Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Rice Lake is a small city in Barron County, in northwestern Wisconsin, on the shore of the lake of the same name. It serves as a shopping, industrial, educational, and medical hub for nearby communities. The population was 9,040 at the 2020 census.
History
- Native peoples, including Ojibwe, lived around Rice Lake for centuries, with wild rice playing an important role.
- In the 1860s, the Knapp, Stout & Co. lumber company bought land nearby and began logging camps.
- Around 1870, the Red Cedar River was dammed to raise Rice Lake for logging ponds, which affected wild rice beds. The company traded food for Ojibwe compensation.
- The village was laid out in 1870 and grew with mills, a bank, a newspaper, and churches.
- The railroad arrived in 1882, and Rice Lake incorporated as a city in 1887.
- Early institutions included a school (1874), a library (1897), electric lights, and a water system (taken over by the city in 1910).
- The 20th century brought higher education nearby and regional radio and college projects.
Geography
- Located along the Red Cedar River.
- The city covers about 9.7 square miles (roughly 8.6 land and 1.1 water).
- Coordinates are about 45.50°N, 91.74°W.
Climate
- Winters are cold and snowy; summers are warm.
- Average yearly precipitation is around 31 inches, with roughly 27 inches of snowfall.
Demographics
- 2020 population: 9,040.
- The city is largely White, with a mix of families and individuals in about 3,900 households (as of 2010 data).
- Median age is around the early 40s.
Government and economy
- Rice Lake has a mayor; as of 2024–2025, the mayor was Harlan Dodge.
- The city budget is about $915,000 per year, with property taxes a major revenue source and infrastructure a major expense (about $325,000 in 2022).
- It serves nearby towns and communities in the region.
Infrastructure
- Main roads: U.S. Highway 53 and Wisconsin Highway 48.
- Rice Lake Regional Airport (Carl’s Field) serves the area.
- The area previously had passenger rail service.
Education
- Rice Lake Area School District operates public schools: Rice Lake High School, Rice Lake Middle School, Haugen Elementary, Hilltop Elementary, and Tainter Elementary, plus Northern Lakes Regional Academy.
- Private schools include Redeemer Lutheran School and St. Joseph School.
- Post-secondary options include the University of Wisconsin–Barron County and Northwood Technical College (Rice Lake Campus).
Economy and community
- Rice Lake acts as a regional economic and service hub for nearby communities in Barron County and beyond.
Notable people
- The city has been home to several notable figures, including Olympic athlete Kenny Bednarek and others in fields such as sports, law, and the arts.
Sister cities
- Miharu, Japan
- Žamberk, Czech Republic
Local media
- WAQE (AM 1090)
- WAQE-FM (97.7)
- WJMC (AM 1240)
- WJMC-FM (96.1)
- WKFX (99.1)
- WWJP-LP (101.7)
- WYRL-LP (105.5)
This page was last edited on 1 February 2026, at 21:13 (CET).