The Durand area was first settled in 1856 when 21-year-old Miles Durand Prindle came up the river in a keel boat named the "Dutch Lady," and took government land on the site of the present city.

Originally named Bear Creek,[5] Durand was incorporated on April 12, 1887.

35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

[13] The ratio of PCPs per 100,000 population in Durand is 20.8 compared to the Wisconsin statewide average of 75.6.

[14] Despite a hospital and two primary care clinics, Durand is located in both a mental health and primary care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)[15] qualifying the area as a medical desert.

By the year 2035, Durand is expected to have a 36% deficit in primary care physicians.

During the early 1950s, consolidation of schools in Durand and environs resulted in some Catholic institutions serving as public schools, causing controversy and protests from Protestant residents based on the principle of "separation of church and state".