Ladysmith, Wisconsin
7 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1948 and the latest in 1980. It stands in Ladysmith City. It lies in ZIP code area 54848. The Survey maps it on the Ladysmith quadrangle. 3,216 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,145 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Ladysmith
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 2 records
Flambeau Mission Churchlisted 1979
State Bank of Ladysmithlisted 1980
Population over time
3 figuresLadysmith grew from 2,352 to 3,216 between 1910 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 2,352 | |
| 2010 | 3,414 | |
| 2020 | 3,216 | -198 (-6%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
6 surveys from 7 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1948 USGS Ladysmith quadrangle1:48000
- 1950 USGS Ladysmith quadrangle1:48000
- 1953 USGS Rice Lake quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1959 USGS Rice Lake quadrangle1:250000
- 1971 USGS Ladysmith quadrangle1:24000
- 1980 USGS Bloomer quadrangle1:100000
Fires near this place
119 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 119 fires within 5 miles of Ladysmith between 1992 and 2020, burning about 65 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 12 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 41 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 27 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 15 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 12 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 8 |
| Smoking | 6 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 4 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 3 |
| Natural | 1 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 1 |
| Other causes | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 August 2006 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 19 August 2019 | Misuse of fire by a minor | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | BELL SCHOOL |
| 11 August 1992 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 7 July 2020 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | BELL SCHOOL |
| 7 July 2018 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | DAM ROAD FIRE |
| 30 July 1992 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 28 July 2012 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | SHEEPRANCH |
| 22 July 2015 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | HWY 8 DITCH |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 19 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 19 workings within 5 miles of Ladysmith: 9 past producers, 4 occurrences, 4 producers, 1 unknown. 5 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Zinc, Copper, Gold, Silver, Gold, Copper. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eisenbrey Deposit | Zinc, Copper, Gold, Silver | Unknown | 1973 | |
| Flambeau Mine | Copper, Silver, Gold, Zinc, Lead | Producer | 1968, 1993 | |
| Flambeau/Ladysmith Mine | Gold, Copper, Silver | Plant | 1968, 1992 | |
| Bruno Lake Gravel Deposit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Occurrence | ||
| Deer Trail Creek Gravel Deposit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Occurrence | ||
| Deer Trail Creek Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Flambeau River Gravel Deposit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Occurrence | ||
| Flambeau River Gravel Pit #1 | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Ladysmith Concrete Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Meandering Hills Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
39 since 1994Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Ladysmith in 39 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 17 thunderstorm wind, 17 hail, 2 tornado, 2 flash flood. The reports record 27 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2002 | Tornado (F3) | Ladysmith | 27 hurt, $25,000,000 | The first tornadic supercell to rake Wisconsin this day started just west of Ladysmith and tore through the downtown before moving into rural parts of eastern Rusk County. Injury totals fluctuated at first, but Rusk County Emergency Management stated there were approximately 27 injuries, none more serious than a broken leg. The NWS performed a damage survey the next day, and the most severe damage, rated F3, was in downtown Ladysmith. In this area 4 blocks wide and 16 blocks long, 40 buildings were destroyed and 159 damaged. One church was blown off its foundation, although during the damage survey, it was apparent that it had been barely attached to the foundation. A pickup truck was also picked up and thrown into a tree. Two old brick buildings collapsed. As the tornado reached the east side of Ladysmith, it weakened to F2 status. Once it left Ladysmith, the tornado continued on an eastward path, striking a number of rural farm houses and producing mostly F1 damage until it dissipated. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | $1,000,000 | Measured at the DNR Forestry Station. Scattered damage to houses and outbuildings. Numerous trees and power lines down. Memorial Park in Ladysmith lost about 100 trees. One home lost part of its roof. Damage figure is the total from all storms in Rusk County from 1770 to 1815. |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | $230,000 | Roof ripped off apartment building and restaurant. Flying debris from apartment building damaged nearby motel. 3,000 pound pontoon boat on Lake Flambeau blown a distance of 125 feet and destroyed. Many trees blown over. Numerous garages and sheds destroyed. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | $10,000 | Several trees were blown down between Ladysmith and Glen Flora, Wisconsin. Some trees fell on power lines. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | A storm survey determined an area of significant thunderstorm wind damage along County Highway P southeast of Ladysmith. There were several downed trees and snapped or leaning power poles. The most significant damage was near the intersection of Roses Road and County Highway P where a house incurred roof damage and loss of soffits, and the house was moved slightly. Wind gusts were estimated to be near 100 mph. |
| June 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | Numerous trees of various sizes were blown down. Also, a car was blown off the road. |
| May 2016 | Heavy Rain | Ladysmith | - | A 4.20 inch rainfall report was measured in Ladysmith. |
| May 2016 | Flash Flood | Ladysmith | - | Several bands of torrential rainfall occurred during the afternoon of Tuesday, May 31st. With rainfall rates as high as 2 inches per hour, runoff was rapid which caused a part of County Road J north of Ladysmith to be inundated with flood waters. |
| July 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | Several trees were blown down near the intersection of Cut Off Road and Highway 27, and Cemetery Road. |
| August 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | Several large trees were blown down along Highway 8, between Ladysmith, and the town of Tony. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | A few large trees and power lines were blown down near Ladysmith, Wisconsin. |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | Large tree limb fell onto County road J. |
| October 2005 | Flash Flood | Ladysmith | - | Numerous intersections in Ladysmith were flooded with deep water, mainly on the east side of town. |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | A large tree was downed across 5th Avenue W. |
| June 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | Tree down. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | Awning torn off a house. |
| May 2001 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | Swath of hail reported from the Bruce area to 5 miles south of Ladysmith. |
| August 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | Scattered trees down throughout city. |
| August 2000 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | Golfball to baseball size hail throughout the city. Widespread windblown hail caused damage to windows, houses, vehicles. |
| July 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | Estimated winds, large trees toppled. |
| July 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | A five mile wide swath of damaging winds tracked for 20 miles through central and eastern Rusk County, downing hundreds of trees, some eighteen inches in diameter. Some trees on houses and garages. Roof partially blown off house in Ladysmith. Shed down 2 N Tony. Two unanchored mobile homes smashed 1 NE Ingram. Part of a tree in Hawkins blown 100 yards. Barn down, hangar and two aircraft destroyed 1 S Hawkins. Some shingles and soffets torn off in Hawkins. Estimated windspeed. |
| May 1998 | Tornado (F0) | Ladysmith | - | Trees knocked down, temporarily blocking two people in their home. Additional funnel cloud sightings farther east; north of Glen Flora, Hawkins and Ingram. |
| June 2025 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| July 2014 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| May 2009 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| June 2007 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| July 2005 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| July 2002 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| September 2000 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| September 2000 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| August 2000 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| August 2000 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| August 2000 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| June 1995 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| June 1995 | Hail | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
| September 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ladysmith | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Arthur | 3.9 miles | 7 | |
| Tony | 6.1 miles | 8 | |
| Conrath | 6.4 miles | 7 | |
| Thornapple | 7.1 miles | 7 | |
| Flambeau Estates | 8.1 miles | 7 | |
| Rivers Edge | 8.4 miles | 7 | |
| Bruce | 9.0 miles | 7 | |
| Imalone | 9.0 miles | 8 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Ladysmith | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1569821 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1567715. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.





