The other “O.C.”

Boasting 1100 lakes and four seasons of outdoor beauty, it’s no wonder the official tagline for Oneida County is “Where nature lingered longer.” Add to that the fact that there’s recreational experiences available every month of the year and you have a place you wondered why you haven’t visited before. Oneida County has one of the largest concentrations of freshwater lakes in the world. In addition, in Oneida County you'll find unspoiled acres for all of your leisure needs. Quite simply, Oneida County is a place to go to satisfy all your spare time desires.

Oneida County is located in the north central portion of Wisconsin. This county was originally part of Lincoln County, until it was became independent in 1885. The name "Oneida" comes from the name of a tribe of New York State Iroquois who relocated to Wisconsin in the 19 th century.

What can you do here?

Depending on the season, you can do just about anything in Oneida County. Recreation and tourism are the major industries in the area.

Here are just some activities to enjoy every season

Fall: Fishing, hunting, hiking, golfing, walking, biking, enjoying spectacular colors, Beef-a-rama…

Winter: Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, Minocqua Winter Park…

Spring: Walking on the the many hiking trails, birdwatching, three-wheeling, biking…

Summer: Fishing, boating, golf (30 golf courses in the area!), tennis, swimming, biking, wilderness cruises, Hodag Country Festival, getting out your jet skis, tubing, dozens of interesting sights and places to visit for the whole family…

Other activities include arts festivals, community and professional theater, festivals celebrating just about everything, recreational events, educational events for the whole family, and local heritage festivals.

You'll find numerous places to shop in Oneida County. Flea markets abound, and there are hundreds of shops where you can purchase antiques, everyday essentials, gifts, art, and jewelry.

As you can see, there are plenty of things to do and see in Oneida County, whether you visit, or choose to live in this gorgeous area of Wisconsin.

How do you get here?

You can easily access Oneida County via state and local highways. There is a private airport near Minocqua, and a larger airport ,The Rhinelander/Oneida County Airport for commercial air service.

 Living in Oneida County

Housing is affordable Oneida County. Nearly 80% of the population owns their homes, with the median value of owner-occupied homes at over $106,000.

All year long: incredible dining, unique places to shop, not to mention the many places you can stay!

Oneida County Facts:
Population in 2000: approximately 37,000
Area: around 1,125 square miles
County seat:Rhinelander
Number of lakes: about 1100
Snowmobile trails: over 1,500 miles of snowmobile trails
Some communities in Oneida County: Minocqua, Woodruff, Rhinelander, Newbold, Pine Lake, Stella, Sugar Camp, Three Lakes, Harshaw, Woodboro, Crescent, Lake Tomahawk, Hazelhurst.

Weather:
Average winter daytime temperature: 18 ° F
Average summer Daytime temperature: 81 ° F
Average snowfall: 65 inches
Average rainfall: 24 inches

Native plants and trees include:
White and red pines, birch, maple, hemlock

Wildlife:
If you are observant, you might see bald eagles, black bear, wolves, foxes, fishers, and of course, whitetail dear.

Oneida County has an abundant population of fish including walleye, northern pike, bass, crappie, yellow perch, bluegill, walleye, and musky, as well as many species of panfish.

Enjoy your stay in Oneida County – you'll be glad you came to "the other O.C."

Oneida County Government website