According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 880 square miles (2,300 km2), of which 872 square miles (2,260 km2) is land and 58 square miles (150 km2) (6.6%) is water.[7] Saginaw Lake is located in the county,[8] south of the Namekagon River.
As of the census of 2020,[13] the population was 16,526. The population density was 20.1 people per square mile (7.8 people/km2). There were 15,201 housing units at an average density of 18.5 units per square mile (7.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.3% White, 4.4% Native American, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
2000 census
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Burnett County
As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 15,674 people, 6,613 households, and 4,503 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km2). There were 12,582 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.25% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 4.45% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.9% were of German, 15.4% Swedish, 12.8% Norwegian and 6.3% Irish ancestry.
There were 6,613 households, out of which 25.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.10% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 28.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 101.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.30 males.
In 2017, there were 118 births, giving a general fertility rate of 58.5 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 23rd lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[15] Additionally, there were no reported induced abortions performed on women of Burnett County residence in 2017.[16]
Communities
Burnett County is one of only three Wisconsin counties that have no incorporated cities. It is the only Wisconsin county to have villages but no cities.[citation needed]
^Reported Induced Abortions in Wisconsin, Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013-2017, Table 18, pages 17-18
