Richland Center, Wisconsin
12 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1905 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Richland Center City. It lies in ZIP code area 53581. It stands on Center Creek. The Survey maps it on the Richland Center quadrangle. 5,114 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 728 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Richland Center
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 4 records
A. D. German Warehouselisted 1974
Julia B. and Fred P. Bowen Houselisted 1996
Court Street Commercial Historic Districtlisted 1989
Richland Center City Auditoriumlisted 1980
Population over time
3 figuresRichland Center grew from 1,227 to 5,114 between 1880 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,227 | |
| 2010 | 5,184 | |
| 2020 | 5,114 | -70 (-1%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
8 surveys from 12 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.
- 1905 USGS Richland Center quadrangle1:125000, 2 printings
- 1958 USGS La Crosse quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1960 USGS Richland Center quadrangle1:62500, 3 printings
- 1961 USGS La Crosse quadrangle1:250000
- 1965 USGS La Crosse quadrangle1:250000
- 1976 USGS La Crosse quadrangle1:250000
- 1983 USGS Richland Center quadrangle1:24000
- 1985 USGS Richland Center quadrangle1:100000
Fires near this place
63 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 63 fires within 5 miles of Richland Center between 1992 and 2020, burning about 86 acres in total. None started naturally. 3 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 | 30 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 17 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 6 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 3 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 2 |
| Smoking | 2 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 1 |
| Other causes | 1 |
| Fireworks | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 September 2017 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | SHOOTING RANGE |
| 31 August 2004 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 24 August 2019 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | COUNTY Q |
| 10 July 2007 | Misuse of fire by a minor | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 9 June 1997 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 8 June 2011 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | JUNE FIRE |
| 25 June 2012 | Fireworks | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | FIRE WORKS 1 |
| 1 June 1997 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
7 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 7 workings within 5 miles of Richland Center: 3 producers, 3 unknowns, 1 past producer. 3 still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Stone, Sand and Gravel, Construction. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | ||
| Own Crews | Stone | Unknown | ||
| Own Crews | Stone | Unknown | ||
| Bethke Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Househoulder Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Motts Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Muldowney Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 61 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Richland Center in 61 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 34 thunderstorm wind, 16 hail, 3 flash flood, 3 flood. The reports record 1 death. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2007 | Flash Flood | Richland Center | 1 killed, $8,800,000 | Numerous state highways and county roads were closed and impassable due to flood waters. An estimated 75 percent of the county roads were affected including Highway 80 that was impassable with bridges buckled. Highways 56 and 58 were also impacted. At least a dozen boat rescues were needed from homes and cars. The town of Rockbridge was basically underwater. A 51-year old was swept off a bridge on Highway 60 near the intersection of Highway 80 on his way to Muscoda from Mill Creek. |
| April 2025 | Hail | Richland Center | $135,000 | The public reported golf ball sized hail 1 mile east of Richland Center. |
| August 2007 | Flood | Richland Center | $100,000 | Flooding continued along many creeks, streams and rivers. Law enforcement officials reported numerous roads and bridges were either washed out or still under water. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $60,000 | Numerous trees and powerlines were blown down across Richland Center. Two houses were damaged when trees fell on them. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $30,000 | no account filed |
| September 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $20,000 | no account filed |
| April 2018 | Hail | Richland Center | $15,000 | Up to golf ball sized hail was reported in Richland Center. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $15,000 | A tree was blown down onto a house just outside of Richland Center. |
| October 2006 | Hail | Richland Center | $15,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Flash Flood | Richland Center | $15,000 | no account filed |
| July 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $12,000 | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $10,000 | no account filed |
| September 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $8,000 | Several trees and power lines were blown down along County Highway DD. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $8,000 | no account filed |
| September 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $6,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down. |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $5,000 | South of Richland Center, buildings and trees were damaged. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $5,000 | Trees were blown down or snapped off in Richland Center including some three foot diameter trees snapped 8 to 12 feet above the ground. |
| May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $5,000 | Extensive tree damage occurred on the east side of Richland Center. |
| April 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2006 | Tornado (F0) | Richland Center | $4,500 | no account filed |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $4,000 | Trees were blown down on the north edge of Richland Center. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $3,500 | no account filed |
| May 2002 | Flash Flood | Richland Center | $3,500 | no account filed |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $3,000 | Large trees were blown on Hustlers Ridge. |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $3,000 | no account filed |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $1,500 | Trees down in town. |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $1,500 | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $1,500 | no account filed |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $1,250 | no account filed |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $1,000 | A very large tree branch was blown down just south of Richland Center. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $1,000 | Tree branches were blown down in Richland Center causing a power outage. |
| July 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $1,000 | Large tree branches were blown down in Richland Center. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $1,000 | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $1,000 | no account filed |
| May 2006 | Hail | Richland Center | $750 | no account filed |
| August 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $350 | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $250 | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | $250 | no account filed |
| April 2025 | Hail | Richland Center | - | The public reported quarter sized hail in Richland Center. The report was relayed via social media. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | - | Law enforcement reported a tree down in the city of Richland Center. |
| June 2024 | Hail | Richland Center | - | Broadcast media relayed a public report of quarter sized hail in Richland Center. |
| May 2018 | Heavy Rain | Richland Center | - | Near Richland Center, a mesonet station measured 4.8 inches of rain. |
| September 2018 | Flood | Richland Center | - | Runoff from heavy rain caused flooding along the Pine River. County Highway O was closed at County Highway OO because of this flooding. |
| September 2016 | Heavy Rain | Richland Center | - | The COOP observer north of Richland Center measured 3.68 inches of rain. |
| June 2013 | Heavy Rain | Richland Center | - | In Richland Center, 3.1 inches of rain was reported. |
| September 2012 | Hail | Richland Center | - | Hail up to the size of walnuts was reported northwest of Richland Center. |
| June 2011 | Hail | Richland Center | - | Public estimated nickel to quarter size hail in the city of Richland Center. |
| March 2007 | Funnel Cloud | Richland Center | - | no account filed |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | - | no account filed |
| October 2006 | Hail | Richland Center | - | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Hail | Richland Center | - | no account filed |
| May 2002 | Hail | Richland Center | - | no account filed |
| May 2002 | Hail | Richland Center | - | no account filed |
| April 2001 | Hail | Richland Center | - | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Hail | Richland Center | - | no account filed |
| September 2000 | Hail | Richland Center | - | no account filed |
| March 1998 | Flood | Richland Center | - | no account filed |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Richland Center | - | no account filed |
| July 1995 | Hail | Richland Center | - | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford (historical) | 4.4 miles | 12 | |
| Aubrey | 5.1 miles | 12 | |
| Ithaca | 5.6 miles | 12 | |
| Twin Bluffs | 5.7 miles | 12 | |
| Buck Creek | 6.1 miles | 12 | |
| Sextonville | 6.4 miles | 12 | |
| McGrew (historical) | 6.7 miles | 12 | |
| Neptune | 6.9 miles | 12 |
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 Richland Center | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1569965 | 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 1578616. 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.







