Rusk County, Wisconsin

Rusk County
Ladysmith Carnegie Library, designed by Claude and Starck. It is now operated as a bed and breakfast inn.
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°29′N 91°08′W / 45.48°N 91.14°W / 45.48; -91.14
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1901
Named afterJeremiah McLain Rusk
SeatLadysmith
Largest cityLadysmith
Area
  Total
931 sq mi (2,410 km2)
  Land914 sq mi (2,370 km2)
  Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  1.9%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
14,188
  Estimate 
(2023)
14,143
  Density15.5/sq mi (6.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.ruskcounty.org

Rusk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,188. Its county seat is Ladysmith. The Chippewa and Flambeau rivers and their tributaries flow through the county. The land ranges from corn/soybean farms and dairy farms to lakes rimmed with vacation homes to hiking trails through the Blue Hills.