About Barron County
Barron County is located in northwestern Wisconsin, covering approximately 863 square miles of diverse scene characterized by rolling hills, lakes, and productive agricultural land. Barron County Seat is Barron, a city of approximately 3,400 residents, where most county government offices are centralized at Barron County Government Center, 335 East Monroe Avenue, Barron County, WI 54812.
- Major county agencies include Barron County Register of Deeds (335 East Monroe Avenue, Barron area), Barron County Clerk (same address), and Barron Municipal Assessor's Office.
With a total population of approximately 45,000 residents, Barron County is home to several communities including Rice Lake (Barron County's largest city with about 8,500 residents), Cumberland, Cameron, Chetek, and Turtle Lake. Barron County was established in 1859 and named after Henry D. Barron area, a Wisconsin judge.
Barron County is known for its abundant natural resources, including over 300 lakes that make it a popular destination for fishing, boating, and outdoor recreation. The Red Cedar State Trail, a 14.5-mile recreational trail, attracts thousands of visitors annually. Barron County's economy has historically been anchored by agriculture, particularly dairy farming, along with manufacturing and tourism.
Barron County gained national attention in 2018 during the Jayme Closs case, which demonstrated Barron County's law enforcement capabilities and community resilience.
Sheriff, Police & Law Enforcement
Sheriff & Law Enforcement
Barron County Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement services throughout Barron County, particularly in unincorporated areas. The office is tasked with maintaining public safety, conducting investigations, and enforcing laws. It also operates Barron County Jail, processes arrests, and maintains criminal records.
Police Departments
Law enforcement in Barron County is provided by Barron County Sheriff's Office and several municipal police departments. The Rice Lake Police Department, Chetek Police Department, and Cumberland Police Department are key agencies serving their respective cities. These departments handle local law enforcement duties, including traffic enforcement, crime investigation, and community policing.
Law Enforcement & Arrests
Barron County Sheriff's Office, located at 1420 State Highway 25 North, Barron, WI 54812, is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas of Barron County and provides detention services.
- Citizens may request arrest records by submitting a written request to the Sheriff's Office or the arresting police department; agencies may charge copying fees and require proof of identity.
- Mugshots and booking photos are generally available through the same public records request process, though some agencies may redact certain information for ongoing investigations.
- Processing times vary but typically range from a few days to two weeks.
Inmates housed at Barron County Jail can be located through the Sheriff's Office during business hours by calling the jail directly; Wisconsin does not mandate statewide online inmate rosters, so inquiry by phone is typically required. Municipal police departments operate in Rice Lake (Rice Lake Police Department, 30 East Messenger Street), Cumberland (Cumberland Police Department, ), and Barron (Barron County Police Department, 1456 East LaSalle Avenue). Arrest records in Barron County are considered public records under Wisconsin Statutes §19.31-19.39, the Wisconsin Public Records Law.
Barron County does not have tribal police jurisdictions, though law enforcement agencies coordinate with neighboring tribal authorities when necessary.
Criminal, Arrest & Jail Records
Criminal Records
Criminal records in Barron County cover felony, misdemeanor, and traffic offenses, as well as the sex offender registry. Background checks can be conducted through the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which provides statewide criminal history information. The Wisconsin Department of Justice offers additional resources for residents seeking full background checks, including fingerprint-based searches for more detailed records.
Arrest Records
Arrest records in Barron County are maintained by Barron County Sheriff's Office. These records include details of the arrest, charges, and booking information. Residents and attorneys can request access to arrest records through the Sheriff's Office, following the guidelines set by Wisconsin's public records law, known as the Wisconsin Open Records Law. An arrest record typically contains the individual's personal information, the nature of the charges, and the arresting agency's details.
- Requests for these records can be made in person or through written applications to the Sheriff's Office.
Jail & Inmate Records
Barron County Jail, located in Barron, is the primary detention facility for Barron County. It handles the booking process for people arrested within Barron County, where personal information and charges are recorded. The facility offers an inmate lookup service through its website, allowing the public to search for current detainees. Visitation rules are specific to the facility, requiring prior scheduling and adherence to security protocols.
- In Wisconsin, the bond or bail process involves posting a set amount determined by the court to secure temporary release, and this can be arranged through the jail's administration.
Mugshots & Booking Photos
In Barron County, mugshots are taken and retained by Barron County Sheriff's Office during the booking process. These booking photos are part of the arrest records and can be accessed by the public through the Sheriff's Office or its official website. While Wisconsin does not have specific mugshot removal laws, individuals seeking to remove or restrict access to their mugshots may need to pursue legal avenues or contact the Sheriff's Office for guidance. Mugshots are typically used for identification purposes and may be included in public records requests.
Courts & Case Records
Barron County Circuit Court, part of Wisconsin's Tenth Judicial Circuit, is located at 1420 State Highway 25 North, Barron, WI 54812, and handles all felony criminal cases, civil matters over $10,000, family law, probate, juvenile matters, and appeals from municipal courts. The court can be contacted through the office’s website. Wisconsin Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction and are the trial courts of record for the state.
- Barron County Clerk of Circuit Court maintains official court records and can provide certified copies for a statutory fee of $1.25 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee.
- In-person record requests can be made at the Clerk of Court's office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
- Online access through WCCA is free for viewing, though obtaining certified copies requires an in-person or mail request with appropriate fees.
Case searches can be conducted through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system at wcca.wicourts.gov, which provides free public access to most case information including party names, case numbers, charges, judgments, and court calendars. The WCCA system is available 24/7 and covers criminal, civil, family, probate, small claims, and traffic cases. Municipal courts in Barron County cities (Rice Lake, Cumberland, Barron, Chetek) handle ordinance violations, traffic citations, and other minor offenses within their respective jurisdictions.
Under Wisconsin Statutes §19.21, court records are presumptively open to the public unless specifically sealed by court order or protected by statute.
Property & Public Records
Barron County Register of Deeds, located at 335 East Monroe Avenue, Room 2100, Barron, WI 54812, maintains land records including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens, easements, land contracts, plat maps, and surveys dating back to Barron County's establishment. The office can be contacted through the office’s website, and their website at www.barroncountywi.gov/registerofdeed provides access to online records searching.
- Barron County offers free online access to recorded documents through a searchable database on the Register of Deeds website, allowing users to search by name, document type, date range, or parcel number.
- Documents can be viewed online at no charge, though printing or obtaining certified copies requires payment of statutory fees: $4.00 for the first page and $2.00 for each additional page.
- Certified copies of recorded documents can be requested in person, by mail, or by phone with payment by cash, check, or credit card.
- The Register of Deeds office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and same-day service is typically available for most document requests.
Vital Records
Birth and death certificates in Barron County are available through Barron County Register of Deeds, which is the local vital records custodian, located at 335 East Monroe Avenue, Room 2100, Barron, WI 54812 Birth certificates cost $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same record ordered simultaneously. Death certificates are the same price. Certified copies are typically available within 3-5 business days for in-person or mail requests.
- Requestors must provide valid government-issued photo identification and proof of relationship if applicable.
- Couples must apply in person, provide identification, and pay a $110 fee; there is a six-day waiting period after application before the license is valid.
- Marriage records (certified copies of marriage certificates) are available from the Register of Deeds for $20.
Only authorized individuals may obtain certified copies: the registrant (for birth certificates), immediate family members, legal representatives, or persons with a direct and tangible interest as defined by Wisconsin Statutes §69.20-69.21. Marriage licenses are issued by Barron County Clerk's Office at 335 East Monroe Avenue, Room 2700, Barron, WI 54812. Divorce records (final divorce decrees) are maintained by Barron County Clerk of Circuit Court at 1420 State Highway 25 North, Barron, WI 54812.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Vital Records Office (1 West Wilson Street, Madison, WI 53703) also maintains statewide birth, death, marriage, and divorce records and can be reached at or through their online ordering system at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords.
Business & Licensing
Business licensing and registration in Barron County involves multiple jurisdictions depending on the business type and location. Barron County Clerk's Office at 335 East Monroe Avenue, Room 2700, Barron, WI 54812, handles certain local business registrations and can direct applicants to appropriate licensing authorities. Fictitious name registrations (Doing Business As or DBA) are filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and can be searched through their online system.
For formal business entity searches including corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and trademarks, the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions Corporate Registration & UCC Division maintains a free online database at www.wdfi.org/apps/CorpSearch where users can search by business name, registered agent, or filing number. Sales tax permits and employer identification numbers are handled by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Professional licenses (contractors, real estate agents, healthcare providers, etc.) are managed by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services at https://online.drl.wi.gov.
Building permits, zoning compliance, and land use permits are administered by individual municipalities and Barron County Zoning Department at 335 East Monroe Avenue. The Rice Lake Area Chamber of Commerce (37 South Main Street, Rice Lake, WI 54868, www.ricelakechamber.org) and Barron Area Chamber of Commerce (www.barronwi.com) provide resources for businesses including networking, advocacy, and community information. Barron County also coordinates with Barron County Economic Development Corporation to support business growth and workforce development initiatives.
Elections & Voter Records
Elections in Barron County are administered by Barron County Clerk's Office, located at 335 East Monroe Avenue, Room 2700, Barron, WI 54812. The office can be contacted through the office’s website, and election information is available at www.barroncountywi.gov/county_clerk. Voter registration in Wisconsin can be completed online at https://myvote.wi.gov, by mail, or in person at the County Clerk's office or any municipal clerk's office in Barron County.
Wisconsin law requires voter registration by 5:00 PM on the Wednesday before an election (20 days before), though same-day registration is available at the polls with proper proof of residence. Eligible voters must be U.S. Citizens, 18 years of age or older, and residents of Wisconsin for at least 28 consecutive days.
Voters can find their polling place, view sample ballots, and check registration status through the MyVote Wisconsin website at https://myvote.wi.gov. Public election records in Barron County include voter registration lists (available under Wisconsin Statutes §6.36 with restrictions on commercial use), campaign finance reports filed with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission, candidate registration forms, nomination papers, and precinct-by-precinct election results. Barron County Clerk publishes unofficial election results on election night and certified results within days of canvassing.
In the November 2024 general election, Barron County reported voter turnout of approximately 71-75%, consistent with Wisconsin's traditionally high participation rates in presidential elections. The next major election is November 3, 2026, featuring U.S. House and Senate midterms, Wisconsin state constitutional offices (if applicable to the cycle), state legislative seats, and county offices.
Absentee ballots in Barron County can be requested through the MyVote Wisconsin portal, by contacting your municipal clerk, or through the County Clerk's office; applications must be received by 5:00 PM on the Thursday before Election Day, and completed ballots must be returned by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Wisconsin law (Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 6 and 7) ensures substantial transparency in elections, allowing citizens to request election materials, observe recounts, and access detailed voting data through public records requests.
Economy & Demographics
Barron County's economy is diversified across agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and tourism sectors. Agriculture remains a cornerstone, with dairy farming, crop production, and related agribusinesses employing a significant portion of the workforce; Barron County has hundreds of active dairy operations and extensive corn and soybean cultivation.
- The median household income in Barron County is approximately $58,000-$62,000, slightly below the Wisconsin state median.
Major employers include Jennie-O Turkey Store in Barron (one of the largest turkey processing facilities in the nation, employing over 1,100 workers), 3M in Cumberland (manufacturing facility with approximately 700+ employees producing adhesives and industrial products), Barron County government, Rice Lake Weighing Systems (a global manufacturer of weighing and process control equipment), Cumberland Healthcare, and the Rice Lake School District. The unemployment rate typically tracks close to the state average, ranging between 3-4% in recent years, though seasonal fluctuations occur due to agricultural and tourism cycles. Tourism contributes significantly to the local economy, with thousands of visitors attracted annually to Barron County's 300+ lakes for fishing, boating, snowmobiling, and ATV recreation.
The Red Cedar State Trail and Blue Hills Trail bring recreational tourism revenue. Recent economic development initiatives have focused on broadband expansion to rural areas, workforce training partnerships with Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, and business park development near Rice Lake and Barron. Barron County benefits from its location along US Highway 53 and State Highway 25, providing transportation access to the Twin Cities metropolitan area and other regional markets.
Transparency Score
Court Records: Yes: Online (WCCA) | Property: Yes: Free Online Search | Arrest/Jail: Limited: Phone/In-Person | Vital Records: Limited: In-Person/Mail Required | Business: Yes: Online (State Portal) | Elections: Yes: Online (MyVote WI) | Overall Score: 8/10, Barron County provides strong online access to court records, property records, and election information, with room for improvement in jail roster transparency.