Clark County, Wisconsin

Clark County Education, Geography, and History

Clark County is a county located in the state of Wisconsin. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 34,690. Its county seat is Neillsville.

Etymology - Origin of Clark County Name

Clark County was named in honor of Gen. George Rogers Clark, the conqueror of the Northwest during the American Revolution - Wis. Hist. Colls., i, p. 12. Gannett, Place Names, p. 74, says the name was given for A. W. Clark, an early settler. Dr. Lyman C. Draper, then editor of Wis. Hist. Colls., was, however, in a position to know. Clark County was erected in 1853; the same year, Dr. Draper came to Madison as secretary of the Wisconsin Historical Society. He was the acknowledged authority on the life and services of Gen. George Rogers Clark, whose papers form so large and valuable a portion of the Draper MSS. now in the keeping of the Society. Draper knew many of the prominent legislators, and no doubt suggested the name as a fitting one for the county about to be established. His testimony thereon must be considered as conclusive. Gen. George Rogers Clark (1752-1818) was of Virginia birth, and early emigrating to Kentucky took a prominent share in its defense (1775-78). Throughout the Revolution he was active in defense of the frontier, and has been styled the "Washington of the West."

[Source: Kellogg, Louise Phelps. "Derivation of County Names" in Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for 1909, pages 219-231.]

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Clark County History

Clark County in north central Wisconsin is a great place to visit, live or start a business. Residents and businesses in the county have the best of both worlds - easy access to several large communities while enjoying the peacefulness and beauty of the countryside.

CLARK.
From: Handbook of Wisconsin by S. Silas, 1855
pg. 57-59

A County recently formed from Chippewa and many of the characteristics of that County. It is yet but thinly settled--most of the pine lands having been purchased by the lumberman, while most of the desirable portions for farming are still vacant. Nearly all the produce of the farms will find a ready market for years to come, to the lumbermen, without the labor and expense of transportation to a distant market. Labor, also, is in great demand, and commands the highest prices. 50,000,000 feet is probably a low estimate for the amount of lumber cut and to be sent to market this season.

The County is well watered by the Eau Clair, Black and Yellow Rivers, and their innumerable branches. It is generally timbered along the water courses with the best quality of Pine; back from and between the streams with a mixed growth of maple, oak, butternut, birch, ash, &c. In the southwest portion are some small prairies, and on the heads of most of the small streams meadows made by beaver dams. The face of the country is slightly rolling, but less so than the prairies in the southern portion of the State, and by many the soil is considered equally productive.

The principal improvement made in the County is at Weston's Rapids, where a flouring mill has been built, and as this is on the new road opening from Stevens Point to Hudson, a permanent bridge has been built across the Black River, by the enterprising proprietor of the place.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,219 square miles (3,157 km²), of which, 1,216 square miles (3,148 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (9 km²) of it (0.28%) is water.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Taylor County - north
• Marathon County - east
• Wood County - southeast
• Jackson County - south
• Eau Claire County - west
• Chippewa County - northwest

Education

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