Washburn County

Washburn County Government administers county services for Washburn County in northwestern Wisconsin, with its principal offices in Shell Lake, the county seat. The county was created in 1883 from part of Burnett County and was named for Cadwallader C. Washburn, a former Wisconsin governor, congressman and Civil War general. Washburn County includes the city of Spooner, numerous small towns and villages, large forested areas and many lakes that support tourism and outdoor recreation. County government provides services including law enforcement, courts, elections, public health, emergency management, highway maintenance, zoning and land conservation. The county had an estimated population of about 17,100 in 2025.