[4] Originally, in 1848 it was named La Pointe County, Wisconsin.

Cable Union Airport (FAA LID: 3CU) serves Bayfield County and the surrounding communities.

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 15,013 people, 6,207 households, and 4,276 families living in the county.

The racial makeup of the county was 88.46% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 9.39% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races.

23.3% were of German, 10.4% Norwegian, 8.4% Swedish, 6.1% Irish, 5.9% Polish, 5.7% Finnish and 5.0% English ancestry.

26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

[13] Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Bayfield County residence in 2017.