County GIS · State lines · October 19, 2026
Minnesota–Wisconsin Border Counties and Their Parcel Maps
All 24 counties on the Minnesota–Wisconsin line, with seats, 2023 populations and a link to each official parcel map, plus what changes at the state line.
Looking for the counties on the Minnesota–Wisconsin border and their parcel maps? According to the Census Bureau's county adjacency file, 12 Minnesota counties touch 12 Wisconsin counties along the line. Each one keeps its own property records and its own parcel viewer, so land near the line often means checking two counties in two states.
A farm, hunting tract or lake lot can sit in one state while the road, the neighbors or the rest of the property are in the other. This page lists every county that touches the line on either side, with links to each official parcel map.
Minnesota–Wisconsin border at a glance
- Counties on the line: 24 (12 in Minnesota, 12 in Wisconsin)
- With a verified public parcel viewer in our directory: 24 of 24
- Residents, 2023 estimates: about 1,206,962 on the Minnesota side and 483,170 on the Wisconsin side
- Most populous on each side: Dakota County, MN (447,440) and La Crosse County, WI (120,486)
- Largest by land area: St. Louis County, MN (6,248 sq mi) and Bayfield County, WI (1,478 sq mi)
Minnesota counties on the line
| County | Seat | Land (sq mi) | 2023 pop. | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton County | Carlton | 861 | 36,825 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Chisago County | Center City | 415 | 58,535 | county web map |
| Cook County | Grand Marais | 1,453 | 5,639 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Dakota County | Hastings | 563 | 447,440 | county web map |
| Goodhue County | Red Wing | 757 | 48,035 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| Houston County | Caledonia | 552 | 18,582 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Lake County | Two Harbors | 2,109 | 10,855 | county web map |
| Pine County | Pine City | 1,411 | 30,197 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| St. Louis County | Duluth | 6,248 | 200,514 | county web map |
| Wabasha County | Wabasha | 523 | 21,683 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Washington County | Stillwater | 385 | 278,936 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| Winona County | Winona | 626 | 49,721 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
Wisconsin counties on the line
| County | Seat | Land (sq mi) | 2023 pop. | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland County | Ashland | 1,045 | 16,079 | WinGIS Xtreme |
| Bayfield County | Washburn | 1,478 | 16,769 | county web map |
| Buffalo County | Alma | 676 | 13,419 | WinGIS Xtreme |
| Burnett County | Siren | 822 | 17,092 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Douglas County | Superior | 1,304 | 44,264 | WinGIS Xtreme |
| La Crosse County | La Crosse | 452 | 120,486 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| Pepin County | Durand | 232 | 7,441 | WinGIS Xtreme |
| Pierce County | Ellsworth | 574 | 43,026 | county web map |
| Polk County | Balsam Lake | 914 | 45,762 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| St. Croix County | Hudson | 722 | 96,763 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| Trempealeau County | Whitehall | 733 | 30,899 | county web map |
| Vernon County | Viroqua | 792 | 31,170 | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
Which counties face each other
Here is who borders whom across the line, based on the Census Bureau adjacency file:
- Carlton County, MN borders Douglas County, WI
- Chisago County, MN borders Burnett County, WI, Polk County, WI
- Cook County, MN borders Ashland County, WI
- Dakota County, MN borders Pierce County, WI
- Goodhue County, MN borders Pepin County, WI, Pierce County, WI
- Houston County, MN borders La Crosse County, WI, Vernon County, WI
- Lake County, MN borders Ashland County, WI, Bayfield County, WI, Douglas County, WI
- Pine County, MN borders Burnett County, WI, Douglas County, WI
- St. Louis County, MN borders Douglas County, WI
- Wabasha County, MN borders Buffalo County, WI, Pepin County, WI
- Washington County, MN borders Pierce County, WI, Polk County, WI, St. Croix County, WI
- Winona County, MN borders Buffalo County, WI, La Crosse County, WI, Trempealeau County, WI
What changes when you cross the line
- Different viewers. On the Minnesota side the official maps run on: Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) (6); county web map (4); ArcGIS Experience Builder (2). On the Wisconsin side: WinGIS Xtreme (4); county web map (3); Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) (3); ArcGIS Experience Builder (1); ArcGIS Web AppBuilder (1). Search boxes, parcel ID formats and the details shown in pop-ups will differ.
- Different records offices. Deeds, plats and tax bills are kept by the county where the parcel sits.
- Different rules. Zoning, septic permits and property tax are set locally and by each state, so check with the county on the side where you plan to build or buy.
Researching a tract that crosses the line
- Find the parcel in both counties' viewers. Each side will show only its own piece, with its own parcel number.
- Pull the recorded deed from each county's register or recorder, since each county records only the land inside its own boundary.
- Expect two tax bills, one from each county, and check each state's rules for homestead or farm exemptions.
- For a sale, a fence or a building permit, hire a licensed surveyor familiar with the line; tax-map lines are drawings, not surveys.
A quick way to check which side a spot is on
Tap the spot on the Platbookmapper Land Map. Its land report names the county and links straight to that county's parcel viewer, plus FEMA flood, USGS elevation, USDA soil and wetland results.
Related guides
More: Minnesota counties · Wisconsin counties
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file, used for which counties share the line.
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files, 2020 county land area.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2023 (July 1, 2023 estimates)
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 19, 2026) for each county's official parcel viewer.
- County seats: Wikidata (county seat property), cross-checked against Census place names.