Rusk County is located in west central Wisconsin and was created in 1901 from Chippewa County.  From 1901 until 1905, Rusk County was called Gates County, after Mr. James L. Gates, a prominent landowner, who said he would donate $1,000 to the county if it bore his name.  When James Gates did not keep his promise of the $1,000 donation, the Wisconsin Legislature, in 1905, changed the name to Rusk County, in honor of Jeremiah M. Rusk, a Civil War hero, Wisconsin Congressman, three-term Governor of the State, and the first U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President Benjamin Harrison. 

The county seat is Ladysmith.

Population:    15,268 (2003 estimate)

Land Area:     913 square miles

Information Links

Municipalities in Rusk County

Atlanta, Town of

Big Bend, Town of

Big Falls, Town of

Bruce, Village of

Cedar Rapids, Town of

Conrath, Village of

Dewey, Town of

Flambeau, Town of

Glen Flora, Village of

Grant, Town of

Grow, Town of

Hawkins, Town of

Hawkins, Village of

Hubbard, Town of

Ingram, Village of

Ladysmith, City of

Lawrence, Town of

Marshall, Town of

Murry, Town of

Richland, Town of

Rusk, Town of

Sheldon, Village of

South Fork, Town of

Strickland, Town of

Stubbs, Town of

Thornapple, Town of

Tony, Village of

True, Town of

Washington, Town of

Weyerhauser, Village of

Wilkinson, Town of

Willard, Town of

Wilson, Town of

Return to the 7th Congressional District Interactive Map