Barksdale, Wisconsin

Barksdale, Wisconsin
Town
Town hall
Town hall
Location of Barksdale, Wisconsin
Location of Barksdale, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 46°35′41″N 91°1′35″W / 46.59472°N 91.02639°W / 46.59472; -91.02639
Country United States
State Wisconsin
CountyBayfield
Area
 • Total
66.3 sq mi (171.7 km2)
 • Land55.2 sq mi (142.9 km2)
 • Water11.1 sq mi (28.8 km2)
Elevation
[1]
1,145 ft (349 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total
745
 • Density11/sq mi (4.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
54891
Area codes715 and 534
FIPS code55-04725[3]
GNIS feature ID1582751[1]
Websitetownofbarksdale.org

Barksdale is a town in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 745 at the 2020 census, up from 723 at the 2010 census.[4] The unincorporated community of Barksdale is located in the town. The town was named by William G. Ramsay, the chief engineer for the DuPont Chemical Company, for Hamilton M. Barksdale, vice president of DuPont.[5]

The town was once the home of an explosives factory owned by the DuPont company. Press reports mention a number of fatal accidents. Four died in a dynamite explosion in October 1907.[6] Two men were killed in an explosion on August 24, 1928.[7] A larger explosion at the facility killed eight in October 1952.[8]

  1. ^ a b "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ^ "Census Bureau profile: Barksdale town, Bayfield County, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Barksdale town, Bayfield County, Wisconsin". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  5. ^ Callary, Edward (2016). Place Names of Wisconsin. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-299-30964-0.
  6. ^ "Barksdale, WI Explosion, Oct 1907". The Eau Claire Leader. October 25, 1907. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  7. ^ "Barksdale, WI Powder Shed Explosion, Aug 1928". Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh WI). August 25, 1928. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  8. ^ "Barksdale, WI Explosives Plant Blast, Oct 1952". The Republic (Columbus Indiana). United Press. October 15, 1952. Retrieved July 25, 2020.