St. Croix County

St. Croix County is an administrative division in western Wisconsin bordering Minnesota, with terrain shaped by river valleys and farming land. The territory includes several towns and rural communities spread across rolling countryside and waterway systems.

The territory was officially established in 1849 and named after the St. Croix River, which French explorers had documented in the 1600s. Settlement patterns followed the river, which became central to the region's geography and economic development.

The county takes its name from the St. Croix River, a landmark that French explorers associated with the region's natural character. Today, river communities and rural villages maintain strong ties to this waterway as a defining feature of local life.

Main highways including Interstate 94, US Highway 12, and US Highway 63 provide good connections to regional centers and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. These routes make navigation through and around the county straightforward for visitors exploring the region.

A powerful F5 tornado destroyed the town of New Richmond in 1899, killing more than 100 people. This remains one of the deadliest tornado events ever recorded in Wisconsin.

Location: Wisconsin

Inception: 1849

Capital city: Hudson

Shares border with: Polk County, Barron County, Dunn County, Pierce County, Washington County

Website: https://sccwi.gov

GPS coordinates: 45.04000,-92.45000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:07