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
314 records name Washburn
- 142 news
- 91 government
- 66 events
- 8 obituaries
- 5 opinion
- 2 notices
- Live in the Lounge: Ryan Quinn Events August 28, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Ronald P. Johnson News August 28, 2026 via rivernewsonline.com paywalled
- Solstice Outdoors Community Nights Events August 27, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Open mic night – The Backstage Events August 26, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Beach Yoga + Sound Bath + Sauna and Lake Superior Plunging Events August 26, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Washburn Farmer’s Market Events August 26, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Hayward Area Happenings News August 26, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Monday Night Casual Group Ride Events August 24, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Music in the Park Events August 24, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Food Truck Mondays Events August 24, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Bay-Area fall 2026 athletic schedule News August 24, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- ASHLAND COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT: Week of August 3-7, 2026 Notices August 24, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Castle Guards fall in fourth News August 24, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- After 19 years, a first-time finisher returns to the Point to La Pointe News August 24, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- BASES - Bay-Area Season Event Sports News August 24, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Walker is ABC Raceway Six-Cylinders Champion News August 24, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- Riding the Wind with the Blue Canvas Orchestra Events August 23, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Raq On! Belly Dance Fitness Events August 23, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Live Music at the Taphouse Events August 23, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Big Top Opry with the Blue Canvas Orchestra Events August 23, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- AREA FOOTBALL SCHEDULES News August 22, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- The Devon Allman Project Events August 21, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Solstice Outdoors Community Nights Events August 20, 2026 via washburnchamber.com
- Not here: Ashland forum targets data center development News August 20, 2026 via apg-wi.com paywalled
- 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
Showing the 40 most recent of 314. 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.