City in Bayfield County
Washburn
- Population
- 2,051
- County
- Bayfield County
- Location
- 46.677, -90.901
The City of Washburn is the county seat and largest incorporated community of Bayfield County, Wisconsin, sitting on Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay along the Bayfield Peninsula in the Greater Northwoods. Chartered as a city in 1904, it grew on logging, brownstone quarrying, and a DuPont explosives plant, and now identifies as the 'Little Town on the Big Lake' anchored by county government, the School District of Washburn, tourism, and its Lake Superior lakefront. Its 2020 census population was 2,051 (down from 2,117 in 2010), and its economy blends government, education, healthcare, and four-season Lake Superior recreation. Government runs through a mayor (Mary Motiff) and a city council, with the annual Brownstone Days festival the signature summer event.
The record
292 records name Washburn
- 133 news
- 91 government
- 54 events
- 8 obituaries
- 5 opinion
- 1 notices
- Solstice Outdoors Community Nights Events August 20, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Open mic night – The Backstage Events August 19, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Beach Yoga + Sound Bath + Sauna and Lake Superior Plunging Events August 19, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Washburn Farmer’s Market Events August 19, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Insurgent Republicans lose northern Wisconsin primaries for Legislature News August 19, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Hayward Area Happenings News August 19, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Music in the Park Events August 17, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Monday Night Casual Group Ride Events August 17, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Bay Area fall 2026 athletic schedule News August 17, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Food Truck Mondays Events August 17, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Walker wins Six-Cylinders feature at Ashland News August 17, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- BASES - Bay-Area Season Event Sports News August 17, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Live Music at the Taphouse Events August 16, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Solstice Outdoors Community Nights Events August 13, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Help Wanted Workshop Events August 12, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Open mic night – The Backstage Events August 12, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Beach Yoga + Sound Bath + Sauna and Lake Superior Plunging Events August 12, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Washburn Farmer’s Market Events August 12, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Zumbini Events August 12, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Ashland and Bayfield county primary results: Clark, Alfonso advance in 7th District News August 12, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Sawyer County Extension office relocates to Highway 63 News August 12, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Clark wins democratic primary for U.S. 7th District News August 12, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Washburn's Vross graduates as multi-sport standout, heads to Luther for soccer and music News August 11, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Yazmin and Havana Quartet to perform Aug. 12 in Bayfield News August 11, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Music in the Park Events August 10, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Monday Night Casual Group Ride Events August 10, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Washburn City Council Meeting Events August 10, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Food Truck Mondays Events August 10, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Peterson wins winged sprints as Spacek, Copp return to ABC's victory lane News August 10, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- BASES - Bay-Area Season Event Sports News August 10, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Judge to weigh whether Line 5 construction can resume at four stream crossings News August 10, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Eichmann wins Six-Cylinders feature at Ashland News August 9, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Scenic disc golf course becomes a reality in Ashland Opinion August 6, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Dock rocked on the Bay News August 6, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Hawks post wins over Washburn, Advils, Railroaders News August 5, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Hayward Area Happenings News August 5, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Bayfield County Board dumps backstop ambulance plan for $1 million payment News August 5, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Winged Freedom awarded 100 who Care grant News August 5, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Second person charged in June 27 fatal shooting News August 5, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Four Bay Area teams launch WBA regional tournament bids this weekend News August 5, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
Showing the 40 most recent of 292. Every one is held, cited, and searchable in the archive.
What the records show
40 of 43 independently verified
Authoritative data
- Population: 2051 (2020 census), 2006 (latest official estimate) via doa.wi.gov
- Area: 3.911 sq mi land, 0.003 sq mi water, at 46.676651, -90.901287 via www2.census.gov
- Bayfield County holds 337 named lakes and flowages via prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com
Overview
- Name: City of Washburn via bayfieldcounty.wi.gov
- County: Bayfield County secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Incorporation: chartered 1904 secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Coordinates: 46.676651 N, 90.901287 W via www2.census.gov
- Land area: 3.911 via www2.census.gov
- Elevation: 692 secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
Population and demographics
- 2020: 2051 secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Acs estimate: 1884 secondary source via api.censusreporter.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Median income: 62128 secondary source via api.censusreporter.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Per capita income: 39483 secondary source via api.censusreporter.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Median age: 51.7 secondary source via api.censusreporter.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Seasonal swing: unknown unverified via washburnchamber.com We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
Government and civic
- Mayor: Mary Motiff via bayfieldcounty.wi.gov
- Form: mayor-council via bayfieldcounty.wi.gov
- Meetings: 2nd Monday monthly, 5:30 PM, City Hall via cityofwashburnwi.gov
- Notices: posted on cityofwashburnwi.gov via cityofwashburnwi.gov
- Admin: administrator vacant; asst. admin Tony Janisch via bayfieldcounty.wi.gov
- Cityhall: 119 Washington Ave, Washburn, WI 54891 via bayfieldcounty.wi.gov
- Countyseat: Bayfield County seat via bayfieldcounty.wi.gov
- Site: cityofwashburnwi.gov via cityofwashburnwi.gov
Schools
- District: School District of Washburn via washburn.k12.wi.us
- Enrollment: 547 via nces.ed.gov
- Buildings: Castle Guards via washburn.k12.wi.us
- Site: washburn.k12.wi.us via washburn.k12.wi.us
Economy and employers
- Anchors: county government, school district, healthcare via bayfieldcounty.wi.gov
- History: logging, tourism, DuPont plant secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Employers private: unavailable (ranked list) unverified via washburnchamber.com We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
Institutions and anchors
- Clinic: NorthLakes Community Clinic - Washburn via nlccwi.org
- Library: Washburn Public Library via cityofwashburnwi.gov
- Museum: Washburn Historical Museum and Cultural Center secondary source via washburnchamber.com Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
Business and commerce
- Chamber: Washburn Area Chamber of Commerce via washburnchamber.com
Media
- Ashland: Ashland Daily Press via apg-wi.com
- Bayfield journal: Bayfield County Journal via apg-wi.com
Recreation and natural assets
- Lakefront: Chequamegon Bay lakefront via cityofwashburnwi.gov
- Forest: Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest / Apostle Islands secondary source via washburnchamber.com Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
Events and seasonal rhythm
- Brownstone: Brownstone Days secondary source via washburnchamber.com Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
Infrastructure and access
- Highways: WIS 13, CTH C secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Airport: ASX (Ashland), ~12 miles secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Nearest hub: Ashland ~12 miles secondary source via en.wikipedia.org Relayed by a secondary source. The primary record is cited but was not independently re-read.
- Broadband: unknown unverified via en.wikipedia.org We could not confirm this against a primary public record, so we are telling you rather than hiding it.
Local government
In memory, from Washburn
Every figure here traces to a primary public record, linked at the fact. We gather and cite; we do not author. See something off? Tell us.