Wisconsin County Area & Size Rankings

Understanding Wisconsin’s county areas

The land-area range runs from Pepin County at 232 mi² to Marathon County at 1,545.2 mi². The largest has 6.7 times the land area of the smallest and accounts for 2.9% of the combined county land in Wisconsin. Compare with every state’s largest county.

The median county-equivalent land area is 753 mi², above the national median of 604.5 mi². The median describes the middle of the county size distribution; it does not describe how people or development are distributed. A state with a few very large counties can have a much smaller median than its largest entry suggests.

Where water changes the picture

Door County has the most assigned water area, at 1,888.3 mi². Milwaukee County has the highest water share, with water making up 79.7% of its total area. Water area and water percentage answer different questions: the first measures an amount, while the second measures the mix of land and water.

Across all 72 entries, water accounts for 17.3% of the combined total area. This is calculated from the summed land and water measurements, rather than averaging county percentages, which would give each small and large county equal weight.

Where people live

An estimated 5,972,787 people lived in Wisconsin on July 1, 2025 (+1.3% since 2020), or 1.7% of the national total in this dataset. Milwaukee County is the most populous county equivalent, with 924,216 residents — 15.5% of the state. The largest by land, Marathon County, has 139,432.

Across the state there are 110 people per square mile of land. County densities range from 3,828 in Milwaukee County to 8.1 in Iron County; the median county equivalent has 51. Switch the map above to density to see where the state’s population concentrates.

Compare the largest and smallest county equivalents in Wisconsin to see land, water, and total area on the same scale.

These calculations use the 2026 Census county records listed below. County-equivalent boundaries vary between states; area alone does not measure population, density, or usable land. See coverage and calculation rules.

#	County / equivalent	Land	Water	Water share	Population	Per mi²
1	Marathon CountyGEOID 55073	1,545.2 mi²	31.1 mi²	2%	139,432	90
2	Bayfield CountyGEOID 55007	1,477.9 mi²	563.8 mi²	27.6%	16,787	11
3	Marinette CountyGEOID 55075	1,399.5 mi²	150.5 mi²	9.7%	42,574	30
4	Douglas CountyGEOID 55031	1,304.3 mi²	175.4 mi²	11.9%	43,990	34
5	Sawyer CountyGEOID 55113	1,257.6 mi²	92.6 mi²	6.9%	18,846	15
6	Price CountyGEOID 55099	1,254.1 mi²	24 mi²	1.9%	13,988	11
7	Clark CountyGEOID 55019	1,209.7 mi²	9 mi²	0.7%	35,052	29
8	Dane CountyGEOID 55025	1,196.5 mi²	41 mi²	3.3%	590,375	493
9	Grant CountyGEOID 55043	1,147.6 mi²	35.8 mi²	3%	52,446	46
10	Oneida CountyGEOID 55085	1,113.9 mi²	122.6 mi²	9.9%	38,131	34
11	Ashland CountyGEOID 55003	1,045 mi²	1,247.4 mi²	54.4%	16,203	16
12	Forest CountyGEOID 55041	1,014.3 mi²	32.2 mi²	3.1%	9,574	9.4
13	Chippewa CountyGEOID 55017	1,008.4 mi²	32.8 mi²	3.2%	67,614	67
14	Oconto CountyGEOID 55083	997.5 mi²	151.4 mi²	13.2%	40,195	40
15	Jackson CountyGEOID 55053	987.9 mi²	12.6 mi²	1.3%	20,999	21
16	Taylor CountyGEOID 55119	975.1 mi²	9.5 mi²	1%	20,118	21
17	Polk CountyGEOID 55095	914.3 mi²	42.1 mi²	4.4%	45,803	50
18	Rusk CountyGEOID 55107	913.5 mi²	17.3 mi²	1.9%	14,146	15
19	Monroe CountyGEOID 55081	900.9 mi²	7.2 mi²	0.8%	46,572	52
20	Shawano CountyGEOID 55115	893.2 mi²	16.2 mi²	1.8%	41,560	47
21	Lincoln CountyGEOID 55069	878.8 mi²	28 mi²	3.1%	28,403	32
22	Dodge CountyGEOID 55027	875.7 mi²	31.4 mi²	3.5%	89,097	102
23	Langlade CountyGEOID 55067	870.7 mi²	17.1 mi²	1.9%	19,534	22
24	Barron CountyGEOID 55005	863.1 mi²	26.7 mi²	3%	46,484	54
25	Vilas CountyGEOID 55125	857.7 mi²	160 mi²	15.7%	23,761	28
26	Dunn CountyGEOID 55033	850.2 mi²	13.7 mi²	1.6%	46,223	54
27	Sauk CountyGEOID 55111	831.6 mi²	17.6 mi²	2.1%	66,652	80
28	Burnett CountyGEOID 55013	821.6 mi²	58.6 mi²	6.7%	17,223	21
29	Portage CountyGEOID 55097	800.9 mi²	21.9 mi²	2.7%	71,943	90
30	Washburn CountyGEOID 55129	797.1 mi²	56.2 mi²	6.6%	17,087	21
31	Wood CountyGEOID 55141	793 mi²	16.2 mi²	2%	74,060	93
32	Vernon CountyGEOID 55123	791.6 mi²	24.8 mi²	3%	31,443	40
33	Juneau CountyGEOID 55057	767.1 mi²	38.1 mi²	4.7%	26,649	35
34	Columbia CountyGEOID 55021	765.6 mi²	30.4 mi²	3.8%	58,132	76
35	Iowa CountyGEOID 55049	762.7 mi²	5.4 mi²	0.7%	23,951	31
36	Iron CountyGEOID 55051	758.2 mi²	161 mi²	17.5%	6,127	8.1
37	Waupaca CountyGEOID 55135	747.7 mi²	17.5 mi²	2.3%	51,461	69
38	Trempealeau CountyGEOID 55121	733 mi²	9 mi²	1.2%	31,171	43
39	St. Croix CountyGEOID 55109	722.2 mi²	13 mi²	1.8%	98,276	136
40	Fond du Lac CountyGEOID 55039	719.6 mi²	46.3 mi²	6%	104,669	145
41	Rock CountyGEOID 55105	718.2 mi²	8 mi²	1.1%	166,472	232
42	Buffalo CountyGEOID 55011	675.8 mi²	33.8 mi²	4.8%	13,318	20
43	Adams CountyGEOID 55001	645.6 mi²	41.8 mi²	6.1%	21,752	34
44	Eau Claire CountyGEOID 55035	637.9 mi²	7.3 mi²	1.1%	109,033	171
45	Outagamie CountyGEOID 55087	637.6 mi²	7.1 mi²	1.1%	195,894	307
46	Lafayette CountyGEOID 55065	633.6 mi²	1 mi²	0.2%	17,478	28
47	Waushara CountyGEOID 55137	626.2 mi²	11.2 mi²	1.8%	25,223	40
48	Manitowoc CountyGEOID 55071	589.3 mi²	904.8 mi²	60.6%	81,710	139
49	Richland CountyGEOID 55103	586.2 mi²	3.1 mi²	0.5%	17,036	29
50	Green CountyGEOID 55045	584 mi²	0.5 mi²	0.1%	37,227	64
51	Pierce CountyGEOID 55093	574 mi²	18.7 mi²	3.2%	43,519	76
52	Crawford CountyGEOID 55023	570.8 mi²	28.4 mi²	4.7%	15,910	28
53	Jefferson CountyGEOID 55055	556.5 mi²	26.2 mi²	4.5%	86,505	155
54	Walworth CountyGEOID 55127	555.4 mi²	21.2 mi²	3.7%	106,127	191
55	Waukesha CountyGEOID 55133	549.7 mi²	30.8 mi²	5.3%	417,210	759
56	Brown CountyGEOID 55009	530.1 mi²	85.6 mi²	13.9%	275,803	520
57	Sheboygan CountyGEOID 55117	511.5 mi²	759.7 mi²	59.8%	118,047	231
58	Florence CountyGEOID 55037	488 mi²	9.3 mi²	1.9%	4,748	9.7
59	Door CountyGEOID 55029	481.9 mi²	1,888.3 mi²	79.7%	30,616	64
60	Marquette CountyGEOID 55077	455.7 mi²	8.8 mi²	1.9%	15,927	35
61	La Crosse CountyGEOID 55063	451.8 mi²	28.2 mi²	5.9%	121,339	269
62	Winnebago CountyGEOID 55139	434.7 mi²	143.9 mi²	24.9%	174,218	401
63	Washington CountyGEOID 55131	430.6 mi²	5 mi²	1.2%	139,238	323
64	Menominee CountyGEOID 55078	357.6 mi²	7.3 mi²	2%	4,199	12
65	Green Lake CountyGEOID 55047	349.5 mi²	30.6 mi²	8%	19,305	55
66	Kewaunee CountyGEOID 55061	342.5 mi²	741.8 mi²	68.4%	20,758	61
67	Racine CountyGEOID 55101	332.6 mi²	459.5 mi²	58%	198,919	598
68	Calumet CountyGEOID 55015	318.3 mi²	78.8 mi²	19.9%	53,982	170
69	Kenosha CountyGEOID 55059	271.8 mi²	482.2 mi²	63.9%	168,448	620
70	Milwaukee CountyGEOID 55079	241.5 mi²	948.1 mi²	79.7%	924,216	3,828
71	Ozaukee CountyGEOID 55089	233 mi²	883.2 mi²	79.1%	94,346	405
72	Pepin CountyGEOID 55091	232 mi²	16.7 mi²	6.7%	7,513	32

County / equivalent

Land

Water

Water share

Population

Per mi²

Marathon CountyGEOID 55073

1,545.2 mi²

31.1 mi²

139,432

Bayfield CountyGEOID 55007

1,477.9 mi²

563.8 mi²

27.6%

16,787

Marinette CountyGEOID 55075

1,399.5 mi²

150.5 mi²

9.7%

42,574

Douglas CountyGEOID 55031

1,304.3 mi²

175.4 mi²

11.9%

43,990

Sawyer CountyGEOID 55113

1,257.6 mi²

92.6 mi²

6.9%

18,846

Price CountyGEOID 55099

1,254.1 mi²

24 mi²

1.9%

13,988

Clark CountyGEOID 55019

1,209.7 mi²

9 mi²

0.7%

35,052

Dane CountyGEOID 55025

1,196.5 mi²

41 mi²

3.3%

590,375

493

Grant CountyGEOID 55043

1,147.6 mi²

35.8 mi²

52,446

Oneida CountyGEOID 55085

1,113.9 mi²

122.6 mi²

9.9%

38,131

Ashland CountyGEOID 55003

1,045 mi²

1,247.4 mi²

54.4%

16,203

Forest CountyGEOID 55041

1,014.3 mi²

32.2 mi²

3.1%

9,574

9.4

Chippewa CountyGEOID 55017

1,008.4 mi²

32.8 mi²

3.2%

67,614

Oconto CountyGEOID 55083

997.5 mi²

151.4 mi²

13.2%

40,195

Jackson CountyGEOID 55053

987.9 mi²

12.6 mi²

1.3%

20,999

Taylor CountyGEOID 55119

975.1 mi²

9.5 mi²

20,118

Polk CountyGEOID 55095

914.3 mi²

42.1 mi²

4.4%

45,803

Rusk CountyGEOID 55107

913.5 mi²

17.3 mi²

1.9%

14,146

Monroe CountyGEOID 55081

900.9 mi²

7.2 mi²

0.8%

46,572

Shawano CountyGEOID 55115

893.2 mi²

16.2 mi²

1.8%

41,560

Lincoln CountyGEOID 55069

878.8 mi²

28 mi²

3.1%

28,403

Dodge CountyGEOID 55027

875.7 mi²

31.4 mi²

3.5%

89,097

102

Langlade CountyGEOID 55067

870.7 mi²

17.1 mi²

1.9%

19,534

Barron CountyGEOID 55005

863.1 mi²

26.7 mi²

46,484

Vilas CountyGEOID 55125

857.7 mi²

160 mi²

15.7%

23,761

Dunn CountyGEOID 55033

850.2 mi²

13.7 mi²

1.6%

46,223

Sauk CountyGEOID 55111

831.6 mi²

17.6 mi²

2.1%

66,652

Burnett CountyGEOID 55013

821.6 mi²

58.6 mi²

6.7%

17,223

Portage CountyGEOID 55097

800.9 mi²

21.9 mi²

2.7%

71,943

Washburn CountyGEOID 55129

797.1 mi²

56.2 mi²

6.6%

17,087

Wood CountyGEOID 55141

793 mi²

16.2 mi²

74,060

Vernon CountyGEOID 55123

791.6 mi²

24.8 mi²

31,443

Juneau CountyGEOID 55057

767.1 mi²

38.1 mi²

4.7%

26,649

Columbia CountyGEOID 55021

765.6 mi²

30.4 mi²

3.8%

58,132

Iowa CountyGEOID 55049

762.7 mi²

5.4 mi²

0.7%

23,951

Iron CountyGEOID 55051

758.2 mi²

161 mi²

17.5%

6,127

8.1

Waupaca CountyGEOID 55135

747.7 mi²

17.5 mi²

2.3%

51,461

Trempealeau CountyGEOID 55121

733 mi²

9 mi²

1.2%

31,171

St. Croix CountyGEOID 55109

722.2 mi²

13 mi²

1.8%

98,276

136

Fond du Lac CountyGEOID 55039

719.6 mi²

46.3 mi²

104,669

145

Rock CountyGEOID 55105

718.2 mi²

8 mi²

1.1%

166,472

232

Buffalo CountyGEOID 55011

675.8 mi²

33.8 mi²

4.8%

13,318

Adams CountyGEOID 55001

645.6 mi²

41.8 mi²

6.1%

21,752

Eau Claire CountyGEOID 55035

637.9 mi²

7.3 mi²

1.1%

109,033

171

Outagamie CountyGEOID 55087

637.6 mi²

7.1 mi²

1.1%

195,894

307

Lafayette CountyGEOID 55065

633.6 mi²

1 mi²

0.2%

17,478

Waushara CountyGEOID 55137

626.2 mi²

11.2 mi²

1.8%

25,223

Manitowoc CountyGEOID 55071

589.3 mi²

904.8 mi²

60.6%

81,710

139

Richland CountyGEOID 55103

586.2 mi²

3.1 mi²

0.5%

17,036

Green CountyGEOID 55045

584 mi²

0.5 mi²

0.1%

37,227

Pierce CountyGEOID 55093

574 mi²

18.7 mi²

3.2%

43,519

Crawford CountyGEOID 55023

570.8 mi²

28.4 mi²

4.7%

15,910

Jefferson CountyGEOID 55055

556.5 mi²

26.2 mi²

4.5%

86,505

155

Walworth CountyGEOID 55127

555.4 mi²

21.2 mi²

3.7%

106,127

191

Waukesha CountyGEOID 55133

549.7 mi²

30.8 mi²

5.3%

417,210

759

Brown CountyGEOID 55009

530.1 mi²

85.6 mi²

13.9%

275,803

520

Sheboygan CountyGEOID 55117

511.5 mi²

759.7 mi²

59.8%

118,047

231

Florence CountyGEOID 55037

488 mi²

9.3 mi²

1.9%

4,748

9.7

Door CountyGEOID 55029

481.9 mi²

1,888.3 mi²

79.7%

30,616

Marquette CountyGEOID 55077

455.7 mi²

8.8 mi²

1.9%

15,927

La Crosse CountyGEOID 55063

451.8 mi²

28.2 mi²

5.9%

121,339

269

Winnebago CountyGEOID 55139

434.7 mi²

143.9 mi²

24.9%

174,218

401

Washington CountyGEOID 55131

430.6 mi²

5 mi²

1.2%

139,238

323

Menominee CountyGEOID 55078

357.6 mi²

7.3 mi²

4,199

Green Lake CountyGEOID 55047

349.5 mi²

30.6 mi²

19,305

Kewaunee CountyGEOID 55061

342.5 mi²

741.8 mi²

68.4%

20,758

Racine CountyGEOID 55101

332.6 mi²

459.5 mi²

58%

198,919

598

Calumet CountyGEOID 55015

318.3 mi²

78.8 mi²

19.9%

53,982

170

Kenosha CountyGEOID 55059

271.8 mi²

482.2 mi²

63.9%

168,448

620

Milwaukee CountyGEOID 55079

241.5 mi²

948.1 mi²

79.7%

924,216

3,828

Ozaukee CountyGEOID 55089

233 mi²

883.2 mi²

79.1%

94,346

405

Pepin CountyGEOID 55091

232 mi²

16.7 mi²

6.7%

7,513

Wisconsin counties by area

Understanding Wisconsin’s county areas

Where water changes the picture

Where people live

Complete area table