work which is shown in Table 1.24. In 2000, about 65.3 percent of the workers living in 

the county worked within Dunn County and 13.6 percent commuted to nearby Eau Claire 

County. 

Income 

The combined effect of advanced education and increased employment opportunities, and 

evidence of well-paying occupations, is also reflected in the earning capability and 

increasing incomes of Dunn County residents. Table 1.25 shows household income 

distribution for Dunn County households in 1989 and 1999. Table 1.26 shows the 

changes in income of Dunn County and surrounding county residents between 1990 and 

2000. Finally, Table 1.27 shows the median household income for all Dunn County 

communities. 

Household income is the sum of money income received in the calendar year before the 

Decennial Census is collected by all household members 15 years old and over, including 

household members not related to the householder, people living alone, and other nonfamily 

household members. Included in the total are amounts reported separately for 

wage or salary income; net self-employment income; interest, dividends, or net rental or 

royalty income or income from estates and trusts; Social Security or Railroad Retirement 

income; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); public assistance or welfare payments; 

retirement, survivor, or disability pensions; and all other income. The median is the 

mathematically derived middle value with 50 percent above and 50 percent below that 

number. 

It can be seen from Table 1.26 that Dunn County is in the “middle of the pack” when 

compared to the incomes of most surrounding counties. Certainly counties with, or 

closer to, larger urban centers have a greater “economic engine” that provides 

employment opportunities and resultant higher income. Those counties with lower 

incomes all have smaller urban centers or are further away from significant employment 

centers. 

The data indicates that incomes for Dunn County community residents increased faster 

than the State of Wisconsin average as a whole between 1990 and 2000, but remains 

below the state median household income. It can also be seen that the median household 


income in many of the unincorporated towns are above the county median household 

income. 

Population Projections 

Population projections have long been used to assess development prospects and 

community facility needs created by population growth. Small area population forecasts 

can be used to evaluate potential residential development and economic conditions, and 

the level of demand for public facilities and services. Businesses, schools and 

government frequently use these forecasts to determine the future needs or design of 

public facilities or services. This estimate of future growth is also valuable information 

for establishing management techniques to guide orderly growth and development. 

Projecting population is not a science in which absolutes can be placed. Consequently, 

there are limitations that should be remembered when reviewing and evaluating these 

forecasts. These limitations include: 

� Population projections are based on historical trends of population growth that are 

extended into the future, and the assumption that those trends, and the factors behind 

them, will continue to some point in time. 

� Forecasts of large area populations (e.g., states or counties) are more reliable. The 

smaller the area for which a projection is produced, like an individual community, the 

greater the possibility for error. 

� The closer the projection year is to the base year; the more likely the population for 

that projection will be close to the true population. 

� Population projections are, at best, guides and their limitations must be considered. 

Intimate knowledge of local conditions can help build local variables into population 

projections to enhance their validity. 

The Wisconsin Department of Administration (WisDOA) population projections are, by 

state statute, the official population projections for Wisconsin. As shown in Table 1.10 

and Map 1.3, between 2000 and 2030, the WisDOA projections predict a 35.7 percent 

increase in the Dunn County population (about 14,245 more residents). Like recent 

trends, the percentage increases are projected to be highest in many of the towns, with the 

villages growing at the slowest pace. 


Map 1.3 - Dunn County Population Projections (2000-2030) 


Household Projections 

A household forecast is used to help develop housing and land-use forecasts. The 

Wisconsin Department of Administration, Demographic Services has prepared household 

projections for year 2000 to 2030 in five-year increments found in Table 1.11. 

Employment Projections 

In May 2008, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (WDWD) Office of 

Economic Advisors (OEA) released a series of publications entitled OEA 2006-2016 

Statewide Long-term Projections. In addition, a WDWD-OEA report entitled 

Occupation Projections for West Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Area, 2004- 

2014 was also released in August of 2006. These reports make economic projections 

regarding the state’s labor force, industries and occupations. 

Municipal units within Dunn County have employment patterns that are similar to the 

state. It is expected that during the next several years, Wisconsin’s population is 

projected to grow slower and older than the nation as a whole, therefore leading to lower 

participation rates in the workforce. Wisconsin is also having difficulty attracting 

domestic migrants and retaining its own citizens. However, international immigrants are 

increasing significantly. Wisconsin will continue to face the challenge of filling job 

openings. The industries that are projected to add the most jobs from 2006-2016 are 

ambulatory health care services, administrative and support services, eating and drinking 

establishments, hospitals, social assistance and professional, scientific and technical 

services. The top six occupations in Wisconsin with the greatest expected job growth for 

2006-2016 are retail salespersons (32,400); cashiers (31,400); waiters/waitresses 

(30,900); registered nurses (21,800); customer service representatives (21,000); and 

combined food preparation/serving workers (20,800). For further labor force and 

economic base indicators refer to Section 6: Economic Development Information section. 

Table 1.12 presents employment and wage projections by the top 10 occupations for the 

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development West Central Wisconsin Region. 

This represents the occupation opportunities available for Dunn County residents. The 

greatest demand for workers is in the occupations on the ‘Most Openings’ list. This list 

includes many occupations considered as first-time, or temporary, jobs that workers often 

leave as other opportunities open up. Turnover is high and wages are low. There is one 

exception on the list: registered nurses which requires a greater degree of education or 

training and reflects a higher wage scale. 

The ‘Fastest Growth’ occupations are often referred to as hot jobs, with more training 

requirements and better wages. There are often fewer openings in these jobs since the list 

is based on the greatest percent change in employment; for example, an occupation that 

increases from 5 to 10 jobs increased 100 percent, whereas an occupation that increases 

from 2,000 to 2,200 jobs increased only 10 percent. 


Table 1.13 shows employment projections by industry for the West Central Wisconsin 

Region. The greatest potential growth for employment appears to be in health and 

education related fields, while computer and electronic product manufacturing appears to 

be at risk of losing employment. Information and professional services, and the leisure 

and hospitality industry have the potential to add significant employment by 2014. 

Summary 

Certain trends become apparent after reviewing the countywide demographic and 

economic information. Studying these trends and their implications on local quality of 

life will be useful in guiding public decision making. 

Dunn County continues to steadily increase in population with those communities closest 

to the City of Menomonie then east towards the cities of Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire 

generally having the highest growth rates. Since 1970, rural-nonfarm population growth 

has been highest, with substantial losses in the rural-farm population. Population 

projections continue to show the highest growth rates in unincorporated areas. 

It is clear that the national trend of an aging population is reflected in Dunn County, 

though the student population at the University of Wisconsin-Stout has helped keep the 

county’s median age well below the Wisconsin average. While the Dunn County 

population will be aging, it will also be changing its racial and ethnic characteristics. The 

county’s minority population can be expected to continue to increase. 

Dunn County residents have become more educated over the past several decades. 

Without adequate employment opportunities this can lead to the loss of increasingly wellqualified 

individuals moving to other areas offering those opportunities. Overall, 

residents have been increasingly willing to travel longer to places of employment though 

the county’s population and employment is concentrated in the Menomonie area. 

Overall, the previously analyzed trends reveal that Dunn County will continue to 

continue to experience growth in population and employment and its communities will 

face several challenges as a result. However, rising energy costs and recent troubles with 

the housing market and economy has curtailed new construction throughout much of 

west-central Wisconsin and some of these trends may be changing, at least for the shortterm. 

Over the next several sections of this Conditions and Trends Report, other factors that 

affect Dunn County communities will be explored. With further analysis of these 

following sections it is hoped that a clear picture of where Dunn County has been, and is 

now, will emerge. This will help communities frame the issues that face them, the 

changes that are likely to impact them and the ways they can address those changes to 

achieve the community character they desire. 


Data Tables 

Table 1.1 

Dunn County Historical Population (1900-2008) 

Numerical Percent 

Year Population Change Change 

1900 25,043 -- -- 

1910 23,280 -1,763 -7.0 

1920 26,970 3,690 15.9 

1930 27,037 67 0.2 

1940 27,375 338 1.3 

1950 27,341 -34 -0.1 

1960 26,156 -1,185 -4.3 

1970 29,154 2,998 11.5 

1980 34,314 5,160 17.7 

1990 35,909 1,595 4.6 

2000 39,858 3,949 11.0 

2008 43,292 3,434 8.6 

source: U.S. Census Bureau, WisDOA 2008 preliminary estimate 

Table 1.2 

Dunn County and Area Counties Historical Population Change (1960-2000) 

1960 to 1970 1970 to 1980 1980 to 1990 1990 to 2000 

County No. Pct. No. Pct. No. Pct. No. Pct. 

Dunn County 2,998 11.5 5,160 17.8 1,595 4.7 3,949 11.0 

Barron County -315 -0.9 4,775 14.1 2,020 5.2 4,213 10.3 

Chippewa County 2,621 5.8 4,410 9.2 233 0.4 2,835 5.4 

Eau Claire County 8,919 15.3 11,586 17.2 6,378 8.1 7,959 9.3 

Pepin County -13 -0.2 158 2.2 -370 -4.9 106 1.5 

Pierce County 4,149 18.4 4,497 16.9 1,616 5.9 4,039 12.3 

Polk County 1,698 6.8 5,685 21.3 2,422 7.5 6,546 18.8 

St. Croix County 5,190 17.8 8,908 25.9 6,989 16.2 12,904 25.7 



Table 1.3 

Dunn County Historical Population and Population Change (1970-2008) by MCD 

1970 1980 1990 2000 2008 '70-'80 '80-'90 '90-'00 '00-'08 

Towns 

Colfax 499 660 691 909 1,070 32.3% 4.7% 31.5% 17.7% 

Dunn 969 1,294 1,315 1,492 1,592 33.5% 1.6% 13.5% 6.7% 

Eau Galle 892 944 854 797 799 5.8% -9.5% -6.7% 0.3% 

Elk Mound 455 668 749 1,121 1,399 46.8% 12.1% 49.7% 24.8% 

Grant 400 443 412 426 432 10.8% -7.0% 3.4% 1.4% 

Hay River 419 433 510 546 644 3.3% 17.8% 7.1% 17.9% 

Lucas 577 699 644 658 728 21.1% -7.9% 2.2% 10.6% 

Menomonie 1,820 2,453 2,732 3,174 3,475 34.8% 11.4% 16.2% 9.5% 

New Haven 645 707 658 656 718 9.6% -6.9% -0.3% 9.5% 

Otter Creek 224 337 339 474 534 50.4% 0.6% 39.8% 12.7% 

Peru 245 194 203 247 266 -20.8% 4.6% 21.7% 7.7% 

Red Cedar 935 1,278 1,417 1,673 1,965 36.7% 10.9% 18.1% 17.5% 

Rock Creek 632 668 696 793 828 5.7% 4.2% 13.9% 4.4% 

Sand Creek 579 575 568 586 628 -0.7% -1.2% 3.2% 7.2% 

Sheridan 426 476 468 483 495 11.7% -1.7% 3.2% 2.5% 

Sherman 580 666 725 748 856 14.8% 8.9% 3.2% 14.4% 

Spring Brook 1,168 1,293 1,293 1,320 1,528 10.7% 0.0% 2.1% 15.8% 

Stanton 527 553 637 715 860 4.9% 15.2% 12.2% 20.3% 

Tainter 1,000 1,507 1,756 2,116 2,379 50.7% 16.5% 20.5% 12.4% 

Tiffany 485 639 594 633 654 31.8% -7.0% 6.6% 3.3% 

Weston 688 654 560 630 630 -4.9% -14.4% 12.5% 0.0% 

Wilson 430 464 490 500 506 7.9% 5.6% 2.0% 1.2% 

sub-total 14,595 17,605 18,311 20,697 22,986 20.6% 4.0% 13.0% 11.1% 

Villages 

Boyceville 725 862 913 1,043 1,088 18.9% 5.9% 14.2% 4.3% 

Colfax 1,026 1,149 1,110 1,136 1,166 12.0% -3.4% 2.3% 2.6% 

Downing 215 242 250 257 249 12.6% 3.3% 2.8% -3.1% 

Elk Mound 471 737 765 785 809 56.5% 3.8% 2.6% 3.1% 

Knapp 369 419 419 421 462 13.6% 0.0% 0.5% 9.7% 

Ridgeland 266 300 246 265 259 12.8% -18.0% 7.7% -2.3% 

Wheeler 212 231 348 317 323 9.0% 50.6% -8.9% 1.9% 

sub-total 3,284 3,940 4,051 4,224 4,356 20.0% 2.8% 4.3% 3.1% 

Cities 

Year Percent Change 

Menomonie 11,275 12,769 13,547 14,937 15,950 13.3% 6.1% 10.3% 6.8% 

sub-total 11,275 12,769 13,547 14,937 15,950 13.3% 6.1% 10.3% 6.8% 

Total 29,154 34,314 35,909 39,858 43,292 17.7% 4.6% 11.0% 8.6% 

source: U.S. Census Bureau; Wisconsin Department of Administration Estimate, 2008 


Table 1.4 

Dunn County Components of Population Change (1950-2000) 

1950 to 

1960 

1960 to 

1970 

1970 to 

1980 

1980 to 

1990 

Dunn County Conditions and Trends Report 17 

1990 to 

2000 

Births 5,777 4,510 4,443 4,871 4,390 

Deaths 2,607 2,677 2,740 2,613 2,645 

Total Natural Increase 3,170 1,833 1,703 2,258 1,745 

Natural Increase Rate 12.1% 9.1% 5.0% 6.3% 4.4% 

Net Migration -4,355 1,165 3,457 -663 2,204 

Net Migration Rate -16.7% 5.8% 10.1% -1.8% 5.5% 

Total Population Change -1,185 2,998 5,160 1,595 3,949 

Percent Population Change -4.3% 11.5% 17.7% 4.6% 11.0% 

*NOTE: Calculated as a percent of the County’s total population. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau; Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services 

Table 1.5 

Dunn County Historical Population by Age and Sex (1980-2000) 

Male Female Total 

Age 1980 2000 1980 2000 1980 2000 

0-4 1,289 1,173 1,139 1,112 2,428 2,285 

5-9 1,210 1,177 1,107 1,238 2,317 2,415 

10-14 1,163 1,412 1,176 1,432 2,339 2,844 

15-19 1,958 2,097 2,293 2,078 4,251 4,175 

20-24 2,844 2,944 2,780 2,552 5,624 5,496 

25-34 2,607 2,552 2,383 2,265 4,990 4,817 

35-44 1,512 2,782 1,464 2,662 2,976 5,444 

45-54 1,341 2,540 1,368 2,448 2,709 4,988 

55-64 1,270 1,472 1,339 1,447 2,609 2,919 

65-74 1,045 1,071 1,226 1,160 2,271 2,231 

75+ 767 874 1,033 1,370 1,800 2,244 

Median Age 25.4 30.6 


Table 1.6 

Dunn County Change in Age-Sex Structure (1980-000) 

1980 to 2000 Total 

Age Male Female # Change Pct Change 

0-4 -116 -61 -143 -5.9 

5-9 -33 61 98 4.2 

10-14 249 20 505 21.6 

15-19 139 -19 -76 -1.8 

20-24 100 -392 -128 -2.3 

25-34 -55 -287 -173 -3.5 

35-44 1,270 -120 2,468 82.9 

45-54 1,199 -92 2,279 84.1 

55-64 202 -25 310 11.9 

65-74 26 89 -40 -1.8 

75+ 107 496 444 24.7 

source: U.S. Census Bureau

Table 1.7 

Population by Age and Sex by Municipality – 2000 Dunn County 

Colfax (T) 

Dun (T) 

Eau Galle (T) 

Elk Mound (T) 

Grant (T) 

Hay River (T) 

Total 909 1492 797 1121 426 546 658 3174 656 474 247 1673 793 586 

Median Age 35.3 34.7 37.9 31.3 37.8 36.3 34.9 36 36.6 36.3 33.6 36.3 35 39.8 

Male 469 802 409 565 226 270 354 1581 329 240 130 840 400 303 

Lucas (T) 

Female 440 690 388 556 200 276 304 1593 327 234 117 833 393 283 

Male 

Under 5 years 21 40 25 46 14 16 31 87 18 14 13 60 31 28 

5 to 9 years 32 76 28 52 15 16 20 137 29 17 9 56 24 14 

10 to 14 years 48 84 30 51 20 31 31 137 31 29 11 70 20 23 

15 to 17 years 24 47 16 29 13 8 12 108 12 14 10 50 23 12 

18 and 19 years 13 20 13 12 4 6 12 47 13 6 4 19 17 11 

20 years 3 11 4 3 5 2 0 13 3 1 1 11 3 0 

21 years 8 7 4 8 2 2 1 16 3 3 2 7 4 5 

22 to 24 years 16 34 14 21 8 11 12 44 8 4 5 22 11 5 

25 to 29 years 25 51 25 42 6 14 24 86 16 9 6 45 33 16 

30 to 34 years 35 43 25 47 20 20 36 100 16 19 5 56 34 20 

35 to 39 years 45 75 43 54 19 23 34 125 29 16 15 73 36 24 

40 to 44 years 46 67 27 45 19 23 25 131 30 26 6 78 26 26 

45 to 49 years 45 49 28 48 21 22 37 119 33 23 12 86 32 23 

50 to 54 years 37 63 24 30 18 18 23 140 17 19 6 58 38 30 

55 to 59 years 23 39 26 32 11 13 15 95 17 14 6 53 24 15 

60 and 61 years 5 5 10 5 4 3 4 27 3 4 3 12 3 6 

62 to 64 years 4 23 10 8 8 10 9 30 9 2 3 11 5 8 

65 to 69 years 13 25 17 13 9 5 9 52 14 8 4 17 14 11 

70 to 74 years 11 13 17 9 4 14 9 50 8 3 4 22 10 5 

75 to 79 years 8 16 14 4 3 5 5 16 9 3 1 18 3 10 

80 to 84 years 4 8 4 2 1 4 4 11 8 6 1 12 6 6 

85 years and over 3 6 5 4 2 4 1 10 3 0 3 4 3 5 

Female 

Under 5 years 26 41 23 43 15 26 22 104 22 21 13 60 24 6 

5 to 9 years 42 45 32 55 13 26 23 123 29 16 9 71 29 21 

10 to 14 years 44 73 30 56 13 29 29 181 35 24 10 70 31 17 

15 to 17 years 23 34 22 30 17 10 9 91 15 15 5 42 29 18 

18 and 19 years 14 19 5 12 5 6 8 32 12 7 5 26 10 8 

20 years 1 4 2 7 4 7 6 12 5 1 0 8 2 1 

21 years 9 7 2 8 2 2 3 17 4 1 1 7 4 4 

22 to 24 years 10 19 7 23 3 2 14 32 8 2 3 24 10 8 

25 to 29 years 19 38 21 33 15 17 15 75 11 15 5 31 25 18 

30 to 34 years 38 59 26 57 5 16 22 98 24 14 9 70 33 16 

35 to 39 years 45 52 28 48 10 19 22 126 24 17 11 69 28 19 

40 to 44 years 38 66 29 38 22 18 26 142 28 23 7 77 27 25 

45 to 49 years 38 50 20 45 24 27 24 130 22 21 6 71 41 17 

50 to 54 years 31 45 28 30 14 17 25 131 16 14 9 60 30 24 

55 to 59 years 13 30 33 24 9 14 14 87 10 17 5 39 16 16 

60 and 61 years 4 17 9 6 4 4 8 22 9 3 1 8 5 4 

62 to 64 years 6 13 7 8 8 8 3 40 11 6 2 11 8 10 

65 to 69 years 15 16 18 9 5 8 13 48 11 6 6 23 15 7 

70 to 74 years 13 25 17 4 4 6 9 41 12 4 1 30 8 13 

75 to 79 years 5 19 9 10 3 6 3 33 7 6 5 15 8 14 

80 to 84 years 2 10 10 5 2 7 4 14 7 1 2 11 7 10 

85 years and over 4 8 10 5 3 1 2 14 5 0 2 10 3 7 

Table 1.7 continued on next page 

18 Issues and Opportunities Information 

Menomonie (T) 

New Haven (T) 

Otter Creek (T) 

Peru (T) 

Red Cedar (T) 

Rock Creek (T) 

Sand Creek (T)

Table 1.7 continued 


Sheridan (T) 

Sherman (T) 

Spring Brook (T) 

Stanton (T) 

Tainter (T) 

Total 483 748 1320 715 2116 633 630 500 1043 1136 257 785 421 

Median Age 37.3 38.6 36.2 35.5 40.2 37.2 34.2 40.4 33.8 40 35.3 30.8 38.9 

Male 254 377 692 370 1116 332 321 261 482 530 139 373 205 

Tiffany (T) 

Female 229 371 628 345 1000 301 309 239 561 606 118 412 216 

Male 

Under 5 years 11 26 38 21 57 22 32 12 37 40 11 28 19 

5 to 9 years 12 21 50 36 68 25 34 13 40 29 10 22 10 

10 to 14 years 22 26 64 32 83 28 19 23 37 42 4 29 10 

15 to 17 years 21 23 55 19 54 18 9 10 26 23 6 20 9 

18 and 19 years 9 13 18 13 36 14 6 9 10 15 4 11 9 

20 years 6 5 9 1 14 5 1 5 8 5 0 6 0 

21 years 3 2 3 9 9 5 4 3 4 9 8 6 3 

22 to 24 years 4 9 13 15 34 10 5 10 15 8 5 19 9 

25 to 29 years 15 18 36 20 59 20 16 13 33 32 11 29 10 

30 to 34 years 11 19 46 22 68 15 34 11 43 28 13 43 17 

35 to 39 years 22 31 55 25 79 21 27 19 41 42 13 35 13 

40 to 44 years 21 30 62 37 96 27 23 28 29 36 7 24 23 

45 to 49 years 25 26 57 36 93 29 25 28 34 28 11 23 11 

50 to 54 years 22 36 63 23 117 26 21 13 23 31 10 26 14 

55 to 59 years 21 24 34 20 72 21 15 13 20 34 6 13 11 

60 and 61 years 1 8 12 4 22 3 7 5 11 11 2 4 6 

62 to 64 years 4 12 11 10 30 8 8 8 7 14 1 3 9 

65 to 69 years 9 14 22 9 45 10 15 7 20 19 4 13 5 

70 to 74 years 4 15 23 8 30 11 6 15 16 24 3 2 9 

75 to 79 years 7 8 12 5 23 6 9 5 10 27 6 10 4 

80 to 84 years 2 9 6 3 17 5 4 8 13 19 4 6 1 

85 years and over 2 2 3 2 10 3 1 3 5 14 0 1 3 

Female 

Under 5 years 12 18 38 22 52 19 28 16 35 30 9 40 12 

5 to 9 years 23 34 40 22 63 8 32 16 45 51 8 27 12 

10 to 14 years 18 30 60 37 77 25 26 15 57 36 11 35 16 

15 to 17 years 17 20 34 24 49 31 12 18 30 24 6 27 11 

18 and 19 years 6 12 13 9 16 7 6 7 14 11 5 10 6 

20 years 1 4 6 4 9 3 1 3 6 8 1 10 1 

21 years 3 5 9 1 11 3 1 0 10 4 1 5 5 

22 to 24 years 4 10 15 6 30 9 6 4 16 12 3 20 5 

25 to 29 years 10 16 31 21 41 15 21 9 36 33 9 34 17 

30 to 34 years 14 21 55 17 55 20 32 13 41 38 3 44 7 

35 to 39 years 17 24 56 36 87 22 25 17 40 48 13 25 15 

40 to 44 years 20 29 54 37 105 28 20 29 32 34 6 26 25 

45 to 49 years 23 39 58 28 93 23 17 18 30 30 17 36 16 

50 to 54 years 19 29 48 19 100 24 19 14 34 36 3 19 11 

55 to 59 years 9 21 26 21 67 19 14 14 26 26 5 16 13 

60 and 61 years 4 4 6 7 15 4 5 5 7 10 2 3 4 

62 to 64 years 8 10 15 3 29 7 12 9 10 14 2 1 5 

65 to 69 years 6 14 22 6 35 11 13 11 18 32 7 9 7 

70 to 74 years 4 11 20 8 26 8 9 8 20 33 3 9 8 

75 to 79 years 5 13 14 3 17 5 5 7 19 26 3 8 8 

80 to 84 years 4 2 6 6 16 7 2 4 21 33 1 4 5 

85 years and over 2 5 2 8 7 3 3 2 14 37 0 4 7 



Weston (T) 

Wilson (T) 

Boyceville (V) 

Colfax (V) 

Downing (V) 

Elk Mound (V) 

Knapp (V)



Ridgeland (V) 

Wheeler (V) 

Menomonie (C) 

Dunn County 

Total 265 317 14937 39858 

Median Age 40.5 35.7 23.2 30.6 

Male 121 167 7436 20094 

Female 144 150 7501 19764 

Male 

Under 5 years 7 12 356 1173 

5 to 9 years 14 16 252 1177 

10 to 14 years 12 9 356 1412 

15 to 17 years 3 7 208 889 

18 and 19 years 0 5 839 1208 

20 years 1 2 612 740 

21 years 1 2 566 709 

22 to 24 years 2 3 1119 1495 

25 to 29 years 7 16 585 1318 

30 to 34 years 8 6 374 1234 

35 to 39 years 7 25 317 1383 

40 to 44 years 7 9 365 1399 

45 to 49 years 9 11 318 1342 

50 to 54 years 5 6 241 1198 

55 to 59 years 4 6 176 873 

60 and 61 years 0 2 60 252 

62 to 64 years 3 5 74 347 

65 to 69 years 12 6 133 554 

70 to 74 years 6 11 155 517 

75 to 79 years 3 4 133 387 

80 to 84 years 2 2 93 271 

85 years and over 8 2 104 216 

Female 

Under 5 years 11 6 318 1112 

5 to 9 years 11 9 303 1238 

10 to 14 years 4 11 332 1432 

15 to 17 years 9 6 194 872 

18 and 19 years 2 3 910 1206 

20 years 1 2 555 675 

21 years 1 0 581 711 

22 to 24 years 2 7 852 1166 

25 to 29 years 5 13 447 1096 

30 to 34 years 8 15 299 1169 

35 to 39 years 15 12 345 1315 

40 to 44 years 4 9 323 1347 

45 to 49 years 7 7 330 1308 

50 to 54 years 5 12 274 1140 

55 to 59 years 4 7 201 816 

60 and 61 years 4 2 67 253 

62 to 64 years 4 5 103 378 

65 to 69 years 19 6 178 594 

70 to 74 years 5 5 202 566 

75 to 79 years 5 4 212 497 

80 to 84 years 9 4 198 414 

85 years and over 9 5 277 459 

source: U.S. Census, 2000 


Table 1.8 

Population by Age by Municipality – 1990 Dunn County 

Colfax (T) 

Dun (T) 

Eau Galle (T) 

Elk Mound (T) 

Grant (T) 

Hay River (T) 

Total 685 1297 856 772 400 505 635 2725 665 344 221 1422 673 541 

Median Age 32.6 32.4 33.1 30.1 32.9 32 32 30.8 35.7 32 34.5 32 34.2 36.4 

Under 5 years 48 113 47 63 21 35 38 247 50 32 13 112 30 32 

5 to 9 years 67 116 85 60 47 42 67 213 63 28 24 133 77 28 

10 to 14 years 64 100 108 76 43 31 45 239 45 24 17 141 64 61 

15 to 17 years 35 48 52 54 23 30 35 162 26 21 14 72 40 26 

18 and 19 years 15 21 29 17 12 12 8 63 21 7 4 30 13 4 

20 years 8 8 7 14 2 6 11 10 10 10 2 10 8 4 

21 years 8 15 14 11 2 3 4 26 0 7 0 4 11 0 

22 to 24 years 25 73 22 32 12 25 28 137 17 12 7 40 16 16 

25 to 29 years 42 90 41 61 20 42 64 205 40 23 17 128 19 53 

30 to 34 years 50 126 65 64 39 35 41 233 44 34 16 121 58 28 

35 to 39 years 76 110 48 80 34 45 58 187 55 33 28 129 99 25 

40 to 44 years 73 79 79 57 37 31 53 255 57 31 15 90 58 48 

45 to 49 years 35 66 45 54 20 23 39 185 50 14 3 107 33 45 

50 to 54 years 22 63 35 24 25 29 23 112 30 13 19 64 18 24 

55 to 59 years 22 48 33 31 19 18 25 153 34 9 15 50 27 24 

60 and 61 years 21 17 18 5 9 13 22 22 6 7 8 22 13 9 

62 to 64 years 18 28 20 9 4 16 16 65 21 7 7 30 13 16 

65 to 69 years 14 47 36 19 10 16 19 56 28 12 6 66 19 24 

70 to 74 years 18 42 25 11 6 25 16 61 38 15 0 25 31 29 

75 to 79 years 17 42 19 12 7 17 11 51 17 3 6 26 6 25 

80 to 84 years 5 26 18 5 4 7 12 35 10 0 0 12 15 8 

85 years and 

over 2 19 10 13 4 4 0 8 3 2 0 10 5 12 



Lucas (T) 

Menomonie (T) 

New Haven (T) 


Peru (T) 

Red Cedar (T) 


Sand Creek (T)



Sheridan (T) 

Sherman (T) 


Stanton (T) 

Tainter (T) 

Total 484 729 1261 637 1768 584 569 517 913 1110 269 797 421 

Median Age 31.7 34 31.8 30.3 34.9 31.2 33.8 33.4 35.1 42.5 29.8 30.1 31.8 

Under 5 years 47 48 105 51 136 46 49 27 90 65 21 54 33 

5 to 9 years 77 73 133 59 140 63 36 48 74 71 29 65 37 

10 to 14 years 43 74 110 65 149 61 31 54 45 58 39 100 30 

15 to 17 years 15 35 66 38 87 31 33 39 21 53 8 51 13 

18 and 19 years 14 18 38 19 32 12 12 14 26 21 3 20 1 

20 years 0 4 16 2 8 3 8 0 13 7 5 19 3 

21 years 0 5 15 3 7 0 9 3 10 7 3 22 0 

22 to 24 years 11 18 30 16 49 13 25 16 53 17 11 11 34 

5 to 29 years 30 38 95 62 131 44 55 38 49 70 21 73 36 

30 to 34 years 44 68 92 59 157 34 40 44 74 88 17 52 53 

35 to 39 years 57 75 142 59 161 36 36 48 56 74 24 65 34 

40 to 44 years 38 76 100 28 147 66 41 21 45 56 18 82 18 

45 to 49 years 16 39 54 42 110 40 32 22 46 49 9 49 22 

50 to 54 years 15 23 58 43 78 13 34 34 45 51 2 19 13 

55 to 59 years 11 25 59 30 84 33 25 17 39 61 12 32 7 

60 and 61 years 0 11 15 8 21 15 8 14 25 14 2 10 8 

62 to 64 years 15 9 34 15 55 15 14 24 14 26 11 9 14 

65 to 69 years 12 36 39 5 72 17 30 23 31 70 8 17 11 

70 to 74 years 12 28 24 12 69 16 17 17 47 66 8 20 19 

75 to 79 years 16 16 22 11 49 15 22 7 42 84 6 20 21 

Tiffany (T) 

80 to 84 years 

85 years and 

11 5 13 3 7 6 4 4 45 40 6 5 8 

over 0 5 1 7 19 5 8 3 23 62 6 2 6 



Weston (T) 

Wilson (T) 


Colfax (V) 

Downing (V) 

Elk Mound (V) 

Knapp (V)



Ridgeland (V) 

Wheeler (V) 

Menomonie (C) 

Dunn County 

Total 235 327 13547 35909 

Median Age 56.5 29.7 23.5 28.5 

Under 5 years 10 25 664 2352 

5 to 9 years 14 35 611 2615 

10 to 14 years 10 29 531 2487 

15 to 17 years 8 21 315 1472 

18 and 19 years 2 12 1507 2007 

20 years 1 5 1206 1410 

21 years 0 3 945 1137 

22 to 24 years 4 4 1900 2674 

25 to 29 years 14 31 880 2512 

30 to 34 years 8 23 795 2602 

35 to 39 years 9 30 615 2528 

40 to 44 years 10 19 519 2247 

45 to 49 years 5 16 399 1669 

50 to 54 years 14 11 347 1301 

55 to 59 years 31 9 290 1273 

60 and 61 years 2 5 221 571 

62 to 64 years 8 5 202 740 

65 to 69 years 20 12 345 1120 

70 to 74 years 22 8 333 1060 

75 to 79 years 19 6 360 975 

80 to 84 years 11 11 239 575 

85 years and 

over 13 7 323 582 

source: U.S. Census, 1990 


Table 1.9 

Percent Change in Age by Municipality – 1990 to 2000 – Dunn County 

Colfax (T) 

Dun (T) 

Eau Galle (T) 

Elk Mound (T) 

Grant (T) 

Hay River (T) 

Under 5 years -2.1 -28.3 2.1 41.3 38.1 20.0 39.5 -22.7 -20.0 9.4 100.0 7.1 83.3 6.3 

5 to 9 years 10.4 4.3 -29.4 78.3 -40.4 0.0 -35.8 22.1 -7.9 17.9 -25.0 -4.5 -31.2 25.0 

10 to 14 years 43.8 57.0 -44.4 40.8 -23.3 93.5 33.3 33.1 46.7 120.8 23.5 -0.7 -20.3 -34.4 

15 to 17 years 34.3 68.8 -26.9 9.3 30.4 -40.0 -40.0 22.8 3.8 38.1 7.1 27.8 30.0 15.4 

18 and 19 years 80.0 85.7 -37.9 41.2 -25.0 0.0 150.0 25.4 19.0 85.7 125.0 50.0 107.7 375.0 

20 years -50.0 87.5 -14.3 -28.6 350.0 50.0 -45.5 150.0 -20.0 -80.0 -50.0 90.0 -37.5 -75.0 

21 years 112.5 -6.7 -57.1 45.5 100.0 33.3 0.0 26.9 n.a. -42.9 n.a. 250.0 -27.3 n.a. 

22 to 24 years 4.0 -27.4 -4.5 37.5 -8.3 -48.0 -7.1 -44.5 -5.9 -50.0 14.3 15.0 31.3 -18.8 

25 to 29 years 4.8 -1.1 12.2 23.0 5.0 -26.2 -39.1 -21.5 -32.5 4.3 -35.3 -40.6 205.3 -35.8 

30 to 34 years 46.0 -19.0 -21.5 62.5 -35.9 2.9 41.5 -15.0 -9.1 -2.9 -12.5 4.1 15.5 28.6 

35 to 39 years 18.4 15.5 47.9 27.5 -14.7 -6.7 -3.4 34.2 -3.6 0.0 -7.1 10.1 -35.4 72.0 

40 to 44 years 15.1 68.4 -29.1 45.6 10.8 32.3 -3.8 7.1 1.8 58.1 -13.3 72.2 -8.6 6.3 

45 to 49 years 137.1 50.0 6.7 72.2 125.0 113.0 56.4 34.6 10.0 214.3 500.0 46.7 121.2 -11.1 

50 to 54 years 209.1 71.4 48.6 150.0 28.0 20.7 108.7 142.0 10.0 153.8 -21.1 84.4 277.8 125.0 

55 to 59 years 63.6 43.8 78.8 80.6 5.3 50.0 16.0 19.0 -20.6 244.4 -26.7 84.0 48.1 29.2 

60 and 61 years -57.1 29.4 5.6 120.0 -11.1 -46.2 -45.5 122.7 100.0 0.0 -50.0 -9.1 -38.5 11.1 

62 to 64 years -44.4 28.6 -15.0 77.8 300.0 12.5 -25.0 7.7 -4.8 14.3 -28.6 -26.7 0.0 12.5 

65 to 69 years 100.0 -12.8 -2.8 15.8 40.0 -18.8 15.8 78.6 -10.7 16.7 66.7 -39.4 52.6 -25.0 

70 to 74 years 33.3 -9.5 36.0 18.2 33.3 -20.0 12.5 49.2 -47.4 -53.3 n.a. 108.0 -41.9 -37.9 

75 to 79 years -23.5 -16.7 21.1 16.7 -14.3 -35.3 -27.3 -3.9 -5.9 200.0 0.0 26.9 83.3 -4.0 

80 to 84 years 20.0 -30.8 -22.2 40.0 -25.0 57.1 -33.3 -28.6 50.0 n.a. n.a. 91.7 -13.3 100.0 

85 years and over 250.0 -26.3 50.0 -30.8 25.0 25.0 n.a. 200.0 166.7 -100.0 n.a. 40.0 20.0 0.0 



Lucas (T) 

Menomonie (T) 

New Haven (T) 


Peru (T) 

Red Cedar (T) 


Sand Creek (T)



Sheridan (T) 

Sherman (T) 


Stanton (T) 

Tainter (T) 

Tiffany (T) 

Under 5 years -51.1 -8.3 -27.6 -15.7 -19.9 -10.9 22.4 3.7 -20.0 7.7 -4.8 25.9 -6.1 

5 to 9 years -54.5 -24.7 -32.3 -1.7 -6.4 -47.6 83.3 -39.6 14.9 12.7 -37.9 -24.6 -40.5 

10 to 14 years -7.0 -24.3 12.7 6.2 7.4 -13.1 45.2 -29.6 108.9 34.5 -61.5 -36.0 -13.3 

15 to 17 years 153.3 22.9 34.8 13.2 18.4 58.1 -36.4 -28.2 166.7 -11.3 50.0 -7.8 53.8 

18 and 19 years 7.1 38.9 -18.4 15.8 62.5 75.0 0.0 14.3 -7.7 23.8 200.0 5.0 1400.0 

20 years n.a. 125.0 -6.3 150.0 187.5 166.7 -75.0 n.a. 7.7 85.7 -80.0 -15.8 -66.7 

21 years n.a. 40.0 -20.0 233.3 185.7 n.a. -44.4 0.0 40.0 85.7 200.0 -50.0 n.a. 

22 to 24 years -27.3 5.6 -6.7 31.3 30.6 46.2 -56.0 -12.5 -41.5 17.6 -27.3 254.5 -58.8 

25 to 29 years -16.7 -10.5 -29.5 -33.9 -23.7 -20.5 -32.7 -42.1 40.8 -7.1 -4.8 -13.7 -25.0 

30 to 34 years -43.2 -41.2 9.8 -33.9 -21.7 2.9 65.0 -45.5 13.5 -25.0 -5.9 67.3 -54.7 

35 to 39 years -31.6 -26.7 -21.8 3.4 3.1 19.4 44.4 -25.0 44.6 21.6 8.3 -7.7 -17.6 

40 to 44 years 7.9 -22.4 16.0 164.3 36.7 -16.7 4.9 171.4 35.6 25.0 -27.8 -39.0 166.7 

45 to 49 years 200.0 66.7 113.0 52.4 69.1 30.0 31.3 109.1 39.1 18.4 211.1 20.4 22.7 

50 to 54 years 173.3 182.6 91.4 -2.3 178.2 284.6 17.6 -20.6 26.7 31.4 550.0 136.8 92.3 

55 to 59 years 172.7 80.0 1.7 36.7 65.5 21.2 16.0 58.8 17.9 -1.6 -8.3 -9.4 242.9 

60 and 61 years n.a. 9.1 20.0 37.5 76.2 -53.3 50.0 -28.6 -28.0 50.0 100.0 -30.0 25.0 

62 to 64 years -20.0 144.4 -23.5 -13.3 7.3 0.0 42.9 -29.2 21.4 7.7 -72.7 -55.6 0.0 

65 to 69 years 25.0 -22.2 12.8 200.0 11.1 23.5 -6.7 -21.7 22.6 -27.1 37.5 29.4 9.1 

70 to 74 years -33.3 -7.1 79.2 33.3 -18.8 18.8 -11.8 35.3 -23.4 -13.6 -25.0 -45.0 -10.5 

75 to 79 years -25.0 31.3 18.2 -27.3 -18.4 -26.7 -36.4 71.4 -31.0 -36.9 50.0 -10.0 -42.9 

80 to 84 years -45.5 120.0 -7.7 200.0 371.4 100.0 50.0 200.0 -24.4 30.0 -16.7 100.0 -25.0 

85 years and over n.a. 40.0 400.0 42.9 -10.5 20.0 -50.0 66.7 -17.4 -17.7 -100.0 150.0 66.7 



Weston (T) 

Wilson (T) 


Colfax (V) 

Downing (V) 

Elk Mound (V) 

Knapp (V)



Ridgeland (V) 

Wheeler (V) 

Menomonie (C) 

Dunn County 

Under 5 years 80.0 -28.0 1.5 -2.8 

5 to 9 years 78.6 -28.6 -9.2 -7.6 

10 to 14 years 60.0 -31.0 29.6 14.4 

15 to 17 years 50.0 -38.1 27.6 19.6 

18 and 19 years 0.0 -33.3 16.1 20.3 

20 years 100.0 -20.0 -3.2 0.4 

21 years n.a. -33.3 21.4 24.9 

22 to 24 years 0.0 150.0 3.7 -0.5 

25 to 29 years -14.3 -6.5 17.3 -3.9 

30 to 34 years 100.0 -8.7 -15.3 -7.6 

35 to 39 years 144.4 23.3 7.6 6.7 

40 to 44 years 10.0 -5.3 32.6 22.2 

45 to 49 years 220.0 12.5 62.4 58.8 

50 to 54 years -28.6 63.6 48.4 79.7 

55 to 59 years -74.2 44.4 30.0 32.7 

60 and 61 years 100.0 -20.0 -42.5 -11.6 

62 to 64 years -12.5 100.0 -12.4 -2.0 

65 to 69 years 55.0 0.0 -9.9 2.5 

70 to 74 years -50.0 100.0 7.2 2.2 

75 to 79 years -57.9 33.3 -4.2 -9.3 

80 to 84 years 0.0 -45.5 21.8 19.1 

85 years and over 30.8 0.0 18.0 16.0 



Table 1.10 

Population Projections – 2000 to 2030 – Dunn County by Minor Civil Division 

Census Estimate Proj. Proj. Proj. Proj. Proj. % Change 

Municipality 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2000-2030 

Towns 

Colfax 909 1,013 1,106 1,208 1,314 1,415 1,511 66.2% 

Dunn 1,492 1,556 1,627 1,709 1,793 1,872 1,945 30.4% 

Eau Galle 797 797 797 804 810 814 814 2.1% 

Elk Mound 1,121 1,329 1,451 1,586 1,723 1,856 1,982 76.8% 

Grant 426 435 441 451 460 469 475 11.5% 

Hay River 546 638 697 762 827 891 952 74.4% 

Lucas 658 702 725 755 784 811 835 26.9% 

Menomonie 3,174 3,440 3,684 3,953 4,227 4,491 4,739 49.3% 

New Haven 656 693 710 733 756 777 794 21.0% 

Otter Creek 474 528 577 630 684 737 788 66.2% 

Peru 247 261 278 296 315 333 350 41.7% 

Red Cedar 1,673 1,911 2,091 2,285 2,482 2,675 2,856 70.7% 

Rock Creek 793 856 910 971 1,033 1,093 1,149 44.9% 

Sand Creek 586 626 651 681 712 741 766 30.7% 

Sheridan 483 491 498 510 522 531 539 11.6% 

Sherman 748 786 815 852 888 923 953 27.4% 

Spring Brook 1,320 1,496 1,596 1,708 1,821 1,931 2,033 54.0% 

Stanton 715 830 907 991 1,076 1,160 1,238 73.1% 

Tainter 2,116 2,353 2,563 2,792 3,026 3,255 3,470 64.0% 

Tiffany 633 651 666 686 705 723 738 16.6% 

Weston 630 618 620 626 632 636 638 1.3% 

Wilson 500 505 513 524 535 545 552 10.4% 

Colfax 20,697 22,515 23,923 25,513 27,125 28,679 30,117 45.5% 

Dunn 909 1,013 1,106 1,208 1,314 1,415 1,511 66.2% 

Eau Galle 1,492 1,556 1,627 1,709 1,793 1,872 1,945 30.4% 

Elk Mound 797 797 797 804 810 814 814 2.1% 

Subtotal: 1,121 1,329 1,451 1,586 1,723 1,856 1,982 76.8% 

Villages 

Boyceville 1,043 1,077 1,124 1,180 1,238 1,292 1,340 28.5% 

Colfax 1,136 1,152 1,165 1,187 1,210 1,229 1,242 9.3% 

Downing 257 257 260 264 268 272 275 7.0% 

Elk Mound 785 814 836 865 895 922 944 20.3% 

Knapp 421 451 468 488 509 529 546 29.7% 

Ridgeland 265 261 261 263 265 267 266 0.4% 

Wheeler 317 324 331 340 350 357 364 14.8% 

Subtotal: 4,224 4,336 4,445 4,587 4,735 4,868 4,977 17.8% 

Cities 

Menomonie 14,937 15,491 16,120 16,875 17,643 18,364 19,009 27.3% 

Subtotal: 14,937 15,491 16,120 16,875 17,643 18,364 19,009 27.3% 

Dunn County 39,858 42,342 44,488 46,975 49,503 51,911 54,103 35.7% 

source: U.S. Census Bureau & Wisconsin Department of Administration, Demographic Services Center, October 2008. 


Table 1.11 

Household Projections - 2000 to 2030 – Dunn County by Minor Civil Division 

Census Estimate Proj. Proj. Proj. Proj. Proj. % change 

Municipality 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2000-2030 

Towns 

Colfax 318 362 400 445 489 531 570 79.2 

Dunn 540 574 610 651 690 727 759 40.6 

Eau Galle 303 309 314 322 327 332 333 9.9 

Elk Mound 371 449 498 554 608 661 708 90.8 

Grant 147 153 157 164 169 174 177 20.4 

Hay River 194 231 256 285 312 340 364 87.6 

Lucas 240 260 274 290 304 317 328 36.7 

Menomonie 1,129 1,247 1,356 1,481 1,599 1,713 1,816 60.9 

New Haven 243 261 272 286 297 309 317 30.5 

Otter Creek 166 188 209 232 255 276 298 79.5 

Peru 83 89 96 104 113 120 127 53.0 

Red Cedar 593 690 766 852 935 1,016 1,091 84.0 

Rock Creek 286 315 339 368 396 422 447 56.3 

Sand Creek 230 250 265 281 297 312 324 40.9 

Sheridan 168 174 179 187 193 198 202 20.2 

Sherman 272 292 307 326 344 360 373 37.1 

Spring Brook 468 541 586 637 686 734 777 66.0 

Stanton 247 293 324 360 395 429 461 86.6 

Tainter 845 958 1,059 1,173 1,285 1,393 1,493 76.7 

Tiffany 230 241 251 262 272 281 289 25.7 

Weston 221 221 225 231 236 239 241 9.0 

Wilson 192 197 204 212 218 224 228 18.8 

Colfax 7,486 8,295 8,947 9,703 10,420 11,108 11,723 56.6 

Dunn 318 362 400 445 489 531 570 79.2 

Eau Galle 540 574 610 651 690 727 759 40.6 

Elk Mound 303 309 314 322 327 332 333 9.9 

Subtotal: 371 449 498 554 608 661 708 90.8 

Villages 

Boyceville 424 446 472 505 535 563 587 38.4 

Colfax 467 482 494 513 528 541 549 17.6 

Downing 98 100 102 106 108 112 113 15.3 

Elk Mound 300 317 331 348 364 378 388 29.3 

Knapp 186 203 214 227 239 250 260 39.8 

Ridgeland 123 123 125 128 131 133 133 8.1 

Wheeler 134 139 144 152 158 162 166 23.9 

Subtotal: 1,732 1,810 1,882 1,979 2,063 2,139 2,196 26.8 

Cities 

Menomonie 5,119 5,509 5,814 6,200 6,548 6,868 7,146 39.6 

Subtotal: 5,119 5,509 5,814 6,200 6,548 6,868 7,146 39.6 

Dunn County 14,337 15,614 16,643 17,882 19,031 20,115 21,065 46.9 

source: Wisconsin Department of Administration, Demographic Services Center, October 2008. 


Table 1.12 

West Central Wisconsin Region Occupation Projections – 2014 

Fastest Growth 

Most Openings 

Top 10 Occupations 

Typically Required 

Education/Training Average Wage 

Home Health Aides 1-month on-the-job training $9.29 

Medical Assistants 1-12 mo. on-the-job training $12.63 

Network and Data Analysts Bachelor’s degree $22.19 

Computer Software Engrs, Applications Bachelor’s degree $37.08 

Personal and Home Care Aides 1-month on-the-job training $8.82 

Dental Assistants 1-12 mo. on-the-job training $12.50 

Dental Hygienists Associate degree $23.34 

Employment, Recruitment & Placement Bachelor’s degree $19.67 

Medical Records & Health Information Associate degree $12.71 

Occupational Therapists Master’s degree $25.53 

Cashiers 1-month on-the-job training $7.64 

Retail Salespersons 1-month on-the-job training $11.06 

Comb Food Prep/Serv Wrk/Incl Fast 1-month on-the-job training $7.04 

Waiters/Waitresses 1-month on-the-job training $7.34 

Registered Nurses Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree $25.83 

Labrs/Frght/Stock/Matrl Movers/Handlers 1-month on-the-job training $10.09 

Janitors/Cleaners, except Maids/Housekpg 1-month on-the-job training $10.67 

Team Assemblers 1-12 mo. on-the-job training $12.94 

Stock Clerks/Order Fillers 1-month on-the-job training $9.47 

Bartenders 1-month on-the-job training $8.16 

West Central WDA includes Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix Counties. 

source: Wisconsin Dept. of Workforce Development, Bureau of Workforce Information, 2006 

Table 1.13 

West Central Wisconsin Region Industry Projections – 2004-2014 

Industry Title 

2004 

Estimated 

Employment 

2014 

Projected 

Employment 

2004-2014 

Employment 

Change 

2004-2014 

Percentage 

Change 

Total Non-Farm Employment 173,880 194,330 20,450 11.8% 

Construction/Mining/Natural Resources 8,380 9,880 1,500 17.9% 

Manufacturing 31,990 32,030 40 0.1% 

Paper Manufacturing 1,720 1,720 0 0.0% 

Plastics and Rubber Products 3,400 3,670 270 7.9% 

Computer and Electronic Product 3,220 3,020 -200 -6.2% 

Trade 28,800 30,900 2,100 7.3% 

Food and Beverage Stores 5,040 5,250 210 4.2% 

Transportation and Utilities (Including US 

Postal) 

8,270 9,520 1,250 15.1% 

Financial Activities 7,010 7,710 700 10.0% 

Education and Health Services (Including 

State and Local Gov Educ and Hosp) 

37,330 45,540 8,210 22.0% 

Ambulatory Health Care Services 5,540 7,570 2,030 36.6% 

Hospitals (Including State and Local 

Government) 

7,050 8,640 1,590 22.6% 

Leisure and Hospitality 17,300 19,930 2,630 15.2% 

Information/Prof Services/Other Services 21,470 24,920 3,450 16.1% 

Government (Excluding US Postal, State 

and Local Educ and Hosp) 

13,310 13,930 620 4.7% 




Table 1.14 

Dunn County Race Characteristics - 2000 

Municipality 

Towns 

Colfax 908 906 99.8% 0 2 0 0 0 0 0.2% 

Dunn 1450 1425 98.3% 2 0 13 0 0 10 1.7% 

Eau Galle 789 785 99.5% 0 0 2 2 0 0 0.5% 

Elk Mound 1147 1099 95.8% 0 7 37 0 0 4 4.2% 

Grant 433 433 100.0% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0% 

Hay River 565 551 97.5% 0 0 1 0 8 5 2.5% 

Lucas 668 660 98.8% 0 0 0 0 4 4 1.2% 

Menomonie 3062 2771 90.5% 7 2 269 0 0 13 9.5% 

New Haven 692 681 98.4% 0 6 0 0 0 5 1.6% 

Otter Creek 432 424 98.1% 0 2 6 0 0 0 1.9% 

Peru 240 235 97.9% 0 0 0 0 1 4 2.1% 

Red Cedar 1706 1676 98.2% 0 0 12 0 9 9 1.8% 

Rock Creek 841 822 97.7% 0 2 6 0 0 11 2.3% 

Sand Creek 613 609 99.3% 0 2 0 0 0 2 0.7% 

Sheridan 470 463 98.5% 0 2 0 0 0 5 1.5% 

Sherman 765 740 96.7% 4 2 3 0 3 13 3.3% 

Spring Brook 1313 1287 98.0% 0 5 7 0 5 9 2.0% 

Stanton 727 715 98.3% 0 0 0 0 2 10 1.7% 

Tainter 2124 2079 97.9% 3 2 24 0 3 13 2.1% 

Tiffany 576 572 99.3% 0 2 0 0 0 2 0.7% 

Weston 675 669 99.1% 0 0 3 0 0 3 0.9% 

Wilson 499 485 97.2% 3 1 0 0 2 8 2.8% 

sub-total 20,695 20,087 97.1% 19 37 383 2 37 130 2.9% 

Villages 

Boyceville 1040 1028 98.8% 0 3 4 0 0 5 1.2% 

Colfax 1141 1113 97.5% 5 10 0 0 6 7 2.5% 

Downing 282 265 94.0% 0 0 0 0 13 4 6.0% 

Elk Mound 759 737 97.1% 0 2 12 0 0 8 2.9% 

Knapp 397 394 99.2% 2 0 0 0 0 1 0.8% 

Ridgeland 251 245 97.6% 0 0 0 0 1 5 2.4% 

Wheeler 298 291 97.7% 0 7 0 0 0 0 2.3% 

sub-total 4,168 4,073 97.7% 7 22 16 0 20 30 2.3% 

Cities 

Menomonie 14,995 14,175 94.5% 47 85 303 0 139 246 5.5% 

sub-total 14,995 14,175 94.5% 47 85 303 0 139 246 5.5% 

Dunn County 39,858 38,335 97.1% 73 144 702 2 196 406 3.8% 

Source: U.S. Census 

Total Population 

White 

% White 


Black/African 

American 

American Indian & 

Alaska Native 

Asian 

Native Hawaiian & 

Other Pacific 

Islander 

Other Race 

Two or More Races 

% Other Race

Table 1.15 

Educational Attainment Levels – 1990 and 2000 – Dunn County Municipal Units 

Town of Colfax 

Town of Dunn 

Town of Eau Galle 

Town of Elk Mound 

Town of Grant 

Educational Level 1990 2000 

Number Percent Number Percent 

Persons 25 Years and Over 415 100.0 571 100.0 

Less than high school diploma 85 20.5 55 9.6 

High school graduate 195 47.0 272 47.6 

Some college, no degree 64 15.4 100 17.5 

Associate degree 27 6.5 71 12.4 

Bachelor’s degree or higher 44 10.6 73 12.8 

High school graduate or higher 330 79.5 516 90.4 
































Town of Hay River 

Town of Lucas 

Town of Menomonie 

Town of New Haven 

















Persons 25 Years and Over 1,628 100.0 1,991 100.0 






High school graduate or higher 1,316 80.8 1,753 88.0 










Educational Attainment Levels – 1990 and 2000 –Dunn County Municipal Units 

Town of Otter Creek 

Town of Peru 

Town of Red Cedar 

Town of Rock Creek 

Town of Sand Creek 

















Persons 25 Years and Over 880 100.0 1,106 100.0 
























Town of Sheridan 

Town of Sherman 

Town of Spring Brook 

Town of Stanton 

Town of Tainter 





































High school graduate or higher 982 84.7 1,291 89.4 




Town of Tiffany 

Town of Weston 

Town of Wilson 

Village of Boyceville 

Village of Colfax 









































Village of Downing 

Village of Elk Mound 

Village of Knapp 

Village of Ridgeland 

Village of Wheeler 









































City of Menomonie 

Dunn County 

Education Level 1990 2000 



Less than high school diploma 1,161 19.8 816 12.3 

High school graduate 1,610 27.4 1,829 27.7 

Some college, no degree 927 15.8 1,581 23.9 


Bachelor’s degree or higher 1,774 30.2 1,924 29.1 



Less than high school diploma 4,413 22.3 3023 13.4 

High school graduate 7,356 37.2 8,353 36.9 

Some college, no degree 2,793 14.1 4,621 20.4 

Associate degree 1,351 6.8 1,875 8.3 

Bachelor’s degree or higher 3,842 19.4 4,772 21.1 




Table 1.16 

Labor Force – 2000 – Dunn County Municipal Units 

Towns 

Municipality 

Employed Unemployed % Unemployed 

Colfax 674 530 78.6 504 26 4.9 

Dunn 1,076 800 74.3 760 40 5.0 

Eau Galle 609 439 72.1 412 27 6.2 

Elk Mound 797 653 81.9 601 50 7.7 

Grant 353 273 77.3 267 6 2.2 

Hay River 411 309 75.2 280 29 9.4 

Lucas 508 397 78.1 379 18 4.5 

Menomonie 2,274 1,679 73.8 1,603 76 4.5 

New Haven 510 351 68.8 333 18 5.1 

Otter Creek 314 215 68.5 198 17 7.9 

Peru 174 117 67.2 114 3 2.6 

Red Cedar 1,300 998 76.8 972 24 2.4 

Rock Creek 651 493 75.7 476 17 3.4 

Sand Creek 479 345 72.0 333 12 3.5 

Sheridan 369 258 69.9 253 5 1.9 

Sherman 617 443 71.8 433 10 2.3 

Spring Brook 993 756 76.1 712 44 5.8 

Stanton 516 386 74.8 366 20 5.2 

Tainter 1,647 1,232 74.8 1,178 54 4.4 

Tiffany 447 342 76.5 322 20 5.8 

Weston 460 331 72.0 317 14 4.2 

Wilson 375 268 71.5 250 18 6.7 

Villages 

Boyceville 777 494 63.6 464 30 6.1 

Colfax 904 584 64.6 552 32 5.5 

Downing 225 151 67.1 136 15 9.9 

Elk Mound 578 481 83.2 455 26 5.4 

Knapp 321 233 72.6 222 11 4.7 

Ridgeland 191 105 55.0 105 0 0.0 

Wheeler 239 165 69.0 143 19 11.5 

Cities 

Menomonie 12,984 8,611 66.3 7,651 943 11.0 

Dunn County 31,773 22,439 70.6 20,791 1,624 7.2 


Persons 16 

and over 

# in Labor 

Force 

% in Labor 

Force 


Table 1.17 

Labor Force – 1990 – Dunn County Municipal Units 

Towns 

Municipality 

Employed Unemployed % Unemployed 

Colfax 493 356 72.2 324 32 9.0 

Dunn 950 653 68.7 607 46 7.0 

Eau Galle 588 397 67.5 385 12 3.0 

Elk Mound 568 426 75.0 393 31 7.3 

Grant 281 205 73.0 194 11 5.4 

Hay River 380 258 67.9 239 19 7.4 

Lucas 472 322 68.2 305 17 5.3 

Menomonie 1,982 1,446 73.0 1,353 90 6.2 

New Haven 502 329 65.5 302 27 8.2 

Otter Creek 253 175 69.2 168 7 4.0 

Peru 165 125 75.8 119 6 4.8 

Red Cedar 1,007 766 76.1 737 29 3.8 

Rock Creek 486 346 71.2 322 22 6.4 

Sand Creek 416 248 59.6 231 17 6.9 

Sheridan 308 209 67.9 197 12 5.7 

Sherman 525 403 76.8 398 5 1.2 

Spring Brook 890 648 72.8 617 31 4.8 

Stanton 449 337 75.1 330 6 1.8 

Tainter 1,313 927 70.6 886 36 3.9 

Tiffany 402 256 63.7 247 9 3.5 

Weston 449 339 75.5 331 8 2.4 

Wilson 372 270 72.6 262 8 3.0 

Villages 

Boyceville 698 419 60.0 397 22 5.3 

Colfax 902 485 53.8 453 32 6.6 

Downing 177 111 62.7 107 4 3.6 

Elk Mound 559 409 73.2 356 53 13.0 

Knapp 321 200 62.3 182 16 8.0 

Ridgeland 201 100 49.8 97 3 3.0 

Wheeler 229 155 67.7 136 19 12.3 

Cities 

Menomonie 11,627 6,801 58.5 6,275 514 7.6 

Dunn County 27,965 18,121 64.8 16,950 1,144 6.3 


Persons 16 

and over 

# in Labor 

Force 

% in Labor 

Force 


Table 1.18 

Dunn County Employment – 1990 to 2006 

Industry Category 

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 


% Chg 

‘90- ‘06 

Ag Forestry Fishing & Hunting 

Mining Quarrying & Oil & Gas 

192 S 192 S 196 220 222 252 S n.a. 

Extraction 0 S 0 S 0 0 0 0 S n.a. 

Utilities 37 45 50 53 51 53 57 55 75 102.7 

Construction 480 687 599 715 702 778 745 762 785 63.5 

Manufacturing 1,605 1,805 2,220 1,280 2,180 1,272 2,391 2,316 2,462 53.4 

Wholesale Trade 

399 373 371 405 433 444 610 711 699 75.2 

Retail Trade 1,375 1,440 2,544 3,022 1,808 1,856 1,833 1,887 1,832 33.2 

Transportation & Warehousing 281 321 318 345 1,691 1,825 1,778 1,698 1,599 469.0 

Information S S 100 114 S 108 114 102 S n.a. 

Finance & Insurance 

Real Estate & Rental & 

277 282 296 289 304 305 354 372 418 50.9 

Leasing 

Professional & Technical 

59 82 76 58 46 60 58 73 71 20.3 

Services 

Management Of Companies & 

226 230 241 309 317 326 385 411 428 89.4 

Enterprises S 14 9 8 S 7 15 11 12 n.a. 

Admin & Waste Services 

S 99 135 185 S 254 223 314 483 n.a. 

Educational Services 

Health Care & Social 

1,787 1,837 1,869 1,868 1,922 2,007 2,132 2,120 2,150 20.3 

Assistance 

Arts Entertainment & 

1,155 1,217 1,388 1,756 2,031 1,962 2,092 2,257 2,504 116.8 

Recreation 

Accommodation & Food 

188 185 191 280 204 197 202 173 177 -5.9 

Services 

Other Services, except Public 

996 1,076 1,148 1,160 1,298 1,342 1,340 1,278 1,461 46.7 

Admin 343 328 220 237 219 260 249 258 244 -28.9 

Public Administration 302 307 338 350 351 367 371 404 406 34.4 

Unclassified S S 33 24 S 0 0 0 S n.a. 

Total 9,702 10,328 12,338 12,458 13,753 13,643 15,171 15,454 15,806 62.9 

note: Only includes employers participating in the State unemployment insurance program. Some estimates are suppressed “S” if 

variability is too high or to protect the confidentiality of individual employers. 

source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, WORKnet

Towns 

Municipality 

Table 1.19 

Employment By Industry – 2000 – Dunn County Municipal Units 

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining 

Construction 


Manufacturing 

Wholesale trade 

Retail trade 

Transportation, warehousing, & utilities 

Colfax 49 49 102 14 64 24 4 5 22 94 38 35 4 504 

Dunn 92 73 141 21 65 29 5 39 33 184 38 20 20 760 

Eau Galle 85 28 97 25 35 15 6 7 4 80 10 9 11 412 

Elk Mound 55 40 103 37 93 29 4 21 22 125 32 24 16 601 

Grant 67 4 32 7 18 26 2 1 13 65 14 9 9 267 

Hay River 34 36 44 8 38 11 4 12 14 45 16 11 7 280 

Lucas 61 26 77 9 35 25 0 17 20 54 28 15 12 379 

Menomonie 93 125 325 42 167 54 23 99 51 385 102 96 41 1,603 

New Haven 47 22 95 7 39 13 5 5 9 63 11 4 13 333 

Otter Creek 26 28 33 6 18 14 11 0 3 30 15 8 6 198 

Peru 13 6 27 5 13 12 3 5 4 17 2 7 0 114 

Red Cedar 72 46 156 48 155 52 5 54 41 227 58 21 37 972 

Rock Creek 63 33 80 12 75 49 2 22 13 61 28 28 10 476 

Sand Creek 43 41 48 8 30 20 8 17 11 75 13 10 9 333 

Sheridan 66 21 56 2 18 19 1 4 4 46 4 5 7 253 

Sherman 43 30 92 18 55 22 12 7 24 79 25 14 12 433 

Spring Brook 101 47 85 24 113 39 4 25 29 158 40 25 22 712 

Stanton 52 38 76 10 43 23 3 17 7 48 30 10 9 366 

Tainter 46 56 255 31 132 64 17 51 63 277 98 40 48 1,178 

Tiffany 36 25 57 17 28 21 0 11 21 68 16 15 7 322 

Weston 66 30 70 9 27 13 4 2 7 48 16 17 8 317 

Wilson 55 15 43 0 28 17 7 10 12 33 15 7 8 250 

Villages 

Boyceville 7 41 118 17 60 18 4 23 20 92 28 18 18 464 

Colfax 19 43 84 20 76 31 8 24 31 133 37 26 20 552 

Downing 19 15 32 4 26 5 0 6 2 12 7 6 2 136 

Elk Mound 16 21 72 17 86 39 4 18 7 90 45 22 18 455 

Knapp 8 12 63 5 35 24 0 13 5 35 4 8 10 222 

Ridgeland 8 14 29 3 13 6 2 3 0 14 8 3 2 105 

Wheeler 6 13 28 6 29 6 3 7 5 15 14 6 5 143 

Cities 

Menomonie 144 276 1,018 246 1,141 306 144 253 348 1,925 1,348 315 187 7,651 

Dunn County 


Information 

1,492 1,254 3,538 678 2,755 1,026 295 778 845 4,578 2,140 834 578 20,791 

Finance, insurance, real estate, rental, & leasing 

Professional, scientific, mgmt, administrative, and 

waste mgmt services 

Educational, health and social services 

Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation 

and food services 

Other Services (except public admin.) 

Public Administration 

Total

Towns 

Table 1.20 

Employment By Industry – 1990 – Dunn County Municipal Units 

Municipality 

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining 


Construction 

Manufacturing 

Wholesale trade 

Retail trade 


Transportation, warehousing, & utilities 

Colfax 44 21 64 6 35 17 9 9 71 12 27 9 324 

Dunn 112 62 95 23 84 23 27 33 105 0 32 11 607 

Eau Galle 131 15 57 29 34 17 13 20 51 5 9 4 385 

Elk Mound 52 24 68 23 47 20 11 26 84 2 17 19 393 

Grant 77 18 10 4 9 6 8 9 38 2 12 1 194 

Hay River 70 19 45 10 14 11 9 7 35 0 14 5 239 

Lucas 73 11 61 20 35 20 9 19 37 3 11 6 305 

Menomonie 126 59 223 47 208 57 69 89 354 27 77 17 1,353 

New Haven 75 19 73 16 32 24 2 13 27 2 15 4 302 

Otter Creek 24 19 29 9 27 14 2 5 21 2 13 3 168 

Peru 35 8 16 8 8 11 2 4 22 0 5 0 119 

Red Cedar 128 29 136 31 112 40 33 19 143 1 33 32 737 

Rock Creek 53 30 57 6 60 18 3 19 44 0 19 13 322 

Sand Creek 105 6 26 15 31 15 4 6 16 0 3 4 231 

Sheridan 75 16 35 10 15 7 2 5 27 0 3 2 197 

Sherman 103 22 62 18 68 22 3 10 56 0 26 8 398 

Spring Brook 135 43 92 11 80 34 20 44 108 0 35 15 617 

Stanton 82 23 62 6 50 11 13 18 46 0 12 7 330 

Tainter 69 40 166 42 151 46 38 54 198 7 56 19 886 

Tiffany 67 9 47 15 20 10 9 10 43 0 13 4 247 

Weston 94 8 71 10 31 19 4 27 55 0 6 6 331 

Wilson 102 6 46 14 21 10 9 11 29 1 7 6 262 

Villages 

Boyceville 12 31 94 28 65 23 24 25 70 0 18 7 397 

Colfax 17 27 83 27 60 26 16 33 128 3 27 6 453 

Downing 10 8 27 9 10 12 0 7 13 0 8 3 107 

Elk Mound 5 28 60 9 85 20 17 28 69 0 27 8 356 

Knapp 4 18 73 4 38 11 11 11 7 0 1 4 182 

Ridgeland 2 9 27 4 30 2 2 4 17 0 0 0 97 

Wheeler 9 12 23 5 25 15 0 12 21 0 13 1 136 

Cities 

Menomonie 97 176 1,004 100 1,762 210 276 455 1,553 148 307 187 6,275 

Dunn County 

Finance, insurance, real estate, rental, & leasing 

1,988 816 2,932 559 3,247 771 645 1,032 3,488 215 846 411 16,950 

Professional, scientific, mgmt, administrative, & 

waste mgmt services 

Educational, health & social services 

Entertainment & Recreation Services 

Other Professional & Related Services 

Public Administration 

Total

Table 1.21 

Employment By Occupation – 2000 – Dunn County Municipal Units 

Towns 

Municipality 

source: U.S. Census 

Management, Professional & Related 

Service 

Sales & Office 

Farming, Forestry, Fishing 


Construction, Extraction, & Maintenance 

Production, Transportation, & Material 

Moving 

Colfax 122 78 75 16 86 127 504 

Dunn 204 105 167 23 109 152 760 

Eau Galle 122 60 54 26 31 119 412 

Elk Mound 171 84 130 24 65 127 601 

Grant 105 42 42 21 20 37 267 

Hay River 71 40 50 11 46 62 280 

Lucas 113 39 58 14 44 111 379 

Menomonie 636 175 266 13 178 335 1,603 

New Haven 94 40 51 12 40 96 333 

Otter Creek 61 26 34 16 18 43 198 

Peru 29 13 22 5 16 29 114 

Red Cedar 294 118 265 32 77 186 972 

Rock Creek 121 47 94 26 59 129 476 

Sand Creek 100 49 59 23 46 56 333 

Sheridan 104 13 39 13 18 66 253 

Sherman 131 59 92 10 56 85 433 

Spring Brook 222 85 173 46 68 118 712 

Stanton 104 52 66 19 46 79 366 

Tainter 410 164 250 13 116 225 1,178 

Tiffany 112 33 58 7 37 75 322 

Weston 95 24 55 23 40 80 317 

Wilson 74 26 32 16 38 64 250 

Villages 

Boyceville 89 69 94 2 50 160 464 

Colfax 123 109 108 9 69 134 552 

Downing 14 21 37 11 28 25 136 

Elk Mound 95 80 138 8 34 100 455 

Knapp 26 36 56 2 24 78 222 

Ridgeland 18 12 27 6 12 30 105 

Wheeler 13 23 35 2 20 50 143 

Cities 

Menomonie 1,946 1,818 1,912 83 430 1,462 7,651 

Dunn County 

5,819 3,540 4,539 532 1,921 4,440 20,791 

Total

Table 1.22 

Employment By Occupation – 1990 – Dunn County Municipal Units 

Towns 

Municipality 


Exucutive, Administrative, & Managerial 

Professional 

Technician 

Sales 


Administrative support & Clerical 

Service 

Farming, Forestry, Fishing 

Production, Transportation, & Material 

Moving 

Colfax 27 31 13 24 31 63 45 90 324 

Dunn 54 58 10 48 66 73 100 198 607 

Eau Galle 19 17 4 42 30 59 123 91 385 

Elk Mound 25 43 21 28 64 61 50 101 393 

Grant 12 17 4 10 6 24 75 46 194 

Hay River 15 19 2 8 12 35 70 78 239 

Lucas 18 14 9 28 37 39 66 94 305 

Menomonie 144 233 15 142 230 155 128 306 1,353 

New Haven 15 25 7 18 27 25 75 110 302 

Otter Creek 15 9 6 11 9 20 28 70 168 

Peru 3 6 11 5 8 11 33 42 119 

Red Cedar 24 115 20 70 140 88 116 164 737 

Rock Creek 27 36 10 23 30 49 55 92 322 

Sand Creek 11 12 5 21 10 13 98 61 231 

Sheridan 12 28 1 10 11 5 71 59 197 

Sherman 22 38 11 33 56 47 94 97 398 

Spring Brook 41 73 15 48 73 83 123 161 617 

Stanton 20 30 3 17 30 57 79 94 330 

Tainter 104 127 24 86 126 122 67 230 886 

Tiffany 12 15 1 11 27 28 62 91 247 

Weston 14 15 2 13 36 50 89 112 331 

Wilson 8 12 17 5 23 32 93 72 262 

Villages 

Boyceville 33 42 9 32 58 62 10 151 397 

Colfax 26 72 22 44 62 69 14 144 453 

Downing 2 6 5 13 7 9 10 55 107 

Elk Mound 37 37 31 24 58 64 11 94 356 

Knapp 12 5 6 23 24 13 2 97 182 

Ridgeland 7 6 0 7 10 24 8 35 97 

Wheeler 6 12 0 14 11 26 9 58 136 

Cities 

Menomonie 758 924 191 705 925 1,526 57 1,189 6,275 

Dunn County 1,523 2,077 475 1,563 2,237 2,932 1,861 4,282 16,950 

Total

Table 1.23 

Travel Time to Work – 1990 and 2000 – Dunn County 

1990 2000 


Worked at home 1,652 9.9 1,370 6.8 

Less than 5 minutes 1,604 9.6 1,438 7.1 

5 to 9 minutes 3,044 18.2 3,083 15.2 

10 to 19 minutes 5,198 31.2 5,937 29.3 

20 to 29 minutes 2,354 14.1 3,365 16.6 

30 to 44 minutes 1,590 9.5 2,883 14.2 

45 to 59 minutes 548 3.3 948 4.7 

60 minutes or longer 695 4.2 1,224 6.0 

TOTAL 16,685 100.0 20,248 100.0 


Table 1.24 

Place of Work – 2000 – Dunn County Residents 


2000 

Number Percent 

within their own community 7,271 35.9 

within Dunn County, but 

outside their own community 5,950 29.4 

Dunn County 13,221 65.3 

Eau Claire County 2,746 13.6 

St. Croix County 1,349 6.7 

Chippewa County 452 2.2 

Barron County 352 1.7 

Pierce County 337 1.7 

Other Wisconsin Counties 744 3.7 

Minnesota Counties 1,004 5.0 

Elsewhere 43 0.2 

TOTAL 20,248 100.0 

source: U.S. Census

Table 1.25 

Households by Household Income – 1989 and 1999 – Dunn County 

Household 

Income 

Number of 

Households 

1989 1999 

% of Total 

Households 

Number of 

Households 

% of Total 

Households 

Number 

Change 

Percent 

Change 

Less than $10,000 2,288 18.6 1,358 9.4 -930 -40.6 

$10,000 to $14,999 1,386 11.3 925 6.4 -461 -33.3 

$15,000 to $24,999 2,617 21.2 2,185 15.2 -432 -16.5 

$25,000 to $34,999 2,156 17.5 2,052 14.2 -104 -4.8 

$35,000 to $49,999 2,073 16.8 2,756 19.1 683 32.9 

$50,000 to $74,999 1,371 11.1 3,093 21.5 1,722 125.6 

$75,000 or greater 425 3.5 2,035 14.1 1,610 378.8 

TOTAL 12,316 100 14,404 100 2,088 17.0 


Table 1.26 

Median Household Income – 1989 and 1999 – Dunn and Surrounding Counties 

Change 

County 1989 1999 Number Percent 

Dunn County $24,452 $38,753 $14,301 58.5% 

Barron County 22,570 37,275 14,705 65.2 

Chippewa County 25,858 39,596 13,738 53.1 

Eau Claire County 25,886 39,219 13,333 51.5 

Pepin County 22,992 37,609 14,617 63.4 

Pierce County 30,520 49,551 19,031 62.4 

Polk County 24,267 41,183 16,916 69.7 

St. Croix County 36,716 54,930 18,214 49.6 



Table 1.27 

Median Household Income – 1989 and 1999 – Dunn County 

Dollars Change 

Towns 

1989 1999 Dollars Percent 

Colfax 21,654 46,111 24,457 112.9 

Dunn 24,231 45,043 20,812 85.9 

Eau Galle 26,298 39,167 12,869 48.9 

Elk Mound 24,183 48,594 24,411 100.9 

Grant 23,333 38,409 15,076 64.6 

Hay River 28,917 41,458 12,541 43.4 

Lucas 26,944 43,750 16,806 62.4 

Menomonie 29,638 43,547 13,909 46.9 

New Haven 22,647 40,938 18,291 80.8 

Otter Creek 18,333 41,000 22,667 123.6 

Peru 30,500 34,375 3,875 12.7 

Red Cedar 32,450 50,972 18,522 57.1 

Rock Creek 24,896 43,906 19,010 76.4 

Sand Creek 16,932 40,197 23,265 137.4 

Sheridan 19,773 44,167 24,394 123.4 

Sherman 30,288 45,795 15,507 51.2 

Spring Brook 29,338 46,600 17,262 58.8 

Stanton 26,125 45,781 19,656 75.2 

Tainter 28,409 50,741 22,332 78.6 

Tiffany 25,114 38,750 13,636 54.3 

Weston 27,000 46,042 19,042 70.5 

Wilson 24,886 33,750 8,864 35.6 

Villages 

Boyceville 20,089 31,250 11,161 55.6 

Colfax 28,068 31,118 3,050 10.9 

Downing 24,583 41,375 16,792 68.3 

Elk Mound 31,477 36,513 5,036 16.0 

Knapp 21,250 38,472 17,222 81.0 

Ridgeland 15,682 25,000 9,318 59.4 

Wheeler 15,357 25,938 10,581 68.9 

Cities 

Menomonie 21,392 31,103 9,711 45.4 

Dunn County 24,452 38,753 14,301 58.5 

State of Wisconsin 29,442 43,791 14,349 47.1 

source: U.S. Census. 



2. HOUSING INFORMATION 


This section contains an inventory and analysis of housing characteristics in Dunn 

County. Quality housing is an essential component to healthy and vibrant communities, 

and striving to provide safe and cost-effective housing is an important community 

development goal. An analysis of housing conditions will help Dunn County municipal 

units gain a better understanding of the changes that have occurred over the past 20 to 25 

years. It will also provide insight into future changes that can be anticipated. This 

information will create a foundation from which decisions regarding future housing 

development can be based. 

In its 2000 Consolidated Plan, the State of Wisconsin lists the following as housing 

priorities that serve as guiding principles for the housing component of local 

comprehensive plans: 

� Provide affordable housing to all consumers, especially those with severe cost 

burdens. 

� Maintain an adequate production of new units, including the provision of large family 

and elderly housing. 

� Preserve and increase the availability of safe, sanitary housing for low and moderateincome 

owners and renters. 

� Make lead based paint hazard reduction training and resources available. 

� Provide housing assistance for special needs groups, including the homeless. 

� Continue to ensure fairness and accessibility for all housing consumers. 

� Continue to assist with housing disaster relief. 

These are items that local units of government should take into consideration as they 

develop housing goals and policies for their individual comprehensive plans. 

The information contained herein differentiates between the dwelling unit used for a 

home and the people that occupy the home. A household refers to the people living in any 

particular housing unit such as a single-family home. The U.S. Census indicates that a 

household includes all the persons who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, 

an apartment, a mobile home, a group of rooms, or a single room that is occupied (or if 

vacant, is intended for occupancy) as separate living quarters. Separate living quarters are 

those in which the occupants live and eat separately from any other persons in the 

building and that have direct access from the outside of the building or through a 

common hall. The occupants may be a single family, one person living alone, two or 

more families living together, or any other group of related or unrelated persons who 

share living arrangements. (People not living in households are classified as living in 

group quarters.) 


Housing Supply 

Table 2.1 provides the historic and 

current count of housing units in Dunn 

County from 1980 to 2000. Between 

1980 and 1990, 1,366 housing units 

were added countywide. During this 

period there were 14 municipal units 

with a housing growth of 10 percent or 

greater. Four municipalities increased 

the housing supply by over 20 percent. 

The Towns of Lucas, Tiffany, and 

Weston, as well as the Village of 

Ridgeland, experienced a loss of 

housing units for the period. 

From 1990 to 2000, the growth in the housing stock was even greater with 2,025 housing 

units added. Sixteen municipalities experienced an expansion in the number of housing 

units of over 10 percent. Four municipal units experienced growth of over 20 percent. 

The Towns of Sand Creek and Wilson and the Village of Ridgeland lost housing units. A 

reduction in a municipality’s housing stock is most commonly caused by annexing land 

from a town to an incorporated municipality, through abandonment or condemnation, or 

destruction from natural disasters. 

Table 2.1 and Map 2.1 show housing unit change between 1980 and 2000. For the 20year 

period, areas adding the most housing included the City of Menomonie, Town of 

Menomonie, Town of Tainter, and Town of Red Cedar. The Village of Ridgeland is the 

only area that lost housing. The greatest percentage increases in housing units were in the 

Town of Elk Mounds, Town of Red Cedar, Town of Otter Creek, and Town of Stanton. 

Between 1980 and 1990, County housing unit growth outpaced household growth with 

the addition 1,366 housing units and 1,203 households. Between 1990 and 2000, this 

reversed, with household growth outpacing housing unit growth 2,087 to 2,025. 

Seasonal Units 

Seasonal units are used or intended for use only in certain seasons (e.g., beach cottages 

and hunting cabins) or for weekend or occasional use throughout the year. Seasonal units 

may also include quarters used for seasonal workers such as loggers. They typically 

demand less of public services than housing units that are occupied throughout the year. 

Dunn County contained 285 seasonal units in 2000 as shown in Table 2.2. 

The majority of the seasonal housing in Dunn County (85 percent) is located in the 

County’s towns. Seasonal units comprise a significant amount of the housing stock in the 

Town of Tainter with 113 units or 11.4% of the total housing stock. The numbers of 

seasonal units is much smaller in all other areas. 

50 Housing Information

Occupancy and Structural Characteristics 

Housing occupancy helps determine whether the housing supply is adequate to meet 

demand. A stable housing market is one where the availability of new and existing 

housing units roughly matches the needs of the population. According to the U.S. 

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), an overall housing vacancy rate 

of 3 percent is considered optimal. Vacancy rates under the 3 percent standard may imply 

a tight housing market where demand exceeds supply, causing housing prices to rise. 

Conversely, a vacancy rate greater than 3 percent may imply an over-supply of housing 

units, causing housing prices to stagnate. 

In 2000, the County’s vacancy rate was considerably higher than the 3 percent standard at 

6.2 percent. In 1980 and 1990 the rates were also over 3%. These higher vacancy rates 

may signify that it is difficult for property owners to find buyers or tenants for housing in 

the County. In other words, people seeking housing in aggregate have more choices, and 

the housing market is good for buyer’s. 

The majority of housing units in Dunn County are owner occupied. In 2000, 9,900 (69 

percent) occupied housing units were identified as owner occupied, representing a 20 

percent increase from 1990. In 2000, 4,437 (31 percent) of occupied housing units were 

identified as rental units. This represents a 10 percent increase from 1990. Of all rental 

units in the County, 76 percent are located in the cities and villages. In 2000, 68 percent 

of the housing stock was comprised of single-family units, 19 percent were multi-family 

units, and 13 percent were mobile homes. 

Table 2.4 displays the number of units per structure for Dunn County in 2000. The 

majority of the housing units (77 percent) are one-unit detached structures, commonly 

referred to as single-family homes. Detached housing units are one-unit structures 

detached from any other house, with open space on four sides. Structures are considered 

detached even if they have an attached garage or contain a business unit. Attached 

housing units are one-unit structures that have one or more walls extending from ground 

to roof departing them from adjoining structures. Detailed housing occupancy and tenure 

data for individual municipalities is found at the end of this element in Table 2.11. 

Age Characteristics 

The age of the housing stock is an important element to be analyzed when preparing for 

the future. If there is a significant amount of older housing units within the housing 

supply, they will most likely need to be replaced, rehabilitated or abandoned for new 

development within the planning period. Allowing for a new housing supply also requires 

planning regarding infrastructure, land availability, community utilities, transportation 

routes, and a variety of other public services to address community needs that are 

affected by new development. 


Table 2.5 depicts the year that structures were built in Dunn County. According to the 

table, 47% of the housing stock was built prior to 1970. While this is true for the County 

as a whole, in 13 municipal units over 50% of the housing units have been constructed 

since 1970. A significant amount of housing was built before 1939 (26 percent) 

indicating that there may be a need to be replace, rehabilitate or demolish such housing in 

the near future. 

Housing Value Characteristics 

Providing affordable housing that meets the needs of current and future Dunn County 

residents is an important element in planning for the future. A lack of quality affordable 

housing has overriding impacts on population migration patterns, economic development 

and the county’s tax base. 

Table 2.6 provides housing values of specified owner-occupied units for 2000. A housing 

unit is owner-occupied if the owner or co-owner lives in the unit even if it is mortgaged 

or not fully paid for. The U.S. Bureau of the Census determines value by respondents’ 

estimates of how much the property (house and lot, mobile home and lot, or 

condominium unit) would sell for if it placed on the market. Please note that the figures 

presented may differ from assessed housing value as calculated by a public agency 

assessor. 

As noted, the majority of housing units (48 percent) in Dunn County were valued 

between $50,000 and $99,999 in 2000. The median housing value in Dunn County of 

$92,900 is lower than the state median value of $112,200. Areas with median housing 

values that exceed the state median include the Town of Tainter ($118,300), Town of 

Menomonie ($116,700), and Town of Elk Mound ($112,500). Eleven towns and the City 

of Menomonie have median housing values that exceed the county median value. It 

should be noted that many of the areas that have higher median housing values are areas 

with a high percentage of seasonal or lakeside homes. 

As shown in Table 2.7, the largest percentage of rental households (38 percent) pay 

between $300 and $499 for rental costs. Approximately a third of renters percent pay 

slightly more, between $500 and $749. 

Housing Affordability 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines affordable 

housing as housing that does not cost a household more than 30 percent of its household 

income. This affordability benchmark is not an underwriting standard; it does not address 

the ability to pay for housing. Households may choose to pay more to get the housing 

they need or want; however, according to HUD standards, people should have the choice 

of having decent and safe housing for no more than 30 percent of their household income. 


As shown in Table 2.8, a good majority (83 percent) of owner-occupied households in 

Dunn County pay less than 30 percent of their household income towards housing costs. 

A much higher percentage of rental housing is experiencing housing cost burdens. As 

shown in Table 2.9, 36 percent of rental households are paying 30 percent or more of 

their monthly income for housing costs. 

Housing Unit and Household Projections 

Housing projections are helpful to estimate the amount of land that may be consumed by 

future housing development. As the number of households and housing units in a county 

continues to grow, there is a resulting need for local units of government to provide 

additional public facilities and services such as roads, sewer and water extensions, fire 

and police protection, schools, etc. It may also create a need for to develop and enforce 

additional regulations and ordinances. These are important planning issues for 

consideration. 

The housing unit projections used for this plan are intended to provide an estimate of 

housing units that will be developed through the year 2030 based on observed changes in 

population and housing preferences. Household projections characterize changes in 

housing preferences and habitation patterns. The projections are based on several 

assumptions that create limitations that should be remembered when reviewing and 

evaluating the projections. The assumptions include the following: 

� The population projections developed as part of this plan are reasonable and will 

continue to be reasonable during the planning period (see Table 1.4). 

� The persons per housing unit will remain constant during the planning period. 

� The vacancy rate will remain constant during the planning period. 

� Past trends regarding seasonal housing, as previously described, will continue in the 

future. 

Based on the developed housing projections as shown in Table 2.10, it is estimated that 

Dunn County will have 22,461 housing units by the year 2030. This is an increase of 

7,184 housing units, or 47 percent, from the 2000 census. It is projected that housing 

units will average an annual increase of approximately 239 housing units per year during 

the 30-year period. Some of the new housing will be clustered in those areas that have 

traditionally had a higher percentage of seasonal homes and there remains available land. 

Similarly, a household forecast is used to help develop housing and land-use forecasts. 

The persons-per-household figure is obtained by dividing the number of persons in 

households by the number of households (or householders). 

Households with individuals under 18 years include not only families with related 

children but also all other households in which a person under 18 is present. The data is 

expressed here as a percent of all households. The Wisconsin Department of 

Administration Demographic Services office has prepared household projections for year 

2000 to 2030 in five-year increments that are found in Table 2.11. 


Housing Programs 

There are a number and variety of housing programs instituted in Dunn County. These 

are listed in the Inventory of Existing Plans, Programs, & Land-Use Policies in West- 

Central Wisconsin report that will be distributed with the Dunn County Conditions and 

Trends Report. 

Summary 

� Between 1980 and 2000, Dunn County experienced a 29 percent increase in housing 

growth, adding 3,391 units. 

� Areas adding the most housing for this period include the City of Menomonie, Town 

of Menomonie, Town of Tainter, and Town of Red Cedar. The Village of Ridgeland 

is the only area that lost housing for the period 

� Between 1980 and 1990, housing unit growth outpaced household growth in the 

county. Between 1990 and 2000, this trend reversed. 

� Dunn County contains some seasonal homes, 85 percent of which are located in the 

towns. The Town of Tainter has the largest number of seasonal homes (113). 

� In 2000, the vacancy rate in Dunn County was 6.2 percent. This is a slight decrease 

from 1990 and a slight increase from 1980. 

� Owner-occupied housing accounts for 69 percent of all housing in the county; rentals 

account for 31 percent. The majority (76 percent) of rentals are located in cities and 

villages. Sixty-eight percent of the housing units are one-unit detached structures 

(single-family homes). 

� Forty-seven percent of the county’s housing stock was constructed before 1970. 

Twenty-six percent of the County’s housing stock was constructed before 1939, 

indicating that they may need to be replaced, rehabilitated or abandoned in the near 

future. In 13 areas, over 50% of housing was constructed after 1970. 

� The majority of housing in Dunn County (48 percent) is valued between $50,000 and 

$99,999; however, some areas have median values that are noticeably higher than that 

of the State. These areas include the Towns of Tainter, Menomonie, and Elk Mound. 

� A greater percentage of renters than homeowners are paying more than 30 percent of 

the household’s annual income on housing costs. Of the owner-occupied households 

in the County, 17 percent pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing. Of 

rental households, 36 percent are paying more than 30 percent of their income for 

housing costs. 


� It is projected that by the year 2030 Dunn County will contain 22,461 housing units. 

This represents an increase of 47 percent from 2000. This is an average of 239 

additional housing units per year for the period. 

� There are a wide variety of programs and organizations are available to help Dunn 

County communities ensure they have an adequate supply of housing to meet a 

diverse array of current and future demands. 


Data Tables and Map 

Table 2.1 

Housing Units – 1980 to 2000 – Dunn County Municipalities 

Percent Change 

Municipality 1980 1990 2000 1980-90 1990-00 

Towns 

Town of Colfax 230 230 319 0 38.7 

Town of Dunn 464 515 580 11.0 12.6 

Town of Eau Galle 302 322 334 6.6 3.7 

Town of Elk Mound 222 274 395 23.4 44.2 

Town of Grant 147 156 163 6.1 4.5 

Town of Hay River 174 183 206 5.2 12.6 

Town of Lucas 241 227 265 -5.8 16.7 

Town of Menomonie 831 973 1,110 17.1 14.1 

Town of New Haven 247 256 260 3.6 1.6 

Town of Otter Creek 117 169 172 44.4 1.8 

Town of Peru 73 81 92 11.0 13.6 

Town of Red Cedar 429 490 633 14.2 29.2 

Town of Rock Creek 219 249 297 13.7 19.3 

Town of Sand Creek 231 253 244 9.5 -3.6 

Town of Sheridan 159 173 185 8.8 6.9 

Town of Sherman 232 261 296 12.5 13.4 

Town of Spring Brook 427 464 490 8.7 5.6 

Town of Stanton 182 216 258 18.7 19.4 

Town of Tainter 770 885 1,002 14.9 13.2 

Town of Tiffany 215 208 233 -3.3 12.0 

Town of Weston 214 212 235 -0.9 10.8 

Town of Wilson 175 216 212 23.4 -1.9 

Villages 

Village of Boyceville 382 408 447 6.8 9.6 

Village of Colfax 449 470 490 4.7 4.3 

Village of Downing 93 105 115 12.9 9.5 

Village of Elk Mound 254 264 305 3.9 15.5 

Village of Knapp 171 175 192 2.3 9.7 

Village of Ridgeland 148 146 130 -1.4 -11.0 

Village of Wheeler 106 132 137 24.5 3.8 

Cities 

City of Menomonie 3,982 4,539 5,480 14.0 20.7 

DUNN COUNTY 11,886 13,252 15,277 11.5 15.3 



Table 2.2 

Seasonal Units – 2000 – Dunn County Municipalities 

Seasonal Housing Units 

Municipality Total Housing Units Units % of Total 

Towns 

Town of Colfax 319 2 0.6 

Town of Dunn 580 11 1.9 

Town of Eau Galle 334 25 7.5 

Town of Elk Mound 395 4 1.0 

Town of Grant 163 5 3.1 

Town of Hay River 206 2 1.0 

Town of Lucas 265 1 0.4 

Town of Menomonie 1,110 8 0.7 

Town of New Haven 260 4 1.5 

Town of Otter Creek 172 9 5.2 

Town of Peru 92 2 2.2 

Town of Red Cedar 633 5 0.8 

Town of Rock Creek 297 0 0 

Town of Sand Creek 244 4 1.6 

Town of Sheridan 185 9 4.9 

Town of Sherman 296 9 3.0 

Town of Spring Brook 490 6 1.2 

Town of Stanton 258 4 1.6 

Town of Tainter 1,002 113 11.3 

Town of Tiffany 233 1 0.4 

Town of Weston 235 4 1.7 

Town of Wilson 212 14 6.6 

Villages 

Village of Boyceville 447 3 0.7 

Village of Colfax 490 1 0.2 

Village of Downing 115 3 2.6 

Village of Elk Mound 305 1 0.3 

Village of Knapp 192 1 0.5 

Village of Ridgeland 130 0 0 

Village of Wheeler 137 0 0 

Cities 

City of Menomonie 5,480 34 0.6 

DUNN COUNTY 15,277 285 1.9 



Table 2.3 

Housing Characteristics – 1980 to 2000 – Dunn County 

1980 1990 2000 

Total Housing Units 11,886 13,252 15,277 

Total Seasonal 175 374 285 

Total Vacant 664 1,002 940 

Total Occupied Units 11,047 12,250 14,337 

Owner Occupied Units 7,732 8,234 9,900 

Renter Occupied Units 3,315 4,016 4,437 

Single Family Units* 8,602 9,063 10,438 

Multi-Family Units 1,065 2,410 2,915 

Mobile Homes 931 1,779 1,915 


*In 1980 seasonal units are not included in single family unit totals. In 1990 and 2000 they are included. 


Table 2.4 

Units in Structure – 2000 – Dunn County Municipalities 

Municipality 

1-Unit 

Detached 

1-Unit 

Attached 

2 Units 

3-4 Units 

5 or more 

Units 

Towns 

Town of Colfax 248 2 2 5 0 

Town of Dunn 404 9 9 1 11 

Town of Eau Galle 294 0 2 2 0 

Town of Elk Mound 279 4 5 15 0 

Town of Grant 143 0 0 0 0 

Town of Hay River 143 0 2 0 0 

Town of Lucas 223 2 2 3 0 

T. of Menomonie 807 16 0 0 0 

T. of New Haven 229 0 0 1 0 

T. of Otter Creek 126 0 0 0 0 

Town of Peru 77 0 0 0 0 

Town of Red Cedar 557 7 17 4 3 

T. of Rock Creek 249 0 7 4 0 

Town of Sand Creek 220 0 4 0 14 

Town of Sheridan 155 0 3 0 0 

Town of Sherman 242 0 11 0 0 

T. of Spring Brook 417 1 8 2 0 

Town of Stanton 200 2 4 0 0 

Town of Tainter 806 13 37 2 12 

Town of Tiffany 180 2 0 0 1 

Town of Weston 205 0 0 0 0 

Town of Wilson 165 3 0 2 0 

Villages 

V. of Boyceville 281 0 19 13 43 

Village of Colfax 340 6 14 35 59 

Village of Downing 97 2 0 0 6 

V. of Elk Mound 185 12 30 7 34 

Village of Knapp 117 7 7 0 22 

V. of Ridgeland 87 2 7 2 25 

Village of Wheeler 78 0 0 4 8 

Cities 

City of Menomonie 2,678 116 323 512 1,549 

DUNN COUNTY 10,232 206 513 614 1,788 



Table 2.5 

Year Structure Built – 2000 – Dunn County Municipalities 

Municipality 

1990 to 

March ‘00 

1980 to 

1989 

1970 to 

1979 

1960 to 

1969 

1940 to 

1959 

1939 or 

earlier 

Towns 

Town of Colfax 82 36 67 18 37 79 

Town of Dunn 93 88 131 57 42 169 

Town of Eau Galle 50 41 47 15 48 133 

Town of Elk Mound 131 48 92 13 21 90 

Town of Grant 12 22 33 4 16 76 

Town of Hay River 30 23 41 22 12 78 

Town of Lucas 38 24 65 24 34 80 

Town of Menomonie 251 157 362 110 37 193 

Town of New Haven 25 22 24 24 43 122 

Town of Otter Creek 52 40 22 7 16 35 

Town of Peru 25 11 9 3 12 32 

Town of Red Cedar 189 88 147 28 56 125 

Town of Rock Creek 53 35 59 10 35 105 

Town of Sand Creek 19 39 31 15 33 107 

Town of Sheridan 31 16 28 15 18 77 

Town of Sherman 51 39 52 29 27 98 

Town of Spring Brook 71 68 93 26 74 158 

Town of Stanton 55 38 37 18 24 86 

Town of Tainter 220 158 254 90 132 148 

Town of Tiffany 35 35 52 18 20 73 

Town of Weston 45 15 23 9 26 117 

Town of Wilson 34 36 44 14 19 65 

Villages 

Village of Boyceville 70 41 104 41 69 122 

Village of Colfax 55 44 73 33 118 167 

Village of Downing 7 1 17 2 9 79 

Village of Elk Mound 50 48 75 11 29 92 

Village of Knapp 31 36 34 7 26 58 

Village of Ridgeland 2 5 28 14 37 44 

Village of Wheeler 0 16 38 10 22 51 

Cities 

City of Menomonie 1,081 731 1,094 503 949 1,122 

DUNN COUNTY 2,888 2,001 3,176 1,190 2,041 3,981 



Table 2.6 

Housing Value of Specified Owner-Occupied Units – 2000 – Dunn County Municipalities 

Less 

than 

$50,000 

$50,000 - 

$99,999 

$100,000 - 

$149,000 

$150,000 - 

$199,999 

$200,000 – 

$299,999 

$300,000 – 

$499,999 

$500,000 

or more 


Median 

Value 

Towns 

T. of Colfax 11 59 40 12 2 0 0 95,000 

Town of Dunn 12 104 62 26 9 2 0 97,400 

T. of Eau Galle 28 52 31 8 6 0 0 78,900 

T. of Elk Mound 4 43 51 16 7 0 0 112,500 

Town of Grant 14 6 2 0 3 0 0 48,100 

T. of Hay River 4 17 16 4 0 0 0 98,300 

Town of Lucas 2 44 18 4 2 0 0 92,100 

T. of Menomonie 27 120 254 89 42 0 2 116,700 

T. of New Haven 21 50 11 4 0 2 0 70,000 

T. of Otter Creek 0 9 13 2 0 2 0 110,000 

Town of Peru 4 17 10 3 0 0 0 75,000 

T. of Red Cedar 11 140 154 47 9 0 0 108,000 

T. of Rock Creek 17 63 34 3 2 0 0 90,700 

T. of Sand Creek 37 54 12 2 3 0 0 63,900 

T. of Sheridan 8 14 6 2 2 4 0 86,700 

T. of Sherman 4 38 43 7 4 2 0 106,500 

T. of Spring Brook 25 103 56 16 5 4 0 91,000 

Town of Stanton 3 29 17 10 5 0 0 100,000 

Town of Tainter 2 174 196 87 35 18 0 118,300 

Town of Tiffany 8 23 19 2 4 0 2 97,500 

Town of Weston 7 40 4 3 2 0 0 78,300 

Town of Wilson 9 22 6 0 0 0 0 67,500 

Villages 

V. of Boyceville 45 134 17 8 0 0 0 69,100 

V. of Colfax 68 183 36 0 0 0 0 65,700 

V. of Downing 15 36 7 5 0 0 2 74,100 

V. of Elk Mound 4 132 22 2 0 0 0 78,200 

V. of Knapp 32 62 11 0 0 0 0 66,600 

V. of Ridgeland 47 34 0 0 0 0 0 46,400 

V. of Wheeler 28 30 0 0 0 0 0 53,300 

Cities 

C. of Menomonie 70 1,000 639 156 48 9 0 94,200 

DUNN 

COUNTY 567 2,832 1,787 518 190 43 6 92,900 

source: U.S. Census.

Table 2.7 

Contract Rent (Renter-Occupied Units) – 2000 – Dunn County Municipalities 

Municipality 

Less than 

$200 

$200 to 

$299 

$300 to 

$499 

Rents 

$500 to 

$749 

$750 to 

$999 

$1,000 or 

more 

Towns 

Town of Colfax 0 2 11 4 0 0 

Town of Dunn 6 5 15 22 6 0 

Town of Eau Galle 0 0 10 4 3 0 

Town of Elk Mound 0 0 13 22 0 0 

Town of Grant 0 0 2 8 0 0 

Town of Hay River 0 0 11 0 0 0 

Town of Lucas 0 0 8 15 0 0 

T. of Menomonie 0 2 46 31 10 0 

T. of New Haven 0 3 1 3 0 0 

T. of Otter Creek 0 2 2 1 0 0 

Town of Peru 0 2 2 3 0 0 

Town of Red Cedar 0 3 6 25 8 0 

T. of Rock Creek 0 4 6 5 8 2 

Town of Sand Creek 7 4 10 3 0 0 

Town of Sheridan 0 2 2 5 0 0 

Town of Sherman 2 0 9 5 0 0 

T. of Spring Brook 3 2 12 11 0 0 

Town of Stanton 3 2 6 7 2 0 

Town of Tainter 0 5 33 49 8 2 

Town of Tiffany 0 2 6 0 1 0 

Town of Weston 0 2 7 2 0 0 

Town of Wilson 0 0 0 5 0 0 

Villages 

V. of Boyceville 9 16 49 26 5 2 

Village of Colfax 10 13 70 34 2 0 

Village of Downing 0 0 15 2 0 0 

V. of Elk Mound 2 11 37 30 2 2 

Village of Knapp 8 12 16 4 0 0 

V. of Ridgeland 13 3 18 2 2 0 

Village of Wheeler 4 9 35 6 0 0 

Cities 

City of Menomonie 233 431 1,038 807 236 121 

DUNN COUNTY 300 537 1,496 1,141 293 129 



Table 2.8 

Owner-Occupied Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household Income – 1999 

Dunn County Municipalities 

Monthly Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household Income 

Municipality 

Less 

than 15% 

15.0% to 

19.9% 

20.0% to 

24.9% 

25.0% to 

29.9% 

30.0% to 

34.9% 

35.0% 

or more 


Total Units* 

Towns 

Town of Colfax 33 22 24 19 12 14 124 

Town of Dunn 96 45 20 22 8 24 215 

Town of Eau Galle 54 25 18 17 2 9 125 

Town of Elk Mound 41 22 26 7 13 12 121 

Town of Grant 14 6 0 0 0 5 25 

Town of Hay River 14 21 0 0 0 6 41 

Town of Lucas 24 12 10 10 0 14 70 

Town of Menomonie 234 128 71 22 42 35 534 

Town of New Haven 37 24 14 10 0 3 88 

Town of Otter Creek 0 12 3 3 0 8 26 

Town of Peru 11 10 6 2 0 5 34 

Town of Red Cedar 123 93 60 39 14 29 361 

Town of Rock Creek 49 21 9 26 0 14 119 

Town of Sand Creek 55 17 13 9 0 14 108 

Town of Sheridan 15 4 6 3 2 4 36 

Town of Sherman 31 22 21 11 7 6 98 

Town of Spring 

209 

Brook 92 42 30 25 6 14 

Town of Stanton 15 14 15 2 6 12 64 

Town of Tainter 179 89 91 55 42 53 512 

Town of Tiffany 29 12 6 0 3 8 58 

Town of Weston 19 19 2 8 2 6 56 

Town of Wilson 15 7 10 2 0 3 37 

Villages 

Village of Boyceville 74 43 29 15 9 31 204 

Village of Colfax 102 56 36 30 20 38 287 

Village of Downing 40 4 6 6 5 4 65 

Village of Elk Mound 50 21 36 18 10 25 160 

Village of Knapp 38 15 17 12 3 20 105 

Village of Ridgeland 34 9 11 7 0 20 81 

Village of Wheeler 24 11 8 4 2 7 58 

Cities 

City of Menomonie 728 376 256 189 171 193 1,922 

DUNN COUNTY 2,270 1,202 854 573 379 636 5,943 

source: U.S. Census.. 

* Housing cost data not available for all housing units in Dunn County.

Table 2.9 

Renter-Occupied Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household Income – 1999 


Monthly Housing Costs as a Percentage of Household Income 

Municipality 

Less 

than 15% 

15.0% to 

19.9% 

20.0% to 

24.9% 

25.0% to 

29.9% 

30.0% to 

34.9% 

35.0% 

or more 

64 Housing Information 

Total Units* 

Towns 




Town of Elk Mound 10 4 4 3 8 6 39 




Town of Menomonie 27 20 9 2 13 18 101 

Town of New Haven 1 2 0 0 0 4 7 

Town of Otter Creek 3 2 0 0 0 0 7 


Town of Red Cedar 11 12 8 2 2 7 57 

Town of Rock Creek 5 7 6 3 0 4 31 

Town of Sand Creek 11 2 0 5 2 4 26 



T. of Spring Brook 16 4 4 2 0 2 42 


Town of Tainter 37 22 7 4 9 14 114 




Villages 

Village of Boyceville 32 19 23 6 6 19 120 


Village of Downing 9 2 4 0 2 0 17 

Village of Elk Mound 22 16 13 11 9 11 88 


Village of Ridgeland 3 9 2 16 0 8 38 


Cities 

City of Menomonie 596 420 381 284 211 896 2,889 

DUNN COUNTY 913 616 521 386 291 1,072 4,102 


* Housing cost data not available for all housing units in Dunn County.

Table 2.10 

Housing Unit Projections – 2000 to 2030 – Dunn County Municipalities 

2000 

Projection 

2005 

Projection 

2010 

Projection 

2015 

Projection 

2020 

Projection 

2025 


Projection 

2030 

Towns 




T. of Elk Mound 395 478 530 590 647 704 754 




T. of Menomonie 1,110 1,288 1,400 1,529 1,651 1,769 1,875 

T. of New Haven 260 275 287 301 313 326 334 

T. of Otter Creek 172 208 232 257 283 306 330 


Town of Red Cedar 633 726 806 897 984 1,069 1,148 

T. of Rock Creek 297 330 356 386 415 443 469 

T. of Sand Creek 244 265 281 298 315 331 344 



T. of Spring Brook 490 565 612 666 717 767 812 


Town of Tainter 1,002 1,126 1,244 1,378 1,510 1,637 1,754 




Villages 

V. of Boyceville 447 469 496 531 563 592 617 


V. of Downing 115 109 111 116 118 122 123 

V. of Elk Mound 305 329 343 361 377 392 402 


V. of Ridgeland 130 131 133 136 140 142 142 


Cities 

City of Menomonie 5,480 5,856 6,180 6,590 6,960 7,300 7,596 

DUNN COUNTY 15,277 16,641 17,739 19,063 20,290 21,445 22,461 

source: U.S. Census.

Table 2.11 

Housing Characteristics – 1980 to 2000 


Municipal Unit 1980 1990 2000 

Town of Colfax 1980 1990 2000 

Total Housing Units 230 239 327 


Total Vacant 10 12 9 

Total Occupied Units 217 227 318 

Owner Occupied Units 184 191 287 

Renter Occupied Units 33 36 31 

Single Family Units 208 201 250 

Multi-Family Units 8 4 7 

Mobile Homes 11 34 60 

Town of Dunn 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Eau Galle 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Elk Mound 1980 1990 2000 










Note: In 1990 and 2000 data, vacant housing units include the number of seasonal units. 






Town of Grant 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Hay River 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Lucas 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Menomonie 1980 1990 2000 

Total Housing Units 854 972 1,166 



Total Occupied Units 808 926 1,129 











Town of New Haven 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Otter Creek 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Peru 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Red Cedar 1980 1990 2000 















Town of Rock Creek 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Sand Creek 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Sheridan 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Sherman 1980 1990 2000 















Town of Spring Brook 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Stanton 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Tainter 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Tiffany 1980 1990 2000 















Town of Weston 1980 1990 2000 










Town of Wilson 1980 1990 2000 










Village of Boyceville 1980 1990 2000 










Village of Colfax 1980 1990 2000 















Village of Downing 1980 1990 2000 










Village of Elk Mound 1980 1990 2000 










Village of Knapp 1980 1990 2000 










Village of Ridgeland 1980 1990 2000 















Village of Wheeler 1980 1990 2000 










City of Menomonie 1980 1990 2000 

Total Housing Units 3,982 4,539 5,441 



Total Occupied Units 3,803 4,323 5,119 

Owner Occupied Units 1,949 1,930 2,241 

Renter Occupied Units 1,854 2,393 2,878 

Single Family Units 2,321 2,335 2,794 

Multi-Family Units 1,564 1,958 2,384 




Map 2.1 

Housing Unit Change (1980-2000) Dunn County Municipalities 


3. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION 


Transportation facilities have a significant influence on land use, development, and 

quality of life for County residents. This section includes a review of transportation 

facilities found in Dunn County, including highways, rail, airports, bike facilities, 

pedestrian facilities, and transit. Transportation types primarily recreational in nature, 

such as snowmobile, ATV, and hiking trails, are not discussed in this section, but can be 

found in the community facilities and natural resources sections. For reference, a map of 

the County’s roads, airports, and railroads can be found on the following page. 

Dunn County, its local municipalities, and the State of Wisconsin together provide nearly 

the entire roadway infrastructure for inter-county movements, intra-city movements, and 

the demands of new growth. This road system also allows the movement of buses, 

bicycles, and pedestrians. A well-maintained and planned transportation system can aid 

in economic development, support a variety of land uses, provide links among 

community facilities, and facilitate the provision of various public and emergency 

services. 

This element will function as a guide to identifying the County’s existing and proposed 

road network, identifying major transportation needs, and supporting the goals and 

objectives of the other elements of the Dunn County Comprehensive Plan. 

This section was drafted in the context of regional, state, and national transportation 

planning guidelines and principles. Numerous existing State and local transportation 

plans of regional significance are noted in Special Addendum: Inventory of Existing 

Plans, Programs, & Land Use Policies in West Central Wisconsin and are considered in 

the development of this plan. Transportation issues, needs, and strategies specific to 

individual communities will be addressed in their respective plans. 


Map 3.1 – Dunn County Roads, Airports, and Railroads 

76 Transportation Information

Background Data/Existing Conditions 

Highways 

Dunn County is served by 

1,754 miles of roads under 

state, county and local 

jurisdiction (see Table 3.1). 

Major north/south highways 

include WIS 25, WIS 40, and 

WIS 79. Interstate Highway 

94, US 12, WIS 29, WIS 64, 

WIS 72, and WIS 170 are 

major east/west highways. 

Table 3.1 - Road Mileage by Jurisdiction - 2008 

Jurisdiction Miles Percent of Total 

State 205.8 11.7 

County 425.4 24.3 

Towns 989.2 56.4 

Villages 42.4 2.4 

Cities 91.3 5.2 

TOTAL 1754.0 100.0 

source: WisDOT, Wisconsin Information System for Local Roads, 

January 1, 2008. 

In Dunn County, Interstate 94 is the only highway classified a backbone route in the 

Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Corridors 2020 Plan. US 63 is 

identified as a Connector route. The backbone system is a collection of multilane 

highways such as the interstate system and much of the state trunk highway system that 

serve longer interregional trips within the state and between Wisconsin and the nation. 

The Connector routes are a set of two- and four-lane highways that connect key 

communities and regional economic centers to the backbone routes. 

Roads can be generally classified into three 

categories - arterials, collectors and local roads. 

The type of service it provides determines a 

road’s classification. Typically, arterials provide 

the least amount of access and highest level of 

mobility, while local streets provide the most 

access and lowest level of mobility. Collector 

roads provide a combination of access and 

mobility. 

The functional classification of the rural areas of 

the County is shown on Map 3.2. One community 

have are over the population threshold of 5,000 

persons, considered to be “urban” for the 

purposes of functional classification: the City of 

Menominee (See Map 3.3). 

The backbone and connector routes, which link Wisconsin’s economic and tourism 

centers, are all classified as arterials and are designed to provide a high level of mobility 

between communities. Typically, arterials accommodate higher levels of traffic at higher 

speeds than collectors. The actual number of vehicles that a road can accommodate is 

determined by a number of factors, including the number of travel lanes, posted speed 

limit and the level of access the road provides. Generally, a two-lane road can 


accommodate up to 13,500 vehicles per day. A four-lane road with a median can 

accommodate between 13,500 and 30,000 vehicles per day. 

The Interstate 94 corridor, the principal arterial between Minneapolis-St. Paul and 

destinations to the east, such as Milwaukee and Chicago passes through Dunn County. 

Traffic on the Eau Claire-Hudson portion of the Interstate, which runs through Dunn 

County, has been growing significantly. This stretch of Interstate 94 experiences traffic 

volumes of over 35,000 vehicles a day and is a major trucking route. By 2020, average 

daily traffic volumes at the I-94 bridge over the St. Croix River are projected to exceed 

85,000 vehicles per day. 

As shown in Table 3.2, traffic volumes have been generally increasing throughout the 

County. In some cases in Table 3.2, a particular highway segment’s count can show a 

decline when alternative routes are constructed or improved. 

Of the State and US highways located in Dunn County, the State Highway Plan 2020 

identified a portion of WIS 25, from approximately five miles north of I-94 to its 

intersection with WIS 29, as facilities that would experience moderate congestion by the 

year 2020 if no capacity expansion improvements were made. Extreme congestion was 

projected for WIS 29 and WIS 25, east and south of their intersection, within the City of 

Menomonie. Neither of these segments had been either legislatively approved for a 

major project, or listed as a potential major project in the Corridors 2020 plan. 


Table 3.2 Historic Traffic Volumes for Highways within the County 

Map ID 

Percent 

Change 

(Map 3.1) Location 1999 2002 2005 2007 (1999-2007) 

1 Interstate 94 (west of County K) 27,400 29,200 30,300 33,600 22.63% 

2 Interstate 94 (east of WIS 25) 30,100 31,600 32,400 36,000 19.60% 

3 Interstate 94 (east of WIS 29/US 12) 26,400 28,400 28,100 31,000 17.42% 

4 US 12 (west of County O) 1,400 1,900 1,600 1,600 * 14.29% 

5 US 12 (east of WIS 79) 3,900 4,800 4,200 4,600 17.95% 

6 US 12 ( west of County H) 2,600 3,200 3,600 * 3,600 * 38.46% 

7 WIS 29 (west of County Q) 1,500 1,500 1,600 1,500 0.00% 

8 WIS 29 (east of County K) 2,500 3,100 3,100 3,100 * 24.00% 

9 US 12/WIS 29 (east of 21st St. E) 12,000 12,800 11,900 13,300 10.83% 

10 US 12/WIS 29 (east of County B) 3,700 6,500 6,300 6,100 64.86% 

11 WIS 29 (west of County H) 5,900 8,500 9,600 10,500 77.97% 

12 WIS 64 (east of County Q) 1,400 1,600 1,600 * 1,600 * 14.29% 

13 WIS 64 (concurrent w/ WIS 25) 2,600 3,100 3,300 3,100 19.23% 

14 WIS 64 (east of County M) 1,100 1,200 1,200 1,200 * 9.09% 

15 WIS 25 (north of County W) 2,000 1,800 2,200 2,300 15.00% 

16 WIS 25 (north of County N) 2,500 3,000 3,100 3,100 24.00% 

17 WIS 25 (north of County BB) 6,900 8,700 7,100 7,700 11.59% 

18 WIS 25 (north of US 12/WIS 29) 20,500 24,800 20,600 19,600 -4.39% 

19 WIS 25 (north of County Y) 2,100 3,100 2,200 2,300 9.52% 

20 WIS 170 (west of V. Boyceville) 1,800 2,400 2,300 2,400 33.33% 

21 WIS 40 (east of County M) 1,800 2,000 1,900 1,700 -5.56% 

22 WIS 79 (south of WIS 170) 2,200 2,400 2,300 2,300 4.55% 

23 County M (north of 990th Av) 900 1,000 1,000 * 1,000 * 11.11% 

24 WIS 40 (north of County B) 3,100 3,900 3,900 3,500 12.90% 

25 WIS 72 (west of County K) 1,200 1,700 1,700 * 1,700 * 41.67% 

26 WIS 85 (south of 150th Av) 2,700 3,300 3,600 3,300 22.22% 

27 County P (north of 210th Av) 560 580 570 * 570 * 1.79% 

28 County E (east of 730th St) 660 1,100 1,100 1,000 51.52% 

29 County C (east of 270th Av) 590 1,100 1,100 * 1,100 * 86.44% 

30 County B (north of 690th Av) 2,700 3,500 3,500 4,900 81.48% 

source: Wisconsin Highway Traffic Volume Data, WisDOT. 

* - signifies count from previous cycle 


Map 3.2 – Dunn County Rural Functional Classification 


Map 3.3 – Menomonie Urban Functional Classification 


Table 3.3 – Local Road mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction 

County Jurisdiction Municipal Jurisdiction 

Municipality Gross Road County Municpal 

Name 

Miles Miles Miles Arterial Collector Local Arterial Collector Local 

T. Colfax 56.70 19.51 37.19 9.73 9.78 37.19 

T. Dunn 85.46 25.06 60.40 7.10 17.96 60.40 

T. Eau Galle 86.57 41.50 45.07 23.19 18.31 45.07 

T. Elk Mound 53.42 13.02 40.40 3.83 9.19 40.40 

T. Grant 58.11 19.56 38.55 14.86 4.70 38.55 

T. Hay River 57.79 14.37 43.42 0.89 13.48 43.42 

T. Lucas 58.23 15.39 42.84 10.98 4.41 42.84 

T. Menomonie 90.00 23.57 66.43 1.48 12.70 9.39 0.40 5.64 60.39 

T. New Haven 63.55 17.31 46.24 12.74 4.57 46.24 

T. Otter Creek 60.14 18.68 41.46 7.03 11.65 41.46 

T. Peru 24.27 4.94 19.33 3.77 1.17 19.33 

T. Red Cedar 78.97 18.60 60.37 2.69 14.60 1.31 3.18 57.19 

T. Rock Creek 52.44 8.70 43.74 7.83 0.87 3.34 40.40 

T. Sand Creek 55.43 21.64 33.79 21.41 0.23 0.18 33.61 

T. Sheridan 59.22 22.91 36.31 14.52 8.39 36.31 

T. Sherman 53.44 14.82 38.62 6.91 7.91 38.62 

T. Spring Brook 123.36 31.29 92.07 30.77 0.52 0.54 91.53 

T. Stanton 54.38 18.52 35.86 12.15 6.37 35.86 

T. Tainter 66.34 18.81 47.53 2.68 15.61 0.52 3.93 43.60 

T. Tiffany 49.89 13.55 36.34 8.00 5.55 36.34 

T. Weston 62.91 21.74 41.17 20.10 1.64 41.17 

T. Wilson 56.64 14.60 42.04 5.90 8.70 42.04 

V. Boyceville 11.59 0.00 11.59 0.96 10.63 

V. Colfax 9.81 0.51 9.30 0.51 9.30 

V. Downing 7.74 3.14 4.60 3.14 4.60 

V. Elk Mound 6.73 1.51 5.22 1.51 0.44 4.78 

V. Knapp 6.88 0.64 6.24 0.64 6.24 

V. Ridgeland 3.12 0.27 2.85 0.05 0.22 0.83 2.02 

V. Wheeler 2.56 0.00 2.56 . 2.56 

C. Menomonie 92.52 1.25 91.27 0.63 0.07 0.55 7.64 18.96 64.67 

TOTALS 1548.21 425.41 1122.80 7.48 270.54 147.39 8.04 38.00 1076.76 

source: Wisconsin Information System for Local Roads, WisDOT, January 1, 2008. 


Highway Projects in the County 

Various construction and repair projects are programmed for the State highways in Dunn 

County between 2009 and 2014. A total of 133 miles are scheduled for improvement over 

this six-year period (See Table 3.4). 

Table 3.4 - WisDOT 6-year Plan Projects for Dunn County 

Hwy Project Title 

Length 

(in miles) 

Estimated 

Project Cost 

Year 

(SFY) 

12 CTH Q to CTH K 4.36 $100,000 - 250,000 2009 Mill and resurface 

25 WIS 64 to North County Line 6.56 $250,000 - $499,999 2009 

94 Stokke Parkway Bridge 0.04 

94 

Evergreen Road Bridges (EB & 

WB) 

12 WIS 29 to WIS 312 7.16 

25 CTH D to WIS 170 5.78 

64 West County Line to CTH O 6.48 

85 South County Line to CTH O 6.7 

64 CTH W to East County Line 6.45 

$1,000,000 - 

$1,999,999 

$3,000,000 - 

$3,999,999 

$2,000,000 - 

$2,999,999 

$1,000,000 - 

$1,999,999 

$1,000,000 - 

$1,999,999 

$1,000,000 - 

$1,999,999 

$2,000,000 - 

$2,999,999 

Project Description 

Roadway maintenance preservation, chip seal, crack fill and 

wedge roadway 

2009 Replace bridge over I-94, 0.3 mi. north of CTH MMM 

2009 Replace existing I-94 bridges - east and west bound 


2010 

Mill existing pavement and repave, restore drainage, replace beam 

guard, pavement marking and signing. 

2010 Mill and resurface the existing pavement 

2010 

Mill existing asphaltic surface and overlay with new backtop 

pavement 

2011 Mill existing surface and repave with new blacktop 

79 Slovak Valley Creek Bridge 0.05

State and local bridges are inspected at least once every 

two years. WisDOT is responsible for inspections of all 

bridges along the state highway system. Municipalities 

handle inspections for bridges along the local roadway 

system. WisDOT and local governments follow federal 

guidelines in their bridge inspection and maintenance 

procedures. Bridges are rated and categorized in terms of 

their functional and structural situation. 

Functionally obsolete is an engineering term frequently 

used to describe older bridges that no longer meet modern 

geometric standards. For example, it could refer to a 

bridge with narrow lanes or shoulders. A bridge classified 

as functionally obsolete does not mean the bridge is 

unsafe for public travel. Structurally deficient is an 

engineering term used to describe a bridge with one or 

more elements that will require attention. Again, the 

classification does not mean the bridge is unsafe for travel. 

For example, it could refer to a combination of elements on 

a bridge such as potholes on a bridge deck or rust on metal 

trusses. These may have little to no impact on a bridge’s 

overall safe function. Depending on the extent of the 

structural deficiency, the bridge may be load-posted until 

improvements are completed. 

There are 3 bridges under state ownership that are 

classified as either structurally deficient or functionally 

obsolete, or both, as well as 12 under county or local 

ownership (See Table 3.6). 

Table 3.5 - Ownership of Bridges 

Owner No. of Bridges 

State of Wisconsin 91 

Dunn County 75 

T. Colfax 2 

T. Dunn 0 

T. Eau Galle 4 

T. Elk Mound 0 

T. Grant 2 

T. Hay River 1 

T. Lucas 4 

T. Menomonie 5 

T. New Haven 6 

T. Otter Creek 0 

T. Peru 2 

T. Red Cedar 2 

T. Rock Creek 4 

T. Sand Creek 5 

T. Sheridan 1 

T. Sherman 6 

T. Spring Brook 9 

T. Stanton 5 

T. Tainter 0 

T. Tiffany 6 

T. Weston 4 

T. Wilson 1 

V. Boyceville 1 

V. Colfax 0 

V. Downing 1 

V. Elk Mound 0 

V. Knapp 0 

V. Ridgeland 1 

V. Wheeler 0 

C. Menomonie 4 

TOTAL 242 

source:WisDOT, 2008. 

Table 3.6 - Functionally Obsolete and Structurally Deficient Bridges in Dunn County 

State 

Bridge I.D. Owner Location Bridge On Bridge Over Year Built Deficiency 

P170923 Town T. Grant 1170th Avenue Trout Creek 1929 S.D. AND F.O. 

P170114 Town T. Lucas 270th Street Gilbert Creek 1944 F.O. 

P170068 Town T. New Haven 877th Street S. Fork Hay River 1901 S.D. AND F.O. 

B170119 Town T. Rock Creek 10th Avenue Rock Creek 1991 F.O. 

P170916 Town T. Weston 470th Avenue Irving Creek 1938 F.O. 

P170706 Village V. Ridgeland CTH V (Elliot Street) S. Fork Lower Pine Creek 1947 S.D. AND F.O. 

P170905 County T. Lucas CTH N N. Branch Gilbert Creek 1944 F.O. 

B170008 County T. Sand Creek CTH V Red Cedar River 1954 S.D. AND F.O. 

B170977 County T. Sheridan CTH F Hay River 1947 S.D. AND F.O. 

B170185 County T. Spring Brook CTH E Muddy Creek 2001 F.O. 

B170960 County T. Stanton CTH O Wilson Creek 1921 S.D. AND F.O. 

B170950 County T. Tainter CTH G Tainter Lake 1934 S.D. AND F.O. 

B170029 State C. Menomonie STH 25 (Broadway Street) I-94 1996 F.O. 

B170057 State T. Elk Mound I-94 westbound Evergreen Road 1958 S.D. AND F.O. 

B170058 State T. Elk Mound I-94 eastbound Evergreen Road 1960 S.D. AND F.O. 

source: WisDOT, 2008. 


Rustic Roads System 

The Rustic Roads System in Wisconsin was created 

by the 1973 state legislature to help citizens and local 

units of government preserve what remains of 

Wisconsin's scenic, lightly traveled country roads for 

the leisurely enjoyment of bikers, hikers and 

motorists. Unique brown and yellow signs mark the 

routes of all officially designated Rustic Roads. 

These routes provide bikers, hikers and motorists 

with an opportunity to casually travel through some 

of Wisconsin's scenic countryside. All Rustic Roads 

remain under local jurisdiction and are eligible for 

the same state aid as other public highways. 

There are two rustic roads in Dunn County (See Map 3.4), both are fairly long and are 

located along rivers. Rustic Road #89 winds south from Menomonie through the bluffs 

of the Red Cedar River and parallels the Red Cedar Bike Trail. It is 5.3 miles long and 

paved. Rustic Road #107 follows the Chippewa River and is crossed by the Red Cedar 

Trail in two locations. Rustic Road #107 is part paved and part gravel, and is 6.7 miles 

long. 

Map 3.4 Rustic Roads in Dunn County 

Rustic Road #89 

source: WisDOT travel information website 

Officially designated Rustic Road 

sign 

Rustic Road #107 


Access Management 

Access management includes planning the number and location of driveways on 

roadways. This practice helps maintain safe and efficient traffic movement on roadways, 

and access to and from property, particularly in more urban areas. Road function and 

safety increase as the number of access points decrease. 

WisDOT employs three types of access control authorized by state statutes. They are 

referred to as Wisconsin Statutes (Wis. Stats.) 84.09, 84.25 and 84.295. A short summary 

of the state statutes follows, but it should be noted that the actual content of the statutes is 

significantly more detailed, and many special conditions and provisions are not included 

in this text. The type of access control that is imposed on various highway road segments 

influences how that segment is managed. 

• Wis. Stats. 84.09 (purchase access control) – WisDOT acquires land by gift, 

devise, purchase or condemnation to establish, extend or improve transportation 

facilities. 

• Wis. Stats. 84.25 (administrative access control) – WisDOT designates some rural 

portions of the state trunk highway system as controlled-access highways where 

studies show that the potential exists for traffic volumes to exceed 2,000 vehicles 

per 24-hour day. 

• Wis. Stats. 84.295 (freeway and expressway access control) – WisDOT 

designates highways with greater than 4,000 vehicles per day as freeways or 

expressways when it is determined that the volume and character of traffic 

warrants the construction or acquisition of right-of-way to accommodate a fourlane 

highway. 

Purchased access control, under state statute 84.09, is in effect on US 12, from the west 

limits of the Village of Elk Mound to WIS 29, and on several segments of WIS 25, listed 

here: 

o County C to County D (south), 

o County D (north) to County G, and 

o County FF to WIS 64 

There is no “controlled access”, under State Statute 84.25, in Dunn County, and the only 

freeway under Wis. Stats. 84.295 is WIS 29, from Interstate 94, to the east county line. 

Interstate 94 is protected under interstate freeway access control, State Statute 84.29. 

Designated Truck Routes 

Truck routes are designed to accommodate semi-trucks and include roadside 

accommodations at rest areas for temporary parking. Long truck routes also often 

include private truck parking and fueling stations along the routes. 


The following highways are designated as long truck routes in Dunn County: 

Interstate 94 (all) 

US 12 (south of WIS 29) 

WIS 25 (all) 

WIS 29 (east of I-94) 

WIS 40 (all) 

WIS 64 (all) 

WIS 79 (Boyceville to Menomonie) 

WIS 170 (WIS 128 to Boyceville) 

There additional highways, or portions thereof, are restricted truck routes, such as US 12, 

WIS 29, and parts of WIS 72, 79, and 170. No County highways are designated truck 

routes. 

Transit 

Disabled Elderly Transportation (DET) is a private non-profit organization. DET’s 

specialized service is available to elderly and disabled individuals throughout Dunn 

County who require transportation. DET coordinates volunteer drivers with passengers 

in rural areas. All requests for volunteer drivers require a 48-hour advance notice and 

appropriate authorization. Information on DET can be obtained through the Dunn County 

Office on Aging. 

A new intercity bus service began on July 17, 2008, between Minneapolis/St. Paul, 

Minnesota and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with intermediate stops in Hudson, Menomonie, 

Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Stanley, Abbotsford, Wausau, Wittenberg, Shawano, Green 

Bay, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan. The service runs once in each direction daily, and 

allows for connections with Greyhound Lines from Eau Claire to Tomah and Madison, 

and from Green Bay to Appleton, Oshkosh, and Fond du Lac. The service is initially 

being funded by a federal grant through the Supplemental Transportation Rural 

Assistance Program (STRAP), received by the City of Stanley (Clark County). 

Bicycles 

Dunn County has done significant work in the areas of bicycle and pedestrian 

transportation. The Dunn County Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathways Plan 

2008-2028 was recently adopted and there is one state trail that connects to other state 

trails, as well as serving as a focal point for the County’s planned routes. The Red Cedar 

State Trail begins at the Menomonie Depot where STH 29 crosses the Red Cedar River. 

The trail runs near the Red Cedar River for about 14 1/2 miles, and connects to the 

Chippewa River State Trail. The City of Menomonie has an intercity bike system which 

connects to the Red Cedar Trail and there are a variety of semi public trails which 

accommodate walking, bicycling, and cross country skiing throughout the County. 


Maps 3.5 and 3.6 are County and City of Menomonie route maps presented in the Dunn 

County Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathways Plan. Also, WisDOT has 

assessed the state and county highways based on their suitability for biking throughout 

Dunn County (See Maps 3.7). Many of the county highways in particular are well-suited 

to biking. While town roads were not explicitly evaluated in WisDOT’s analysis, they 

are likely to provide a safe biking facility, as most rural roads have low traffic volumes 

and are well maintained. 

Pedestrian Facilities 

As its name suggests, the Dunn County Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathways 

Plan 2008-2028 identifies many trails and on-road routes which are also appropriate for 

pedestrian use in the County and within communities. 

Pedestrian facilities exist, at varying levels, within the incorporated communities of Dunn 

County. While Menomonie and some villages have a fairly consistent network of 

sidewalks, at least in the older sections, some communities tend to have sidewalks in their 

downtown commercial areas, with some connections to residential or in school areas, but 

not throughout the community. 


Map 3.5 - Dunn County Bicycle Routes 

source: Dunn County Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan 2008-2028, 2008. 


Map 3.6 - City of Menomonie Bicycle Routes 

source: Dunn County Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan 2008-2028, 2008. 


Map 3.7 – Dunn County Bicycling Suitability Ratings 

source: WisDOT website: www.dot.state.wi.us/travel/bike-foot/docs/bikedunn.pdf. 


The City of Menomonie and all the villages within Dunn County have to address the need 

for pedestrians to safely cross state or county highways. With increasing traffic volumes 

of most of these highways, the potential for pedestrian-vehicle accidents is increasing and 

the highways can present barriers to the movement of pedestrian traffic from residential 

to commercial areas or other destinations. 

It is common for new school buildings to be built on the outskirts of communities, were 

land is more plentiful and less expensive, but making it difficult or dangerous for students 

to walk or bike to school. The resulting traffic at school arrival and dismissal times 

worsens the problem 

As discussed in other parts of this section, there are numerous transportation projects 

planned or proposed for Dunn County, which will potentially impact pedestrian traffic. 

Some communities in the County may have adopted pedestrian or sidewalk plans, 

pedestrian facilities are more often addressed by communities in a less-comprehensive 

fashion as part of their subdivision design process or outdoor recreation planning. 

A federal program, Safe Routes to School, is available to assist communities with 

planning, infrastructure improvements, enforcement, and education to make walking and 

biking to school safer, and to encourage students to do so. In the 2007 grant cycle, the 

first for the program in Wisconsin, The Village of Elk Mound received a planning grant, 

and the City of Menomonie and the Town of Red Cedar were awarded infrastructure 

grants, both for trail development to schools. No grants were received within Dunn 

County in the 2008 grant cycle. 

Safety 

Over the past ten years, Dunn County has seen significant increase in traffic volumes, 

however, reported crashes have remained fairly constant. Crashes are up nearly 20 

percent, overall, though injuries and fatalities have remained relatively constant (See 

Table 3.7 and Figure 3.1). Crashes on local roads have increased most dramatically, 

approximately thirty-nine percent from 1998 to 2007. This may be due to the growth in 

the increase in numbers of vehicles on local roads with limited capacity. The number of 

reported crashes involving bicycles or pedestrians is small, making trending difficult. It 

is generally accepted that the actual occurrence of bicycle and pedestrian crashes far 

outnumbers those that are reported. The annual count of crashes for municipalities in the 

County, from 2003 to 2007, is shown on Table 3.8. 


Table 3.7 – Dunn County Crash History (1998-2007) 

Data Item 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

All Crashes 1146 1198 1215 1112 1180 1174 1189 1190 1141 1132 

On State Hwys 676 782 709 659 728 710 748 726 672 692 

On County Hwys 210 138 218 215 215 226 224 210 235 216 

On Local Roads 260 278 288 238 237 238 217 254 234 224 

Total Injuries 456 420 471 419 408 9 13 7 5 5 

Total Fatalities 8 5 5 7 7 478 457 421 370 322 

Bicycle crashes 6 10 9 5 6 7 7 7 12 8 

Pedestrian crashes 6 2 7 5 5 7 11 6 5 9 

source: Wisconsin Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory; WisTransPortal Crash Database; Crash Data Retrieval Facility, 

Version 1.1.3, July 16, 2008. 

Figure 3.1 – Dunn County Crashes by Highway Type (1998-2007) 

number of crashes 

1000 

800 

600 

400 

200 

0 

Total Crashes by Highway Type (1998-2007) 

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

years 

source: Wisconsin Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory; WisTransPortal Crash Database; Crash Data Retrieval Facility, 

Version 1.1.3, July 16, 2008. 

On State Hwys 

On County Hwys 

On Local Roads 


Table 3.8 - Highway Crashes by Municipality 

Municipality 2003 2004 2005 2006 

2007 

T. Colfax 32 33 30 36 38 

T. Dunn 42 38 45 43 29 

T. Eau Galle 14 5 13 14 13 

T. Elk Mound 88 89 107 95 102 

T. Grant 11 9 10 10 12 

T. Hay River 41 21 28 35 30 

T. Lucas 64 87 89 78 83 

T. Menomonie 111 130 144 139 115 

T. New Haven 24 17 24 23 21 

T. Otter Creek 12 14 14 12 10 

T. Peru 12 6 6 7 4 

T. Red Cedar 73 72 75 67 85 

T. Rock Creek 26 18 19 23 13 

T. Sand Creek 20 14 12 11 15 

T. Sheridan 21 20 19 12 21 

T. Sherman 30 28 29 33 21 

T. Spring Brook 47 58 62 56 49 

T. Stanton 26 12 19 23 25 

T. Tainter 48 68 52 44 49 

T. Tiffany 26 26 10 25 16 

T. Weston 23 19 17 21 13 

T. Wilson 17 17 17 21 22 

V. Boyceville 8 12 10 11 6 

V. Colfax 3 13 12 3 5 

V. Downing 0 5 3 1 4 

V. Elk Mound 8 10 4 8 8 

V. Knapp 4 4 3 1 1 

V. Ridgeland 7 2 3 2 1 

V. Wheeler 6 3 6 4 4 

C. Menomonie 330 339 308 283 317 

Totals 1174 1189 1190 1141 1132 

source: Wisconsin Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory; WisTransPortal Crash Database; 

Crash Data Retrieval Facility, Version 1.1.3, July 16, 2008. 


Commuting Patterns 

Residents of Dunn County are employed in a wide array of locations, within their own 

community, elsewhere in the County, in other Wisconsin and Minnesota counties (See 

Table 3.9). Of the 20,248 employed residents reported, over one third (35.91%) work in 

the city, village, or town in which they reside. This would include those that work at 

home and on family farms. Just less than 30 percent of workers reported that they work 

in a Dunn County community other than the one in which they reside. Another 30 

percent work in other Wisconsin counties includes 7.6 percent of employed Dunn County 

residents, with Eau Claire employing the highest percent, at 13.56 percent. Only five 

percent of working Dunn County residents commute to a job in Minnesota. 

Railroads 

Rail service is an important component of the local economic market. Many industries 

prefer to have direct access to rail service. Rail service in Dunn County is provided by 

two railroads as shown on Map 3.8. 

The Union Pacific (UP) Railroad operates the former Chicago-Northwestern mainline 

between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chicago. This line serves the Dunn County 

communities of Elk Mound, Menomonie Junction, and Knapp. The Wisconsin Central 

Limited (WCL) line to the north provides shipper connections in Minnesota for the 

communities of Colfax, Wheeler, and Boyceville. 

No passenger rail service is currently available. However, a group of local governments 

and business leaders are working together as the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition 

to promote passenger rail service between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Chicago with a route 

through West Central Wisconsin. 


Table 3.9 – Commuting Patterns of Dunn County Residents by Municipality 

Community of Work Trip Origin 

Menomonie 

City 

Boyceville 

Colfax 

Downing 

Elk Mound 

Villages 

Knapp 

Ridgeland 

Wheeler 

Colfax 

Dunn 

Eau Galle 

Elk Mound 

96 Transportation Information 

Grant 

Destination w/in origin 

community 

4956 96 183 24 60 26 25 17 103 162 87 95 90 49 70 320 59 25 13 147 77 76 52 57 109 47 94 53 61 38 7271 

Destination outside community; 

w/in Dunn County 

Destinations in 

other Wisconsin 

counties 

Destinations in 

Minnesota counties 

Other 

Total by home community 

Hay River 

Lucas 

456 175 180 30 108 77 25 65 199 400 100 152 94 159 208 861 82 109 22 546 35 74 82 245 229 181 716 125 117 98 5950 

Ashland 2 2 

Barron 18 12 3 41 8 4 2 3 5 5 1 22 8 4 2 91 44 7 4 5 1 62 352 

Brown 8 1 1 1 2 2 15 

Buffalo 6 2 9 3 5 1 8 2 11 6 1 1 1 56 

Burnett 2 2 4 

Calumet 1 2 2 5 

Chippewa 95 42 3 13 2 2 35 19 2 36 17 1 10 2 4 2 16 26 43 7 6 28 21 6 2 12 452 

Clark 14 3 2 1 20 

Columbia 9 5 2 16 

Dane 45 4 2 2 2 2 57 

Douglas 6 6 

Eau Claire 591 28 91 246 12 4 15 123 71 25 267 39 8 8 170 7 31 47 132 259 32 7 41 279 9 158 10 23 13 2746 

Fond du Lac 2 2 4 

Green Lake 8 8 

Jackson 12 3 2 2 19 

Jefferson 12 12 

La Crosse 23 7 30 

Langlade 1 1 

Lincoln 24 6 1 31 

Manitowoc 12 1 5 18 

Marathon 28 3 31 

Milwaukee 2 3 5 

Menominee 6 2 1 9 

Monroe 5 2 7 

Oconto 7 7 

Oneida 2 1 3 

Outagamie 1 1 

Pepin 20 2 1 6 51 2 15 14 5 9 10 1 4 4 144 

Pierce 81 8 2 8 4 3 20 92 5 8 13 2 2 2 5 18 3 2 2 9 4 44 337 

Polk 4 2 5 2 30 2 4 3 6 8 3 69 

Portage 10 2 3 15 

Price 7 3 10 

Richland 2 1 3 

Rock 2 2 

Rusk 1 2 3 

St. Croix 376 94 16 51 11 75 2 20 6 27 31 12 21 45 103 71 51 2 5 26 42 5 79 59 67 40 12 1349 

Sauk 2 3 2 7 

Sawyer 28 1 9 38 

Taylor 5 1 6 

Trempealeau 5 2 2 5 2 5 2 23 

Washburn 2 1 3 

Waukesha 5 5 10 

Waupaca 9 9 

Winnebago 15 2 9 2 28 

Wood 2 2 3 7 

Anoka 6 2 4 4 4 20 

Carver 22 2 2 26 

Dakota 48 2 3 5 2 5 5 3 2 1 3 5 2 1 6 2 2 9 3 2 111 

Goodhue 22 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 39 

Hennepin 149 2 2 3 2 5 8 7 2 9 12 3 19 18 6 4 2 5 11 4 9 20 1 4 307 

Marshall 2 2 4 

McLeod 2 4 6 

Mille Lacs 2 2 

Olmsted 4 1 5 

Ramsey 79 4 5 11 6 2 13 2 6 2 2 7 39 11 2 15 7 7 2 9 20 6 10 267 

Rice 7 7 

St. Louis 3 3 

Scott 2 2 4 

Wabasha 9 2 2 2 3 4 3 2 2 29 

Washington 73 15 4 1 2 2 1 5 11 14 5 2 1 6 8 6 156 

Winona 5 2 3 2 12 

Wright 6 6 

7 2 2 12 2 3 2 3 8 2 43 

source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census Transportation Planning Package, 2000. 

Menomonie 

7330 454 542 133 453 220 103 144 489 750 412 577 262 280 375 1582 329 193 114 951 462 333 249 423 697 360 1159 311 313 248 20248 

New Haven 

Otter Creek 

Peru 

Red Cedar 

Towns 

Rock Creek 

Sand Creek 

Sheridan 

Sherman 

Spring Brook 

Stanton 

Tainter 

Tiffany 

Weston 

Wilson 

Total by workplace

Map 3.8 - Railroad Ownership in West Central Wisconsin 

Intermodal Facilities 

source: excerpted from “Wisconsin Railroads-2006” map, Bureau of Planning, WisDOT, (January, 2006); and Wisconsin Rail Issues and Opportunities 

Report, WisDOT, 2004. 


Air Transportation 

WisDOT Bureau of Aeronautics uses an airport classification scheme which is based on 

the size and speed of planes accommodated, in addition to the role or function of the 

airport. The resulting classifications are: 

Table 3.10 Airport Classifications 

Airport 

Classification Intended use Type of Plane 

Air Carrier/Cargo 

(AC/C) 

Short-haul 

Medium-haul 

Long-haul 

Transport/Corporate 

(T/C) 

scheduled, nonstop, airline markets and 

routes of less than 500 miles 


routes of between 500 and 1,500 miles 


routes of over 1,500 miles 

corporate/business, passenger and cargo 

regional service, and commuter air 

service 

virtually all aircraft up to and, in some 

cases, including, wide body jets and large 

military transports 

Typical 

Runway 

Length 

less than 60,000 pounds 6,500-7,800 ft 

60,000 to 300,000 pounds 7,800-8,800 ft 

more than 300,000 pounds 8,800-9,800 ft 

corporate, small passenger, and cargo jets 

(piston or turboprop) less than 60,000 

pounds, with approach speeds below 141 

knots and wingspans of less than 118 feet 

General Utility (GU) business, charter flying, and personal use 

small general aviation single and twinengine 

aircraft, both piston and 

turboprop; 12,500 pounds or less 

Basic Utility (BU) 

business, charter flying, recreational and 

sport flying, training, and crop dusting 

small single-engine piston aircraft and 

many of the smaller twin-engine piston 

aircraft 

Basic Utility-B 

(BU-B) 

" 

less than 12,500 pounds; approach 

speeds below 121 knots; wingspans of 

less than 49 feet 

Basic Utility-A 

(BU-A) 

" 

less than 6,000 pounds; approach speeds 

below 91 knots; wingspans of less than 

49 feet 

source Wisconsin Siate Airport System Plan 2020 – Summary Report, pp. 4-5, WisDOT: 

4,800-6,800 ft 

3,900-4,800 ft 

2,800-3,900 ft 

There are two public airports and one publicly-owned seaplane base in Dunn County. 

Boyceville Municipal Airport is classified as a Basic Utility-B (BU-B) airport with an 

asphalt runway, 3,300 feet in length. 

The Menomonie Municipal Airport is a Transport/Corporate classification airport owned 

by the City of Menomonie. The airport has two runways. Its east-west runway is 5,100' 

x 75' and the north-south runway is 3,470' x 75' with a full length parallel taxiway on the 

east-west runway; both are hard surfaced. It is located on the east edge of the city, 

adjacent to the industrial park. A number companies located in the industrial park utilize 

the airport for their business flight needs. 

98 Transportation Information 

" 

"

Upcoming projects for both airports are included in the WisDOT Airport Improvement 

Plan 2008-2012 (See Table 3.10 for listing of major projects). The 2008 construction 

projects are underway or completed, and not listed here. 

Table 3.10 - Major Airport Improvement Projects 

Water Transportation 

There is no significant passenger or freight water transportation in Dunn County. The 

nearest commercial port is in Duluth-Superior on Lake Superior located approximately 

100 miles north. Water transportation within the County is primarily recreational in 

nature (e.g., canoeing, fishing, water-skiing) occurring throughout the County on its 

rivers and lakes. 

Summary 

Airport 

Boyceville Municipal Airport 

Construction 

Year Scheduled Improvements 

Land acquisition -- 2nd hangar "island" parcel 

2009 Design rwy extension & hangar area 

development 

2010 

2011 

Construct hangar taxiway extentions, expand 

apron, & construct access road including 

intersection; construct parking lot 

design twys, apron, access road, & parking lot; 

construct SRE building; feasibility study and 

ALP update; purchase SRE 

2012 

Extend rwy to 3800'; develop hangar area, incl. 

Med. Intensity Rwy Lighting System (MIRL) & 

equipment relocation; land reimbursement 

Construct terminal building 

2009 Land acquisition and obstruction removal in SE 

quadrant 

Menomonie Municipal Airport 

2010 

Environmental assessment & design for approach 

lighting system 

2011 Install approach lighting system (MALSF) 

2012 Design reconst/strengthen/widen runway 9/27 

source: 5-Year Airport Improvement Program, WisDOT Bureau of Aeronautics, (February, 2008). 

Dunn County’s highway system is well-developed and maintained, and serves 

automobile users particularly well, though traffic volumes are increasing over much of 

the County. The availability of other modes of transportation such as transit, bicycle, and 

pedestrian facilities may not be meeting needs as more people use these modes out of 

necessity, environmental concerns, convenience, or for health reasons. 


Key to the future of transportation in and around Dunn County over the next several 

decades are increasing commuter traffic, aging of the population, the rising cost of 

operating a vehicle, and changing technology. 

The following summarizes the existing conditions and trends of transportation in Dunn 

County: 

• There are 1,754 miles of public road in Dunn County, under the jurisdiction of the 

State of Wisconsin, the County, or local governments. 

• Traffic volumes in Dunn County have been generally increasing, but little 

additional congestion is anticipated between now and 2020. 

• Vehicle crashes on public roadways remained fairly constant over the past 10 

years, despite increasing volumes 

• WisDOT’s six year highway plan includes between $50,000,000 and $70,000,000 

in projects within Dunn County. 

• There are 242 bridges in Dunn County, fifteen of which (6.2 percent) are 

classified as either functionally obsolete or structurally deficient. This does not 

mean that they are unsafe for travel. 

• There is no public transportation available to the general public in Dunn County. 

• Disabled Elderly Transportation (DET) provides demand-response transit for 

elderly and disabled persons within the City of Menomonie, and coordinates a 

volunteer driver program throughout the County. 

• Jefferson Lines offers daily intra-city bus service between the Twin Cities and 

Green Bay, with a number of stops along Interstate 94 and WIS 29, including 

Menomonie. 

• The Dunn County Board recently endorsed the Dunn County Comprehensive 

Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathways Plan is a supplement to the Dunn 

Comprehensive and the Dunn County Outdoor Recreation Plans to address long 

range transportation and recreational issues over the next twenty years. 

• Just over one-third of employed persons living in Dunn County work in the same 

town, village, or city where they live; 30 percent work in a different Dunn County 

community; and 30 percent work in another Wisconsin county. This leaves 

approximately 5 percent of employed persons commuting to jobs in Minnesota. 

• Two active rail lines transverse the County—Union Pacific railroad and 

Wisconsin Central Limited. No passenger service is available, though such 

service is being promoted by the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition. 

• Dunn County has two public airports: Boyceville Municipal Airport, a basic 

utility airport, and Menomonie Municipal Airport, a Transport/Corporate Airport. 

Neither of the airports have any commercial passenger service. There are a 

number of projects programmed for both airports over the next five years (See 

Table 3.10). 


4. UTILITIES AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES 

INFORMATION 


Utilities and community facilities provide the foundation on which a community is built 

and maintained. Utilities include sanitary sewer, storm sewer and water systems, and 

electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, and solid waste disposal systems. 

Community facilities include parks, schools, health and safety services, and libraries, 

among other things. Utilities and community facilities contribute to the quality of life in 

Dunn County and affect the community’s ability to attract and retain residents, visitors, 

businesses, and industries. 

The State of Wisconsin Comprehensive Planning Law (§66.1001) requires that 

comprehensive plans include a “compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and 

programs to guide the future development of utilities and community facilities in the 

local governmental unit”. 

The draft Dunn County Comprehensive Land Use Plan completed by Dunn County 

Planning in 2008 provides an inventory of many of the key utilities and community 

facilities in the county, in particular from the county perspective. This section of the 

WCWRPC Dunn County Conditions and Trends Report supplements the county’s 

comprehensive plan with some additional utilities and community facilities information 

which may also be valuable to some local planning efforts. 

Since the availability, condition, and capacity of utilities and community facilities often 

change, and since much of this information is only available at a local level, any such 

inventory may need to be further supplemented during county and local planning efforts. 

Communities will need to individually determine if their facilities meet the needs, 

demand, vision, and goals of their respective plans and residents. 

Even so, the county’s plan and this supplemental inventory together should provide the 

bulk of the community facility and utility background information needed for 

comprehensive planning in rural communities where public utilities and facilities are 

more limited. 


Inventory of Utilities 

While this subsection provides a basic inventory of utilities, a more detailed discussion of 

related issues, needs, and policies related to the provision of utilities within a community 

can be found in the utilities and community facilities element of each individual 

community’s comprehensive plan. 

Sanitary Sewer and Wastewater Treatment 

Several major federal laws have been enacted over the past 100 years to protect our 

nation’s waters, and each of these laws imposed subsequently greater restrictions upon 

the discharge of pollution into lakes, rivers, and streams. With the passage of the 1972 

Clean Water Act, all discharges of pollution required a permit, the use of best 

management practices was encouraged, and billions of dollars were provided to construct 

sewage treatment plants. 

Seven Dunn County communities and two sanitary districts have collection and treatment 

facilities for the proper treatment of wastewater (see Table 4.1). 

Table 4.1 - Municipal Wastewater Systems in Dunn County 

Municipality/District 

Village of Boyceville 

Village of Colfax 

Village of Elk Mound 

Village of Knapp 

Village of Ridgeland 

Village of Wheeler 

City of Menomonie 

Downsville Sanitary District #1 

Sand Creek Sanitary District #1 

source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 

Monthly 

Design Flow 

(GPD) 

Monthly 

Average Flow 

(GPD) 

Construction 

Year 

This data is currently not available via the Wisconsin DNR database. 

For more information, please contact the community’s public works 

department or engineering firm. 

Sanitary sewer service to the Village of Downing is made available through the 

Glenwood City wastewater treatment facility in St. Croix County. The City of 

Menomonie and portions of the Towns of Menomonie, Red Cedar, and Tainter are within 

a sewer service planning area for sanitary sewer extensions with Dunn County Land 

Conservation being the local planning agency. For more information on sewer service 

area planning, please refer to the Addendum: Inventory of Programs, Plans, and Land 

Use Policies in West Central Wisconsin developed by West Central Wisconsin Regional 

Planning Commission. 

102 Utilities and Community Facilities Information

Figure 4.1 – Typical Septic System 

source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems, rev. March 2005. 

On-Site Septic Systems 

Nearly all development in Dunn 

County that is not located in a city, 

village, or sanitary district shown in 

Table 4.1 uses private on-site sewer 

systems. These systems can be 

divided into three basic types, with 

pretreatment increasing in use: 

In-Ground Gravity Systems – Most 

systems in Dunn County include a 

gravity flow design where waste flows 

from the home to the septic tank and 

from the septic tank into a soil 

absorption field (see Figure 4.1). The 

wastewater is purified as it moves 

down through the soil and into the 

groundwater. 

Pressurized Systems – Typically, pressurized systems can either be a mound, at-grade, 

or in-ground. These systems either add a lift pump to pump the storage chamber or 

incorporate a mound absorption area to increase soil depth for purification purposes. 

For all conventional systems, a soil depth of at least three feet is needed to adequately 

purify the wastewater before it discharges into the groundwater. As noted in Chapter 5 

some areas of the naturally occurring soil in Dunn County is unsuitable for proper 

operation of in-ground gravity or pressurized on-site sewer systems; therefore, when new 

systems are constructed, it is common for soil to be imported to the site to help ensure 

that the new system operates properly. 

Holding Tank Systems – Lots along lakeshores and in areas of high groundwater tables 

often lack the required soil depth or drain field area requirements for conventional septic 

systems. As a result, residents may be using a holding tank to dispose of their 

wastewater. A holding tank is an underground storage unit with no outlet into the soil. 

The contents of the tank must be pumped regularly and transferred to a proper disposal 

facility. This type of waster disposal system is particularly prevalent in lakefront 

development areas where lot sizes prohibit full septic systems. 

Pretreatment systems have been gaining in popularity for difficult sites or poor soils, or 

when an existing private septic system is failing on a small lot. Larger commercial 

operations in areas without municipal sewer may also be required to pre-treat wastewater. 

These systems reduce the high levels of organic matter through aeration by treating 

wastewater in conjunction with a standard gravity or pressurized system. 


The Wisconsin Department of Commerce (COMM) regulates the siting, design, 

installation and inspection of most private on-site sewage systems in the state. In 2000, 

the state adopted a revised private system policy called COMM 83. The revised policy 

allows for conventional sewage systems and advanced pre-treatment sewage systems. 

There are several types of on-site disposal system designs authorized for use today: 

conventional (underground), mound, pressure distribution, at-grade holding tank, and 

sand filter systems. Sanitary permits are required under state law. To obtain a permit, 

one must contact a Wisconsin-licensed master plumber who will complete the necessary 

forms and obtain the sanitary permit. The plumber is also responsible for installing the 

private sewage system. 

Under COMM 83, Wisconsin counties can further regulate private on-site waste disposal 

systems through a sanitary code. Dunn County has adopted the Dunn County Private 

On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance which is enforced through the County 

Zoning Department. 

The Wisconsin Fund administered by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce provides 

funding assistance to eligible landowners for the replacement or rehabilitation of failing 

private on-site wastewater treatment systems. 

Water Supply 

In the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act, Congress mandated that safe drinking water be 

provided to and paid for by the consumer. Today, Wisconsin water providers must 

provide an abundant water supply to their customers that is not only safe, but also free of 

objectionable taste and odor, turbidity, and staining elements. While the amount of water 

treatment varies from community to community, water is typically treated for corrosion 

control, disinfection, and fluoridation prior to consumption. 

Dunn County communities receive their water from groundwater sources. Groundwater 

sources in the area include drilled wells, dug wells, and screened wells with and without 

gravel packs. Drilled wells are typically the deepest wells and access large aquifers that 

are lower than the aquifers tapped for shallow private wells. Dug wells are considered 

the least desirable type, as they lack the 60-foot casing and cement grout now required of 

newly constructed wells to prevent contamination. Most dug wells in the area have been 

replaced. 


Table 4.2 shows the active municipal and community water supply systems in Dunn 

County. 

Table 4.2 – Municipal and Community Water Systems in Dunn County 

System Name/Owner 

Municipality or 

P.O. Address 

Approx. 

Population 

Served 

# of Wells 

Boyceville Waterworks Village of Boyceville 1,043 2 

Colfax Waterworks Village of Colfax 1,155 3 

Downsville Sanitary District Downsville (unincorp.) 150 2 

Elk Mound Waterworks Village of Elk Mound 810 2 

Knapp Waterworks Village of Knapp 458 2 

Menomonie Waterworks City of Menomonie 14,055 3 

Wheeler Waterworks Assoc. Village of Wheeler 317 1 

Bechards Mobile Home Park N14151 State Hwy 25 57 1 

Birch Terrace Mobile Home Community Menomonie area 700 2 

Cedar Falls Acres Mobile Home Park P.O. Box 717 147 1 

Countryside Mobile Homes 320 East 23 rd Avenue 50 1 

Marell Country Estates E8784 555 th St. #140 150 1 

River Villa Mobile Home Court Menomonie area 60 2 

Shady Oaks Mobile Home Park N3671 State Hwy 25 S. 40 1 

Tainter Woods Condominiums Menomonie area 85 1 

source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Drinking Water System database as of 7/30/08 

With the exception of the population served by public systems identified in Table 4.2, the 

far majority of remaining Dunn County residents depend on individual private wells for 

their water supply needs. These wells draw water from the upper aquifer, which can be 

more susceptible to contamination. 

Water storage facilities are classified as pressure tanks, ground reservoirs, or elevated 

storage tanks. The majority of public water storage facilities in the area are elevated 

storage facilities such as water towers. The capacity of the elevated storage facilities is a 

critical component of providing adequate fire protection via fire hydrants and related 

facilities. Capacity issues regarding water storage will be addressed in individual 

comprehensive planning and capital improvements planning efforts. 

Stormwater Management 

Stormwater management is important in order to reduce or prevent soil erosion, mitigate 

flooding, and limit run-off of pollutants, nutrients, and sediment to water bodies. 

Communities approach stormwater management in a wide variety of ways and solutions 

are often site specific. 

For most of Dunn County, as well as for most rural areas in the state, stormwater 

facilities are limited to ditches along roadways, combined with culverts under roads and 

drives. Many farmers also use drainage tile in their fields to drain stormwater in low 

areas. More developed areas, villages, and cities have a varying range of ditches, storm 


water retention areas, curb and gutter, and storm sewer. Most systems in both urban and 

rural settings use a combination of engineered stormwater solutions and natural 

approaches which take advantage of existing swales, creeks, ponds, or other potential 

storage areas. 

Currently, municipalities in Census-defined urbanized areas and municipalities with more 

than 10,000 population are required by state and federal law 2 to develop a stormwater 

program with measurable goals, required permitting, and educational efforts for 

municipal-owned stormwater conveyances which discharge to public waters. West 

central Wisconsin includes only one census-defined urbanized area (consisting of fifteen 

municipalities total) in the Eau Claire/Chippewa Falls area. Outside of this urbanized 

area, only the cities of Hudson and Menomonie exceed the 10,000 population threshold 

in our region. 

State law also requires landowners to develop an erosion control plan and obtain 

necessary Wisconsin DNR erosion control and stormwater discharge permits for all 

construction sites where one or more acres of land will be disturbed. The exceptions to 

this are for public buildings and Wisconsin DOT projects which have special regulations. 

The lack of a federal or state mandate does not limit a municipality’s ability to plan for or 

regulate stormwater. The county’s subdivision regulations cover all unincorporated areas 

of the county and include a site plan review process with stormwater management 

requirements and erosion controls. In addition, most villages and many towns have 

adopted subdivision regulations which may include stormwater management 

requirements. All Dunn County incorporated municipalities are zoned, and may also 

have erosion control regulations and stormwater management practices as part of their 

zoning ordinances. 

Cities, villages, and towns with village powers may create a stormwater utility that is 

responsible for maintaining and managing the surface water management system. 

Stormwater utilities have the ability to charge fees to generate revenue to support these 

activities. A stormwater management plan describes community-wide surface water 

management needs. This local tool is useful in determining actions to improve surface 

water quality and stormwater detention storage needs. Stormwater detention facilities are 

typically ponds that collect storm water and help prevent damage caused by large 

rainfalls and small-scale flooding. According to a Wisconsin Chapter of the American 

Public Works Association survey, only the City of Menomonie in Dunn County has 

created a stormwater utility or has adopted associated user changes. Most communities 

engage in some level of stormwater management planning, typically as part of project or 

capital improvements budgeting. 

2 Rules applicable to stormwater management can be found in the Federal Clean Water Act and Chapter 

NR 216, Wis. Admin. Code and are regulated through the EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 

System (NPDES) and permitted under the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES). 

More information can be found at: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/runoff/stormwater.htm. 


State funding for local governments is available to address land management activities 

which contribute to urban and rural runoff in priority watershed areas. A large area of 

northern Dunn County falls within the Hay River and South Fork Hay River Priority 

Watersheds for which projects have been completed. 

Stormwater flooding and shoreline erosion has been an increasing concern in Dunn 

County. The Dunn County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan identifies stormwater 

flooding issues and “hotspots” for the county. And in 2003, the county compiled the 

Dunn County Riverway Corridor Protection Compendium focusing on water quality and 

shoreline erosion control measures. The recommendations of these plans may be useful 

for local comprehensive planning efforts. 

Telecommunications Facilities 

In broad terms, telecommunications facilities allow users to communicate and share data 

over long geographic distances. Telecommunications facilities and networks are critical 

components to public safety, economic development, and quality of life. Inventorying 

telecommunications facilities is difficult given the quickly changing nature of 

technology, ever-expanding service areas, and the multitude of providers in a deregulated 

market. Further, detailed service area maps for all telecommunication options are not 

available. Communities may need to identify their specific telecommunications issues 

and goals, prior to obtaining specific information and maps from their local 

telecommunications providers. 

With the adoption of the 1996 Federal Telecommunications Act regulating wireless 

communications providers, local government action on telecommunications has 

commonly focused on wireless communications towers. Access to wireless, seamless 

communication networks is becoming increasingly important in the modern world. Due 

to the increase in use of wireless communication for public safety and business and 

personal use, constructing telecommunication towers is an issue that many municipalities 

are addressing more often than in the past. Dunn County has adopted a 

telecommunication/cell tower ordinance. 

Table 4.3 shows the telephone providers for Dunn County municipalities, some of which 

offer other telecommunications services, such as cable and Internet access. Large areas 

of Dunn County have access to broadband (high-speed) Internet via telephone or cable 

lines, though gaps do exist. Contrary to what one might expect, broadband availability is 

near 100 percent in some far southern and far northern portions of the county. As an 

alternative, some areas of the county may have broadband access via other means (e.g., 

satellite). 


Table 4.3 – Telephone Providers in Dunn County 

Municipality 

24-7 Telcom Inc 

Bloomer Telephone Company 

Charter Fiberlink, LLC 

Chibardun Telephone Cooperative, Inc. 

Clear Lake Telephone Company LLC 

source: Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Local Service Providers database as of 7/31/08 

Closecall America 

MCI Metro Access Trans Services, LLC 

Metropolitan Telecomm of Wisc., Inc. 

108 Utilities and Community Facilities Information 

Navigator Telecommunications LLC 

Nelson Telephone Cooperative 

Powercom Corporation 

Sage Telecom Inc 

Talk America, Inc. 

Telephone USA of Wiscconsin LLC 

West Wisconsin Telcom Coop Inc 

Wisconsin Bell Inc 

Towns 

Colfax X X X 

Dunn X X X X X X X 

Eau Galle X X 

Elk Mound X X X X X X X X 

Grant X X X 

Hay River X X X 

Lucas X X X X X X X 

Menomonie X X X X X X X 

New Haven X X X 

Otter Creek X X X 

Peru X X X 

Red Cedar X X X X X X X 

Rock Creek X X X X X X X X 

Sand Creek X 

Sheridan X X 

Sherman X X X X X X X 

Spring Brook X X X X X X X X 

Stanton X 

Tainter X X X X X X 

Tiffany X X 

Weston X X X X X X X X 

Wilson X X X 

Villages 

Boyceville X 

Colfax X X X 

Downing X 

Elk Mound X X X 

Knapp X X 

Ridgeland X 

Wheeler X X 

Cities 

Menomonie X X X X X X X X X X

Due to its high bandwidth and low data loss, fiber optic is preferred, if not required, for 

many technology businesses and information services. Fiber optic communicates by 

sending light through optical fiber as opposed to traditional electrical transmission by 

copper wire. Fiber optic does come with a higher price tag however, and is more difficult 

to splice into. For many communities, providing fiber optic service to their industrial or 

business park(s) is a priority. The economic development section of the Addendum: 

Inventory of Programs, Plans, and Land Use Policies in West Central Wisconsin 

compiled by WCWRPC as part of the regional comprehensive planning effort includes a 

table of the industrial parks in Dunn County and whether fiber optic is available. 

Power Plants, Substations, and Transmission Lines 

Power plants are industrial facilities that generate electricity for distribution to a large 

area. Substations are industrial installations at which electricity is received from one or 

more power stations for conversion from alternating to direct current, reducing the 

voltage or switching before distribution by a low-tension network for general 

consumption. 

Transmission lines are the largest electric lines on the landscape. These lines generate 

the most public interest because they are the most noticeable electric lines and because of 

the potential human and animal health side affects associated with them. Transmission 

lines transport electricity from power plants to substations and operate at several 

thousand volts (typically ranging from 46,000 to 345,000 volts), stand anywhere between 

60 and 100 feet tall, and serve several hundred thousand customers. 

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is the branch of the Wisconsin State government 

with the overall responsibility of regulating electric utilities. Map 4.2 at the end of this 

section shows the primary electric transmission lines, substations, and line owners in west 

central Wisconsin. If more specific information on power plants, substations, or 

transmission lines is needed, communities should contract the PSC, line owners, or their 

local electric utility. 

Electric Utilities 

Electric service is provided to Dunn County by Xcel Energy (Northern States Power Co.) 

and Dunn County Electric Cooperative. Approximate electric utility service areas for 

west central Wisconsin are included on Map 4.2 at the end of this section. 

Natural Gas Utilities 

Natural gas is provided to Dunn County by Wisconsin Gas Company and Xcel Energy. 

However, most of the rural areas of the county do not have access to natural gas. Map 

4.3 at the end of this section shows those communities which have natural gas service in 

west central Wisconsin and the natural gas transmission lines. Service areas are shown 

by town, though natural gas service may not be available in all areas shown. 


Inventory of Educational Facilities 

Dunn County residents are served by a wide assortment of educational facilities at the 

elementary, primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. In addition, some facilities 

offer preschool, kindergarten, special education, religious, business, industrial, trade, and 

vocational training. The specialized educational opportunities, such as Head Start, tend 

to be clustered in the larger communities. Overall, municipalities in the county generally 

have a limited role in the planning and function of educational facilities, primarily relying 

on the educational institution itself for required planning and operations. 

Non-Public Schools 

Four private schools serve Dunn County residents as shown in Table 4.4. All of these 

schools were located within the Menomonie School District area. The State database for 

schools are arranged by school district, rather than by county however. So, additional 

private schools may exist in Dunn County but are located in school districts 

headquartered outside the county. Local communities typically do not participate in the 

planning and function of these private schools. 

Table 4.4 – Private Schools in Dunn County (2008) 

Public School 

District Area Private Schools 

2008 

Enrollment 

Menomonie Area Immanuel Baptist Church School (K-12) 15 

source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction 

Menomonie Alliance Christian (K-8) 60 

St. Joseph’s Grade School (PK-6) 173 

St. Paul’s Lutheran School (PK-8) 87 


Public Schools 

Public education for grades K-12 is available for all Wisconsin residents. Table 4.5 lists 

the public school facilities for districts headquartered in Dunn County and their 2008 

enrollment. Ridgeland Elementary, with a 2008 enrollment of 96, is part of the Barron 

Area school district and not shown in Table 4.5. A school district map for Dunn County 

is included at the end of this section (see Map 4.4). 

Table 4.5 – Public Schools in Dunn County (2008) 

District 

Public Schools 

2008 

Enrollment 

Boyceville Community Boyceville Middle/High 370 

Tiffany Creek Elementary 447 

Colfax Academic Center 14 

Colfax Elementary 592 

Colfax High 241 

Elk Mound Area Mound View Elementary 447 

Elk Mound Middle 299 

Elk Mound High 316 

Menomonie Area Cedar Falls/Wakanda Elemty. 382 

Downsville Elementary 97 

Knapp Elementary 104 

Lucas Charter School 44 

Menomonie Middle 679 

Menomonie High 1,058 

Oaklawn Elementary 343 

River Heights Elementary 347 

Total Enrollment 5,780 

source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction 


Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESAs) 

CESA agencies were established in 1965 to replace county school supervisors. The 

state’s 12 regional CESAs offer a variety of leadership and program services that link the 

state’s 428 school districts with each other and with the Department of Public Instruction. 

CESA’s provide specific programs identified by school districts as priorities; often 

several schools jointly share CESA services. All public schools in Dunn County shown 

in Table 4.5 fall within CESA District #11 which is located in Turtle Lake. 

Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education 

Wisconsin has a very strong technical college system that works closely with industry, 

businesses, and the public sector to provide practical workforce training in a wide variety 

of fields. The state is divided into sixteen vocational districts with a technical college 

serving each district with a variety of classes, seminars, and vocational degree programs. 

Map 4.1 – Vocational Districts in the Region 

source: Wisconsin Technical College System webpage. 

http://www.wtcsystem.edu/colleges.htm 

Technical college programs include 

apprenticeships, staff development, 

agriculture, marketing, driver education, 

health careers, law enforcement, home 

economics, trade and industrial, and 

adult education. Also, clinics and 

seminars are held throughout the year. 

Dunn County is located within the 

Chippewa Valley Technical College 

(CTVC) vocational district (see Map 

4.1) which has campuses in Chippewa 

Falls, Eau Claire, Menomonie, River 

Falls, and an outreach center in 

Neillsville. CVTC’s enrollment for 

credit courses was 8,855 in 2007-2008, 

while noncredit enrollment was 10,741. 

Some residents may also attend classes at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College 

which has regional campuses in New Richmond, Rice Lake, Ashland, and Superior with 

branch campuses in Hayward and Ladysmith and an outreach center in Spooner. Total 

2007-2008 WITC enrollment for credit courses was 7,382, while noncredit enrollment 

exceeded 20,000. 


University of Wisconsin System 

The University of Wisconsin system of public universities consists of two doctoral 

research universities (UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee), eleven comprehensive 

universities, thirteen two-year colleges, and the Statewide UW-Extension system. 

West central Wisconsin is particularly blessed with three comprehensive universities, 

being home to UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout (Menomonie), and UW-River Falls (see Table 

4.6). Of the thirteen University of Wisconsin colleges in the state offering associates 

degrees, UW-Barron County located in Rice Lake is the only one located in west central 

Wisconsin. Residents may also access associates-degree programming via the Internetbased 

UW Colleges Online. 

Table 4.6 – Enrollment of UW Campuses in West Central Wisconsin 

Campus 

1998-99 

Enrollment 

2007-08 

Enrollment 

% change 

UW-Eau Claire 10852 10854 0.02% 

UW-River Falls 5617 6452 14.87% 

UW-Stout 7731 8477 9.65% 

UW-Barron County 491 606 23.42% 

source: University of Wisconsin system 

University of Wisconsin-Extension partners closely with county governments to provide 

supportive services to all residents, businesses, and governments. This is a very active 

expression of the “Wisconsin Idea”, which is a philosophy that the University of 

Wisconsin System is a partner in improving the quality of life of all Wisconsin residents 

through education. 

Other Colleges and Universities 

There are no independent colleges or universities located in west central Wisconsin 

which are fully accredited, degree-granting, and a member of the Wisconsin Association 

of Independent Colleges and Universities. 


Inventory of Other Community Facilities and Services 

This sub-section supplements the draft Dunn County Comprehensive Land Use Plan by 

providing countywide information on community facilities and services, with the 

exception of library, fire department, ambulance, and first responder services which were 

adequately covered in the draft county plan. 

In most cases, the planning and operations of the following community facilities and 

services occurs at the local or facility level. Often, the local community may only be 

marginally involved, with most planning and operational decisions made by the private 

entity that operates the facility or provides the service. As such, the majority of the 

specific circumstances, needs, issues, or policies associated with these community 

facilities and services are addressed in the individual community plans and not in this 

conditions and trends report. 

Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Facilities 

Solid waste is commonly referred to as garbage, trash, refuse or rubbish. Solid waste 

disposal is one of the more expensive community investments made. An adequate solid 

waste disposal system is important in attracting business and industry. Industry usually 

generates more waste than residential uses, and all generated solid waste requires proper 

disposal. 

Dunn County coordinates solid waste/garbage collection for all of Dunn County, except 

the City of Menomonie and the Towns of Eau Galle, Hay River, Sand Creek, and 

Stanton. Collection stations for those communities participating in the county solid waste 

collection program are: 

Boyceville Area Collection Station 

Colfax Area Collection Station 

Connorsville Area Collection Station 

Downsville Area Collection Station 

Elk Mound Area Collection Station 

Ridgeland Area Collection Station 

Rock Creek Area Collection Station 

Dunn County is the recycling responsibility unit for the entire county, except the Towns 

of Eau Galle, Hay River, and Stanton. Residents in communities participating in the 

county program may drop off recyclables at one of the collection stations listed above or 

at the Transfer Station Recycling Center in Menomonie or at the Sand Creek Area 

Recycling Drop-Off Site. Dunn County has contracted with private haulers for curbside 

recycling in the City of Menomonie, Village of Colfax, Village of Ridgeland, and Birch 

Terrace. 


Dunn County has adopted a waste control ordinance and a 

solid waste collection and transportation ordinance. 

Mandatory separation of recyclable materials is required in 

those municipalities for which it is the responsibility unit. In 

1992, the county established the Dunn County Solid Waste 

and Recycling Management Board to monitor and coordinate 

such services in the county. 

The county maintains an excellent webpage at the county’s 

website (http://dunncountywi.govoffice2.com/) covering the 

county’s recycling program, including what can be recycled, drop-off locations, and 

contact information. 

Dunn County’s recycling program webpage also includes information on the county’s 

special collection services. As state grant assistance allows, Dunn County conducts a 

combined household/agricultural “Clean Sweep” to provide residents a safe means of 

disposing hazardous chemicals, paints, solvents, etc. Small businesses, non-profits, and 

governmental agencies may also be eligible to participate in the Very Small Quantity 

Generator (VSQG) Program, which offers an inexpensive option for the disposal of 

hazardous waste. 

For more information on recycling in Dunn County, please contact the Dunn County 

Solid Waste Division (715-232-4017) or visit their webpage. 

Law Enforcement 

Law enforcement services fall under the statewide Wisconsin mutual aid agreement, with 

additional support and coordination through Wisconsin Emergency Management— 

Emergency Police Services in times of crisis. Overall, most planning and operations 

related to law enforcement occurs at the local level, though there is a high level of 

coordination with the county on communications and overall emergency management 

concerns. The following constitute the primary law enforcement agencies in Dunn 

County: 

� Boyceville Police Dept. – P.O. Box 234, Boyceville 54725 

� Colfax Police Dept. – P.O. Box 417, Colfax 54730 

� Elk Mound Police Dept. – P.O. Box 188, Elk Mound 54739 

� Knapp Police Dept. – Village Hall, Knapp 54746 

� Menomonie Police Dept. – 615 Stokke Parkway, Suite G200, Menomonie 54751 

� Wheeler Police Dept. – Village Hall, Wheeler 54772 

� Sand Creek Constable – E9177 CTH “V”, New Auburn 54757 

� Dunn Co. Sheriff’s Dept. – 615 Stokke Parkway, Suite G300, Menomonie 54751 

� UW-Stout Police Dept. – 817 South Broadway, Room 110, Menomonie 54751 

� Wisconsin State Patrol 

Dunn County Emergency Management provides additional support to the county’s 

emergency response providers and local governments through emergency operations 


planning, training, coordination, crisis response, and recovery. In addition to county and 

local emergency operating plans which encompass the entire county, the Dunn County 

Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan was adopted in 2007 which identifies proactive 

strategies to mitigate the potential impacts of a natural hazard event. 

Hazardous Materials Response 

Dunn County has a County Level “B” Hazardous Materials Response Team. The Team 

may be activated for any incident involving a hazardous materials release, leak, 

explosion, injury or potential of immediate threat to life, the environment, or property. 

County or "Level B" Teams respond to chemical incidents which require a lower level of 

protective gear, potentially with self-contained breathing apparatus, but still exceeds the 

capabilities of standard fire departments. 

As needed, the West Central Wisconsin 

Regional Response Team, based in the 

Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire Fire 

Departments, can be contacted for 

additional reconnaissance and research 

support. This Level A team can also be 

requested to respond to the most 

serious of spills and releases requiring 

the highest level of skin and respiratory 

protective gear. This includes all 

chemical, biological, or radiological 

emergencies requiring vapor-tight Level 

A gear with self-contained breathing 

apparatus. 

Planning and exercises regarding hazard materials is coordinated through the Dunn 

County Emergency Management Office in conjunction with the Dunn County Local 

Emergency Preparedness Committee. 

Medical Facilities 

WC WI Regional Response Team Practice Drill 

Medical facilities are becoming increasingly important regional assets, improving the 

health of residents, while offering an important source of employment and a better quality 

of life. Overall, most planning and operations related to medical facilities is undertaken 

by the private hospital or clinic, and includes little involvement of the local community. 

The Red Cedar Medical Center in Menomonie, part of the Mayo Health System is the 

only hospital or rural health clinic in Dunn County. Red Cedar offers a range of clinical 

and hospital services and has 25 beds. Some residents also take advantage of medical 

services at facilities in the nearby City of Eau Claire 


Child Care Services 

Wisconsin State Law requires that anyone caring for four or more children under the age 

of seven years who are unrelated to the provider must obtain a license through the 

Department of Children and Families. Table 4.7 is a list of state licensed child care 

facilities in Dunn County for family child care (up to 8 children) and group child care (9 

or more children). Sixty-seven percent of the county’s 33 child care facilities are 

licensed for family child care. Seventy percent of all licensed facilities in Dunn County 

were located within the City of Menomonie. Communities may need to consider 

population and demographic trends compared to the capacity of available child care in 

their area to help determine if child care needs of the community are being met. 


Table 4.7 – Licensed Child Care Facilities in Dunn County 

City Day Care Name Capacity 

BOYCEVILLE ANN'S DAY CARE 8 

CARE INN DAY CARE 8 

TENDER HEART DAY CARE 8 

COLFAX COLFAX CESA #11 HEAD START 18 

KIDS RULE DISCOVERY CTR & PRESCHOOL 8 

LITTLE DIZZY DAISY'S 8 

ELK MOUND DEBBIE'S FAMILY DAY CARE 8 

DOWN'S DAY CARE 8 

VALERIE'S FAMILY DAY CARE 8 

ELMWOOD I CARE CHILD CARE 8 

MENOMONIE A PLACE TO GROW 8 

ABC'S DAYCARE & PRESCHOOL 38 

ADVENTURES IN LEARNING 8 

APRON STRINGS CHILD CARE 8 

BEAR CUBS DAY CARE 8 

BOUNCIN' BABIES & KOOL KIDS 110 

CARE-A-LOT DAY CARE 8 

CHILD & FAMILY STUDY CENTER-ANNEX 30 

CHILD & FAMILY STUDY CTR 38 

ELK CREEK CHILD CARE 8 

HAND IN HAND EARLY EDU CTR 56 

HILLCREST CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL 8 

JENA'S PLAYCARE 8 

JENNY LARSON 6 

MENOMONIE DAY CARE 62 

MENOMONIE DAY CARE INC - #2 36 

MENOMONIE HEAD START - CESA 11 53 

OUR SAVIOR'S PRESCHOOL 28 

PAT'S CHILD DAY CARE 8 

PRECIOUS MOMENTS FAMILY DC 8 

SAND BOX DAY CARE 6 

SUNSHINE LEARNING CTR 61 

TODDLE IN DAY CARE 8 

source: Wisconsin Department of Children & Families, July 2008. 


Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes, and Senior Programs 

Senior care facilities are becoming increasingly important regional assets to meet the 

changing needs of our aging population in a manner that permits residents to age with 

dignity. Since 1982, the State of Wisconsin has maintained a moratorium on the 

construction of new nursing home beds due to high vacancy rates. This has created a 

problem in some areas, meanwhile encouraging the use of alternative assisted-living 

approaches. In 2005, Dunn County nursing homes were at 83.9% capacity, which is 

slightly below the state overall average. The actual availability of beds at any given time 

in Dunn County can vary. 

Dunn County has a variety of assisted living facilities. The higher costs of many of these 

facilities, combined with decreased access to related governmental support, sometimes 

encourage residents to choose nursing care over assisted living. As the baby boomer 

generation ages, demand for such facilities is expected to increase. And with advances in 

medicines and technology, there has been an increasing trend in the provision of "inhome 

care” as an alternative to group homes or nursing care, which is also less costly 

overall. 

Table 4.8 lists the assisted living facilities and nursing homes in Dunn County, along with 

their capacities. These facilities are organized by five types: 

Adult Day Care provides services for part of a day, primarily on weekdays, in a group 

setting to adults who need assistance with activities of daily living, supervision, or 

protection. Adult day care centers are not licensed by the state, but may be certified. 

Adult Family Homes provides residence and care for up to four adults of minimum age 

18 who are not related to the operator, with up to seven hour per week of nursing care per 

resident. Counties certify one- and two-bed adult family homes, while the state licenses 

homes with three or four adults. 

Community-Based Residential Facilities are a place where five or more adults reside 

who receive care, treatment, or services that are above the level of room and board, but 

includes not more than three hours of nursing care (at the intermediate level or below) per 

week per resident. These facilities often provide services to a particular group, such as 

persons with dementia, developmental disabilities, or mental health problems. CBRFs 

are licensed by the state. 

Residential Care Apartment Complexes are independent-living apartments where five 

or more adults reside which are provided up to 28 hours per week of supportive and/or 

nursing services. These complexes may be a distinct part of a nursing home or 

community-based residential facility and are certified by the state. 

Nursing Homes provide constant nursing care and supportive services to residents who 

have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living. Residents are typically the 


elderly, younger adults with physical disabilities, and those requiring rehabilitative 

therapies. Nursing homes are licensed by the state. 

Communities may need to consider population and demographic trends compared to the 

capacity of available assisted living facilities and nursing homes in their area to help 

determine if needs are being met. 

There is a large variety of additional supportive services available to the elderly and those 

with disabilities, ranging from in-home support to transportation to financial services to 

social activities. Such services are provided through a mix of governmental and nonprofit 

institutions, often relying on volunteer support. Senior information and lunches are 

available at nutrition sites in the county. 

For more information on aging and disability programs in Dunn County, please contact 

the Dunn County Office on Aging (715-232-4006) or visit its webpage at the county’s 

website: (http://dunncountywi.govoffice2.com/). 

Table 4.8 – Assisted Living Facilities in Dunn County 

City Facility Type Facility Name 

Capacity 

or # of 

Beds 

COLFAX Nursing Home AREA NURSING HOME INC 69 

Adult Family Home EARNHART HOMES INC COLFAX HOME 4 

Adult Family Home TAINTER ADULT FAMILY HOME 4 

DOWNING Adult Family Home TRIPLE SPRINGS COUNTRY HOME 4 

ELK MOUND CBRF CLEAR VIEW 8 

CBRF TARA HOUSE 8 

MENOMONIE Nursing Home AMERICAN LUTHERAN HOME MENOMONIE UNIT 50 

Nursing Home DUNN COUNTY HEALTH CARE CENTER 137 

Adult Day Care ARC OF DUNN COUNTY INC (THE) 15 

Adult Family Home AGAPE ADULT FAMILY HOME 4 

Adult Family Home AURORA RES ALTERNATIVES INC 074 4 

Adult Family Home AURORA RES ALTERNATIVES INC 119 4 

Adult Family Home AURORA RESIDENTIAL ALTERNATIVES INC 008 4 

Adult Family Home AURORA RESIDENTIAL ALTERNATIVES OP#007 4 

Adult Family Home BROADWAY HOME 4 

Adult Family Home HALVERSON ADULT FAMILY HOME 4 

Adult Family Home LAMBS CREEK ADULT FAMILY HOME 3 

Adult Family Home LIFESTYLES ADULT FAMILY HOMES INC 4 

Adult Family Home NORTHWEST PATHWAYS TO IND INC 5 4 

Adult Family Home NORTHWOODS 4 

Adult Family Home WEIMER ADULT FAMILY HOME 3 

CBRF ARBOR PLACE INC 16 

CBRF AURORA RES ALTERNATIVES INC 011 8 

CBRF AURORA RESIDENTIAL ALT INC #010 6 

CBRF CARE PARTNERS ASSTD LIVING MENOMONIE 16 

CBRF COUNTRY TERRACE MENOMONIE 16 

CBRF NOREEN FAMILY HOME 8 

CBRF OUR HOUSE LLC 19 

CBRF POTTERS COUNTRY HOME 15 

Resid. Care Apt. Complex AUTUMN VILLAGE 32 

Resid. Care Apt. Complex COMFORTS OF HOME - MENOMONIE RCAC 41 

source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, July 2008. 


Parks and Recreation Facilities 

Visitors and residents of Dunn County have many recreational opportunities. The 

majority of park and recreational planning in Dunn County occurs at the local level or, 

for county and state facilities, under the direction of Dunn County Facilities and Parks 

Department and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, respectively. 

Recreation facilities in the county are largely associated with the county’s natural 

resources. Dunn County has 6,522 acres of surface waters, including about 160 miles of 

trout streams. Large areas of wetlands and wooded floodplains along the Red Cedar and 

Chippewa Rivers offer additional recreational opportunities. Two state trails (Red Cedar 

and Chippewa River) cross the county and connect in the Dunnville Wildlife Area. The 

707-acre Hoffman Hills State Park is located about 10 miles northeast of Menomonie and 

offers hiking, hunting, picnicking, and cross-country ski trails. 

No complete inventory of all parks and recreation areas in the county exists. Some 

recreation areas are on private land or maintained by a community organization, while 

school facilities (e.g., playgrounds, ballfields, basketball courts) are often used by the 

public for outdoor recreation. And the definition of parks and recreation areas can vary 

significantly by community. For instance, in a rural area, a small, unimproved pull-out 

for fishing along a river bank may perform an important recreational function. 

Table 4.9 lists the primary county and municipal recreational facilities in Dunn County. 

Data for Table 4.9 was taken primarily from the Dunn County Outdoor Recreation Plan. 

Not included are boat ramps, trails, unimproved waysides, school facilities, smaller 

playgrounds, and scattered state and federal lands. In some cases, communities may need 

to update and amend this list to fully consider resident demand for park facilities during 

their comprehensive planning efforts 

Privately owned facilities are also not listed in Table 4.9, such as those provided by a 

community group or maintained by a homeowners’ association. Some communities 

require developers to provide such parks as part of their development or make payments 

towards parkland in lieu of dedications. In additional cases, towns may work 

cooperatively with, and contribute to, neighboring incorporated areas in the development 

of parklands. 

Many of the available nature-based outdoor recreational amenities, including the seven 

State Natural Areas and eleven State Wildlife Areas, are discussed in the Agricultural, 

Natural, and Cultural Resources section of this report. Bicycling is covered previously in 

the Transportation section. 

If state grant funding is being considered for outdoor recreation amenities, a statereviewed 

outdoor recreation plan, adopted within the last five years, is a required 

prerequisite. The Dunn County Outdoor Recreation Plan, last updated in 2008, is an 

excellent source of additional detail on many of the recreational facilities in the county 

and should be referenced to supplement the information in this section. 


Table 4.9 – Primary Parks in Dunn County 

Owner Facility Location 

Federal U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service T. of Rock Creek 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service T. of Red Cedar 

State of Wisconsin 

Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area 

T. of Red Cedar, Elk Mound, 

Colfax, & Tainter 

9-Mile Island State Natural Area 

Big Beaver Creek Wildlife Area & Big Beaver 

T. of Peru & Dunn 

Meadow State Natural Area T. of Hay River 

Dunnville Wildlife Area T of Dunn 

Eau Galle River Wildlife Area T. of Eau Galle 

Gilbert Creek Fishery Area T. of Lucas 

Hay Creek Wildlife Area T. of Sand Creek 

Hay River Wildlife Area T. of Otter Creek 

Lambs Creek Wildlife Area T. of Sherman 

Muddy Creek Wildlife Area & Sedge Meadow State T. of Springbrook, Elk Mound, 

Natural Area 

& Red Cedar 

Otter Creek Wildlife Area & Natural Area T. of Otter Creek 

Rock Falls Wildlife Area T. of Rock Creek 

Lower Chippewa River Natural Area scattered along River 

Red Cedar River State Natural Area T. of Tainter 

Dunn County 22-Mile Ford Park T. of Grant 

Caddie Woodlawn Park T. of Dunn 

Caryville Savanna State Natural Area T. of Rock Creek 

Champney Park T. of Tainter 

Colfax Shooting Range T. of Colfax 

Downsville Museum T. of Dunn 

Eau Galle Dam Park T. of Eau Galle 

Lamb's Creek Park T. of Tainter 

Lake Menomin Park C. of Menomonie 

Menomonie Shooting Range T. of Red Cedar 

Myron Park T. of Sand Creek 

Northwest Public Shooting Range V. of Boyceville 

Peninsula Park T. of Tainter 

Pine View Park T. of Eau Galle 

Dunn Co. Recreation Park C. of Menomonie 

Rock Falls Park T. of Rock Creek 

Russian Slough T. of Tainter 

Thatcher Park T. of New Haven 

Zielie Park T. of Springbrook 


Table 4.9 – Primary Parks in Dunn County continued 

Owner Facility Location 

V. of Boyceville Boyceville Airport Park V. of Boyceville 

Boyceville Municipal Park V. of Boyceville 

V. of Colfax Iverson Park V. of Colfax 

Colfax Memorial Park V. of Colfax 

Colfax Village Recreation Park V. of Colfax 

Municipal Building Grounds V. of Colfax 

V. of Downing Village Park V. of Downing 

Baseball Park (land rented) V. of Downing 

V. of Elk Mound Village Park V. of Elk Mound 

Elk Mound Lookout Park V. of Elk Mound 

V. of Knapp Knapp Village Park V. of Knapp 

Community Hall Park V. of Knapp 

C. of Menomonie Cedarama Park C. of Menomonie 

Crescent Park C. of Menomonie 

Elmwood Park C. of Menomonie 

Fowlers Court C. of Menomonie 

La Point Park C. of Menomonie 

Lakeside Park C. of Menomonie 

Lakeview Park C. of Menomonie 

Leisure Center Park C. of Menomonie 

North Menomonie Bicycle Cooridor C. of Menomonie 

Phelan Park C. of Menomonie 

Point Comfort Park C. of Menomonie 

Riverside Park C. of Menomonie 

Sanna Park C. of Menomonie 

Stokke Trail C. of Menomonie 

Wakanda Park C. of Menomonie 

Wilson Park C. of Menomonie 

V. of Ridgeland Ridgeland Village Park V. of Ridgeland 

Ridgeland Fairgrounds V. of Ridgeland 

Ridgeland Park V. of Ridgeland 

V. of Wheeler Ball Diamond Park V. of Wheeler 

Railroad Right-of-Way Park V. of Wheeler 


Cemeteries 

Table 4.10 lists the cemeteries in Dunn County as identified at the Dunn County 

USGenWeb site (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~widunn/) and in the book 

Cemetery Locations in Wisconsin compiled by Linda Herrick and Wendy Uncapher. 

Because this list is compiled from multiple sources, some cemeteries may be listed twice, 

but under different names. 

The cemeteries are arranged by general township area, using the municipal town name 

for ease of reference; the actual cemetery location may be within a city or village located 

within the listed town. This list does not necessarily include all smaller cemeteries, 

family plots, or Native American burial sites. Further, some of these cemeteries may be 

no longer in use. As needed, each individual community plan may identify any 

additional known cemeteries and any issues, needs, or policies related to those cemeteries 

in their community. 


Table 4.10 – Dunn County Cemeteries 

Township Area Cemeteries 

Colfax Evergreen 

Hill Grove 

Lower Running Valley 

Colfax (Popple Creek) 

Dunn Evergreen (Abbott's Acres/Waubeek) 

Grandview 

Little Elk Creek (Norweigen Luth Evang) 

Pownell 

Pleasant Valley 

Riverview 

Rose Hill 

Eau Galle Clearview 

St. Henry's 

Union Graveyard (abandoned?) 

Weber Valley (sec. 3W) 

Weber Valley (sec. 14W) 

Elk Mound Big Elk Creek (Barum Norw. Lutheran) 

Evergreen 

Grant Holden 

Hay River Hay River 

Lucas Lucas 

German Evangelical 

Unnamed (Trout Creek Road) 

Popple Creek (St. John) 

Hay River Lutheran 

Our Saviour's Lutheran 

Teegarden 

Menomonie Hammer Hill 

Irvine Creek 

Mamre 

St. John's 

Tramway 

Evergreen 

Ford 

Halvorsen (Christ Lutheran) 

Highland 

Ridge Road 

St. Paul's Lutheran Church 

St. Joseph's Catholic 

Peace Lutheran 


Table 4.10 –Dunn County Cemeteries continued 

Township Area Cemeteries 

New Haven Grace Lutheran 

New Haven 

West Akers 

Dunn-Barron Avenue 

Otter Creek Little Otter Creek Baptist 

Peru Peru (Lock) 

Upper Popple Creek Lutheran 

Red Cedar Beyer Settlement (St. Katharine) 

Cedar Falls 

Little Elk Creek (Froen) 

Potter's Field 

Rock Creek East Pepin 

Rock Creek (Fossum or Meridean) 

Rock Falls 

St. Joseph Catholic 

Sand Creek Our Saviour's (Wheeler) 

Unnamed (Sec. 31) 

Zion 

Myron (Zion Lutheran) 

Sheridan Oak Grove 

Zion Lutheran 

St. Paul's Lutheran (Vanceburg) 

Sherman Sherman 

Spring Brook Falls City 

Forest Center 

Iron Creek 

St. John Lutheran 

Peterson 

Sand Hill 

Spring Brook (sec. 11SW) 

St. Joseph Catholic 

Waneka 

Lutheran (sec. 18 NE) 

Rock Falls 

Catholic (sec. 23) 

Falls City 

Spring Brook Lutheran (sec. 34NE) 

Stanton Forest Hill (Knapp) 

Unnamed (Harold Road) 

Unnamed (Wanbaugh Road) 

Tainter Norton Lutheran 

Immanuel Church of Evang. 

Tainter Methodist 

Tiffany Sutliff (Chimney Rock) 

Mound 

Downing 

Tiffany 

Weston Lower Weston 

St. John's Lutheran 

Wilson Pine Creek (New Hope) 

Tollebu 


Dams 

In total, Dunn County has 51 dams and 4 levees. Most of the dams (40 of 51) are small 

earthen works for livestock or recreational ponds and flowages. Only 16 dams have more 

than 10-acre feet of normal storage. The four levees are owned by the City of 

Menomonie, in large part for the protection of the municipal wastewater treatment plan. 

In most cases, if one of the smaller dams failed, the runoff downstream would be hardly 

noticed. There may be the potential to remove some of the older smaller dams which no 

longer serve a function, in order to improve water quality and lower the risk of failure. 

The following is a list of those governments which own dams, dikes, or levees in Dunn 

County: 

Dunn County (4): Lake Eau Galle, Knights Creek (3) 

City of Menomonie (4) : Levees on the Red Cedar River (4) 

Town of Rock Creek (1): Rock Creek/Rock Falls Dam 

Elk Creek Lake Prot. District (1): Elk Creek 

Wisconsin DNR: DNR Hwy 85 Dam 

There are six high hazard dams in the county, of which four (Rock Falls Dam and 

Knight’s Creek dams) are owned by a governmental entity. The hazard rating does not 

necessarily reflect the attributes or strength of the dam, but is primarily based on potential 

loss of life and property damage if the dam should break and the controls in place down 

river to limit such damage (e.g., floodplain zoning). 

There have been ongoing ownership questions regarding the Rock Falls Dam, and 

improvements to the dam may be needed in the near future. The two largest, high hazard 

dams (Tainter Lake and Lake Menomonie Dams) are owned by Xcel Energy, and are 

very closely regulated and monitored. Recent changes in dam hazard ratings include the 

removal of the Teegarden Dam from the hazard list and the rating of the three Knights 

Creek dams. 

It is important to note that Dunn County benefits from flood control from dams located 

outside the county. Most notably is the Glen Hills Dams in St. Croix County on Tiffany 

Creek which flows through the villages of Downing and Boyceville. Significant portions 

of the Village of Downing lie within the dam shadow of Glen Hills Dam #10 and dam 

failure could result in flooding that exceeds a 100-year flood. The Chippewa River is 

also impacted by the Xcel Energy Dams, the nearest upriver dam being the Lake Wissota 

Dam near Chippewa Falls. 

For additional details on the dams of Dunn County, their hazard ratings, and some key 

development trends in dam shadows, please see the Dunn County Natural Hazards 

Mitigation Plan or contact the Wisconsin DNR Dam Safety Program. 


Other Government Facilities 

No comprehensive list of every government facility in Dunn County exists. Such 

facilities can range from administrative and recreation buildings to airports and dams. 

Utilities, such as municipal wastewater, have corresponding facilities. The law 

enforcement and emergency services identified previously also have associated facilities, 

though some of these services may be co-located with other municipal functions. The 

following government facilities or related services have been discussed in other sections 

of this report: 

Airports & Transportation Infrastructure see transportation section 

Public Wastewater Treatment Facilities previously in this section 

Municipal & Community Water Systems previously in this section 

Law Enforcement previously in this section 

Parks and Outdoor Recreation Facilities previously in this section 

Schools previously in this section 

Libraries previously in this section 

Dams previously in this section 

Dunn County and each local municipal government have at least one structure in which 

administrative functions are carried out and services are provided. Towns, villages, and 

smaller cities typically have a single hall or municipal building, while larger villages, 

cities, and counties may have multiple buildings. Separate structures are also required for 

road, highway, public works, and maintenance; these sites may include recycling drop-off 

facilities as well. In towns, the “town shop” is often co-located with the town hall, but 

not in all cases. Most counties have a primary Highway Department facility, with a 

number of smaller ancillary facilities for the storage of vehicles, salt, sand, etc., 

strategically located throughout the county. 

As part of individual comprehensive planning efforts, each community may need to 

inventory their municipal facilities and identify issues related to their facilities (e.g., 

availability, capacity, condition), and develop corresponding plan policies to address 

local concerns. 

Summary 

Utilities and community facilities in Dunn County vary from small-scale facilities serving 

primarily local needs to regional facilities and networks serving large portions of the 

county’s population. As municipalities grow and change, the infrastructure, essential 

services, and related community facilities must evolve as well. 

This section presented an initial inventory of the principal utilities and community 

facilities of Dunn County. Additional information, including a discussion on the four 

public libraries, seven fire departments, and five ambulance or EMS providers in the 

county can be found in the draft Dunn County Comprehensive Land Use Plan. 


During local planning efforts, this information may need to be supplemented to include 

additional facilities and details, and analyzed more closely to identify issues and 

community needs. 


Utilities and Community Facilities Maps 

Map 4.2 – Electric Service in West Central Wisconsin 

source: Wisconsin Public Service Commission 


Map 4.3 – Natural Gas Service in West Central Wisconsin 

source: Wisconsin Public Service Commission 


Map 4.4 – Dunn County School Districts 

source: U.S. Census TIGER Files, 2000 


5. AGRICULTURAL, NATURAL, AND CULTURAL 

RESOURCES INFORMATION 


Dunn County’s history and development is rooted in its natural resources. Prior to 

settlement by those of European heritage, Dunn County was covered in a variety of 

different ecosystems including prairie, forest, and marshland. The early settlers included 

traders and farmers, which both made a living from the natural resources from the land. 

Lumbering soon became an important catalyst in the development of the county. The first 

lumber company started in Menomonie in 1846 and had a daily capacity of 5,000 board 

feet. As timber resources declined in following years, the operations of the company also 

declined. Railroad construction progressed rapidly between 1860 and 1890, and a large 

volume of lumber was transported by rail. During the period, lumber and logs were rafted 

down the Red Cedar River to the Mississippi River. 

Early settlers were attracted to the area by the work available in the lumber camps. 

Farmers began permanent settlement in 1846 at Wilsons Creek. Farm enterprises were 

sponsored by the lumber companies, and many farms were established between 1860 and 

1890. In these ears, the number of farms increase from 103 to 2,714 and farm acreage 

increased from about five percent of the county to about 65 percent. After 1890, 

establishment of farms and expansion of farm acreage progressed more slowly, but sine 

1920 more than 90 percent of the acreage of the county ahs been farmed. 

During the 20 th Century, agriculture, as a percentage of the economy, declined as more 

manufacturing, retail, and professional employment opportunities arose in communities 

along the Interstate Highway 94 corridor. Even though the agricultural industry 

decreased, well over half of the County’s land base remains in agricultural production. 

Concurrently, there has been growth pressure from the Twin Cities and Eau Claire in 

different parts of the County. As outward migration progresses, this growth is beginning 

to impact more areas. 

During the first decade of the 21 st Century, the agriculture and natural resource industries 

of Dunn County have experienced a lift from both the increased interest and investment 

in local and organic food and renewable energy. The increase in demand for local and/or 

organic food has grown significantly since the turn of the century. This has helped 

existing family farms and has provided a catalyst for new farms to start in Dunn County. 

In addition, the abundance of farmland and natural areas are providing Dunn County an 

opportunity to take advantage of the growing renewable energy and bio-energy 

industries. Dunn County is currently experiencing a wide range of industries, public 

entities, farms, and individuals that are utilizing farmland and natural areas as a source to 

profit from and/or save resources by using renewable resources and bio-energy. 

Scattered throughout Dunn County remain many unique historical structures and sites 

that are important vestiges of its past. Through these changes, it is the characteristics of 


Dunn County’s natural and cultural resources that continue to define the local 

communities and provide the cornerstone for the quality of life for local residents. Clean 

and abundant water is needed for drinking, industry, and agriculture. Prime farmlands 

continue to provide the basis for the agricultural economy and for the preservation of the 

County’s rural character. A diversity of other natural habitats are protected and managed 

for aesthetic value, recreational purposes, economic importance, and a healthy ecosystem. 

Cultural and historic resources are identified and preserved for their social and economic 

value. 

This section describes the existing conditions of the agricultural, natural, and cultural 

resources of Dunn County. These resources provide the foundation for most, if not all, of 

the other comprehensive plan elements, and they may be discussed in numerous other 

places within the comprehensive plan. To plan for the future, a firm understanding of the 

resource base of the community is needed. 

This provides an important context for developing objectives, policies, goals, maps, and 

programs for the conservation and promotion of the effective management of the 

agricultural, natural, and cultural resources for each participating community, as required 

by Wisconsin comprehensive planning legislation (Wis. Stat. § 66.1001(2)(e)). It should 

also be noted that under Wisconsin Comprehensive Planning Law, the term “cultural 

resources” includes historic buildings and structures as well as ancient and historic 

archeological sites. 

This element is further organized into six sub-sections: 

� Agricultural Resources 

� Natural Resources - Physical Features 

� Natural Resources - Sensitive Lands 

� Cultural Resources 

� Existing Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Programs 

� Summary and Conclusion 

Considerable portions of this element are adapted from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Wisconsin Department of 

Natural Resources, Wisconsin State Historical Society, and Soil Survey of Dunn County, 

Wisconsin, among other sources. Data from the 2007 Census of Agriculture will be 

available later in 2009, but this information was not available at the time this report was 

compiled. 

The maps for this section will be located in Appendix A: Dunn County Resource Maps. 

In addition, the maps will be located in the Dunn County Resource and Land Use Atlas 

DVD-ROM. 

134 Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources Information

Agricultural Resources 

Adjusted 1997 Census of Agriculture numbers provided by the USDA National 

Agricultural Statistics Service were used in this report, offering comparability to 2002 

data. Caution should be taken when making comparisons with earlier agricultural census 

data, since the number of farms are undercounted for many areas. 

Local Agricultural Industry Trends 

Agriculture is an important element of the social and economic characteristics of Dunn 

County. Changes in agriculture due to socio-economic conditions and the development 

pressures to convert agricultural land to other uses can have profound impacts in Dunn 

County and surrounding communities. Agricultural land is located throughout Dunn 

County. However, a large concentration is located east of Menomonie (Map 5.1). 

In 2002, there were 168 more farms in Dunn County than in 1987. This number has 

fluctuated in the past four censuses (Figure 5.1). The average farm size decreased from 

264 acres in 1987 to 237 acres in 2002. From 1987 to 2002, the number of farms 

increased by 11 percent and average farm size decreased 10 percent. This data shows that 

Dunn County is experiencing an increase in smaller farms. It needs to be noted that the 

U.S. Census Bureau defines “farm” as any place from which $1,000 or more of 

agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold during 

the census year. 

Figure 5.1 - Number and Average Size of Farms (1987-2002) – Dunn County 

Number of Farms 

2,000 

1,800 

1,600 

1,400 

1,200 

1,000 

1987 1992 1997 2002 

Year 

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Census of Agriculture 

Farms Acres/Farm 


300 

250 

200 

150 

100 

50 

0 

Acres

According to USDA, farmland declined by 1,821 acres (three square miles) or less than 

one percent, between 1987 and 2002 (See Table 5.1). Farm acres accounted for 72 

percent of the total land area in the county in both 1987 and 2002. As shown in Table 

5.2, in 2002, 97 percent of the farms in Dunn County were non-corporation individual or 

family farms. 

Table 5.1 - Acres in Farmland (1987-2002) – Dunn County 

1987 1992 1997 2002 

Acres 400,589 366,593 406,988 398,768 

Percent of County Land Area 72.4 66.3 73.6 72.1 

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service 

Table 5.2 - Number of Farms by Ownership (1987-2002) – Dunn County 

Ownership 1987 1992 1997 2002 

Individual/Family Farms 1,324 1,207 1,540 1,536 

Partnership 139 118 96 98 

Corporation – Family 50 50 51 43 

Corporation – Other 1 1 4 2 

Other (Coop, Trust, etc...) 1 7 10 4 

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service 

The towns of Spring Brook (26,597), Eau Galle (19,141), Dunn (18,716), Red Cedar 

(16,663), and Weston (16,324) have the greatest number of assessed agricultural acres 

(See Table 5.3). In comparison, the towns of Elk Mound, Otter Creek, Peru, and Wilson 

all have less than 9,000 assessed acres in agricultural use. 

The assessed agricultural acreage has declined by 56,380 acres from 1990 to 2007 in 

Dunn County. The largest loss, which was 4,858 acres, occurred in Lucas. Other 

substantial losses occurred in the towns of Stanton (-4,853), Red Cedar (-4,612), and 

Wilson (-4,448). The Town of Sheridan experiences an increase of 454 acres. The cities 

and villages that also saw large agricultural land losses were Menomonie (-1,051), Knapp 

(-398), Boyceville (-378), and Downing (-342). 

In total, this amounted to a 16.1 percent reduction in assessed agricultural land in Dunn 

County from 1990 to 2007. That is a loss of approximately one percent per year during 

that period. Of the towns, Otter Creek (-39.3 percent), Wilson (-33.9 percent), Lucas 

(-29.9 percent), and Stanton (-29.0 percent) had the largest percentage reductions in 

agricultural land. Of the cities and villages, the largest percentage losses of assessed 

agricultural lands occurred in the villages of Wheeler (-77.7 percent) and Knapp (-65.0 

percent) and City of Menomonie (-55.5 percent). At the same time, the majority of the 

incorporated communities had percentage losses of over 20 percent. 

The number of dairy farms in Dunn County has continued to decrease over the past two 

decades, with 321 dairy farms comprising 19 percent of the total farms in 2002. In 1987, 

Dunn County was home to 893 dairy farms (59 percent of the total farms), which was 

572 more dairy farms than existed in 2002. This is a 64 percent decrease in the number of 

dairy farms in Dunn County between 1987 and 2002. With the County’s increase in 

smaller non-traditional farms, the 19 percent of total farms could be defined as 


misleading, since many farms are not traditional crop producing operations. However, the 

64 percent reduction of dairy farms over a 15 year time span is extremely significant. 

Table 5.3 - Assessed Agricultural Parcels and Acreage by Municipality (1990 and 2007) – 

Dunn County 

Total Parcels Total Acres 

1990 2007 # Change 1990 2007 # Change % Change 

TOWNS 

Colfax 533 570 37 13,764 12,810 -954 -6.9 

Dunn 807 838 31 20,160 18,716 -1,444 -7.2 

Eau Galle 813 824 11 19,243 19,141 -102 -0.5 

Elk Mound 521 469 -52 12,083 8,989 -3,094 -25.6 

Grant 581 574 -7 15,019 13,237 -1,782 -11.9 

Hay River 547 545 -2 13,593 11,766 -1,827 -13.4 

Lucas 566 548 -18 16,268 11,410 -4,858 -29.9 

Menomonie 793 777 -16 19,987 15,751 -4,236 -21.2 

New Haven 588 604 16 17,034 14,628 -2,406 -14.1 

Otter Creek 359 234 -125 7,809 4,738 -3,071 -39.3 

Peru 266 270 4 7,499 6,585 -914 -12.2 

Red Cedar 701 694 -7 21,275 16,663 -4,612 -21.7 

Rock Creek 496 489 -7 12,215 11,069 -1,146 -9.4 

Sand Creek 518 497 -21 13,439 11,500 -1,939 -14.4 

Sheridan 609 643 34 14,603 15,057 454 3.1 

Sherman 584 636 52 15,633 11,557 -4,076 -26.1 

Spring Brook 998 1,034 36 28,651 26,597 -2,054 -7.2 

Stanton 568 553 -15 16,727 11,874 -4,853 -29.0 

Tainter 466 404 -62 12,058 10,494 -1,564 -13.0 

Tiffany 513 523 10 13,903 11,142 -2,761 -19.9 

Weston 654 693 39 18,195 16,324 -1,871 -10.3 

Wilson 547 464 -83 13,134 8,686 -4,448 -33.9 

TOTALS 13,028 12,883 -145 342,292 288,734 -53,558 -15.6 

VILLAGES 

Boyceville 65 109 44 1,555 1,177 -378 -24.3 

Colfax 15 16 1 407 372 -35 -8.6 

Downing 79 68 -11 1,775 1,433 -342 -19.3 

Elk Mound 39 30 -9 960 695 -265 -27.6 

Knapp 28 14 -14 612 214 -398 -65.0 

Ridgeland 12 9 -3 122 68 -54 -44.3 

Wheeler 20 9 -11 385 86 -299 -77.7 

TOTAL 258 255 -3 5,816 4,045 -1,771 -30.5 

CITIES 

Menomonie 94 44 -50 1,892 841 -1,051 -55.5 

TOTAL 94 44 -50 1,892 841 -1,051 -55.5 

COUNTY TOTAL 13,380 13,182 -198 350,000 293,620 -56,380 -16.1 

Source: Wisconsin Department of Revenue 

Corn for grain was the most common crop in 2002, with production on over than 71,000 

acres. Forage (land used fro all hay and haylage, grass silage, and greenchop) represents 

the next most common use of these agricultural lands, with approximately 65,500 acres. 

In 2002, Dunn County ranked second in Wisconsin for number of turkeys. The County 

ranked number five in the state for number of colonies of bees. Analyzing the increase in 

farms and decreasing size of average number of acres, it should be noted that Dunn 

County ranks number eight in the state for number of horses, ponies, mule, burros, and 


donkeys, which usually do not need as many acres as cultivation. This again shows that a 

notable amount of farms in the county do not take part in traditional farming. 

Figure 5.2 - Number of Farm and Dairy Farms (1987-2002) – Dunn County 

Number of Farms 

2,000 

1,800 

1,600 

1,400 

1,200 

1,000 

800 

600 

400 

200 

0 

1987 1992 1997 2002 

Year 

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Census of Agriculture 

Total Farms Dairy Farms 

2,000 

1,800 

1,600 

1,400 

1,200 

1,000 

Over the past few years, Dunn County has seen an increase in the number of farms that 

are supplying the growing number of consumers that want to purchase local food and/or 

organic food. Specifically for certified organic operations, in 2002, Dunn County had 

nine certified organic farms. At this time, there are currently dozens of farms in Dunn 

County that support the local and/or organic markets. These direct market farms are 

marketing themselves locally and regionally. Due to the County’s close proximity to the 

Twin Cities and Eau Claire, there are extensive markets for these farms. In addition, 

Dunn County currently has a weekly farmers market in Menomonie during the summer 

and fall months. 

Direct market farms have a variety of impacts on the environment and economy. 

Environmentally, farms that are organic pollute the land, ground water, or surface water 

on-site and downstream significantly less than farms that are not organic. Second, these 

farms reduce the amount of energy used for the transportation aspect of agriculture. 

Economically, the money that is spent purchasing food from these local farms initially 

stay in the local/regional economy, as opposed to being sent to different regions of the 

county and/or outside the U.S. The money spent on direct market food is often circulated 

in the local economy several times, which is important in creating a sustainable local 

economy. Lastly, with purchasing local food, in most cases the food is significantly better 

quality (e.g. freshness, taste) than food that is transported from outside the region. 

138 Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources Information 

800 

600 

400 

200 

0 

Number of Farms

A sample of Dunn County direct market farms that cater to local and/or organic 

market: 

- Aquarium Gardens - Blackberry Hills Farm 

- Bolen Vale Cheese - Bullfrog Fish Farm 

- Connell’s Sunridge Orchard - Deasy’s Fresh Fruit Preserves 

- Eau Galle Cheese Factory - Full House Farms 

- Govins Meats and Berries - Lambs Creek Gardens 

- Mensing’s Miniatures - Pleasant Valley Tree Farm 

- Pine Point Pork Farm - Promise Farm Buffalo 

- Red Cedar Valley Farms - Shepherd Song Farm 

- Sweetland Farm - Sylvan Hills 

- The Petal Patch - 3D Farms 

- Westwood Farm 

At the same time that Dunn County is experiencing an increase in the number of direct 

market farms, Dunn County has also seen an increase in the interest and investment in 

renewable energy, primarily from the wood sector. At this time, several farms, 

companies, and individuals are working on creating fuel from local sources. In addition, a 

variety of on-site bio-diesel and straight vegetable oil production operations can be found 

throughout the County. In regards to energy use, different units of government and school 

districts in Dunn County are heating buildings from local wood feedstock. Lastly, Dunn 

County has seen an increase in companies that are manufacturing goods to support this 

investment and entrepreneurship. As a whole, the local and organic agricultural market 

and renewable energy market are playing a significant role in the County’s economy. 

Prime Agricultural Lands 

Prime agricultural land is the land that is best suited for food, feed, forage, fiber, and oil 

seed crops. It may be cultivated land, pasture, woodland, or other land, but it is not 

existing urban and developed land or water areas. The soil qualities, growing season and 

moisture supply are those needed for a well managed soil to produce a sustained high 

yield of crops in an economic manner. Prime agricultural land is able to produce the 

highest yields with the minimal inputs of energy and economic resources. 

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly known as the Soil 

Conservation Service (SCS), has established a system of soils classification to uniformly 

evaluate the potential suitability of soils for agriculture production. The Capability 

Classification of Soils is published as part of the Soil Survey of Dunn County, Wisconsin. 

The capability classification is a grouping of soils that shows, in a general way, how 

suitable soils are for most kinds of farming. The capability classification system is 

intended to help decision-makers evaluate areas for their desirability for continued 

agricultural productivity. It does this by considering characteristics and suitability for 

supporting various crops and activities, and is based on the limitations of the soils, risk of 

damage as they are used, and the way they respond to treatment. Soils are classified in 

capability classes, subclasses, and units in accordance with the degree and kind of their 


permanent limitations, but without consideration of major and generally expensive landforming 

that would change the slope, depth, or other characteristics of the soil, and 

without consideration of possible but unlikely major reclamation projects. 

Class I, II, and III soils are considered prime farmland under the classification system and 

are each defined as: 

� Class I -- Class I soils have few limitations that restrict their use. 

� Class II -- Class II soils have some limitations that reduce the choice of plants or 

require moderate conservation practices. 

� Class III -- Class III soils have severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants or 

require special conservation practices, or both. They can be cultivated safely with 

special precautions. 

Of the total land acres in Dunn County, 281,750 acres (440 square miles) are classified as 

Class I, II, and III soils by the NRCS. These soils make up 51 percent of the total land 

acres of the county (See Table 5.4). Of the total area in Dunn County, no soils are Class I, 

27.4 percent are Class II soils, and 23.6 percent are Class III soils. 

Table 5.4 

Soil Capability Classification for Potentially Productive Agricultural Lands – Dunn County 

Soils Acres Percent of Total Land 

Acreage 

Class I 0 0 

Class II 151,436 27.4 

Class III 130,314 23.6 

Total Classes I, II & III 281,750 51.0 

Source: Dunn County Soil Survey 

Map 5.2 shows soils that are classified as Class I, II, and III. These are areas where the 

soils and other land characteristics are likely to be highly suited for agricultural activity. 

The value of these lands is associated with not only their soil class, but also with their 

size, present use and any regulatory framework for their protection. Preserving these 

prime farmlands helps sustain the County’s agricultural economy and rural character. 

Natural Resources – Physical Features 

The following primary physical features of Dunn County are discussed in this subsection: 

� Topography 

� Geology 

� Soils 

� Mineral Resources 

� Watersheds and Surface Waters 

� Groundwater 

� Air quality 


Topography 

The topography of Dunn County ranges from gently rolling to steep ridges along stream 

and river valleys (Map 5.3). About 36.6 percent of the soils in Dunn County have slopes 

of 13 percent or greater. Generally, the more rugged topography can be found in northern 

and western parts of the County, while the southeast part of the County is a gently 

undulating plain. 

Topography is an important factor in determining flood risks and vulnerabilities. Most 

surface waters drain to the south, toward the Chippewa River. Stormwater erosion and 

flash flooding can be a significant concern for those areas with moderate to steep 

topography. 

Geology 

Dunn County’s geology is diverse. This diverse geologic pattern creates a landscape that 

changes from one location to another within the County. Due to the geologic make-up of 

the County, closed depressions are common in Dunn County. Closed depressions and the 

resulting kettles in the western and northwestern parts of the County were typically 

formed from the melt of glacial ice within buried glacial deposits. In the eastern parts of 

the County, closed depressions and the resulting sinkholes are common when limestone 

bedrock was eroded, which is referred to as karst development. These closed depressions 

will be discussed later in this report in the context of land subsidence and the increased 

vulnerability of groundwater contamination in such areas. 

Soils 

Soil properties are an important factor in how land is used. Soils determine how 

productive farmland is, and the type and amount of development that can be reasonably 

supported based on the various soil characteristics. In fact, the best use of the land is 

often dictated by the types of soils there are in an area. Subsequently, identifying and 

reviewing soil suitability interpretations, for specific urban and rural land uses, are 

essential for physical development planning and determining the most suitable land use. 

Each soil association contains several major and minor soils in a pattern that varies 

throughout the association. The soils within an association differ in many properties such 

as drainage, wetness, slope, and depth to bedrock. These characteristics affect the 

suitability of the land for agriculture and for development. For these reasons, the 

generalized information provided in this report is intended to be used for general policy 

and planning purposes, and not to provide information for site-specific applications. 

Based on the Dunn County Soil Survey, and the National Resource Conservation 

Service’s (formerly Soil Conservation Service) most recent interpretation of soil 

limitations, nearly all land area in Dunn County has severe limitations for septic tank 

absorption fields, with the remaining few percent having slight or moderate limitations. 


Severe limitations can require special design, significant increases in construction costs, 

increased maintenance, or be unsuitable for private sanitary systems. 

Mineral Resources 

There are no metallic mining operations in Dunn County. According to the Wisconsin 

Department of Natural Resources, there are currently no known metallic mineral deposits 

or occurrences in sufficient tonnage and grade in Dunn County to warrant extraction. 

Dunn County has 22 operating non-metallic mining sites and four inactive permitted 

under Chapter NR 135 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, which includes four sites 

operated by the Dunn County Highway Department. Most other mine sites are privately 

operated, primarily for road aggregate, concrete mix and construction fill. Chapter NR 

135 covers annual permitting by local governments and the reclamation of non-metallic 

mine sites. 

Supplies of sand and gravel are available throughout Dunn County. The southeastern 

third of the county has the densest concentration of potential sand and gravel deposits 

(Map 5.4). The soils amongst glacial outwash are the most likely sources for sand and 

gravel as the melting waters of the glacier were most active in sorting and depositing 

high-quality sand and gravel in this area. Where the bedrock is at or near the surface of 

the ground are areas that are possibly more suited for quarrying stone. It is helpful to 

identify the locations of these deposits so potential extraction sites can be considered 

before development occurs. Development almost always precludes extraction, while 

these lands can often be reclaimed for development after extraction is complete. 

Sand and gravel deposits in the County that have a relatively higher potential for 

extraction based on the National Resources Conservation Service’s latest Soil Survey of 

Dunn County, Wisconsin. Other local conditions, such as access/egress, existing 

development, current land uses, ownership, and public sentiment may preclude extraction 

at some of these locations. As communities begin to develop local land-use goals, these 

maps should be considered to reduce potential land-use conflicts. Such mineral resources 

are important raw material inputs to help achieve the County’s land-use plan goal for 

continuing to provide safe, efficient, and adequate community facilities. 

Watersheds & Surface Waters 

Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, intermittent waterways, and natural drainageways make up 

the surface waters of Dunn County. These resources are all water bodies, standing still or 

flowing, navigable and intermittent, and include natural drainageways that collect and 

channel overland rainwater or snowmelt runoff. Natural drainageways are characterized 

by intermittent streams, threads, rills, gullies, and drywashes that periodically contribute 

water to first-order streams. There are also many artificial drainageways where the 

natural drainageways have been altered by human activity. All of these features have the 

ability to transport sediment and pollutants and are affected by their watersheds. 


Dunn County has a total surface water area of 7,610 acres or 12 square miles (Map 5.5). 

Lake Menomin and Tainter Lake are the largest lakes in the County. The Red Cedar 

River and Chippewa River travel through the County. These waters drain into the 

Mississippi River. 

A watershed is an area of land that drains or “sheds” its water to a lake, river, stream, or 

wetland. Some water-sheds encompass several hundred square miles, while others may 

be small, covering only a few square miles that drain into a lake. This is important to 

understand since the effects of natural and human activities in one area can have a direct 

impact on other areas. The surface waters of Dunn County fall within the Lower 

Chippewa River Basin (Map 5.6). The County has several watersheds. These are: Bear 

Creek, Lowes and Rock Creeks, Eau Galle River, Muddy and Elk Creeks, South Fork 

Hay River, Hay River, Pine Creek and Red Cedar River, and Wilson Creek. 

Similar to surrounding counties, the source of nearly all potable water is groundwater. 

However, surface water can be a major source of groundwater recharge, and in the case 

of Dunn County, a factor in maintaining the County’s natural and recreational values. 

Consequently, there is also significant concern for understanding the impacts of 

development on the surface water resources in the County. 

Water Quality by Watershed 

In general, the water quality in the Lower Chippewa River Basin is a concern. The major 

concern is from added nutrients and sediment from run-off, primarily from agricultural 

land and also urban areas. Surface and ground water quality can be affected by a wide 

variety of point and non-point sources, including agricultural run-off, stormwater from 

parking lots and roads, soil erosion, and spills of hazardous materials. The risk of water 

contamination increases as development occurs. These finding are important for 

individual communities to consider as they develop local land-use and natural resources 

goals and strategies for their respective communities. Communities may select to 

participate in or support existing County or State programs to protect their water 

resources or implement local educational or regulatory programs. 

Impaired Waters 

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, numerous water bodies in 

Dunn County are on the 2008 impaired waters list due to water quality concerns. These 

water bodies are: 

� Clack Creek – Elevated Water Temperature, Sediment 

� Coon Creek – Sediment 

� Gilbert Creek – Elevated Water Temperature, Sediment 

� Knights Creek – Sediment 

� Lake Menomin – Total Phosphorus 

� Old Elk Lake – Sediment, Total Phosphorus 

� Red Cedar River (0 – 9.27) - PCBs 


� Red Cedar River (9.27 – 13.56) – PCBs, Total Phosphorus 

� Red Cedar River (13.6 – 16.48) - PCBs 

� Red Cedar River (16.5 – 18.8) - Mercury 

� Red Cedar River (22.5 – 28.72) – Degraded Habitat, Total Phosphorus 

� Rock Creek - Sediment 

� Tainter Lake – Mercury, Total Phosphorus 

� Chippewa River - PCBs 

� Chippewa River - PCBs 

� Missouri Creek - Sediment 

As seen above, many surface waters are suffering from the results of the soil erosion in 

the form of sedimentation and the inclusion of pesticides and fertilizer into the water. The 

native soils of the area contain a high level of phosphorous. This creates a situation of 

reduced habitat and high weed growth levels in the lakes and streams. In addition, the 

water bodies that have high levels of PCBs have instances of contaminated fish tissue. 

Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters 

Through its Wisconsin's Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters Program, the 

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is working to maintain the water quality in 

Wisconsin's cleanest waters. These waters have been classified into outstanding and 

exceptional waters. Outstanding resource water is defined as a lake or stream that has 

excellent water quality, high recreational and aesthetic value, high-quality fishing, and is 

free from point source or non-point source pollution. Exceptional resource water is 

defined as a stream that exhibits the same high-quality resource values as outstanding 

waters, but that may be impacted by point source pollution or have the potential for future 

discharge from a small sewer community. Dunn County has one water categorized as 

outstanding resources and two exceptional resource waters identified (Table 5.5). 

Table 5.5 - Outstanding and Exceptional Waters – Dunn County 

Outstanding Waters Exceptional Waters 

Elk Creek Big Elk Creek 

Sand Creek 

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2008 

Point Source Discharges 

Private and public sewer systems and wastewater discharges are two potential sources of 

water pollutants. Since 2004, Dunn County has seen a significant and consistent decrease 

in the number of issued permits for private sewer systems. In 2004, there were 366 

permits issued, and in 2007, there were 241 permits issued. As of December, there were 

169 in 2008. At the same time, every new system increases the number and density of 

private sewage systems in the County. This can lead to nitrates in the groundwater. There 

are nine municipal and sanitary district wastewater treatment plants that discharge to 

either surface or ground water in Dunn County and two permitted industrial discharges in 

Dunn County (Table 5.6). 


Groundwater 

Groundwater is an important natural resource in Dunn County. Understanding how 

groundwater is used in the County and how it can become contaminated is important to 

understanding the relationship between land use and groundwater quality. 

The first step in this process is to understand the source of groundwater. As rain and 

snow fall to the ground, some runs off into the lakes, rivers, and streams; some 

evaporates; and some is used by plants. The rest trickles down through the soil and 

subsoil material. This water eventually reaches a saturated zone that comprises 

groundwater. These saturated zones, called aquifers, are geologic formations that can 

store and transmit water. The concept of water moving from the land’s surface into 

groundwater is the starting point for thinking about the relationship between land use and 

groundwater quality. Nearly anything that is dumped, spilled, or spread on the ground can 

seep down to groundwater. This groundwater is then used by residents for drinking, 

farming, and other activities. Groundwater can also return to the surface as springs or as 

discharge to lakes, river, and streams. 

Protecting groundwater means modifying or even prohibiting certain activities in areas 

where contaminants can easily enter the groundwater. This can mean changing the type 

of septic system required, or limiting the concentration of development in areas that are 

most susceptible to contamination. 

Table 5.6 - Permitted Municipal and Industrial Discharges to Surface and Groundwater 

Dunn County 

Water Body Owner Type 

Hay River Boyceville Wastewater Treatment Facility Municipal WWTF 

Red Cedar Colfax Wastewater Treatment Facility Municipal WWTF 

Red Cedar Downsville Sanitary District #1 Sanitary and Municipal WWTF 

Wetland tributary to Muddy Creek Elk Mound Wastewater Treatment Facility Municipal WWTF 

Wilson Creek Knapp Wastewater Treatment Facility Municipal WWTF 

Red Cedar Menomonie Wastewater Treatment Facility Municipal WWTF 

Lower Pine Creek Ridgeland Wastewater Treatment Facility Municipal WWTF 

Groundwater Sand Creek Sanitary District #1 Sanitary and Municipal WWTF 

Hay River Wheeler Wastewater Treatment Facility Municipal WWTF 

Tiffany Creek AB Mauri Food, Inc Industrial 

Wetland Complex Red Cedar Bullfrog Fish Farm Industrial 

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has developed the Groundwater 

Contamination Susceptibility Model (GCSM) used to estimate the susceptibility of the 

groundwater based on particular natural resource characteristics. The natural resource 

characteristics include bedrock depth, bedrock type, soil characteristics, surficial 

deposits, and water table depth. The GCSM assigned a value to each of the resource 


characteristics. A weighting scheme was also developed to indicate the strength of each 

resource characteristic in estimating groundwater contamination susceptibility. The result 

of the analysis is a groundwater susceptibility map available for the State of Wisconsin 

which shows that the majority of Dunn County has moderate groundwater susceptibility 

ratings. The areas around the Chippewa River and Red Cedar River have high 

groundwater susceptibility ratings. 

Air Quality 

Air quality is an important issue in Dunn County. Understanding how air quality is 

impacted in the County and how it can become contaminated is important to understand. 

Dunn County is experiencing an increase in lesser air quality. One major attribute to this 

is the increase in burning wood. A major contributor to this are outdoor wood boilers, 

which can create localized environments that have unhealthy levels of air quality. Some 

of the major components of wood smoke are on EPA’s list of six “criteria pollutants” in 

the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), including ozone, carbon 

monoxide, nitrous oxides, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. The adoption of local 

ordinances regulating outdoor wood stoves is currently the best way to address the issue 

proactively. This issue will only increase due to the increases in other fuels and a 

renewed interest in using local and renewable resources for energy. 

Natural Resources – Sensitive Lands 

In addition to the more distinct physical land features, there are other environmentally 

sensitive and valued land resources that should be considered for the potential impacts of 

growth and development activities. These areas, referred to as sensitive lands, should be 

identified and evaluated for their significance as a valued resource in the County. In 

addition, growth and development policies and management techniques will need to be 

established to affect the desired impacts on these resources. 

The following are the Sensitive Lands that are briefly reviewed and discussed in this 

section. 

� Shorelands 

� Floodplains 

� Wetlands 

� Steep Slopes 

� Forests and Woodlands 

� Grasslands and Prairie 

� Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat, and Open Space 

� Parks and Recreational Resources 

Detailed data on the encroachment and loss of many of these sensitive areas (e.g., 

wetlands, steep slopes) was not readily available for inclusion in this report. WCWRPC 

may further supplement this information in the future as resources allow. In the interim, 


community-specific questions can be directed to the Wisconsin Department of Natural 

Resources (WisDNR). WisDNR contact information is available at their webpage, 

including the service centers in the region: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cs/servicecenter/. 

Shorelands 

Shorelands provide valuable habitat for both aquatic and terrestrial animals and 

vegetation, and also act as buffers and thus serve to protect water quality. Shorelands are 

also considered prime residential building areas because of their scenic beauty. 

Recognizing this conflict, and to maintain the environmental, recreational, and 

economical quality of our water resources, the State of Wisconsin requires counties to 

adopt and enforce a shoreland ordinance. 

As required by the State, shorelands are defined as: 

� all land within 1,000 feet of the ordinary high water mark of a lake, pond, or flowage; 

or 

� all land within 300 feet of the ordinary high water mark of a river or stream or to the 

landward side of the floodplain, whichever is greater. 

Each county must meet or exceed the minimum state standards for shoreland protection. 

The identified shoreland areas are based on the standards as defined in the Dunn County 

Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. 

Shoreland encroachment data is not readily available. However, Map 1.2 provided earlier 

in the report shows that many of the fastest growing municipalities in Dunn County since 

1970 have been 

2000 Seasonal Units in West Central Wisconsin 

those communities 

with significant 

surface water 

features. Likewise, 

these communities 

often have higher 

numbers of 

seasonal housing 

units, as shown in 

the map to the 

right, though not 

all such units are 

in shoreland areas. 

There are signs 

that seasonal units 

in west central 

Wisconsin are 

increasingly 


ecoming year-round or retirement homes. Further, with many of the prime lakefront 

properties already developed, there may be an increasing demand for shoreland properties 

on rivers. 

In lieu of shoreland encroachment data, the following sub-section does include estimates 

of structures potentially located in the 100-year floodplain. There is a significant overlap 

between shorelands and 100-year floodplains, so this additional information does provide 

a sense of shoreland development trends in Dunn County. 

Floodplains 

One sensitive land feature that most residents are aware of is the floodplain, which are the 

flood-prone lands adjacent to water bodies. Floodplains can be desirable development 

areas due to the proximity to lakes, rivers, and streams, but pose problems by possibly 

putting residents and property at risk. Development in floodplains can also affect the 

environmental quality of the waterway. 

To better protect the residents of throughout the state, and to minimize the loss of 

property, the State of Wisconsin, under Wisconsin Statute 87.30(1), requires counties, 

cities, and villages to adopt and enforce floodplain zoning. In addition, Wisconsin 

Administrative Code NR116, Floodplain Management Program, has been promulgated 

for the protection of property and public investments from the effects of flooding. 

Development within the floodplain is usually assessed through the use of the Flood 

Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 

(FEMA). The floodplains at the end of this element have been identified for Dunn 

County based on the FEMA flood insurance maps (Map 5.7). It is important to remember 

that this map is no substitute for site-specific analysis. Natural and human changes in the 

landscape and the age and accuracy of the flood insurance maps has, in some cases, 

limited their reliability for identifying and designating floodplains. 

Flooding in Dunn County will continue to be a significant risk for County residents and 

improvements. The Chippewa and Red Cedar Rivers have periodically flooded in Dunn 

County and have affected its development. Historical accounts tend to highlight the 

larger riverine floods where large amounts of crops are destroyed, dams are washed out, 

homes or farms damaged, and death to livestock and people have occurred. However, 

many lesser flash floods have also occurred causing localized damage, along with nearly 

annual riverine flooding of bottomlands and some agricultural areas, along the Chippewa 

River in particular. 

Serious riverine flooding on the Red Cedar River has not occurred since the late 1960’s, 

in large part due to removal of the dam at Colfax and improvements at the two large 

hydroelectric dams currently managed by Xcel Energy. Though spring flooding 

continues to occur annually in the bottomlands of the Chippewa River, damages in these 

areas have also been relatively small and infrequent compared to the large floods 

recorded in the 19 th Century and the first 70 years of the 20 th Century. 


The most recent large flood event in 1993, caused over $1.2 million in damages to 

property and crops, primarily in those towns along the Chippewa River. Nitrate, 

coliform, and triazine levels above acceptable standards were also found in many of the 

private wells tested within flooded areas. However, in the larger region, about 80% of 

the crop damage was due to overly saturated fields unrelated to overbank flooding and 

about 24% of all losses covered by the National Flood Insurance Program were for 

damages outside the 100-year floodplain. 

Even with this flood history, there have only been twelve (12) National Flooding 

Insurance Program (NFIP) claims for Dun County involving six (6) properties. One 

property can be found in each of the villages of Boyceville, Downing, and Ridgeland. 

Two of these properties are located in the Caryville area of the Chippewa River bottoms. 

Six NFIP claims have been made for a single property in a low-lying area along Elk 

Creek in the Town of Spring Brook; this property constitutes 83% of all the NFIP claims 

in Dunn County to date and is the only property in Dunn County on FEMA’s repetitive 

loss properties list. 

As part of the Dunn County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, an estimate of the number 

of potential structures in the 100-year floodplains was produced. This estimate was 

developed using a combination of orthophotography, parcel data, interviews with cities 

and villages, and FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). However, this analysis 

should only be used to identify general trends, since elevation data for these structures 

was not available and the accuracy of the FIRMs can be questionable; site specific 

analysis is often needed to definitively determine if a structure is indeed within a 

floodplain. 

Table 5.7 identifies the numbers and types of potentially floodprone structures in each 

community which may be located within the 100-year floodplain. The majority of 

improved, potentially floodprone parcels (64%) are located within the unincorporated 

towns. However, the largest concentration of improved, floodprone parcels (27.5%) can 

be found within the Village of Boyceville. The Village also has 31.3% of the total value 

of assessed floodplain improvements. 3 It is important to note that the FIRMs which 

delineate the FEMA 100-year floodplain for Dunn County are being updated, which will 

likely result in some changes to these numbers. 

3 Based on 1993 FIRM Maps. The number of potentially floodprone parcels and value of improvements in 

the Village of Boyceville would likely decrease if the revised 100-years floodplain map as proposed by the 

Village are approved by FEMA. 


This information can also serve as a proxy for identifying areas of shoreline 

encroachment. For more information on flood risks and vulnerabilities in Dunn County, 

please refer to the Dunn County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. 

Table 5.7 - Potential 100-Year Floodplain Improvements (2005) 

Dunn County 

total # of total acreage average # of total value avg. value 

parcels w/ of floodplain parcels w/ of assessed of assessed 

municipality improvements parcels parcel assessed floodplain floodplain 

in floodplain in floodplain size improvements improvements improvements 

T. of Colfax 12 63.3 5.3 9 $519,700 $57,744 

T. of Dunn 9 41.1 4.6 4 $201,000 $50,250 

T. of Eau Galle 22 188.8 8.6 19 $1,877,500 $98,816 

T. of Elk Mound 0 0 0 0 $0 $0 

T. of Grant 4 101.8 25.4 3 $184,200 $61,400 

T. of Hay River 7 156 22.3 5 $229,100 $45,820 

T. of Lucas 0 0 0 0 $0 $0 

T. of Menomonie 11 26.2 2.4 8 $879,400 $109,925 

T. of New Haven 45 308.3 6.85 35 $1,321,900 $37,770 

T. of Otter Creek 1 0.6 0.6 0 $0 $0 

T. of Peru 34 412.2 12.1 23 $881,000 $38,405 

T. of Red Cedar 14 24 1.7 12 $1,787,500 $148,958 

T. of Rock Creek 27 302 11.2 22 $850,700 $38,668 

T. of Sand Creek 15 50.1 3.3 8 $539,500 $67,438 

T. of Sheridan 9 238.5 26.5 6 $459,400 $76,567 

T. of Sherman 2 4.2 2.1 2 $242,000 $121,000 

T. of Spring Brook 45 837.2 18.6 37 $3,030,400 $81,903 

T. of Stanton 22 467.6 21.3 19 $1,589,900 $83,679 

T. of Tainter 104 125.9 1.2 95 $6,534,400 $68,783 

T. of Tiffany 22 442 20.1 20 $1,238,800 $61,940 

T. of Weston 10 112 11.2 8 $665,000 $83,125 

T. of Wilson 0 0 0 0 $0 $0 

Subtotal -- Unincorporated 415 3901.8 9.4 335 $23,031,400 $68,750 

V. of Boyceville 179 264.1 1.5 147 $11,832,900 $80,496 

V. of Colfax 11 31.6 2.9 7 $300,000 $42,857 

V. of Downing 33 62.5 1.9 20 $789,900 $39,495 

V. of Elk Mound 0 0 0 0 $0 $0 

V. of Knapp 0 0 0 0 $0 $0 

V. of Ridgeland 0 0 0 0 $0 $0 

V. of Wheeler 0 0 0 0 $0 $0 

C. of Menomonie 11 14.2 1.3 9 $1,891,100 $210,122 

Subtotal - Incorporated 234 372.4 1.6 183 $14,813,900 $80,950 

Total -- Dunn County 649 4274.2 6.6 518 $37,845,300 $73,060 


Wetlands 

There are a number of wetland areas within the watersheds that can affect water levels of 

rivers and creeks flowing through Dunn County (Map 5.8). Wetlands are defined by the 

State Statute as “an area where water is at, near, or above the land surface long enough to 

be capable of supporting aquatic or hydrophytic (water-loving) vegetation and which has 

soils indicative of wet conditions.” Wetlands may be seasonal or permanent and are 

commonly referred to as swamps, marshes, or bogs. Wetland plants and soils have the 

capacity to store and filter pollutants, replenish groundwater supplies, store floodwaters, 

and maintain stream flows. 

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources based on 1978-1979 aerial 

photograph, Dunn County has 44,222 acres of wetlands which are individually five acres 

or larger. This constitutes approximately 8.1 percent of the county’s total surface area. 

Detailed data on wetland losses in Dunn County was not readily available for inclusion 

within this report. It has been estimated that approximately 47% of Wisconsin’s original 

pre-settlement wetland acreage had been lost by 1979. 

Steep Slopes 

It is generally more desirable, both environmentally and economically, to avoid steep 

slopes and disrupting natural drainageways with construction and land development. 

Problems with erosion and runoff pollution can occur with development on steep slopes, 

and flooding and wet basements can occur with drainageway disruptions. 

Steep slopes are any area where the gradient of the land is 13 percent or greater (each 

percent of slope is measured as one unit in elevation for every 100 horizontal units). 

Areas having steep slopes can be categorized into three levels, 13 percent to 20 percent 

slope, 21 percent to 24 percent, and 25 percent and greater. 

Development on slopes of 13 percent to 20 percent should consider direct runoff into 

lakes, rivers, or streams, follow state approved construction site erosion control 

standards, and institute best management practices to control on-site runoff and pollution. 

Land with slopes of 21 percent or greater represent a definite limiting environmental 

condition. Development on these slopes results in high construction costs and severe 

erosion with resultant negative impacts to surface and ground waters. Development on 

slopes of 21 percent or greater is highly discouraged. 

Based on the Soil Survey for Dunn County, there are 236,112 acres that potentially have 

a slope of 13 percent or greater representing 36.6 percent of the total land base. Of this, 

124,267 acres (22.5 percent) have slopes of 21 percent or greater and .3 percent have a 

slope of 25 percent and greater. The majority of these steep slopes are located in the 

western and northern portions of the county. These relief changes can be seen on Map 

5.9. Additional localized and site-specific variations in topography and slope may exist. 

Glacial activity created some scenic topography, but may also be very sensitive to 

development activities. 


Forests and Woodlands 

Forests and woodlands are an important feature of Dunn County. In fact, its forests are 

the second most extensive land use and land cover after agriculture. Woodlands are 

located throughout the County (Map 5.10). 

Assessed forest acreage decreased by roughly 24,161 acres, or almost 38 square miles, 

between 1990 and 2007 (see Table 5.8). This was an 18.5 percent decrease. Between 

1990 and 2007 the towns of Lucas (84 percent), Stanton (78 percent), and Sherman (45) 

saw the largest percentage increases in assessed forested acreage. In 2007, the towns of 

Otter Creek (7,578), Wilson (7,451), Dunn (6,807), Grant (6,471), and Eau Galle (6,270) 

had the greatest amount of assessed forested acreage, respectively. At the same time, Peru 

(1,763) and Red Cedar (1,817) had the least amount of assessed forested acreage. The 

greatest percentage decreases occurred in the towns of Dunn (-66 percent), Rock Creek 

(33.2), and Sheridan (-32.6 percent). 

Table 5.8 - Assessed Forest and AG Forest Parcels and Acreage by Town (1990-2007) – 

Dunn County 


1990 - 

1990 - 

# 2007 % 

# 2007 % 

Town 1990 2007* Change Change 1990 2007* Change Change 

Colfax 338 299 -39 -11.5 5,057 4,099 -958 -18.9 

Dunn 807 510 -297 -36.8 20,160 6,807 -13,353 -66.2 

Eau Galle 586 470 -116 -19.8 8,577 6,270 -2,307 -26.9 

Elk Mound 314 260 -54 -17.2 4,753 3,782 -971 -20.4 

Grant 352 375 23 6.5 7,185 6,471 -714 -9.9 

Hay River 378 336 -42 -11.1 5,950 4,456 -1,494 -25.1 

Lucas 114 379 265 232.5 3,050 5,612 2,562 84.0 

Menomonie 321 422 101 31.5 4,202 4,738 536 12.8 

New Haven 208 376 168 80.8 5,506 5,945 439 8.0 

Otter Creek 415 371 -44 -10.6 10,254 7,578 -2,676 -26.1 

Peru 134 128 -6 -4.5 1,865 1,763 -102 -5.5 

Red Cedar 174 162 -12 -6.9 2,227 1,817 -410 -18.4 

Rock Creek 332 272 -60 -18.1 4,658 3,111 -1,547 -33.2 

Sand Creek 290 366 76 26.2 5,915 4,781 -1,134 -19.2 

Sheridan 429 324 -105 -24.5 7,025 4,733 -2,292 -32.6 

Sherman 276 442 166 60.1 3,784 5,492 1,708 45.1 

Spring Brook 471 343 -128 -27.2 6,170 4,732 -1,438 -23.3 

Stanton 110 323 213 193.6 2,789 4,970 2,181 78.2 

Tainter 328 293 -35 -10.7 5,387 3,858 -1,529 -28.4 

Tiffany 271 338 67 24.7 3,943 3,776 -167 -4.2 

Weston 294 271 -23 -7.8 5,742 4,114 -1,628 -28.4 

Wilson 341 430 89 26.1 6,318 7,451 1,133 17.9 

TOTALS 7283 7490 207 2.8 130,517 106,356 -24,161 -18.5 

Source: Wisconsin Department of Revenue 

* Between 2003 and 2007, the Department of Revenue changed the classification system and included the category “AG Forest”. This 

alteration has in most cases influenced the comparison of 2007 data and the data from the previous three years. 


In Dunn County, woodlands are an important part of the environment, aesthetics, and 

economy. Woodlands provide: 

� Habitat for a variety of plants and animals; 

� The basic resource for many wood-based industries, including the expanding bioenergy 

sector; 

� Resources for the agricultural community; 

� An environment for recreational activities; and 

� For the scenic beauty of the landscape and the rural character of the county. 

Woodlands managed according to approved forest management practices can support 

varying and sometimes complementary objectives, such as timber production and wildlife 

habitat. On the other hand, strict preservation of woodlands would be unusual and 

reserved for the most rare and unique stands in the County. 

Unmanaged development and the fragmentation of woodlands in residential lots can 

diminish or eliminate a woodlands capacity to provide wood products, habitat for plants 

and animals, and aesthetic quality. Dunn County has experienced a loss of some 

woodland acres, in part due to the subdividing of woodlands into residential lots. Because 

woodlands are considered a valued resource for these reasons, significant woodlands are 

often protected from conversion to other uses or properly managed in order to retain their 

desirable characteristics. For example, residential development in woodland areas could 

use conservation design techniques in order to allow for development and preserve the 

environmental and aesthetic value. 

Grasslands and Prairie 

Some parts of Dunn County were originally covered by prairie, most of which does not 

remain today. Existing grassland areas are spread throughout the county (Map 5.11). 

There are very few areas of grassland in the County. 

Prairie is the term used to describe the grassland type that predominated Wisconsin prior 

to Euro-American settlement. Prairies are dominated by grasses and sedges, lack trees 

and tall shrubs, and are home to a rich variety of plants and animals. Within the prairie 

designation there are variations due to soils and climate. Prairies continue to be a 

threatened plant community in Wisconsin. The reduction of prairie in the state means that 

an estimated 20 percent of the original grassland plants are considered rare in the state. 

Consequently, many species of plants and animals associated with Wisconsin prairies are 

endangered, threatened or of special concern. 

There are few high quality prairie remnants remaining. Research shows it will take more 

than the preservation of these remnants to recover or retain the biodiversity this 

ecosystem can offer. Degraded areas that were once prairie can often be restored with 

moderate effort to yield a habitat suitable for most of the associated plant and animal 

species. Even certain managed agricultural and livestock practices can accommodate the 


maintenance of the open habitats needed by many grassland species. Grasslands can be 

restored and maintained through preserving a certain amount of open space for this type 

of cover as development occurs. Hence, development can occur in such a way that it can 

maintain sufficient grasslands for its habitat value while preserving the rural character of 

the landscape. 

Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat, and Open Space 

Scattered throughout Dunn County are various federal, state, and local wildlife, fishery, 

natural, and scientific areas, including private conservancy areas. These often encompass 

one or more of the sensitive land areas discussed previous (e.g., wetlands, forests, 

shorelands, prairies). These areas are managed as open space to provide important 

feeding, breeding, nesting, cover, and other habitat values to a wide variety of plant and 

animal species. Agricultural lands can also provide important open space and wildlife 

habitat, while maintaining the rural character of the area. 

Rare and Endangered Species and Natural Communities 

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Natural History 

Inventory, Dunn County is home to 44 animal species, 11 plant species, and 18 

natural communities that can be considered rare or endangered. 

The Natural History Inventory is a statewide inventory of known locations of rare 

and endangered species and communities. This information is for general 

planning purposes only, and the lack of known occurrences in an area does not 

mean that no significant endangered resources are present. These species and 

communities are listed on Map 5.12, provided by the Wisconsin Department of 

Natural Resources. The specific locations of some resources may not be mapped 

due to their sensitive nature and in order to minimize impacts. 

Four species found within Dunn County have Federal protection status designated 

by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: 

Bullhead (Mussel) Candidate 

Karner Blue (Butterfly) Endangered Species 

Eight Dunn County species have been categorized as endangered by the 

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: 

Beak Grass (Plant) 

Bullhead (Mussel) 

Butterfly (Mussel) 

Carolina Anemone (Plant) 

Crystal Darter (Fish) 

Loggerhead Shrike (Bird) 

Red-tailed Prairie Leafhopper(Leafhopper) 

Rough Rattlesnake-root (Plant) 


A threat to some of these natural communities is invasive plant and animal 

specific. Specifically, the Curly Leaf Pond Weed and Eurasian Water-Milfoil pose 

aquatic threats in the County. Other invasives have become established in Dunn 

County. 

State Natural Areas 

There are seven State Natural Areas in Dunn County. State Natural Areas are 

managed to protect rare plants, animals, or native landscapes. State Natural Areas 

may be part of a larger State Wildlife Area, though permitted recreational 

activities may be less intensive. The State Natural Areas are: Nine Mile Island, 

Otter Creek Oak Barrens, Caryville Savanna, Lower Chippewa River, Red Cedar 

River Savanna, Muddy Creek Sedge Meadow, and Big Beaver Meadow. 

Wisconsin’s Land Legacy Report 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has completed a draft study that 

identifies unique places that are critical to meeting Wisconsin’s future 

conservation and recreation needs for the next 50 years. A range of criteria were 

used in determining these places, including: high quality ecosystems, outstanding 

scenic beauty, accessibility, recreational opportunities, size of the resource, 

networks between resources, and water quality protection. The following 

locations in Dunn County were identified as important legacy places: Hay River, 

Lower Chippewa River and Prairies, and Upper Chippewa River. 

Parks and Recreational Resources 

Visitors and residents of Dunn County have many opportunities to enjoy the natural 

resources of the county through parks, trails, and other public lands (See Table 5.9). The 

County is in charge of 334,000 square feet of buildings and 526 acres of parks and 

grounds. There are three shooting ranges in Dunn County. There are 3,364 acres of lakes 

and 198 miles of trout streams. The 14.5 mile Red Cedar Trail follows the Red Cedar 

River from Menomonie to Downsville, where it joins the 20 mile long Chippewa Valley 

Trail to Eau Claire. 

There is one state park in Dunn County. Hoffman Hills State Park is located in the eastcentral 

portion of Dunn County. The park consists of 707 acres of preserved and restored 

wooden hills, wetlands, and prairie traversed with hiking and cross country ski trails. 

Hoffman Hills State Park has three picnic areas. It is open to gather nuts, mushrooms and 

berries. The State Department of Natural Resources manages 11 Wildlife Areas: 9-Mile 

Island State Natural Area, Big Beaver Creek, Dunnville, Eau Galle River, Gilbert Creek 

Fishery, Hay Creek, Hay River, Lambs Creek, Muddy Creek, Otter Creek, and Rock 

Falls Wildlife Areas. A full range of recreational activities may be pursued at the Wildlife 

Areas. 


Table 5.9 - Parks and Recreational Lands – Dunn County 

County Resource Size Location Notes 

22-Mile Ford Park 1.5 acres Town of Grant Restrooms, fishing, playground, 

picnic tables 

Caddie Woodlawn Park 6.5 acres Downsville Restrooms, picnic tables 

Champney Park 3.5 acres Menomonie Restrooms, fishing, playground, 


Eau Galle Park 3 acres Eau Galle Fishing, playground, picnic 

tables 

Empire in Pine Museum Building Eau Galle Logging museum 

Kleist Landing .9 acre Menomonie Fishing 

Lambs Creek Park 2.75 acres Menomonie Restrooms, fishing, playground, 


Lake Menomin Park 147 acres Menomonie Fishing, picnic tables, hiking 

trails 

Myron Park and Campground 37 acres Sand Creek Restrooms, fishing, playground, 

picnic tables, 45 camp sites 

Northwest Landing .1 acre Tainter Lake Restrooms, fishing, picnic tables 

Peninsula Park 5.5 acres Tainter Lake Fishing 

Pineview park Four acres Lake Eau Galle Restrooms, fishing, playground, 


Russian Slough 92.6 acres Lake Tainter Picnic tables 

Thatcher Park 1.0 acre Six miles N of Connersville Restrooms, fishing, picnic tables 

State Park & Natural Areas Size Location Notes 

Nine Mile Island SNA 1,634 acres Dunn and Pepin counties Extensive river ecosystem, oak 

barrens and floodplain forest 

Otter Creek Oak Barrens SNA 120 acres T30N-R12W, Oak barrens with large and small 

Section 16 NE¼. black oaks and bur and oak grubs 

Caryville Savanna SNA 420 acres T26N-R11W, Sections 5-9 High quality oak barrens on 

Brush Island, a low and sandy 

Lower Chippewa River SNA 1,605 acres Buffalo, Dunn, and Pepin 

counties 

Red Cedar River Savanna 

SNA 

Muddy Creek Sedge Meadow 

SNA 

210 acres T29N-R12W, Sections 11, 

12, 13, 14 

195 acres T27N-R11W, Section 5. 

T28N-R11W, Section 32. 

island in the Chippewa River 

The largest concentration of 

remaining prairies and savannas 

in the state. 

Sand islands and terraces in the 

Red Cedar River floodplain. 

Unique dry savanna on riverine 

sand and gravel deposits. 

Unique species composition that 

comprises nearly equal parts of 

northern and southern sedge 

meadow species 

Big Beaver Meadow SNA 110 acres T30N-R13W, Section 5. Wet meadow with wet prairie 

and southern sedge meadow, 

shrub carr and tamarack fen. 

Hoffman Hills State Park 707 acres 10 miles NE of Menomonie Preserved and restored wooded 

hills, wetlands, and prairie. 

Hiking and cross-country ski 

trails. 

Residents and visitors also have the option to enjoy the natural resources of Dunn County 

through many privately operated campgrounds, resorts, and other ventures. Individual 

cities and villages also maintain their own parks and recreational activities discussed as 

part of the Utilities and Community Facilities Element. 


Cultural Resources 

Dunn County has a long and storied history, with many significant sites. These sites 

include Native American encampments, fur trading outposts, lumbering camps, and 

historic buildings. Historic structures, sites, and districts are often targeted for hazard 

mitigation strategies due to their unique, often irreplaceable, social value. Such historic 

resources can also be responsible for defining much of a community’s identity. 

According to the National Register of Historic Places, Dunn County has five historic 

properties and one historic district that have received federal historic landmark 

designation (see Table 5.10). 

Additional older structures and homes within Dunn County also likely qualify for the 

National Register of Historic Places. For instance, the Wisconsin Historical Society 

maintains the Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI). This is a database of 

approximately 120,000 buildings, structures, and objects that illustrate Wisconsin's 

unique history. The AHI documents a wide range of historic properties, mostly privately 

owned, such as the round barns, log houses, metal truss bridges, small town commercial 

buildings and Queen Anne houses that create Wisconsin's distinct cultural landscape. The 

inventory is not comprehensive, and in some cases, the inventory may be dated if 

structures are altered or no longer exist. 

Table 5.10 - Sites and Structures on the National Register of Historic Places – Dunn County 

Historic Site Location Municipality Listed 

Colfax Municipal Building 613 Main St. Colfax 2004 

Evergreen Cemetery North end of Shorewood Dr. Menomonie 2006 

Menomonie Downtown Historic 

District 

Roughly bounded by Main and 

Crescent Sts., Fifth St., Wilson, 

and Second St. and Broadway 

Menomonie 1986 

Tainter, Louis Smith, House Broadway at Crescent Menomonie 1974 

Tainter, Mabel, Memorial Building 205 Main St. Menomonie 1974 

Upper Wakanda Park Mound Group Address Restricted Menomonie 1999 

Source: National Register of Historic Places < http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com >. December 11, 2008 

In Dunn County, a total of 514 historic places and objects have been identified as having 

historic value and are on the AHI (Table 5.11). The majority of these places are privately 

owned homes. Some locations may have multiple records or historic buildings. The City 

of Menomonie has 458 sites. 

Any development should be reviewed, pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 44.40 (1989), 

against the historic resource list to determine whether historic properties within the area 

will be affected. The Wisconsin Historical Society should be contacted for a 

determination of possible impacts on these resources from development. The Historical 

Society also strongly recommends that all proposed developments be surveyed by a 

qualified archeologist to identify any sites. 


Table 5.11 - Architectural and History Inventory Listings – Dunn County 

Municipality 

# of AHI 

Records 

Towns 

Colfax 7 

Dunn 9 

Eau Galle 2 

Elk Mound 6 

Grant 0 

Hay River 0 

Lucas 3 

Menomonie 10 

New Haven 1 

Otter Creek 0 

Peru 1 

Red Cedar 3 

Rock Creek 0 

Sand Creek 0 

Sheridan 0 

Sherman 1 

Spring Brook 6 

Stanton 0 

Tainter 0 

Tiffany 0 

Weston 4 

Wilson 0 

Villages 

Boyceville 0 

Colfax 3 

Downing 0 

Elk Mound 0 

Knapp 0 

Ridgeland 0 

Wheeler 0 

Cities 

Menomonie 458 

Source: Wisconsin Historical Society< http://www. wisconsinhistory.org/>. 2008. 

The Wisconsin Historical Society has grant funding available to help local communities 

undertake a historical survey, with additional grant funds for a variety of historic 

preservation activities. In addition, historic commercial structures on the National 

Register, or historic commercial structures located in a historic district, may also qualify 

for tax credits. Owner-occupied homes that are eligible for listing in the National Register 

do not have to be formally listed in the National Register to be eligible for historic 

preservation tax credits for rehabilitation projects. 


Summary 

Numerous programs at the State and County level are available to assist local 

communities in their planning efforts and in the protection of local agricultural, natural, 

and cultural resources. Protection of such resources needs to be balanced with, and can be 

complementary to, other community goals as discussed in the other existing conditions 

sections. 

Agricultural Resources Conditions Summary 

• Agriculture is the predominant use of the land in Dunn County. The 2007 assessed 

agricultural acreage in the County was 293,620 or about 53.1 percent of the total land 

acreage. 

• From 1990 to 2007, the County experienced a 16.1 percent reduction in assessed 

agricultural land. That is a loss of about one percent per year during that period. Of the 

towns, Otter Creek (-39.3 percent), Wilson (-33.9 percent), Lucas (-29.9 percent), and 

Stanton (-29.0 percent) had the largest percentage reductions in agricultural land. Of 

the cities and villages, the largest percentage losses of assessed agricultural lands 

occurred in the villages of Wheeler (-77.7 percent) and Knapp (-65.0 percent) and City 

of Menomonie (-55.5 percent). At the same time, the majority of the incorporated 

communities had percentage losses of over 20 percent. 

• The towns of Spring Brook (26,597), Eau Galle (19,141), Dunn (18,716), Red Cedar 

(16,663), and Weston (16,324) have the greatest number of assessed agricultural acres. 

In comparison, the towns of Elk Mound, Otter Creek, Peru, and Wilson all have less 

than 9,000 assessed acres in agricultural use. 

• In 2002, there were 168 more farms in Dunn County than in 1987. This number has 

fluctuated in the past four censuses. The average farm size decreased from 264 acres 

in 1987 to 237 acres in 2002. From 1987 to 2002, the number of farms increased by 11 

percent and average farm size decreased 10 percent. 

• The number of dairy farms in Dunn County has continued to decrease over the past 

two decades, with 321 dairy farms comprising 19 percent of the total farms in 2002. In 

1987, Dunn County was home to 893 dairy farms (59 percent of the total farms), 

which was 572 more dairy farms than existed in 2002. This is a 64 percent decrease in 

the number of dairy farms in Dunn County between 1987 and 2002. 

• Fifty-one percent of the soils in Dunn County are classified as Class II or III. There are 

no Class I soils in the County 

• Dunn County has seen a dramatic increase in the number of direct market farms and 

interest and investment in renewable energy, primarily bio-energy, in the past decade. 

Natural Resources - Physical Features Conditions Summary 

• Generally, the topography of Dunn County is lower in the southern half of the County 

and rises in elevation the further north. 


• Based on general soil types, nearly all of the County’s land area has severe soil 

limitations for septic tank absorption fields. 

• Dunn County has 22 operating and licensed non-metallic mining sites. There are no 

known metallic mineral deposits in sufficient tonnage or quality to warrant extraction. 

• Sand and gravel resources are available throughout the County, but are more abundant 

near rivers. 

• Dunn County has a total surface water area of 7,680 acres or 12 square miles. 

• Dunn County is located in the Lower Chippewa River Basin. 

• In general, the surface water quality in the Lower Chippewa River Basin needs 

improvement due to agricultural runoff and sedimentation. There is one outstanding 

resource water body and two exceptional resource water bodies. 

Natural Resources - Sensitive Lands Conditions Summary 

• Approximately 36.6 percent of Dunn County has steep slopes of 13 percent or greater, 

on which development should be limited or discouraged. 

• In 2007, the combined assessed forestland acres in the unincorporated areas (minimal 

acres existed in incorporated areas) amounted to 106,356 acres or about 19.2 percent 

of the total County acreage. 

• Combined, assessed agricultural and forest acres account for 72.3 percent of the 

assessed land in the County. 

• Assessed forest and AG forest acreage decreased by roughly 24,161 acres, or almost 

38 square miles, between 1990 and 2007. This was an 18.5 percent decrease. 

• Between 1990 and 2007 the towns of Lucas (84 percent), Stanton (78 percent), and 

Sherman (45) saw the largest percentage increases in assessed forested acreage. In 

2007, the towns of Otter Creek (7,578), Wilson (7,451), Dunn (6,807), Grant (6,471), 

and Eau Galle (6,270) had the greatest amount of assessed forested acreage, 

respectively. At the same time, Peru (1,763) and Red Cedar (1,817) had the least 

amount of assessed forested acreage. The greatest percentage decreases occurred in 

the towns of Dunn (-66 percent), Rock Creek (33.2), and Sheridan (-32.6 percent). 

• Dunn County is home to 44 animal species, 11 plant species, and 18 natural 

communities that can be considered rare or endangered. 

• Sensitive habitats can be encroached upon or degraded by invasive species. There are 

a variety of invasive plants that have been found Dunn County. 

• Dunn County has seven State Natural Areas managed to protect local plants, animals, 

and/or ecosystems. 

• Dunn County has three Wisconsin Land Legacy Places identified in the draft State 

plan: Hay River, Lower Chippewa River and Prairies, and Upper Chippewa River. 

• Dunn County has several parks which have a variety of recreational opportunities. 


Cultural Resources Conditions Summary 

• There are six locations in Dunn County on the National Register of Historic Places. 

• A total of 514 historic places and objects in Dunn County have been identified as 

having historic value and are on the Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory. 

Dunn County Natural Resource Map Series 

The Dunn County Resource and Land Use Atlas DVD-ROM contains resource maps in 

Adobe Acrobat .pdf format for Dunn County and each municipality. The county-wide 

maps are also included within Appendix A at the end of this report. These maps (Maps 

5.1 through 5.12) correspond to the previous discussion within the Agricultural, Natural, 

and Cultural Resources Information section. 



6. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION 


Economic development as part of comprehensive planning is the process by which the 

Dunn County community initiates and generates solutions to local economic problems. 

The primary purpose of economic development initiatives is to promote the stabilization, 

retention, or expansion of the economic base and to provide quality employment 

opportunities in the local governmental unit. This includes assisting existing businesses, 

encouraging business expansion, recruiting new businesses, and strategically planning 

important capital improvements and related infrastructure expenditures. Such endeavors 

should be guided by the vision and goals in county and local comprehensive plans to 

encourage efficiency and ensure a positive impact on the community. 

These efforts collectively build long-term local economic capacity so the community is 

more self-sufficient and able to better weather economic downturns. As successful 

economic development endeavors strengthen and diversify local economies, local 

businesses may locate in close proximity to the primary industry that supports them. 

These secondary or support businesses take advantage of economic spillovers of the 

primary industry. A local example of this is the close relationship between the existing 

agriculture and food processing industries. 

This information should also be considered in the context of the economic development 

programs, plans, and tools at work in Dunn County and its communities which are 

identified in the Addendum: Inventory of Programs, Plans, and Land Use Policies in 

West Central Wisconsin compiled by WCWRPC as part of the regional comprehensive 

planning effort. 

Please note that the layout, data, and description of the economy in this section was 

largely compiled during the Summer of 2008 with the input of a variety of economic 

development agencies in the region, including economic development corporations, 

universities, technical colleges, and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. 

Since economic changes can occur quickly at varying levels, much of the data in this 

section will often require updating prior to use for specific projects or purposes. 

The Wisconsin Economy 4 

Perhaps more than many comprehensive plan elements, the local economy and economic 

development are influenced by regional, State, national, and global factors. As such, 

great uncertainty exists when analyzing and forecasting the economy. 

4 Unless otherwise noted, the information in this section was largely extracted from the following two 

sources: (1) Winters, Dennis, Chief Economist. Department of Workforce Development-Office of 

Economic Advisors. Data Dashboard-Statewide Analysis. 

. May 1, 2008. (2) Wisconsin Department of Revenue- 

Division of Research & Policy. Wisconsin Economic Outlook. May 2008. 


Recent Economic Trends 

The economy is always in flux, often occurring in cycles or periods of growth, prosperity, 

and expansion followed by periods of decline, contraction, or recession. There is no 

reliable methodology to predicting such cycles, and some economists argue that these 

fluctuations are the result of “shocks” to the economy in terms of productivity or demand 

changes, and the use of the term “cycle” is a misnomer. 

Gross domestic product is often used to measure economic cycles, though Wisconsin’s 

annual average GDP has been growing quite steadily over the last decade. Instead, in 

order to show these economic fluctuations, Figure 6.1 charts the composite index of 

leading indicators between 1990 and May 2008 for Wisconsin. 

Leading economic indicators are based on certain economic activities which foreshadow 

a forthcoming economic change. In the case of Figure 6.1, the composite indicator 

includes average work week, overtime, job openings, new business starts, and 

unemployment compensation claims. 

Figure 6.1 – Composite Index of Leading Indicators for Wisconsin (1990-May 2008) 

Composite Index of Leading Indicators 

(1994 avg. = 100) 

170 

160 

150 

140 

130 

120 

110 

100 

90 

80 

70 

1990 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

source: Wisconsin Office of Economic Advisors 

1996 

1997 

1998 

Figure 6.1 reflects that Wisconsin strongly felt the economic recession that hit much of 

the world in the early 1990s following the October 1987 Black Monday stock market 

collapse, the savings and loan crisis, and the 1990 spike in oil prices at the beginning of 

the Gulf War. This downturn lagged in Wisconsin until 1993-1994. 

The Wisconsin economy grew rapidly on the “dot-com bubble” of the mid-to-late 1990s, 

as an exuberant market and venture capitalists speculated on the stocks of dot-com 

164 Economic Development Information 

1999 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008

companies during a period of low interest. But in March 2000, the bubble began to burst 

and by October 2002, $5 trillion in market value of technology companies had been lost. 

This sudden economic decline is very apparent in Figure 6.1. Also about this time, 

Wisconsin and much of the world entered a period of manufacturing recession which was 

particularly felt in our State. 

Between 2004 and 2007, job growth in Wisconsin was relatively strong and the economy 

rebounded, though there was a noticeable shift in the new jobs being created. Much of 

this growth was in the services sectors, while the manufacturing industry continued to 

struggle with job losses. 

The Current Economic Slowdown 

Economists are in disagreement over the current extent of the economic slowdown on a 

national level and forecasting the economy’s future. But as of May 1, 2008, it was 

generally agreed that the U.S. economy overall had not yet entered a period of less than 

positive growth. 

Two significant factors have largely contributed to our nation’s current economic 

situation—the downturn in the housing market and escalating oil prices. As of May 

2008, the single-family residential housing sector had not yet hit bottom; and the market 

continues to be plagued by high inventories, uncertain prices, and challenges for 

mortgage lenders, especially for those engaging in more risky sub-prime lending. 

According to the Wisconsin Realtors Association, home sales in the first quarter of 2008 

were down 24.9 percent from the first quarter of 2007. Home prices in Wisconsin held 

fairly steady in 2007, though the median home price statewide declined 3.8 percent in the 

first quarter of 2008. This decline was still less than half of the 7.7 percent decline 

nationwide. Housing permits in Wisconsin have had double-digit annual declines since 

2004. According to the Office of Economic Advisors’ May 2008 Statewide Analysis, 

“[w]hile foreclosures are up in the state, Wisconsin’s housing sector is not as exposed to 

the mortgage/price dilemma as much as other states such as Arizona, California, Florida, 

Nevada, and Ohio.” 5 In fact, 

Wisconsin ranked 27 th 

nationally in foreclosures 

during the first quarter of 

2008. 

As shown in Figure 6.2 to 

the right, gasoline prices 

have increased tremendously 

since the mid part of this 

decade. With the recordbreaking 

increases in the 

cost of oil, retail prices in the 

5 Ibid. 

Figure 6.2 - Gasoline & Medical Costs Compared to 

Consumer Price Index: All Items 

220 

190 

160 

130 

100 

2001 = 100 

All items 

Gasoline 

Medical 

70 

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 

source: Wisconsin Office of Economic Advisors, May 2008. 


U.S. increased by five percent between June 2007 and June 2008. 6 Gas prices jumped by 

nearly one-third during this same time period. This increase in gas and energy prices has 

had corresponding increases in food and other commodities, thereby decreasing 

household purchasing power and decreasing spending by consumers and businesses. In 

particular, automotive sales have been hurt as consumers hold on to their existing 

vehicles longer or begin to use alternative modes of transportation. General Motors has 

announced its intent to close its Janesville plant, which primarily makes SUVs, resulting 

in the loss of 2,390 jobs. Major restructuring and downsizing of airlines are also taking 

place due to increasing costs, thereby impacting routes, availability, and shipping. 

The May unemployment rate for Wisconsin increased from 4.2 percent in 2007 to 4.7 

percent in 2008. 7 Yet, the State rate was a full one percent below the national average in 

May 2008; and unemployment in Wisconsin has risen at a slower rate during the past 

year than the national average. Since mid 2007, employment numbers in Wisconsin have 

been relatively flat, while the employment growth rate has been diminishing since 2004. 

Even though unemployment has increased and the housing- and automotive-related 

industries have suffered, the previously referenced Office of Economic Advisors’ 

analysis does state that other sectors in Wisconsin are doing relatively well. “The weak 

dollar is benefitting exports of machinery, equipment, and agricultural commodities. 

Milk and grain prices are at or near record highs, although high feed prices are cutting 

into dairy profits.” The report goes on to note that during the previous year, 9,600 new 

jobs were created in the service sector, particular in the health-care industry. Business 

and professional services showed an annual increase of 1,800 jobs. 

The combination of a slowing economy and inflating prices is an added challenge to 

address. Interest rate cuts, a primary tool for avoiding an economic recession, can add to 

economic pressure. Meanwhile, the reduction in tax revenues related to decreasing 

development and new housing starts, combined with quickly escalating gas and 

commodity prices, has created a budgetary conundrum for many state, county, and local 

governments. 

Wisconsin’s Economic Outlook 

Forecasting the economy is difficult at best and such projections are based on historical 

economic fluctuations, current trends, and a variety of economic indicators. The 

Wisconsin Economic Outlook report issued by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue- 

Division of Research and Policy in May 2008 states that the Wisconsin economy is 

expected to slow for 2009 with the number of jobs slightly decreasing in 2008 and being 

steady in 2009. The following is a brief summary of the report’s employment outlook by 

some key industry sectors based on the most likely forecast scenario: 

6 

Isidore, Chris. CNN Money.com. Inflation: Price Jump Worst Since ’91. June 16, 

2008. 

7 

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. May 2008 Local Unemployment Rates Announced. 

press release. June 25, 2008. 

166 Economic Development Information

� Construction - continue to decline to reach bottom by the end of 2008 and 

recovering positive growth toward 2010. 

� Education, Health, Professional, & Business Services - continued growth of 1.6% 

to 2.4% for 2008 and 2009. 

� Trade Transportation & Utilities - mild decreases of 0.2% to 0.5%, then 

recovering positive growth in 2010. 

� Manufacturing – loss of 2% of jobs in 2008 and 2009, 0.2% loss in 2010, then 

recovering job growth in 2011. 

� Natural Resources & Mining – job losses in 2008 and 2009, with growth in 2010. 

� Leisure & Hospitality – 1.1% decline in 2009, then healthy growth rate thereafter. 

� Financial Sector – no growth in 2008, slight growth in 2009, then healthy growth 

thereafter. 

� Information Sector – slight declines or no increases until 2011. 

� Government – 0.6% decline in 2008, slight decrease in 2009, peak in 2010 as the 

2010 Census is carried out. 

While the economy adjusts, opportunities do arise. Consumers are turning more to fuelefficient 

vehicles, and the sale of hybrid vehicles is increasing. Research and 

development funding for alternative energy and energy-reducing technology is on the 

increase. Greater attention is being given to the planning and use of alternative means of 

passenger and commercial transportation. For instance, many public transit and Amtrak 

services are setting new records. And increased energy costs have increased attention on 

land-use patterns, alternative building materials, and other related sustainability concepts. 

In response to these trends, the West Central Wisconsin Regional Comprehensive Plan, 

under development by WCWRPC, will include an energy and sustainability section 

analyzing and providing advisory recommendations on how these concepts may be 

applied within our region. 

Dunn County Economic Profile 

Economic Data 

There is a significant amount of background data and information that is available from 

various public and private sources that is integrated into this document, including 

information from the following sources: 

� U.S. Census Bureau data 

o American Fact Finder Fact Sheets 

o County Business Patterns 

o Misc. demographic and other data 

� State of Wisconsin Department of Administration 

o Demographics Services Center 

� State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development 


o County Workforce Profiles 

o County Snapshots 

o Office of Economic Advisors 

� State of Wisconsin Department of Revenue 

o Wisconsin Economic Outlook 

� State of Wisconsin Department of Commerce 

� University of Wisconsin-Extension 

� West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (WCWRPC) 

o County summaries available at www.wcwrpc.org 

o Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 

� Indiana Business Research Center USA County Profiles 

� Dunn County and other local agencies 

Given the wealth of economic data available at the State, regional, county, and local 

levels, the plethora of specialized business studies, and the wide variety of economic 

models, no such compilation can truly be comprehensive in scope. As such, a 

community may need to consider additional studies focusing on a specific issue or topic 

as their planning efforts proceed. 

Further, there has been no clear consensus to date in the region on a single particular data 

source and those economic indicators 

which should be used to measure 

economic vitality, challenges, and 

progress, and to allow for comparison 

between communities and regions. The 

State of Wisconsin, through the 

Department of Workforce Development- 

Office of Economic Advisors, has 

developed Wisconsin Regional Metrics 

Benchmarks with a common set of core 

economic, demographic, and labor 

market indicators. 

Certain types of economic data and 

forecasts are only available at a county or 

regional level, and inferences must be 

Relationship to the 

Issues & Opportunities Section 

This section relies heavily on data provided 

previously in the issues and opportunities 

section (Section 1). The State 

Comprehensive Planning Law requires that 

the issues and opportunities element 

includes a variety of economic background 

information, including employment 

forecasts, educational levels, income levels, 

and employment characteristics. As 

appropriate, this section refers back to these 

data tables instead of repeating them here. 

made as to how it may be applicable for individual communities. However, earlier in the 

issues and opportunities section of this report, a variety of demographic, education, and 

labor force data tables were provided for Dunn County and its municipalities. This 

section does not restate the data tables and maps provided earlier, but, instead, builds 

upon this data to provide an economic “snapshot” of Dunn County. 


Demographic Overview 

Current demographic trends, including population changes and educational attainment, 

are important foundational factors in many economic development initiatives. The 

population profile describes the existing and potential labor force that may fill the jobs 

located in the region. Educational attainment statistics are a proxy for the general skill 

level of the population. And household income allows inferences to be made about 

discretionary spending in Dunn County as a whole. 

Population and Labor Force 

As of January 1, 2008, Dunn County had an estimated population of 43,292. 8 

This was an 8.6 percent increase since 2000. As shown previously in Table 1.3 

and Map 1.1, the highest rates of growth has been occurring in some 

unincorporated towns, most notably the towns of Elk Mound, Stanton, Hay River, 

Colfax, and Red Cedar. Only the villages of Downing and Ridgeland were 

estimated to have decreased in population between 2000 and 2008. 

Between 2000 and 2030, the Wisconsin Department of Administration has 

projected that Dunn County’s population will increase by 14,245 residents (or 

35.7%). 9 For additional population statistics by municipality, please see Tables 

1.1 to 1.10 in Section 1 of this report. 

Between 1990 and 2000, the County’s median age increased from 28.5 years to 

30.6 years, which is still well below Wisconsin’s median age in 2000 of 36 years 

due in large part to UW-Stout’s student population. The aging population of the 

region and County is a significant concern for the future and will place a greater 

emphasis on job training in the region. 10 Figure 6.3 provides a visual 

representation of Dunn County’s labor force using Wisconsin Department of 

Administration population projections. 

Currently, most of the Dunn County labor force is between the ages of 20 and 44. 

Figure 6.3 shows that Dunn County is expected to have a relatively young 

population overall compared to most counties in the region, though the number of 

residents ages 65 and over are increasing at the fastest pace. 

In short, while the County’s overall population is expected to increase 35.7 

percent from 2000 to 2030, the size of the primary workforce (ages 20-64) to 

support the local economy will only increase by 11 percent. Meanwhile, the 

number of seniors age 65 and over increases by 133%. 

8 Wisconsin Department of Administration. Final Population Estimates. October, 2008. 

9 Wisconsin Department of Administration. Pre-Release Population Projections. October 2008. 

10 Dane, Andrew and Gary Paul Green. Labor Market Conditions in Barron County. University of 

Wisconsin-Extension. January 12, 2005. 


Figure 6.3 – Dunn County Age/Labor Force Projection (2005-2030) 

Population by Age Group 

16,000 

14,000 

12,000 

10,000 

8,000 

6,000 

4,000 

2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 

source: Wisconsin Department of Administration, January 2004 

For additional insight into the Dunn County labor force, the Office of Economic 

Advisors’ County Workforce Profiles are an excellent source and are updated 

annually. 

Housing Market 

According to data provided by the US Bureau of the Census, the estimated 

number of single-family residential building permits issued in 1998 was 157 

compared to 149 in 2007, a five percent decrease. Multi-family units experienced 

an even greater decrease from 78 units in 1998 to 20 units in 2007. Building 

permits numbers reflect larger economic trends and can vary significantly from 

year to year. For instance, the highest number of units issued permits during the 

past decade occurred in 2004 when 423 total units valued at $48.7 million were 

permitted. This was about $25.3 million more in estimated construction value 

compared to 2007. 

Education 

As shown in Table 6.1, of the 2000 Dunn County population that is 25 years and 

over, 86.6 percent had a high school education or higher and 21.1 percent of 

residents had a bachelor’s degree or higher, both of which were similar to State 

averages. 

The demand for labor in the region is shifting toward more skilled work, although 

not as quickly as some other regions in the State. This trend increases the need 

for worker training opportunities. A strong, traditional secondary educational 


Year 

0-19 

20-44 

45-64 

65+ 

Age Groups

system and a variety of worker training programs are important factors in 

economic development. 

For more detailed data on educational attainment by municipality in Dunn 

County, please see Table 1.15 in Section 1 of this report. The utilities and 

community facilities section indentifies public schools and post-secondary 

institutions which play key roles in supporting the training needs of Dunn County 

businesses. 

Table 6.1 – Dunn County Educational Attainment (1990, 2000) 

Educational Attainment (residents 

25 years or older) 

source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990, 2000. 

Income and Wages 

Summarizing income statistics yields insight on purchasing power. Figure 6.4 

compares Dunn County’s per capita personal income 11 to State averages. 

The 2005 median household income for Dunn County was $44,162 which was 

33 rd in the State of Wisconsin and 93.7 percent of the State average. About 12.0 

percent of individuals in the County were below the poverty level in 2005, up 

from 10.0 percent in 2000. For household income data by municipality, please 

see Tables 1.26 and 1.27 in Section 1. 

Overall average annual wages for Dunn County increased by 18.4 percent in the 

six years from 2001 to 2006 as shown in Table 6.2. The biggest percentage 

increase was in the financial activities industry. 

The 2006 average annual wage in Dunn County was $31,161 or about 85 percent 

of the average Wisconsin wage for all industries ($36,830). For 2004 estimated 

salary and wages by occupation, please see Table 6.8 later in this section. 

11 Personal income is the income received by persons from all sources. 

Dunn County 

Wisconsin 

1990 2000 90 to '00 2000 

% % % Change % 

Less than high school diploma 22.3 13.3 -40.4 15.0 

High school graduate 37.2 36.9 -0.8 34.6 

Some college, no degree 14.1 20.4 44.7 20.6 

Associate degree 6.9 8.3 20.3 7.5 

Bachelor’s degree or higher 19.5 21.1 8.2 22.5 

High school graduate or higher 77.7 86.6 11.5 85.1 


Figure 6.4 – Dunn County vs. State Per Capita Personal Income (1997-2006) 

$36,000 

$34,000 

$32,000 

$30,000 

$28,000 

$26,000 

$24,000 

$22,000 

$20,000 

$18,000 

$24,514 

$20,734 

$19,098 

source: U.S. Department of Commerce – Bureau of Economic Analysis. 

Table 6.2 – Dunn County Average Annual Wages by Industry (2001-2006) 

for covered employment and wages 

Industry 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 

% change 

'01-'06 

Natural Resources $19,221 $19,720 $20,252 $21,068 $21,295 $23,849 24.1% 

Construction 31,336 34,405 35,674 36,573 38,668 42,109 34.4% 

Manufacturing 36,030 34,656 38,410 40,900 42,239 43,633 21.1% 

Trade, Transportation, Utilities 25,049 26,561 26,776 27,839 29,254 30,249 20.8% 

Financial Activities 23,774 24,461 25,969 27,569 29,926 32,747 37.7% 

Education & Health 28,575 29,279 29,891 30,356 30,906 31,833 11.4% 

Information 27,082 24,738 27,995 29,535 31,492 n.a. n.a. 

Leisure & Hospitality 8,160 8,559 8,609 8,503 8,610 9,671 18.5% 

Professional & Business Services 28,591 29,926 30,168 30,653 28,636 30,103 5.3% 

Other Services 17,403 16,952 17,090 18,485 20,785 20,635 18.6% 

Public Admininistration 30,133 31,357 32,148 32,114 32,970 33,879 12.4% 

All Industries $26,310 $27,072 $28,040 $29,105 $29,904 $31,161 18.4% 

source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Office of Economic Advisors 

Wisconsin (all) 

Wisc. (non-metro) 

Dunn County 

$34,405 

$29,022 

$25,748 

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 


Employment Trends 

Of Dunn County residents 16 years of age and over in 2006, 70 percent were in 

the labor force which was very close to the State average. As the monthly 

employment rates presented in Figure 6.5 show, Dunn County has an 

unemployment rate very similar to the Statewide rate with only slightly higher 

employment seasonality in recent years, unlike many of the counties in the region. 

Historically, Dunn County’s unemployment has been equal to or below the annual 

State average since 1992. Overall, the County’s annual average unemployment 

rate has been fairly unchanged since 2002, hovering between 4.4 percent to 5.1 

percent, and has been much improved relative to the State averages. 

Figure 6.5 – Dunn Co. & Wisconsin Monthly Unemployment Rate (1990-June 2008) 

not seasonally adjusted 

Unemployment (%) 

8.5 

7.5 

6.5 

5.5 

4.5 

3.5 

2.5 

1.5 

1990 

1990 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1993 

1994 


1995 

1996 

1996 

1997 

Unemployment is not only a reflection of job availability, but total available labor 

force. Figure 6.6 shows that the Dunn County average annual labor force grew by 

6,925 persons or 19.8 percent from 1900 to 2007. According to the UW- 

Extension 2005 labor market conditions report, the region’s labor market remains 

tight, with most employers having a difficult time attracting and retaining 


1998 

1999 

1999 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2002 

2003 

2004 

Dunn County 

Wisconsin 

Lines are averaged 

trend lines (polynomial method) 

for relative comparison 

purposes only. 

2005 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008

qualified workers. 12 Tables 1.16 and 1.17 in Section 1 provide unemployment 

statistics for the 1990 and 2000 labor force by municipality. 

Figure 6.6 – Dunn Co. Monthly Total Potential Labor Force (1990-June 2008) 

not seasonally adjusted 

Total Potential Labor Force 

27,500 

25,500 

23,500 

21,500 

19,500 

17,500 

1990 

1990 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1993 


12 Dane, Andrew and Gary Paul Green. Labor Market Conditions in Barron County. University of 

Wisconsin-Extension. January 12, 2005. 

Monthly Labor Force 

Average Trend Line 

1994 

1995 

1996 


1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

1999 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2002 

2003 

2004 

Red line is the 

averaged 

trend line 

(polynomial method). 

2005 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008

# of Commuters 

Commuting Patterns 

In 2000, Dunn County workers 16 years of age and over had a mean travel time of 

21.8 minutes and 74.9 percent drove to work alone. Figure 6.7 shows that 

commuting distances and travel time for Dunn County resident workers have been 

increasing, especially for those travelling farther, with fewer persons working at 

home. In 2000, 34.7 percent of the Dunn County workforce were employed 

outside of Dunn County. 

Figure 6.7 – Dunn County Travel Time to Work (1990 and 2000) 

6,000 

5,500 

5,000 

4,500 

4,000 

3,500 

3,000 

2,500 

2,000 

1,500 

1,000 

1,652 


1990 

2000 

1,370 

4,648 4,521 

Tables 1.23 and 1.24 provide statistics on travel time to work and place of work 

for the County and by municipality. Commuting patterns are discussed in greater 

detail within the transportation discussion (See Section 3. Transportation). 


5,198 

5,937 

2,354 

3,365 

2,833 

Worked at home < 10 min. 10-19 min. 20-29 min. 30+ min. 

Travel Time to Work 

5,055

Economic Base 

While the previous sub-section focused on general economic indicators for Dunn County, 

the following information focuses more on the different industry sectors and occupations 

which constitute the County’s economic base. 

Industry Composition 

According to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and Bureau of 

Economic Analysis for Dunn County: 

� In 2000, about 73.6% of the employed workforce were private-sector wage 

and salary workers; about 16.8% were government workers. About 9% of 

the workers were self-employed in a non-incorporated business 

� In 2006, the average income per job in sole proprietorships was about 38% 

of the County’s total average wages and salaries per job, including 

employer contributions. 

� Annual average earnings per job in 2006 was $30,545. Annual average 

earnings per farm proprietor was -$906. 

As shown in Table 6.3, the retail trade industry has the largest number of 

establishments, though this number has decreased since 2002. 

Table 6.3 – Dunn County Number of Establishments by Industry (1998-2006) 

Industry Code 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 

% change 

'98-'06 

Forestry, fishing, hunting, and agri. support 9 10 9 11 6 8 8 4 4 -55.6% 

Mining 1 2 2 2 1 1 0 1 1 0.0% 

Utilities 5 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 -20.0% 

Construction 134 127 128 133 122 115 119 123 106 -20.9% 

Manufacturing 60 57 60 58 47 52 49 49 49 -18.3% 

Wholesale trade 45 45 48 45 45 46 47 45 43 -4.4% 

Retail trade 150 142 146 152 145 139 133 132 127 -15.3% 

Transportation & warehousing 59 56 54 53 50 49 52 52 52 -11.9% 

Information 14 13 12 12 10 12 12 15 13 -7.1% 

Finance & insurance 50 50 56 59 53 54 56 55 55 10.0% 

Real estate & rental & leasing 29 29 25 27 29 33 34 33 27 -6.9% 

Professional, scientific & technical services 61 64 65 71 69 60 54 54 58 -4.9% 

Management of companies & enterprises 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 4 0.0% 

Admin, support, waste mgt, remediation 35 35 35 36 24 24 30 32 29 -17.1% 

Educational services 4 5 3 4 4 3 5 4 5 25.0% 

Health care and social assistance 71 71 72 81 79 83 81 83 89 25.4% 

Arts, entertainment & recreation 15 16 18 20 19 22 22 22 20 33.3% 

Accommodation & food services 104 98 99 97 78 76 78 88 84 -19.2% 

Other services (except public administration) 116 117 128 124 107 108 107 108 107 -7.8% 

Unclassified/Auxillary establishments 10 16 14 15 6 1 6 4 2 -80.0% 

Total 976 961 981 1,009 902 893 900 911 879 -9.9% 

source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 


The arts, entertainment, and recreation industry had the highest growth in number 

of new establishments between 1998 and 2006, while health care and social 

services establishments increased most in number with 18. Numerous industries 

experienced a loss in the number of establishments during the time period, 

including manufacturing and construction. 

Employment by Industry 

As shown in Table 6.4 below, employment in the services sectors (e.g., 

professional, leisure, financial, and education/health) has been growing at a faster 

rate than the goods-producing sectors in Dunn County. Only “other services” saw 

a decrease in employment from 2001 to 2006. Employment in the professional 

and business services grew at the fastest pace during the timeframe. 

Table 6.4 – Dunn County Employment by Industry (2001-2006) 

Industry 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 

% change 

'01-'06 

Natural Resources 243 222 260 252 247 263 8.2% 

Construction 723 745 770 762 735 785 8.6% 

Manufacturing 2,261 2,390 2,231 2,316 2,386 2,461 8.8% 

Trade, Transportation, Utilities 4,160 4,277 4,408 4,350 4,398 4,205 1.1% 

Financial Activities 382 412 437 445 474 489 28.0% 

Education & Health 4,077 4,224 4,296 4,377 4,509 4,654 14.2% 

Information 97 114 106 102 90 suppressed n.a. 

Leisure & Hospitality 1,519 1,542 1,470 1,451 1,570 1,639 7.9% 

Professional & Business Services 668 623 662 735 989 923 38.2% 

Other Services 262 249 262 258 236 244 -6.9% 

Public Admininistration 360 371 379 404 407 406 12.8% 

All Industries 14,751 15,171 15,281 15,453 16,040 16,166 9.6% 


These trends are consistent with the historical employment data provided 

previously for Dunn County and its municipalities in Tables 1.16 and 1.17. 

However, while the historical data is arranged by Standard Industrial 

Classification (SIC) code, most industry data available today is organized by the 

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), often making 

comparisons between newer and older industry data challenging. 

Due in large part to the University of Wisconsin-Stout, education and health 

remains the largest industry by employment as represented in Figure 6.8. While 

professional and business services was the County’s fastest growing industry by 

employment between 2001 to 2006, it still only represents eight percent of the 

County’s total employment. 

Employment in Dunn County is concentrated in a limited number of very large 

employers. As of March 2007, Dunn County had 21 employers with 100 or more 

employees, seven employers with 500+ employees, and two employers with over 

1,000 employees (see Table 6.5). Five of Dunn County’s top employers in Table 


6.5 were educational institutions. Though manufacturing constitutes only 15 

percent of the County’s total employment, there were six manufacturing 

companies in the top employers list. Of note, Dunn County government was the 

sixth largest employer in the County in 2007 and the City of Menomonie the 11 th 

largest. 

Figure 6.8 – Dunn County Employment by Industry (2006) 

Manufacturing 

15% 

Construction & 

Nat. Resources 

6% 

Public 

Admininistration 

4% 

Trade, 

Transportation, 

& Utilities 

18% 

Information & 

Other Services 

4% 

Prof., Business, 

& Financial 

Services 

8% 


Education & 

Health 

28% 

Leisure & 

Hospitality 

10% 

All industry groups had annual average wages below State averages in 2006. The 

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development in the 2007 Polk County 

Workforce Profile notes that rural jobs do tend to pay less than their urban 

counterparts, explaining the lower wages locally in the County. Employment in 

the manufacturing and construction industries had the highest average annual 

wages. 

As of 2006, 5.2% percent of Dunn County jobs were in farming, of which 82.7% 

were sole proprietors. Dunn County ranked 24 th of Wisconsin’s 72 counties in the 

total value of agricultural products sold in 2002. 

As noted in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Censuses, and as discussed 

previously in Section 5, the number of farms, average farm size, and acres of 

farmland in Dunn County continue to decrease. Even with these changes in 

agriculture, Dunn County farmers sold over $103.5 million worth of agricultural 

products in 2002, which has a significant economic impact. 


Table 6.5– Dunn County Top Employers as of March 2007 

(with 100+ employees) 

Rank Employer Name Industry Type 

Employee 

size range 

1 Wal-Mart General warehousing & storage 1000+ 

2 University of Wisconsin- Stout Colleges & universities 1000+ 

3 3M Company Coated & laminated paper manufacturing 500-999 

4 Menomonie Public School Elementary & secondary schools 500-999 

5 Red Cedar Medical Center Inc - Mayo General medical & surgical hospitals 500-999 

6 County of Dunn Executive & legislative offices, combined 500-999 

7 Conagra Foods Packaged Fds Co Confectionery mfg. from purchased chocolate 250-499 

8 Phillips Plastics Corp All other plastics product manufacturing 250-499 

9 Andersen Menomonie Inc Wood window & door manufacturing 250-499 

10 Cardinal Glass Industries Inc Flat glass manufacturing 100-249 

11 City of Menomonie Executive & legislative offices, combined 100-249 

12 Boyceville Community School District Elementary & secondary schools 100-249 

13 Westconsin Credit Union Credit unions 100-249 

14 Elk Mound Public School Elementary & secondary schools 100-249 

15 Buffalo Phils Grille Full-service restaurants 100-249 

16 Colfax Public School Elementary & secondary schools 100-249 

17 Fleet Farm All other general merchandise stores 100-249 

18 Silgan Containers Mfg Corp Metal can manufacturing 100-249 

19 Manpower Temporary help services 100-249 

20 Marketplace Foods Supermarkets & other grocery stores 100-249 

21 Frito-Lay Inc Gen Ptr Confectionery merchant wholesalers 100-249 


Sixty-seven percent of this agricultural market value was in livestock, poultry, 

and related products, rather than crop and nursery products. Even so, the County 

ranked 16 th in the State in the value of crops in 2002 and 10 th in the value of 

grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas. Milk and other dairy products from 

cows constituted the County’s largest value of agricultural sales by commodity 

group. 

Dunn County ranked second in the State in 2002 in turkey livestock, given its 

proximity to the turkey processing facilities in Barron County. And the County 

ranked fifth in the State in the colonies of bees as livestock. 

For a more detailed discussion of employment and wage trends in Dunn County, 

please refer to the 2007 Dunn County Workforce Profile compiled by the 

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. 


Employment by Occupation 

Like employment by industry, employment by occupation is also difficult to 

compare across years due to changing definitions and data-gathering approaches. 

Employment by occupation for 1990 and 2000 for each Dunn County 

municipality is included in Tables 1.21 and 1.22 in Section 1 of this report. 

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, of the Dunn County employed civilian 

population 16 years of age and over (20,791): 

� 28% were employed in management, professional, and related occupations 

� 21.4% were employed in production, transportation, and material moving 

occupations 

� 21.8% were employed in sales and office occupations 

� 17% were employed in service occupations 

Together, these four general occupation categories constitute 88.2 percent of the 

County’s workforce. 

Table 6.6 provides additional insight into the occupations of our area, but this 

information is available at a regional scale. Even so, these numbers are similar to 

the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau occupation statistics for Dunn County. 

In the West Central 

Wisconsin Workforce 

Development Area (see 

Figure 6.9) which 

includes Dunn County, 

office and 

administrative support 

and production are the 

most frequent 

occupations, though 

they are below the 

average annual salary 

for the region. 

Figure 6.9 – West Central Wisconsin 

Workforce Development Area 

source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development-Office of Economic Advisors 


Table 6.6 – West Central Wisconsin WDA Region 

Estimated Employment and Salary by Occupation (2004) 

2004 % of Total Average 

Occupation 

EmployEmploy- Annual 

mentment Salary 

Office and Administrative Support 27,090 15.6% $27,099 

Production 21,580 12.4% $28,765 

Sales and Related 17,120 9.8% $27,743 

Food Preparation and Serving Related 16,870 9.7% $16,748 

Transportation and Material Moving 14,670 8.4% $26,349 

Education, Training, and Library 11,010 6.3% $39,300 

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 8,580 4.9% $49,793 

Construction and Extraction 7,480 4.3% $39,111 

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 6,700 3.9% $34,441 

Management 6,070 3.5% $74,714 

Healthcare Support 5,830 3.4% $23,325 

Business and Financial Operations 5,560 3.2% $48,430 

Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance 5,380 3.1% $22,256 

Personal Care and Service 4,570 2.6% $19,567 

Protective Service 3,260 1.9% $33,184 

Architecture and Engineering 2,960 1.7% $55,024 

Community and Social Services 2,800 1.6% $38,992 

Computer and Mathematical 2,060 1.2% $54,277 

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 1,930 1.1% $33,885 

Life, Physical, and Social Science 1,410 0.8% $49,461 

Legal 670 0.4% $63,731 

Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 270 0.2% $24,922 

Total 173,880 100.0% $32,266 


source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development-Office of Economic Advisors 

Employment Projections 

In November 2003, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development 

(WDWD) released a publication entitled Wisconsin Projections, 2000-2010. This 

publication makes economic projections for the State regarding the labor force, 

industries, and occupations. This information was further supplemented by tenyear 

projections (2004-2014) by regional workforce development area (WDA). 

This sub-section relies, in large part, on these WDWD documents. 

Municipal units within Dunn County have employment patterns that are similar to 

the State. It is anticipated that for the near future, Wisconsin’s total population 

will grow more slowly while average age will increase more rapidly than the 

nation as a whole, leading to lower participation rates in the workforce. 

Wisconsin is also having difficulty attracting international immigrants and 


domestic migrants and retaining its own citizens. Wisconsin will continue to face 

the challenge of filling job openings. 

As shown in Table 6.7, the region’s WDA industries that are projected to add the 

most jobs from 2004-2014 are education and health services. Ambulatory health 

case services jobs alone will grow 36.6 percent, reflecting, in part, our region’s 

aging demographic. The number of total jobs in the manufacturing industry is 

estimated to remain fairly unchanged during this timeframe. These projections 

account for anticipated changes in Wisconsin’s economy within the timeframe, 

though unanticipated events may impact accuracy. 


Table 6.7 

West Central Wisconsin WDA Region Industry Projections (2004-2014) 

Industry Title 

2004 

Estimated 

Employment 

2014 

Projected 

Employment 

2004-2014 

Employment 

Change 

2004-2014 

Percentage 

Change 

Total Non-Farm Employment 173,880 194,330 20,450 11.8% 

Construction/Mining/Natural 

Resources 

8,380 9,880 1,500 17.9% 

Manufacturing 31,990 32,030 40 0.1% 

Paper Manufacturing 1,720 1,720 0 0.0% 

Plastics and Rubber Products 

Manufacturing 

Computer and Electronic 

Product Manufacturing 

3,400 3,670 270 7.9% 

3,220 3,020 -200 -6.2% 

Trade 28,800 30,900 2,100 7.3% 

Food and Beverage Stores 5,040 5,250 210 4.2% 

Transportation and Utilities 

(Including US Postal) 

8,270 9,520 1,250 15.1% 

Financial Activities 7,010 7,710 700 10.0% 

Education and Health Services 

(Including gov’t) 

Ambulatory Health Care 

37,330 45,540 8,210 22.0% 

5,540 7,570 2,030 36.6% 

Hospitals (Including gov’t) 7,050 8,640 1,590 22.6% 

Leisure and Hospitality 17,300 19,930 2,630 15.2% 

Information/Prof Services/Other 

Services 

Government (Excluding US 

Postal, State and Local Educ and 

Hospitals) 

21,470 24,920 3,450 16.1% 

13,310 13,930 620 4.7% 




Table 6.8 provides the estimated employment by occupation in 2004 and 

projected employment occupation for 2014 in the west central WDA. Overall, 

total employment is expected to increase by 11.8 percent in the region from 2004 

to 2014, with 2,050 new jobs created annually and 4,300 job replacements 

annually. The largest increase in the total number of jobs is expected in the food 

preparation- and serving-related occupations. Large employment growth (both 

total and percentage) is also expected in the health care practitioners and related 

technical occupations. Notably, these two occupation groups have very different 

salary and wage estimates. 

Table 6.8 – West Central Wisconsin WDA Region Occupation Projections and Estimated Wages 

(2004-2014) 

Estimated Employment ( 

Estimated Average 

Annual Openings 

Average 

Annual 

Salary 


source: Wisconsin Dept. of Workforce Development – Office of Economic Advisors 

Estimated Salary and Wages 

(2005) 

Entry 

Level 

Hourly 

Wage 

Table 6.9 presents 2014 employment and wage projections for the top 10 

occupations within the west central WDA. This represents occupation 

opportunities in our region that are available to the residents of Dunn County, 

though not all of these jobs may grow at a similar rate within the County. The 

greatest demand for workers in the region are occupations on the “Most 

Openings” list. This list includes many occupations considered as first-time or 

temporary jobs that workers often leave as other opportunities open up; turnover 

is high and wages are low. There are a few exceptions on the list: registered 

nurses and truck drivers. Both require a greater degree of education or training, 

and the wage scales also reflect this. 


Experienced 

Hourly 

Wage 

% New Replace- 

Occupational Title 

2004 2014 Change Change Jobs ments Total 

Management 6,070 6,860 790 13.0% 80 110 190 $74,714 $18.55 $44.61 

Business and Financial Operations 5,560 6,530 970 17.4% 100 100 200 $48,430 $13.84 $28.01 

Computer and Mathematical 2,060 2,570 510 24.8% 50 30 80 $54,277 $16.17 $31.06 

Architecture and Engineering 2,960 3,230 270 9.1% 30 70 100 $55,024 $16.79 $31.29 

Life, Physical, and Social Science 1,410 1,640 230 16.3% 20 30 50 $49,461 $14.58 $28.38 

Community and Social Services 2,800 3,300 500 17.9% 50 50 100 $38,992 $12.79 $21.73 

Legal 670 780 110 16.4% 10 10 20 $63,731 $13.59 $39.17 

Education, Training, and Library 11,010 12,740 1,730 15.7% 170 240 410 $39,300 $10.82 $22.93 

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 1,930 2,190 260 13.5% 30 40 70 $33,885 $8.74 $20.06 

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 8,580 10,920 2,340 27.3% 230 160 390 $49,793 $11.44 $30.19 

Healthcare Support 5,830 7,510 1,680 28.8% 170 90 260 $23,325 $8.91 $12.37 

Protective Service 3,260 3,480 220 6.7% 20 100 120 $33,184 $9.02 $19.42 

Food Preparation and Serving Related 16,870 19,260 2,390 14.2% 240 670 910 $16,748 $5.91 $9.12 

Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance 5,380 6,290 910 16.9% 90 110 200 $22,256 $7.26 $12.42 

Personal Care and Service 4,570 5,640 1,070 23.4% 110 110 220 $19,567 $6.80 $10.71 

Sales and Related 17,120 18,320 1,200 7.0% 120 610 730 $27,743 $6.74 $16.64 

Office and Administrative Support 27,090 28,170 1,080 4.0% 110 640 750 $27,099 $8.57 $15.26 

Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 270 300 30 11.1%

Table 6.9 - West Central Wisconsin WDA Region Occupation Projections (2014) 

Fastest Growth 

Most Openings 



13 Ibid. 

Top 10 Occupations 

Typically Required 

Education/Training 

Average 

Wage 

Home Health Aides 1-month on-the-job training $9.29 

Medical Assistants 1-12 mo. on-the-job training $12.63 

Network and Data Analysts Bachelor’s degree $22.19 

Computer Software Engineers, 

Applications 

Bachelor’s degree $37.08 

Personal and Home Care Aides 1-month on-the-job training $8.82 

Dental Assistants 1-12 mo. on-the-job training $12.50 

Dental Hygienists Associate degree $23.34 

Employment, Recruitment & 

Placement 

Bachelor’s degree $19.67 

Medical Records & Health Information Associate degree $12.71 

Occupational Therapists Master’s degree $25.53 

Cashiers 1-month on-the-job training $7.64 

Retail Salespersons 1-month on-the-job training $11.06 

Comb Food Prep/Serv Wrk/Incl Fast 1-month on-the-job training $7.04 

Waiters/Waitresses 1-month on-the-job training $7.34 

Registered Nurses Associate’s or Bachelor’s 

degree 

Laborers/Freight/Stock/Material 

Movers/Handlers 

Janitors/Cleaners, except 

Maids/Housekeeping 

$25.83 

1-month on-the-job training $10.09 

1-month on-the-job training $10.67 

Team Assemblers 1-12 mo. on-the-job training $12.94 

Stock Clerks/Order Fillers 1-month on-the-job training $9.47 

Bartenders 1-month on-the-job training $8.16 

The “Fastest Growth” occupations are often referred to as “hot jobs,” with more 

training requirements and better wages. There are often fewer openings in these 

jobs since the list is based on the greatest percent change in employment; for 

example, an occupation that increases from 5 to 10 jobs increased 100 percent 

whereas an occupation that increases from 2,000 to 2,200 jobs increased only 10 

percent. A 2005 University of Wisconsin-Extension study states that the largest 

demand in the region continues to be for assemblers, processors, and laborers. 13 


Tourism 

Dunn County offers a wide variety of natural, historical, and entertainment amenities and 

attractions. Tourism in the County often revolves around the University of Wisconsin- 

Stout, the County’s rivers and woodlands, and local artisans, community events, and 

farming. Unlike some counties in the region, Dunn County has a very low percentage of 

seasonal or recreational housing; only 1.2 percent of all housing units in 2000 were 

seasonal. 

The Economic Impact of Expenditures by Travelers on Wisconsin 2007, compiled by 

Davidson-Peterson & Associates, provides insight into the positive economic impacts of 

tourism on the Dunn County economy. As shown in Figure 6.10, traveler expenditures in 

Dunn County increased by 42.6 percent in the ten years between 1998 and 2007, with 

large increases between 1998 to 2000 then 2001 to 2002. 

In 2007, travelers spent an estimated $53.2 million in Dunn County, ranking the County 

53 rd in the State for traveler spending. This was a $15.8-million increase from the 

amount spent ten years earlier. The study goes on to estimate that employees in Dunn 

County directly earned over $14.6 million in wages generated from traveler spending, 

supporting an estimated 663 full-time equivalent jobs in 2007. Additionally, an estimated 

$952,093 in local revenues (e.g., sales taxes, property taxes) were collected in 2007 as a 

direct result of travelers in Dunn County. 

Figure 6.10 Traveler Expenditures in Dunn County (1998-2007) 

$55,000,000 

$53,000,000 

$51,000,000 

$49,000,000 

$47,000,000 

$45,000,000 

$43,000,000 

$41,000,000 

$39,000,000 

$37,000,000 

$35,000,000 

$37,300,791 

$49,072,144 

$40,110,735 

$49,252,037 

$53,999,013 

$53,951,442 

$53,214,969 

source: Davidson-Peterson & Associates. Economic Impact of Expenditures by Travelers on Wisconsin 2007. 

$51,805,972 

$54,350,461 


$53,174,073 

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

As Figure 6.11 shows, travelers are an 

important year-round contributor to the 

Dunn County economy with 20 

percent of traveler expenditures made 

during the winter, 20 percent during 

the spring, 36 percent during the 

summer, and 24 percent in the fall in 

2007. UW-Stout and Interstate 94 

both combine to minimize seasonal 

variances in traveler expenditures. 

In summary, tourism and travelers are 

a significant part of the Dunn County 

economy. This part of the economy is 

Figure 6.11 Seasonality of Traveler Expenditures 

in Dunn County (2007) 

36% 

source: Davidson-Peterson & Associates. Economic Impact of 

Expenditures by Travelers on Wisconsin 2007. 

largely built upon the County’s natural resources and rivers, the proximity of Interstate 

94, UW-Stout, and the County’s agricultural heritage. 

Tourism in Dunn County is promoted by the Greater Menomonie Area Chamber of 

Commerce, the Chippewa Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, and other local 

chambers or community organizations. For more information on tourism in Dunn 

County, please contact these entities: 

Greater Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce 

342 East Main Street 

Menomonie, WI 54751 

1-715-235-9087 

http://www.welcometomenomonie.com/ 

Chippewa Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau 

3624 Gateway Drive 

Eau Claire, WI 54701 

888-523-3866 

www.chippewavalley.net 

24% 

20% 


20% 

Winter Spring Summer Fall

Environmentally Contaminated Sites 

The State Comprehensive Planning Law (§66.1001) states that the economic 

development element “shall also evaluate and promote the use of environmentally 

contaminated sites for commercial or industrial uses.” 

Dunn County has no properties actively receiving long-term remedial action financed 

under the federal Superfund program. 

However, numerous smaller leaking underground storage tank, environmental repair, and 

spill sites are located throughout the County. The Wisconsin Bureau for Remediation 

and Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS) provides an inventory of the 

contaminated properties and other activities related to the investigation and cleanup of 

contaminated soil or groundwater in Wisconsin. 

Table 6.10 at the end of this section is a list of the 135 sites in Dunn County where 

contamination has occurred requiring significant attention, 14 including closed sites where 

clean-up has been completed. Of these, 77.7 percent (or 105) are associated with leaking 

underground storage tanks (LUSTs). All but one of the remaining 28 records are 

environmental repair (ERP) sites which have contaminated soil or groundwater requiring 

long-term attention ranging from non-LUST activities, such as industrial spills, dumping, 

buried containers, and landfills. The largest concentration of the sites (62) in Table 6.10 

was located within the City of Menomonie. Of the 135 sites, 24 remain open with some 

type of monitoring, investigation, or clean-up yet underway. 

Many, if not most, of the sites identified in Table 6.10 may currently be in active use and 

may not be available for redevelopment activities. Further, communities will need to 

consider the appropriateness and land use compatibility of the redevelopment of such 

sites for commercial or industrial use. 

Redevelopment opportunities are not limited to contaminated sites, however. Local 

comprehensive planning efforts may need to identify those deteriorating structures and 

under-utilized properties within their communities which have potential for re-use. 

Summary 

The data presented in this report should be kept in mind as communities develop their 

economic development strategies. This information can highlight certain weaknesses to 

be mitigated, as well as existing and potential opportunities to encourage economic 

growth and diversification. 

14 Table 6.10 excludes abandoned containers and spills for which no discharge to the environment has been 

identified or were cleaned up quickly. 


For convenience, here are some of the highlights of the economic development section: 

� The Dunn County economy is impacted by regional, State, national, and 

international decisions and fluctuations. At the State level, growth has slowed, 

while the price of gas and commodities has inflated. Home purchases and new 

home construction in Wisconsin have also decreased in recent years, though 

foreclosure rates remain well below national averages. 

� Dunn County’s population is projected to increase 35.7% between 2000 and 2030, 

with the primary labor force (ages 20-64) projected to increase by 11%. While 

the median age of County residents is relatively young (30.6 years in 2000), the 

aging population of the County and region poses both labor force concerns and 

economic opportunities for certain industries. 

� There is increasing demand for skilled workers in the region. Post-secondary 

educational attainment of County residents is very similar to the State average. 

� Average per capita personal income and wages both remain below the State 

averages, though they have been improving. The 2006 average annual wage in 

Dunn County ($31,161) was about 85% of the average Wisconsin wage for all 

industries. 

� Dunn County’s unemployment has been equal to or below the State average since 

1992, with less seasonal fluctuations compared to most counties in the region. 

� In 2000, 34.7% of the County’s resident labor force works outside of Dunn 

County, which is relatively low for the region. The average travel times to work 

have increased to a mean travel time to work of 21.8 minutes in 2000. 

� The retail trade industry had the largest number of establishments in 2006 and the 

health care and social service industry had the largest number of new 

establishments between 1998 and 2006. 

� In 2006, 28% of employment in the County was in the education and health 

industry. Trade, transportation, and utilities, which includes retail trade and 

warehousing, employed 18% of Dunn County workers. Professional and business 

services experienced the greatest employment growth between 2001 to 2006. 

� Two Dunn County employers (Wal-Mart and UW-Stout) had over 1,000 

employees in 2007. Six manufacturing firms were among Dunn County’s top 

employers with 100 or more employees, as well as five educational institutions. 

� The number of farms, farm size, and farm acreage in Dunn County continue to 

decrease. In 2002, Dunn County ranked 24 th in the State in total value of 

agricultural products sold, of which 67% were livestock, poultry, and related 

products. Dunn County ranked 2 nd in the State in turkey livestock and 5 th in bees. 

� In 2006, 5.2% of Dunn County jobs were in farming. Annual average earnings 

per farm proprietor was -$906. 

� The education and health services industry is expected to have the largest increase 

in jobs (+22%) from 2004 to 2014 in our region. 


� The overall number of manufacturing jobs in the region is expected to remain 

fairly unchanged between 2004 and 2014. 

� 28.1% of the potential labor force is employed in management, professional, and 

related occupations and 26% are in production, transportation, and material 

moving occupations. 

� The food services and the health care practitioners/technicians occupations are 

expected to have the greatest total number of job increases in the region from 

2004 to 2014. 

� Tourism and traveler expenditures in Dunn County are strongly connected to the 

University of Wisconsin-Stout, the Interstate 94 corridor, and the County’s 

natural, historical, and cultural resources. 

� The State BRRTS database includes 135 sites in Dunn County which have had 

significant contamination, though many of these sites have been remediated and 

are now closed. Environmentally contaminated sites are sometimes left vacant 

and deteriorating following remediation and offer opportunities for 

redevelopment. Communities may identify other redevelopment opportunities at 

locations which are not contaminated, but may be vacant or deteriorating. 

In response to economic conditions and goals, there are a variety of economic 

development tools that are available to municipalities, including tax incentives, creative 

financing and loan guarantees, and business incubator industrial parks. As shown in 

Addendum: Inventory of Programs, Plans, and Land Use Policies in West Central 

Wisconsin, communities and economic development agencies have been very active in 

utilizing many of these tools and programs. This list is not all-inclusive and communities 

may have additional community-specific reports and services. 

In numerous cases, these programs will prove more accessible as municipalities band 

together with other organizations and jurisdictions to collaborate and mutually pursue 

economic development efforts. Such collaboration will maximize a municipality’s ability 

to catalyze additional investment and meet shared economic development goals. 


Table 6.10 – Contaminated Sites in Dunn County (open & closed) 


Nearest Post Office 

Location Activity Status 

BOYCEVILLE BOYCEVILLE SCHOOL BUS GARAGE (NEW) ERP CLOSED 

INDERMUEHLE PROPERTY LUST OPEN 

CENEX CONVENIENCE STORE LUST OPEN 

UNION 76 FORMER LUST OPEN 

NORTH STAR STATION LUST CLOSED 

TIFFANY TN SHOP LUST CLOSED 

BOYCEVILLE OIL CO LUST CLOSED 

PINEHURST FARMS LUST CLOSED 

BOYCEVILLE SCHOOL BUS GARAGE FORMER LUST CLOSED 

RASMUSSEN STEVE PROPERTY LUST CLOSED 

PROVESTA FLAVOR INGREDIENTS LUST CLOSED 

KEYES CHEVROLET INC LUST CLOSED 

SKYPORT AIRPORT LUST CLOSED 

DUNN CNTY HWY DEPT LUST CLOSED 

PROVESTA FLAVOR INGREDIENTS VPLE CLOSED 

CARYVILLE LUERS GROCERY LUST CLOSED 

CARYVILLE DNR TANK LUST CLOSED 

CEDAR FALLS CEDAR FALLS GASOLINE INV LUST CLOSED 

CEDAR FALLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LUST CLOSED 

COLFAX COLFAX AGROW SERVICE INC - COLFAX ERP OPEN 

COLFAX AGROW SERVICE INC - COLFAX ERP OPEN 

LONE WOLF MFG ERP CLOSED 

COLFAX FARMERS UNION COOP ERP CLOSED 

THALER OIL LUST CLOSED 

GTE COLFAX LUST CLOSED 

COLFAX FARMERS UNION COOP LUST CLOSED 

AMPI - COLFAX LUST CLOSED 

COLFAX BUS BARN LUST CLOSED 


CONNORSVILLE CONNORSVILLE COOP LUST CLOSED 

SWENSONS GARAGE LUST CLOSED 

DOWNING MOBIL OIL CORP ERP OPEN 

DOWNING DOT LUST CLOSED 

SMITH IMPLEMENT LUST CLOSED 

SMITH IMPLEMENT LUST CLOSED 

SWENSON OIL LUST CLOSED 

JEANS COUNTY CORNER LUST CLOSED 

KADINGER AUTO SALVAGE LUST CLOSED 

DOWNSVILLE DUNN TN GARAGE LUST CLOSED 

WIKS SERVICE LUST CLOSED 

EAU GALLE HOFACKER GARAGE LUST CLOSED 


ELK MOUND CROSSROADS AG LLC - ELK MOUND ERP OPEN 

HVAC INC LUST CLOSED 

PETERSON FARM LUST CLOSED 

SPRINGBROOK TN SHOP LUST CLOSED 

GRUBER OIL LUST CLOSED 

HAY RIVER U S E P A ZEBRO SITE ERP OPEN 

KNAPP MIKES OIL CO (FORMER) LUST OPEN 

KNAPP COOP LUST CLOSED 

STANTON TN LUST CLOSED 


Table 6.10 – Contaminated Sites in Dunn County (open & closed) continued 




MENOMONIE CONAGRA FOODS ERP OPEN 

MICHELBOOK SERVICE CO INC BULK FAC ERP OPEN 

AMBERG OIL TANK FARM ERP OPEN 

MIDWESTERN PRECAST FORMER ERP OPEN 

AMBERG OIL BULK PLANT FORMER ERP OPEN 

MENOMONIE FARMERS UNION COOP ERP CONDITIONALLY CLOSED 

LENTZ FERTILIZER PESTICIDE ERP CLOSED 

QLF-MENOMONIE ERP CLOSED 

LUCAS SCHOOL ERP CLOSED 

BURTON HOME ERP CLOSED 

WEBER OIL BULK FACILITY ERP CLOSED 

MENOMONIE PUBLIC LIBRARY ERP CLOSED 

U W STOUT VOCATIONAL BLDG ERP CLOSED 

MENOMONIE FARMERS UNION ERP CLOSED 

UW STOUT GARAGE ERP CLOSED 

SPEEDWAY 4482 LUST OPEN 

MICHELBOOK SERVICE CO INC SERVICE STATION LUST OPEN 

MENOMONIE FARMERS UNION LUST OPEN 

PETROLEUM PROPERTY MGMT LUST OPEN 

WOLSKE BAY MARINA LUST CLOSED 

MENOMONIE CTY LUST CLOSED 


ANDALE REAL ESTATE INC LUST CLOSED 

AMOCO SERVICE STATION LUST CLOSED 

VIDEO BIZ/HOLLYWOOD TAN LUST CLOSED 

STATE FARM INSURANCE LUST CLOSED 

WI DOT OEA 7220-09-21 SSG CORP LUST CLOSED 

NORTHTOWN FORD MERCURY LUST CLOSED 

NORTHLAND GMC INC LUST CLOSED 

NORTHSIDE MOTORS LUST CLOSED 

NORTH BRANCH BANK OF MENOMONIE LUST CLOSED 

LUCAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LUST CLOSED 

MICHELBOOK RESIDENCE LUST CLOSED 

MENOMONIE FARMER UNION COOP LUST CLOSED 

WILSON AVE ROW LUST CLOSED 

MENOMONIE JR SR HIGH SCHOOL LUST CLOSED 

MIDWESTERN PRECAST FORMER LUST CLOSED 

UW STOUT LUST CLOSED 

BISCHEL, NANCY RESIDENCE LUST CLOSED 

MENOMONIE TRANSPORT INC LUST CLOSED 

TOM THUMB LUST CLOSED 

DENNIS STANDARD LUST CLOSED 


VISTA U PUMP #12 (FORMER) LUST CLOSED 

GIFFORD LN FARMS LUST CLOSED 

THUNDERBIRD MALL LUST CLOSED 

MENOMONIE CTY PARKING LOT #6 LUST CLOSED 

UW STOUT GARAGE LUST CLOSED 

HATCHVILLE CREAMERY LUST CLOSED 

WEBER PROPERTY LUST CLOSED 


MENOMONIE FARMER UNION COOP LUST CLOSED 

DENNIS STANDARD LUST CLOSED 

KERR MCGEE LUST CLOSED 


LAMMER REVOCABLE FAMILY TRUST LUST CLOSED 

MENOMONIE TN SHOP LUST CLOSED 

MENOMONIE TRANSPORT INC LUST CLOSED 

AMERICAN MATERIALS CONCRETE PLT LUST CLOSED 

US POSTAL SERVICE MENOMONIE POST OFFICE LUST CLOSED 

BREDE, TOM LUST CLOSED 

SUPERAMERICA LUST CLOSED 


Table 6.10 – Contaminated Sites in Dunn County (open & closed) continued 




NEW HAVEN MILTON DUVAL BATTERY - JOHN GALE PROPERTY ERP CLOSED 

ROBERT ROTH BATTERY SITE - RICHARD DALE PROP ERP CLOSED 

RIDGELAND RIDGELAND FARMERS UNION COOP ERP OPEN 

RIDGELAND FARMERS UNION COOP ERP OPEN 

GERRYS CORNER STORE LUST OPEN 

RIDGELAND CENEX LUST CLOSED 

LUERS SERVICE LUST CLOSED 


RIDGELAND STANDARD LUST CLOSED 

ROCK FALLS ALS COLLISION CENTER LUST CLOSED 

BOETTCHER, JAMES & SUSAN LUST CLOSED 

ROCK FALLS SERVICE LUST CLOSED 

SPURSTEADS LUST CLOSED 

DOHMS GROCERY LUST CLOSED 

SAND CREEK SAND CREEK STATION LUST CLOSED 

WESTON WESTON TN ERP OPEN 

WESTON WI DOT RADIO TOWER LUST CONDITIONALLY CLOSED 

WHEELER WHEELER AST BULK PLT FORMER ERP OPEN 

HAY RIVER CROSSING LUST OPEN 

OTTER CREEK TN HALL LUST CLOSED 

HAY RIVER CROSSING LUST CLOSED 

DUNN CNTY SHOP LUST CLOSED 

source: Wisconsin BRRTS database, April 21, 2008. 



7. LAND USE INFORMATION 


Land use is a critical factor in managing the future growth of any community. Land use 

trends indicate what changes are occurring regarding type, location and intensity of uses 

over time. It is these land-use changes that have to be managed in a manner that is 

beneficial to the residents and environment of each community. 

In this section is the basic land use data necessary to further explore the land-use issues 

facing those communities participating in this planning effort and to begin the process of 

developing individual community land-use plans to meet the requirements of Wisconsin 

Comprehensive Planning Law (s. 66.1001 (2)(h), Stats.). 

Once developed, the resulting land-use plans will act as a sound basis for the orderly 

development of their communities, and will assist the communities in achieving their 

individual goals. Their plan, along with their selected implementation tools, will provide 

local governments with the ability to effectively and efficiently make public investment 

decisions and to work with developers to ensure private investments are compatible with 

the public interest. 

Existing Land Use and Land Use Trends 

The land use/land coverage acreage statistics were taken from the most recent assessment 

data collected by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. This is a consistent primary 

source data on land use/land cover acreage for all communities in Dunn County, and 

allows for trend analysis. These classifications are: residential, commercial, industrial 

(manufacturing), agricultural, forest, undeveloped lands (vacant) and other. 

The predominant land use in the rural areas of Dunn County is agriculture as shown 

below in Table 7.1 (Source: Wisconsin Department of Revenue - based on assessment 

record). Of all assessed land in Dunn County, 63.5 percent is assessed as agricultural. 

The 1987, 1997 and 2007 land uses based on reported assessments for all communities in 

Dunn County are presented in Tables 7.11, 7.12 and 7.13, respectively. In 2007, the 

percent of assessed acres assessed as agricultural range from highs of 75.6 percent, 74.0 

percent, 73.8 percent, 70.3 percent, 70.0 percent, 67.3 percent, 67.3 percent, 67.1 percent 

and 66.7 percent in the Towns of Spring Brook, Weston, Red Cedar, Sheridan, Eau Galle, 

New Haven, Rock Creek, Peru and Dunn, respectively, to lows of 30.8 percent, 46.1 

percent, 52.3 percent, 59.7 percent, 60.0 percent and 60.0 percent in the Towns of Otter 

Creek, Wilson, Elk Mound, Lucas, Hay River and Tainter, respectively. Twenty of Dunn 

County’s twenty-two towns (91% of all towns) have more than half of their assessed land 

assessed as agriculture. Nine towns (41% of all towns) have at least two-thirds of their 

assessed land assessed as agriculture. It is clear that agriculture is a dominant activity in 

Dunn County. 


Table 7.1 - Dunn County Land Use (1997 and 2007) 

Assessment Class 1997Acres Assessed 2007Acres Assessed ’97-’07% change 

Agricultural 326,134 293,620 -10.0 

Forest 131,563 107,750 -19.0 

Undeveloped 8,657 33,466 287.0 

Residential 14,455 20,907 44.6 

Commercial 1,700 2,434 43.2 

Manufacturing 743 881 18.6 

Other 3,091 3,529 14.2 

Total 486,343 462,587 -4.9 

source: Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue 

Those towns that have lower agricultural acreage generally have at least one of the 

following factors present; higher non-farm acres, higher forested acres, significant 

surface water acres, or other significant natural resource lands. As expected, large 

amounts of commercial and industrial land occurs in the villages and cities. Incorporated 

communities also generally have a greater percentage and concentration of residential 

uses. 

The existing land uses in Dunn County are summarized and discussed in the remainder of 

this section. 

Agricultural Land Use 

The assessed agricultural acreage declined by more than 65,000 acres from 1987 to 2007 

in Dunn County. See Table 7.9. The largest acreage decreases of 5,493, 5,481, 4,884, 

4,493, 4,405 and 4,242 acres occurred in the Towns of Lucas, Stanton, Red Cedar, 

Wilson, Menomonie and Sherman, respectively. The largest percentage decrease of 

39.8% occurred in the Town of Otter Creek. Other substantial acreages losses occurred: 

Table 7.2 - Leading Acreage Loss of Agricultural Land by Municipality (1987-2007) 

Town Town City/Village 

Lucas -5,493 Sherman -4,242 Menomonie -1,023 

Stanton -5,481 Elk Mound -3,184 Boyceville -442 

Red Cedar -4,884 Otter Creek -3,131 Knapp -395 

Wilson -4,493 Sheridan -3,066 Downing -351 

Menomonie -4,405 Tiffany -2,848 Elk Mound -335 


There was an 18.8 percent reduction in agricultural land in Dunn County from 1987 to 

2007. That is a rate of loss of less than one percent per year. Only two towns, or 9 

percent of all towns, lost more than a third of their assessed agricultural acres and six 

towns lost more than a quarter of assessed agricultural acres. The largest percent of 

agricultural land reductions between 1987 and 2007 were seen by the following 

communities: 

196 Land Use Information

Table 7.3 - Leading Percentage Loss of Agricultural Land by Municipality (1987-2007) 

Town City/Village 

Otter Creek -39.8 Wheeler -75.0 

Wilson -34.1 Knapp -64.9 

Lucas -32.5 Menomonie -54.9 

Stanton -31.6 Ridgeland -44.3 

Sherman 26.8 Elk Mound -32.5 

Elk Mound -26.2 Boyceville -27.3 

Red Cedar -22.7 Downing -19.7 


Despite these losses, agriculture remains a significant use of the land in the towns of 

Dunn County. The Towns with the least percentage loss of assessed agricultural land 

from 1987 and 2007 were: Eau Galle (-1.2%), Spring Brook (-7.2%), Dunn (-7.8%), 

Rock Creek (-10.3%), Weston (-10.9%), Peru (-12.3%), Colfax (-13.5%), Tainter 

(-14.0%), New Haven (-14.1%), Sand Creek (-14.6%), Hay River (-16.2%), Grant 

(-16.7%) and Sheridan (-16.9%); all losing an average of less than one percent per year. 

The 2007 assessed agricultural acreage in the County was 293,620 or 63.5% of total 

assessed acreage. The greatest number of assessed agricultural acres are broken down as 

follows: 

Table 7.4 - Most Assessed Agricultural Acres by Municipality (2007) 

Town Town 

Spring Brook 26,597 Colfax 

Eau Galle 19,141 Stanton 

Dunn 18,716 Hay River 

Red Cedar 16,663 Sherman 

Weston 16,324 Sand Creek 

Menomonie 15,751 Lucas 

Sheridan 15,057 Tiffany 

New Haven 14,628 Rock Creek 

Grant 13,237 

Tainter 


12,810 

11,874 

11,766 

11,557 

11,500 

11,410 

11,142 

11,069 

10,494 

In 1987, ten towns had less than 15,000 assessed acres in agricultural use. The fifteen 

towns of Otter Creek, Peru, Wilson, Elk Mound, Tainter, Rock Creek, Tiffany, Lucas, 

Sand Creek, Sherman, Hay River, Stanton, Colfax, Grant and New Haven all currently 

have less than 15,000 assessed acres in agricultural use. In 1987, seventeen towns (77% 

of all towns) had at least two-thirds of their assessed land assessed as agriculture. In 

2007, only nine towns (41% of all towns) had at least two-thirds of their assessed land 

assessed as agriculture. In 1987, nine towns (41% of all towns) had more than threefourths 

of their assessed land assessed as agriculture. In 2007, only one town had more 

than 75% of its assessed land assessed as agriculture. It is clear that over the past 20 

years the agricultural land base in Dunn County has been significantly impacted. 


Forest Land Use 

In 2007, the combined assessed acres in forestland amounted to 107,750 acres or twentythree 

percent of the total assessed acreage for the County. See Tables 7.10 and 7.13. 

Assessed forest acreage in Dunn County increased by 20,795 acres between 1987 and 

1997. No incorporated community reported forested acreage in 1987, while cities and 

villages accounted for 290 and 1,394 acres of assessed forest land in 1997 and 2007, 

respectively. Assessed forested acreage declined dramatically between 1997 and 2007 as 

assessed forest acreage fell by 24,917 acres. Much of the earlier growth in forested 

acreage can probably be attributed to agricultural land being enrolled in the federal 

Conservation Reserve Program as certain aspects of the program encourage tree planting. 

There also has likely been a conversion of some marginal farmland and other open lands 

to forest over the years. However, between 1997 and 2007 it is likely that some forested 

land had been converted to agricultural and residential uses. Between 1987 and 2007 the 

greatest percentage increases occurred in the Towns of Stanton (91 percent), Lucas (89 

percent), Otter Creek (84 percent), Sherman (39 percent), Wilson (18 percent), and 

Sheridan (15 percent). Between 1987 and 2007 the Towns of Rock Creek (-34 percent), 

Tainter (-33 percent), Weston (-32 percent), Eau Galle (-28 percent), Hay River (-27 

percent), Spring Brook (-24 percent), Dunn (-24 percent), Elk Mound (-23 percent) and 

Sand Creek (-22 percent) saw the greatest percentage declines in forested acreage. 

The Towns of Otter Creek (3,464), Lucas (2,635), Stanton (2,362), Sherman (1,545), 

Wilson (1,121) and Sheridan (619) had the greatest increase, and the Towns of Eau Galle 

(-2,439), Dunn (-2,086), Weston (-1,952), Tainter (-1,914), Hay River (-1,666), Rock 

Creek (-1,574), Spring Brook (-1,530), Sand Creek (-1,375) and Elk Mound (-1,096), had 

the greatest decrease in forested land acres from 1987 to 2007. In 2007, the Town of 

Otter Creek had the greatest amount of assessed forested acreage (7,578 acres) followed 

by Wilson (7,451), Dunn (6,807), Grant (6,471), Eau Galle (6,270), New Haven (5,945), 

Lucas (5,612), Sherman (5,492), Stanton (4,970), Sand Creek (4,781), Menomonie 

(4,738), Sheridan (4,733) and Spring Brook (4,732). There are significant public 

holdings of forested lands contained in public natural resource lands which are described 

in the next section. 

Public Natural Resource Lands 

There are significant natural resource and park lands in Dunn County owned by the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources or Dunn 

County. These lands are not assessed taxes and are not recorded in the Wisconsin 

Department of Revenue Statement of Assessments. Table 7.5 shows the acres by town 

for towns with over 150 acres of these lands. 


Table 7.5 - Public Natural Resource Lands (2008) 

Town Acres Town Acres 

Dunn 4,536 Sherman 755 

Elk Mound 2,367 Hay River 673 

Rock Creek 2,201 Sand Creek 462 

Red Cedar 1,475 Lucas 342 

Spring Brook 1,309 Colfax 329 

Otter Creek 1,207 Eau Galle 256 

Tainter 957 Menomonie 188 

Peru 816 Weston 153 

source: WCWRPC 

Residential Land Use 

In 2007, the assessed residential acreage in the unincorporated areas of the County was 

20,907, or 95.1 percent of the total assessed residential acreage in the county. This is 

down from 97.6 percent in 1987. The assessed residential acreage increase in 

unincorporated areas from 1987 to 2007 was 12,763 acres or a 179 percent increase. That 

is an average 9 percent annual increase. The Towns of Menomonie, Elk Mound, Tainter, 

Spring Brook, Colfax, Red Cedar, Dunn and Rock Creek had significant residential 

acreage (2,973, 2,115, 1,555, 1,492, 1,313, 1,307, 1,232 and 1,007, respectively) in 2007. 

Six of these towns (Menomonie, Elk Mound, Tainter, Spring Brook, Colfax and Red 

Cedar) are generally in the central to east central part of the County in proximity to 

Interstate 94, State Highways 29 and 40, the Red Cedar River, and the Cities of 

Menomonie and Eau Claire, and account for nearly 51 percent of the assessed residential 

acreage in the county. When the Towns of Dunn and Rock Creek are considered with 

those six towns they all account for 62 percent of the assessed residential acreage in the 

county. From 1987 to 2007 the Town of Sherman (2,151) had the greatest absolute 

increase in assessed residential acres, followed by the Towns of Elk Mound (1,708), 

Colfax (1,019), Red Cedar (833), Dunn (802), Spring Brook (795), Tainter (787) and 

Rock Creek (745). See Table 7.6. 

Regarding assessed residential acreage percentage increases between 1987 and 2007, the 

Town of Elk Mound (420 percent) had the greatest increase, followed by the Towns of 

Sheridan (404 percent), Colfax (347 percent), Rock Creek (284 percent), Grant (263 

percent) and Menomonie (262 percent). These communities have grown in assessed 

residential acreage at an average rate of at least 10 percent per year since 1987. Other 

towns that have at least doubled their residential acreage between 1987 and 2007 are 

Otter Creek (193 percent), Weston (190 percent), Dunn (187 percent), Red Cedar (176 

percent), Hay River (164 percent), Sand Creek (153 percent), Stanton (1523 percent), 

Sherman (134 percent), Spring Brook (114 percent), Lucas (111 percent), Wilson (106 

percent) and Tainter (103 percent). 

Many cities and villages in Dunn County also saw dramatic growth in residential land. 

While the Village of Boyceville saw assessed residential acreage increase by 38 times 


etween 1997 and 2007, the Village of Downing (338 percent) more than quadrupled its 

acreage and the Village of Ridgeland (100 percent) doubled. Two communities, the 

Village of Colfax and City of Menomonie had reporting discrepancies during the period 

and the assessment data for them are inconclusive for 1987. The Village of Colfax saw a 

sevenfold increase in assessed residential acreage between 1997 and 2007 while the City 

of Menomonie’s more than doubled during the same period. The other cities and villages 

experienced significant increases in residential land. See Table 7.6. 

Commercial Land Use 

Sixty-four percent of commercial lands are located in the County’s unincorporated 

communities. However, commercial land is often much more intensively developed and 

contain larger buildings in incorporated communities than the commercial land in the 

unincorporated areas. Current assessed commercial lands account about seven-tenths of 

one percent of the total County assessed acreage. See Table 7.7. 

In 2007, the towns with the largest commercial acreage were Menomonie (368), Tainter 

(233), Colfax (174), Elk Mound (136), Tiffany (126), Dunn (98), Red Cedar (83), Rock 

Creek (81), Spring Brook (73) and Lucas (52). Collectively, they comprised about 91% 

of the commercial lands in the unincorporated areas of the County. Most of these towns 

see much of their commercial development around waterbodies or within the fringe of 

their borders with incorporated communities. Between 1987 and 2007, the Towns of 

Tainter (185), Menomonie (172), Colfax (160), Tiffany (86), Spring Brook (73), Dunn 

(68) and Elk Mound (67), and the Villages of Boyceville (41) and Colfax (40) 

experienced significant increases in assessed commercial acreage. The City of 

Menomonie saw a 303-acre increase in assessed commercial acreage between 1997 and 

2007. 

There were very large percentage increases in assessed commercial acreage between 

1987 and 2007 in the Towns of Spring Brook (0 acres in 1987 to 73 acres in 2007), Peru 

(0 acres in 1987 to 24 acres in 2007), Colfax (14 acres in 1987 to 174 acres in 2007 for 

1143 percent), Stanton (2 acres in 1987 to 23 acres in 2007 for 1050 percent), Lucas (6 

acres in 1987 to 52 acres in 2007 for 767 percent), Sherman (1 acre in 1987 to 6 acres in 

2007 for 500 percent), Tainter (385 percent), Dunn (227 percent), Tiffany (215 percent) 

and Weston (200 percent), the Villages of Boyceville (4 acres in 1987 to 45 acres in 2007 

for 1025 percent), Wheeler (383 percent) and Colfax (364 percent) and the City of 

Menomonie (87 percent between 1997 and 2007). As seen above, many communities 

had significant growth in commercial land, while the Towns of Otter Creek, Eau Galle, 

Red Cedar, and Hay River, and the Village of Ridgeland had a decrease in assessed 

commercial land. 

Industrial Land Use 

Assessed manufacturing acreage in the County’s unincorporated areas is significant only 

in few areas, often near incorporated communities or associated with food production or 

non-metallic mining. The majority of manufacturing land (assembly, fabrication, 


processing, production, etc.) is in the County’s incorporated areas. Incorporated 

communities account for 57 percent of the land assessed for manufacturing in the County. 

See Table 7.8. 

Manufacturing acreage fluctuated between 1987 and 2007 in the County with a decline of 

26 acres from 1987 to 1997 followed by an increase of 146 acres from 1998 to 2007. The 

Towns of Lucas and Hay River gained 129 and 106 acres, respectively, of assessed 

manufacturing land between 1998 and 2007 while there was little change elsewhere with 

some Towns gaining and some losing manufacturing land. The unincorporated 

communities with a significant decrease in industrial land were the Towns of New Haven 

and Tainter. Of the incorporated communities, most gained assessed manufacturing land 

between 1987 and 2007; except Downing and Wheeler which had none during the period 

and Knapp which lost 8 acres. The City of Menomonie gained 120 acres during the 

period. 

Land Demand and Prices 

Two indicators of a dynamic economy and potentially changing land use patterns are land 

sales and prices. These two indicators could mean a demand to convert land to more 

intensive uses such as residential, commercial or industrial. In turn, additional community 

services may be needed to support this change. 

An indicator of the demand for various land types is the number of land sales during the 

year for a given community or the county. Tables 7.14 and 7.15 show the sales of 

agricultural lands and forested lands respectively. These lands, converted to other uses, 

would include those for residential development. It can be seen that there is a steady 

demand for these lands for their conversion to other uses. The price paid is also listed. 

Comparing the numbers in Table 7.15 reveals in 1998 there was a significant premium 

(about fifteen percent) paid for forested lands intended for other uses. Since 1998 there 

has been a small difference in the price paid for forested lands being converted to other 

uses than that paid for lands remaining in the original use. In 2001, 2005 and 2007, there 

were premiums paid of 3.1, 2.2 and 3.3 percent, respectively, for forest land converted to 

another use. 

In 1998, the price paid for agricultural land that was converted to other uses was 

significantly lower than that for lands remaining in agriculture. This turned around in 

1999 when more was paid for land to be converted to other uses than for land remaining 

in agriculture and continued until 2002. In 2002, the price paid for agricultural land that 

was converted to other uses was about 2 percent lower than that for lands remaining in 

agriculture. In 2003, there was virtually no difference between the price for land 

remaining in agriculture and that which was converted to another use. In 2004, there was 

again a significant premium paid for farmland land to be converted to another use. The 

price paid for farmland to be converted to other uses peaked in 2005 at $3,088/acre (a 51 

percent premium over agricultural land that remained in agriculture), but declined by 38 

percent to $1,921/acre in 2006 when land remaining in agriculture sold for 17 percent 


more than land that was converted. However, the see-saw continued in 2007 when land 

to be converted again brought a premium (17%) over land which remained as farmland. 

Over the last ten years, even with land-use value assessment and an improving farm 

economy, agricultural land that was converted to other uses only brought an average 

premium of just under 20 percent over agricultural land that was sold and remained in 

agriculture. In 1998, 2002 and 2006 agricultural land without buildings staying in 

agricultural use sold for a higher price than agricultural land without buildings that was 

converted to other uses. The selling price for agricultural land without buildings staying 

in agricultural use increased by 108 percent between 2000 and 2006. During the same 

period the selling price for agricultural land without buildings that was converted to other 

uses increased by 65 percent, although it had increased 166 percent between 2000 and 

2005. Between 1998 and 2007, there was over two times (117 percent) more agricultural 

land sold that remained in agriculture than was converted to other uses. These conditions 

reveal that while there is continuing market pressure for farmland conversion, there is a 

strong market for land remaining in agriculture. 

Assessment information can help indicate land prices; however, this information has 

certain limitations due to assessment methods, timing and whether a particular assessor 

has completely established current fair-market value comparables for a given community. 

The State of Wisconsin attempts to equalize values so communities whose assessments 

are in different years will have assessments that are fair. Eventually all assessments are 

supposed to reflect fully equalized, fair-market value of property. Tables 7.16 and 7.17 

presents the price per acre of various land types based on assessment. 

Residential land value is generally highest in those communities within the closest 

commuting distance from the Menomonie and Eau Claire employment centers or those 

that have many waterfront properties. The assessments for agricultural land are 

dramatically altered through state law that provides for land-use value assessment. As can 

be seen comparing Table 7.14 with Table 7.16, the use value assessment for agricultural 

land does not correspond to sale prices for agricultural land. Forested land in areas more 

suitable for conversion to residential use will generally have higher value than lands 

better suited for forest production. 

In general, land prices in Dunn County have been increasing much faster than the rate of 

inflation. This is particularly true in the last few years with annual inflation being quite 

low and market conditions accelerating values. Unfortunately housing values crashed 

with the recession beginning in December of 2007. Hence, demand for land available for 

residential development in areas of recent residential development has been diminished, 

with high energy costs a contributing factor. Waterfront property has increased 

dramatically in price in the 1990s and early 2000s. Demand for waterfront land continues 

to be high, as supply becomes lower, which drives the prices for these properties even 

higher. Forested land is also increasing in price at a significant rate. Tracts of forest land 

are often seen as lifestyle natural resource amenities, many are near public natural 

resource holdings, and these tracts are being converted to residential use. This is 

contributing to forest parcel fragmentation. 


Summary 

Land development, the demand for housing, the transportation system, the natural 

environment, the extent of public services and facilities, land ownership patterns, 

economic activity and governmental boundaries and actions, all guide and shape the built 

environment and determine its impact on the natural environment. Combining these 

factors determines the pattern of development that occurs throughout the County. Hence, 

the Housing; Transportation; Agricultural, Natural and Cultural Resources, Utilities and 

Community Facilities; Economic Development; and, Intergovernmental Cooperation 

Elements also contain conditions and trends that affect land use. 

Land-use planning is concerned with properly combining development factors to attain 

the optimal or desired use of land. In total, the land-use element of each community will 

set the proposed pattern of the physical environment for the activities of people and 

organizations within that community. Land-use planning depends on population and 

economic projections and an understanding of the interrelationship of land-use activities 

and types for living, livelihood and leisure. It is the interrelated nature of the components 

that comprise a community that make a comprehensive plan worthwhile. 

Dunn County has experienced dramatic residential growth in the central/east central areas 

of the County; those near Menomonie and Eau Claire and in proximity to waterbodies 

and major highway corridors. This growth can have a dramatic impact on these 

communities. Often development of good productive farm or forest land impacts water 

resources, places greater demand on roads and schools, and causes conflicts between 

farm and non-farm uses and forest fragmentation. From 1987 to 2007, assessed 

residential acreage increased by about 180 percent in unincorporated areas while these 

communities’ populations increased by only 30 percent. Indeed, two unincorporated 

communities experienced a fivefold increase in the amount of residential land in just 20 

years; four others at least tripled their amount, with another twelve at least doubling 

theirs. From 1997 to 2007, assessed residential acreage increased by about 44 percent in 

unincorporated areas while their populations increased by only 15 percent. During this 

ten year period, two unincorporated communities experienced a doubling in the amount 

of residential land; three others almost doubled their amount, with another eight having at 

least a 50% increase. On the other hand, from 1997 to 2007, assessed residential acreage 

in incorporated areas increased by about 64 percent while these communities’ 

populations increased by 9.5 percent. This would indicate that even the incorporated 

communities in the county have issues with low density residential development. 

However, 95 percent of the assessed residential acreage and 53 percent of the population 

in the county are located in unincorporated communities. If this trend is to continue, it 

has serious implications for impacts on natural resources and productive lands, demands 

for services and conflicts between farm and non-farm uses in Dunn County. 

While unincorporated communities in Dunn County have 64 percent of the assessed 

commercial land in the County, 91 percent of the commercial evaluation is in the cities 

and villages. This indicates commercial activity in cities and villages is more intensive 


and includes commercial uses much larger in scale than in the towns. However, scattered 

local-serving, resource-based and agriculturally related commercial enterprises in the 

rural area serve a useful purpose in those communities. Yet, cities and villages will 

continue to provide more regional shopping goods. 

Industrial activity will continue to largely occur in the cities and villages where urban 

services are available; however, there is some industrial activity in unincorporated areas, 

such as light fabricating and non-metallic resources extraction. 

The most prevalent land uses in Dunn County are agriculture and forest. In fact, 63 

percent of the assessed land in the County is considered agricultural and 23 percent 

forest. There are another 18,026 acres of mostly forestland in public natural resource 

lands, which means forested land covers over a quarter of the total land area of the 

County. Land assessed as undeveloped and non-classified lands account for another 8 

percent of the assessed land in the County. 

The County experienced an 18 percent reduction in assessed agricultural land from 1987 

to 2007, with two towns losing over a third, two others losing almost a third, two losing 

over a quarter, three others losing at least a fifth, and ten others losing between at least 10 

percent of their agricultural land during that period. It is evident that this has serious 

implications for many of the towns in Dunn County. Sustaining agricultural economic 

activity in the face of increasing agricultural land conversion to non-farm uses will be a 

challenge for these communities. However, recent trends indicate that farmland 

conversion has slowed considerably over the past couple of years. 

Not all the land converted from agriculture is going to non-farm uses. It is likely that 

some of it was being converted to forested land due to programs like the Conservation 

Reserve Program. However, while assessed forested land increased by almost 19 percent 

in the County between 1987 and 1997, it turned around by decreasing by 19 percent 

between 1997 and 2007, with nineteen towns experiencing losses. The loss of assessed 

farmland was one and a half times the amount of assessed forested land gained between 

1987 and 1997. Between 1997 and 2007, the County lost 32,514 acres of assessed 

agricultural land and 23,813 acres of assessed forest land. Productive forested land will 

continue to be an important part of Dunn County’s landscape and economy, not only for 

forest products but also for recreational opportunities. 

Land-use projections are an important part of a comprehensive plan. They are a “best 

guess” of the amount of land that will be needed for future development and are based on 

population and household projections, community development standards (accepted 

density or intensity of various land uses) and community desires. Each community will 

prepare its 25-year land-use projections in five-year increments for its comprehensive 

plan land use element. These projections will be reflected in the individual community’s 

future land use maps that will show the general locations of different land uses for the 

next 25 years. It is from these projections and the future land use map that each 

community will communicate how land use change is likely to occur, influenced by how 

they would like it to occur. 


Land Use Tables 

Table 7.6 

Assessed Residential Acres by Municipality • 1987, 1997, and 2007 

Dunn County 

Total Acres 87-07 Percent 97-07 Percent 

Town 1987 1997 2007 Change Change 

Colfax 294 767 1,313 346.6 71.2 

Dunn 430 789 1,232 186.5 56.1 

Eau Galle 329 420 630 91.5 50.0 

Elk Mound 407 796 2,115 419.7 165.7 

Grant 90 167 327 263.3 95.8 

Hay River 216 369 570 163.9 54.5 

Lucas 307 536 647 110.7 20.7 

Menomonie 822 3,130 2,973 261.7 -5.0 

New Haven 209 255 394 88.5 54.5 

Otter Creek 237 364 695 193.2 90.9 

Peru 96 164 163 69.8 -0.6 

Red Cedar 474 707 1,307 175.7 84.9 

Rock Creek 262 501 1,007 284.4 101.0 

Sand Creek 174 224 440 152.9 96.4 

Sheridan 86 281 433 403.5 54.1 

Sherman 305 600 713 133.8 18.8 

Spring Brook 697 1,031 1,492 114.1 44.7 

Stanton 262 479 659 151.5 37.6 

Tainter 768 1,359 1,555 102.5 14.4 

Tiffany 345 429 476 38.0 11.0 

Weston 134 223 389 190.3 74.4 

Wilson 167 234 344 106.0 47.0 

TOTAL 

Villages 

7,111 13,825 19,874 179.5 43.8 

Boyceville 5 209 191 3720.0 -8.6 

Colfax NA 8 56 NA 600.0 

Downing 16 30 70 337.5 133.3 

Elk Mound 43 37 51 18.6 37.8 

Knapp 31 34 38 22.6 11.8 

Ridgeland 11 20 22 100.0 10.0 

Wheeler 69 59 71 2.9 20.3 

TOTAL 

Cities 

175 397 499 185.1 25.7 

Menomonie NA 233 534 NA 129.2 

TOTAL NA 233 534 NA 129.2 

COUNTY TOTAL 7,286 14,455 20,907 186.9 44.6 

Source: Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue 


Table 7.7 

Assessed Commercial Acres by Municipality • 1987, 1997, and 2007 

Dunn County 



Colfax 14 171 174 1142.9 1.8 

Dunn 30 33 98 226.7 197.0 

Eau Galle 8 2 4 -50.0 100.0 

Elk Mound 69 118 136 97.1 15.3 

Grant 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

Hay River 11 12 9 -18.2 -25.0 

Lucas 6 11 52 766.7 372.7 

Menomonie 196 248 368 87.8 48.4 

New Haven 11 17 26 136.4 52.9 

Otter Creek 138 135 11 -92.0 -91.9 

Peru 0 2 24 24,000.0 1,100.0 

Red Cedar 120 184 83 -30.8 -54.9 

Rock Creek 49 54 81 65.3 50.0 

Sand Creek 5 4 6 20.0 50.0 

Sheridan 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

Sherman 1 3 6 500.0 100.0 

Spring Brook 0 18 73 73,000.0 305.6 

Stanton 2 14 23 1,050.0 64.3 

Tainter 48 71 233 385.4 228.2 

Tiffany 40 45 126 215.0 180.0 

Weston 2 2 6 200.0 200.0 

Wilson 18 24 21 16.7 -12.5 

TOTAL 

Villages 

768 1,168 1,560 103.1 33.6 

Boyceville 4 37 45 1025.0 21.6 

Colfax 11 37 51 363.6 37.8 

Downing NA 1 1 NA 0.0 

Elk Mound 4 2 8 100.0 300.0 

Knapp 53 67 75 41.5 11.9 

Ridgeland 18 10 13 -27.8 30.0 

Wheeler 6 29 29 383.3 0.0 

TOTAL 

Cities 

96 183 222 131.3 21.3 

Menomonie NA 349 652 NA 86.8 

TOTAL NA 349 652 NA 86.8 

COUNTY TOTAL 864 1,700 2,434 181.7 43.2 



Table 7.8 

Assessed Industrial Acres by Municipality • 1987, 1997, and 2007 

Dunn County 



Colfax 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

Dunn 13 13 7 -46.2 -46.2 

Eau Galle 1 0 0 -100.0 0.0 

Elk Mound 2 2 0 -100.0 -100.0 

Grant 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

Hay River 0 0 106 106,000.0 106,000.0 

Lucas 38 184 167 339.5 -9.2 

Menomonie 0 0 0 0.0 0.0- 

New Haven 27 21 5 -81.5 -76.2 

Otter Creek 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

Peru 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

Red Cedar 17 35 50 194.1 42.9 

Rock Creek 0 0 20 20,000.0 20,000.0 

Sand Creek 24 24 24 0.0 0.0 

Sheridan 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

Sherman 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

Spring Brook 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

Stanton 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

Tainter 42 117 0 -100.0 -100.0 

Tiffany 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

Weston 1 0 0 -100.0 -100.0 

Wilson 0 1 1 1000.0 0.0 

TOTAL 

Villages 

165 397 380 130.3 -4.3 

Boyceville 24 26 25 4.2 -3.8 

Colfax 16 26 32 100.0 23.1 

Downing 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

Elk Mound 0 0 1 1,000.0 1000.0 

Knapp 11 1 3 -72.7 200.0 

Ridgeland 6 6 7 16.7 16.7 

Wheeler 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 

TOTAL 

Cities 

57 59 68 19.3 15.3 

Menomonie 313 287 433 38.3 50.9 

TOTAL 313 287 433 38.3 50.9 

COUNTY TOTAL 535 743 881 64.7 18.6 



Table 7.9 

Assessed Agricultural Parcels and Acreage by Municipality • 1987, 1997, and 2007 

Dunn County 

Total Parcels Total Acres 1987-2007 1997-2007 

Acres Acres 

Town 1987 1997 2007 1987 1997 2007 % Change % Change 

Colfax 565 540 570 14,817 13,229 12,810 -13.5 -3.2 

Dunn 804 800 838 20,305 19,797 18,716 -7.8 -5.5 

Eau Galle 813 814 824 19,372 18,824 19,141 -1.2 1.7 

Elk Mound 506 528 469 12,173 11,687 8,989 -26.2 -23.1 

Grant 601 591 574 15,895 14,776 13,237 -16.7 -10.4 

Hay River 550 545 545 14,040 13,325 11,766 -16.2 -11.7 

Lucas 578 570 548 16,903 11,689 11,410 -32.5 -2.4 

Menomonie 783 693 777 20,156 19,225 15,751 -21.9 -18.1 

New Haven 592 596 604 17,037 16,696 14,628 -14.1 -12.4 

Otter Creek 355 339 234 7,869 7,435 4,738 -39.8 -36.3 

Peru 266 273 270 7,512 7,335 6,585 -12.3 -10.2 

Red Cedar 701 659 694 21,547 19,247 16,663 -22.7 -13.4 

Rock Creek 497 489 489 12,336 11,240 11,069 -10.3 -1.5 

Sand Creek 516 521 497 13,469 13,400 11,500 -14.6 -14.2 

Sheridan 632 632 643 18,123 14,261 15,057 -16.9 5.6 

Sherman 580 557 636 15,799 14,885 11,557 -26.8 -22.4 

Spring Brook 987 966 1,034 28,658 27,933 26,597 -7.2 -4.8 

Stanton 577 564 553 17,355 11,920 11,874 -31.6 -0.4 

Tainter 459 433 404 12,201 11,494 10,494 -14.0 -8.7 

Tiffany 510 525 523 13,990 13,591 11,142 -20.4 -18.0 

Weston 654 664 693 18,313 17,944 16,324 -10.9 -9.0 

Wilson 548 530 464 13,179 9,316 8,686 -34.1 -6.8 

TOTAL 

Villages 

13,074 12,829 12,883 351,049 319,249 288,734 -17.8 -9.6 

Boyceville 66 50 109 1,619 1,277 1,177 -27.3 -7.8 

Colfax 15 14 16 445 384 372 -16.4 -3.1 

Downing 78 80 68 1,784 1,745 1,433 -19.7 -17.9 

Elk Mound 39 39 30 1,030 931 695 -32.5 -25.3 

Knapp 28 23 14 609 353 214 -64.9 -39.4 

Ridgeland 12 12 9 122 119 68 -44.3 -42.9 

Wheeler 16 18 9 344 364 86 -75.0 -76.4 

TOTAL 

Cities 

254 236 255 5,953 5,173 4,045 -32.1 -21.8 

Menomonie 85 88 44 1,864 1,712 841 -54.9 -50.9 

TOTAL 85 88 44 1,864 1,712 841 -54.9 -50.9 

COUNTY TOTAL 13,413 13,153 13,182 358,866 326,134 293,620 -18.2 -10.0 



Table 7.10 

Assessed Forest Parcels and Acreage by Town • 1987, 1997, and 2007 

Dunn County 


Town 1987 1997 2007 1987-1997 1997-2007 1987 1997 2007 1987-1997 1997-2007 1987-2007 

% Change % Change 

% Change % Change % Change 

Colfax 312 339 299 8.7 -11.8 4,491 5,062 4,099 12.7 -19.0 -8.7 

Dunn 563 563 510 0.0 -9.4 8,893 8,571 6,807 -3.6 -20.6 -23.5 

Eau Galle 590 598 470 1.4 -21.4 8,709 9,219 6,270 5.9 -32.0 -28.0 

Elk Mound 310 310 260 0.0 -16.1 4,878 4,543 3,782 -6.9 -16.8 -22.5 

Grant 287 366 375 27.5 2.5 6,228 7,345 6,471 17.9 -11.9 3.9 

Hay River 391 378 336 -3.3 -11.1 6,122 5,955 4,456 -2.7 -25.2 -27.2 

Lucas 109 384 379 252.3 -1.3 2,977 6,479 5,612 117.6 -13.4 88.5 

Menomonie 323 395 422 22.3 6.8 4,275 5,275 4,738 23.4 -10.2 10.8 

New Haven 224 207 376 -7.6 81.6 5,798 5,210 5,945 -10.1 14.1 2.5 

Otter Creek 228 393 371 72.4 -5.6 4,114 9,323 7,578 126.6 -18.7 84.2 

Peru 131 128 128 -2.3 0.0 1,857 1,727 1,763 -7.0 2.1 -5.1 

Red Cedar 174 173 162 -0.6 -6.4 2,232 2,579 1,817 15.5 -29.5 -18.6 

Rock Creek 335 333 272 -0.6 -18.3 4,685 4,482 3,111 -4.3 -30.6 -33.6 

Sand Creek 295 302 366 2.4 21.2 6,156 6,200 4,781 0.7 -22.9 -22.3 

Sheridan 228 444 324 94.7 -27.0 4,114 7,235 4,733 75.9 -34.6 15.0 

Sherman 283 263 442 -7.1 68.1 3,947 3,656 5,492 -7.4 50.2 39.1 

Spring Brook 469 472 343 0.6 -27.3 6,262 6,338 4,732 1.2 -25.3 -24.4 

Stanton 102 394 323 286.3 -18.0 2,608 6,468 4,970 148.0 -23.2 90.6 

Tainter 338 317 293 -6.2 -7.6 5,772 5,251 3,858 -9.0 -26.5 -33.2 

Tiffany 269 288 338 7.1 17.4 3,964 4,283 3,776 8.0 -11.8 -4.7 

Weston 304 284 271 -6.6 -4.6 6,066 5,443 4,114 -10.3 -24.4 -32.2 

Wilson 337 507 430 50.4 -15.2 6,330 10,629 7,451 67.9 -29.9 17.7 

TOTALS 6,602 7,838 7,490 18.7 -4.4 110,478 131,273 106,356 18.8 -19.0 -3.7 



Table 7.11 

Land Use Acreage by Municipality • 1987* 

Dunn County 

Town 

Residential 

Commercial 

Manufacturing 

Colfax 294 14 0 14,817 236 4,491 19,852 

Dunn 430 30 13 20,305 178 8,893 29,849 

Eau Galle 329 8 1 19,372 282 8,709 28,701 

Elk Mound 407 69 2 12,173 920 4,878 18,449 

Grant 90 0 0 15,895 499 6,228 22,712 

Hay River 216 11 0 14,040 865 6,122 21,254 

Lucas 307 6 38 16,903 0 2,977 20,231 

Menomonie 822 196 0 20,156 20 4,275 25,469 

New Haven 209 11 27 17,037 94 5,798 23,176 

Otter Creek 237 138 0 7,869 66 4,114 12,424 

Peru 96 0 0 7,512 511 1,857 9,976 

Red Cedar 474 120 17 21,547 1,074 2,232 25,464 

Rock Creek 262 49 0 12,336 341 4,685 17,673 

Sand Creek 174 5 24 13,469 787 6,156 20,615 

Sheridan 86 0 0 18,123 242 4,114 22,565 

Sherman 305 1 0 15,799 79 3,947 20,131 

Spring Brook 697 0 0 28,658 673 6,262 36,290 

Stanton 262 2 0 17,355 54 2,608 20,281 

Tainter 768 48 42 12,201 703 5,772 19,534 

Tiffany 345 40 0 13,990 63 3,964 18,402 

Weston 134 2 1 18,313 61 6,066 24,577 

Wilson 167 18 0 13,179 278 6,330 19,972 

TOTAL 7,111 768 165 351,049 8,026 110,478 477,597 

Villages 

Boyceville 5 4 24 1,619 0 0 1,652 

Colfax NA 11 16 445 0 0 472 

Downing 16 NA 0 1,784 0 0 1,800 

Elk Mound 43 4 0 1,030 0 0 1,077 

Knapp 31 53 11 609 0 0 704 

Ridgeland 11 18 6 122 0 0 157 

Wheeler 69 6 0 344 0 0 419 

TOTAL 175 96 57 5,953 0 0 6,281 

Cities 

Menomonie NA NA 313 1,864 0 0 2,177 

TOTAL NA NA 313 1,864 0 0 2,177 

COUNTY TOTAL 7,286 864 535 358,866 8,026 110,478 486,055 

Source: Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue * Based on assessment records 

210 Land Use Information 

Agricultural 

Undeveloped 

Forest 

Other 

Total

Table 7.12 

Land Use Acreage by Municipality • 1997* 

Dunn County 

Town 

Residential 

Commercial 

Manufacturing 

Colfax 767 171 0 13,229 311 5,062 150 19,690 

Dunn 789 33 13 19,797 245 8,571 104 29,552 

Eau Galle 420 2 0 18,824 284 9,219 168 28,917 

Elk Mound 796 118 2 11,687 852 4,543 94 18,092 

Grant 167 0 0 14,776 307 7,345 181 22,776 

Hay River 369 12 0 13,325 841 5,955 143 20,645 

Lucas 536 11 184 11,689 448 6,479 179 19,526 

Menomonie 3,130 248 0 19,225 0 5,275 273 25,151 

New Haven 255 17 21 16,696 85 5,210 116 22,400 

Otter Creek 364 135 0 7,435 66 9,323 49 17,372 

Peru 164 2 0 7,335 518 1,727 95 9,841 

Red Cedar 707 184 35 19,247 976 2,579 170 23,898 

Rock Creek 501 54 0 11,240 288 4,482 117 16,682 

Sand Creek 224 4 24 13,400 844 6,200 100 20,796 

Sheridan 281 0 0 14,261 754 7,235 235 22,766 

Sherman 600 3 0 14,885 91 3,656 119 19,354 

Spring Brook 1,031 18 0 27,933 637 6,338 140 36,097 

Stanton 479 14 0 11,920 432 6,468 182 19,495 

Tainter 1,359 71 117 11,494 323 5,251 78 18,693 

Tiffany 429 45 0 13,591 60 4,283 102 18,510 

Weston 223 2 0 17,944 55 5,443 129 23,796 

Wilson 234 24 1 9,316 240 10,629 83 20,527 

TOTAL 13,825 1,168 397 319,249 8,657 131,273 3,007 477,576 

Villages 

Boyceville 209 37 26 1,277 0 23 30 1,602 

Colfax 8 37 26 384 0 0 4 459 

Downing 30 1 0 1,745 0 0 19 1,795 

Elk Mound 37 2 0 931 0 0 7 977 

Knapp 34 67 1 353 0 267 0 722 

Ridgeland 20 10 6 119 0 0 1 156 

Wheeler 59 29 0 364 0 0 21 473 

TOTAL 397 183 59 5,173 0 290 82 6,184 

Cities 

Menomonie 233 349 287 1,712 0 0 2 2,583 

TOTAL 233 349 287 1,712 0 0 2 2,583 

COUNTY TOTAL 14,455 1,700 743 326,134 8,657 131,563 3,091 486,343 

Source: Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue * Based on assessment records 


Agricultural 

Undeveloped 

Forest 

Other 

Total

Table 7.13 

Land Use Acreage by Municipality • 2007 

Dunn County 

Town 

Residential 

Commercial 

Manufacturing 

Colfax 1,313 174 0 12,810 1,254 4,099 158 19,808 

Dunn 1,232 98 7 18,716 983 6,807 204 28,047 

Eau Galle 630 4 0 19,141 1,018 6,270 292 27,355 

Elk Mound 2,115 136 0 8,989 2,047 3,782 106 17,175 

Grant 327 0 0 13,237 1,606 6,471 135 21,776 

Hay River 570 9 106 11,766 2,540 4,456 166 19,613 

Lucas 647 52 167 11,410 1,058 5,612 152 19,098 

Menomonie 2,973 368 0 15,751 673 4,738 170 24,673 

New Haven 394 26 5 14,628 515 5,945 231 21,744 

Otter Creek 695 11 0 4,738 2,314 7,578 57 15,393 

Peru 163 24 0 6,585 1,204 1,763 78 9,817 

Red Cedar 1,307 83 50 16,663 2,505 1,817 141 22,566 

Rock Creek 1,007 81 20 11,069 1,049 3,111 120 16,457 

Sand Creek 440 6 24 11,500 2,172 4,781 127 19,050 

Sheridan 433 0 0 15,057 940 4,733 251 21,414 

Sherman 713 6 0 11,557 1,063 5,492 137 18,968 

Spring Brook 1,492 73 0 26,597 2,164 4,732 127 35,185 

Stanton 659 23 0 11,874 1,503 4,970 194 19,223 

Tainter 1,555 233 0 10,494 1,205 3,858 142 17,487 

Tiffany 476 126 0 11,142 1,811 3,776 164 17,495 

Weston 389 6 0 16,324 1,033 4,114 189 22,055 

Wilson 344 21 1 8,686 2,204 7,451 137 18,844 

TOTAL 19,874 1,560 380 288,734 32,861 106,356 3,478 453,243 

Villages 

Boyceville 191 45 25 1,177 70 38 19 1,565 

Colfax 56 51 32 372 3 0 4 518 

Downing 70 1 0 1,433 34 236 14 1,788 

Elk Mound 51 8 1 695 100 207 8 1,070 

Knapp 38 75 3 214 27 362 0 719 

Ridgeland 22 13 7 68 51 0 0 161 

Wheeler 71 29 0 86 40 242 6 474 

TOTAL 499 222 68 4,045 325 1,085 51 6,295 

Cities 

Menomonie 534 652 433 841 280 309 0 3,049 

TOTAL 534 652 433 841 280 309 0 3,049 

COUNTY TOTAL 20,907 2,434 881 293,620 33,466 107,750 3,529 462,587 

Source: Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue * Based on assessment records. + Includes Forest and Ag Forest 


Agricultural 

Undeveloped 

Forest + 

Other 

Total

Table 7.14 

Agricultural Land Sales • 1998 - 2007 

Dunn County 

Agricultural land continuing in Agricultural land being diverted Total of all agricultural land 

Year 

agricultural use 

to other uses 

2007 Number of Acres Sold Dollars per Number of Acres Sold Dollars per Number of Acres Sold Dollars per 

transactions 

acre transactions 


acre 

All 27 2,178 2,311 6 186 2,670 33 2,364 2,339 

Without 

Buildings 

19 1,020 1,950 5 133 2,209 24 1,153 1,980 


transactions 



acre 

All 26 1,656 2,409 8 500 2,777 34 2,156 2,494 

Without 

Buildings 

21 1,291 2,256 7 400 1,921 28 1,691 2,177 


transactions 



acre 

All 32 2,578 2,317 16 577 3,080 48 3,155 2,456 

Without 

Buildings 

21 1,796 2,043 15 567 3,088 36 2,363 2,293 


transactions 



acre 

All 51 3,889 2,212 33 957 2,548 84 4,846 2,279 

Without 

Buildings 

32 2,107 1,971 30 833 2,278 62 2,940 2,058 


transactions 



acre 

All 40 2,932 1,885 55 1,790 2,815 95 4,722 2,238 

Without 

Buildings 

28 1,610 1,782 38 1,145 1,783 66 2,755 1,782 


transactions 



acre 

All 35 1,582 1,725 34 1,076 1,844 69 2,658 1,773 

Without 

Buildings 

22 799 1,594 28 781 1,558 50 1,580 1,576 


transactions 



acre 

All 40 2,141 1,834 17 647 2,375 57 2,788 1,960 

Without 

Buildings 

23 1,013 1,215 9 254 1,589 32 1,267 1,290 


transactions 



acre 

All 40 2,599 1,360 35 1,355 1,340 75 3,954 1,353 

Without 

Buildings 

21 1,292 1,086 26 825 1,162 47 2,117 1,116 


transactions 



acre 

All 50 2,800 1,260 39 1,718 1,573 89 4,518 1,379 

Without 

Buildings 

27 1,490 1,009 21 681 1,265 48 2,171 1,090 


transactions 



acre 

All 69 3,698 1,068 59 3,185 1,011 128 6,883 1,042 

Without 

Buildings 

45 1,742 951 35 1,337 835 80 3,079 900 

Source: USDA 


TABLE 7.15 

Forested Land Sales • 1998, 2001, 2005, and 2007 

Dunn County 

Forested land continuing in forest 

Forested land being diverted to Total of all forested land 

land 

other uses 

Number of Acres Sold Dollars per Number of Acres Sold Dollars per Number of Acres Sold Dollars per 

Year transactions 



acre 

2007 18 611 2,175 6 183 2,247 24 794 2,192 

2005 32 1,094 2,290 20 502 2,341 52 1,596 2,306 

2001 32 1,194 1,310 19 511 1,351 51 1,705 1,322 

1998 65 2,487 751 54 1,940 865 119 4,427 810 

Source: USDA 

Table 7.16 

Land Assessed Value per Acre by Town (dollars) • 2007* 

Dunn County 

Town Residential 

Commercial 

Manufacturing 

Colfax 4,370 13,939 n/a 114 629 1,104 2,191 

Dunn 54,227 25,445 58,500 123 412 1,081 2,071 

Eau Galle 44,517 123,375 n/a 140 610 644 1,256 

Elk Mound 35,847 32,715 n/a 136 550 747 1,557 

Grant 47,211 n/a n/a 142 514 995 1,823 

Hay River 32,043 25,489 71,117 134 455 795 1,576 

Lucas 41,735 16,683 1,140 111 449 757 1,495 

Menomonie 58,915 29,108 n/a 132 779 1,228 2,243 

New Haven 44,897 21,681 n/a 161 523 750 1,512 

Otter Creek 7,739 6,955 n/a 150 860 1,007 2,193 

Peru 9,189 8,850 n/a 163 634 1,405 2,747 

Red Cedar 23,674 48,575 n/a 156 434 972 2,002 

Rock Creek 69,363 25,467 n/a 118 452 1,112 2,478 

Sand Creek 26,916 4,975 n/a 108 236 479 978 

Sheridan 16,758 8,000 n/a 161 730 1,259 2,464 

Sherman 30,495 15,733 n/a 148 386 689 1,632 

Spring Brook 3,229 3,000 n/a 143 562 1,000 2,006 

Stanton 6,890 16,086 6,100 136 559 846 1,708 

Tainter 10,314 3,475 n/a 157 408 1,143 2,102 

Tiffany 27,789 3,026 4,454 167 446 1,238 2,319 

Weston 17,775 4,953 361 144 820 929 1,943 

Wilson 18,740 25,361 6,733 162 1,040 1,155 2,351 

Average for all Towns 28,756 22,042 21,201 141 568 970 1,939 

Source: Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue * Based on assessment records. 


Agricultural 

Undeveloped 

Ag Forest 

Forest

Table 7.17 

Land Assessed Value per Acre by Village or City (dollars) • 2007* 

Dunn County 

Village or 

City Residential 

Commercial 

Villages 

Boyceville 95,129 49,492 8,357 160 103 1006 978 

Colfax 18,416 14,264 6,569 119 1,251 1,833 2,444 

Downing 39,358 80,938 578 146 447 825 1,922 

Elk Mound 39,457 34,078 7,493 196 751 814 1,578 

Knapp 173,751 12,510 1,660 197 900 1462 2,931 

Ridgeland 44,550 16,344 8,728 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Wheeler 65,778 49,015 5,764 237 87 n/a 1,135 

Average for all Villages 68,063 36,663 5,593 176 590 1,188 1,831 

Cities 

Menomonie 157,951 86,114 11,369 170 1,605 n/a 1,700 

Average for all Cities 157,951 86,114 11,369 170 1,605 n/a 1,700 

Source: Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue * Based on assessment records. 

Manufacturing 


Agricultural 

Undeveloped 

Ag Forest 

Forest

Municipality Land Use Maps 

The final component of the land-use element includes a series of maps that show current 

land uses, productive agricultural soils, natural limitations for building site development, 

floodplains, and wetlands. Resource and development limitations maps are described in 

the Agricultural, Natural and Cultural Resources section and previously within this 

section. The city, village, and town maps themselves are found in the Dunn County 

Resource and Land Use Atlas DVD-ROM. 

Limitations to Development Maps 

The existence of some natural features in the physical environment, such as water, 

topography, and soil conditions, can act as constraints on development. Understanding 

the physical characteristics of the County can help identify areas that are more conducive 

to development activities and areas that may be better suited for non-development 

activities such as agriculture and natural resource management. The Dunn County 

Resource and Land Use Atlas DVD-ROM contains maps of the resources, development 

limitations, and other environmentally sensitive lands within each community. County 

level maps are in Appendix A and in the Atlas DVD-ROM. 

In a number of instances, some of these development limitations may be overcome by 

more extensive and costly development methods; however, development should be 

encouraged in areas in which it can be most accommodated and have the least impact on 

environmentally sensitive and valued resource areas 

Existing Land Use and Land Cover Maps 

The existing land-use maps are derived from a windshield survey done in 1998 and plat 

maps. The Dunn County Resource and Land Use Atlas DVD-ROM contains the existing 

land use maps which depict the general land uses or land cover for the towns and other 

participating local jurisdictions in Dunn County. Land use maps are not available for the 

Village of Colfax, Village of Elk Mound, and City of Menomonie.

dunn county conditions & trends report table of contents

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