[2] By the early 1800s, the land and streams that are now Clark County were the hunting grounds of Chippewa, Dakota, Ho-Chunk and possibly Menominee peoples.

From there the sawed wood would be floated down the river to be used in construction of the Mormon temple in Nauvoo, Illinois.

They had camps on the river at what is called Mormon Riffle, a mile below Neillsville, near Weston's Rapids, and south of Greenwood.

This project probably ended by 1846, when most of the Mormons headed west after the murder of Joseph Smith.

[4] In June 1845, James and Henry O'Neill led a party overland from Black River Falls, cutting a road up through the brush, with a wagon of tools and supplies pulled by oxen.

Not all was good, as a storm in June 1847 flooded the Black River and took out all mills then existing.

It was the last built of a network of 35 county mental hospitals in Wisconsin, providing long-term care for patients who were unlikely to recover.

Over the years the institution's mission has shifted from "custodial asylum" to "treatment hospital," to skilled nursing facility.

54.0% were of German, 9.0% Polish, 6.2% Norwegian and 6.1% United States or American ancestry.

23.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.