Save town Compare Needs More Love

Town guide

Sterling

A town of 724 people in Polk County, Wisconsin

Be the first to joinEarn karma for joining →

Town hallWanted · be the first Main streetWanted · be the first The libraryWanted · be the first Add a photoStart the Sterling album

1

Now in Sterling

What’s happening this week

What’s happening in Sterling?＋

Ask Comment Event Photo

From your neighbors

What’s happening

＋ Write the first post

Weather

Coming up

Upcoming events

Nothing on the calendar yet

Put the next local happening — a market, a meeting, a concert — on the map.

Add an event →

Around town

Local news

Loading local headlines…

Headlines via Google News · Articles belong to their publishers.

2

Around town

The places and views that make it Sterling

Explore places →

The Sterling album

0 of 12 shotsNeighbors document Sterling together

Town hall＋ Add Main street＋ Add The library＋ Add A local park＋ Add A favorite spot＋ Add Then & now＋ Add

Outdoors in Sterling

Parks & trails →

Map of Sterling: conserved land, trails and the top places to walk

Conserved land38%15,632 of 40,982 acres

Trails29 mi0.5 mi per sq mi

Parks & preserves6named on the map

1Governor Knowles State Forest11.3 mi of trails · 5,202 acres

2Polk County Forest-Sterling Block6.1 mi of trails · 8,602 acres

3Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway2.3 mi of trails · 691 acres

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

3

Know Sterling

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

Open the full guide →

About Sterling

Town in Wisconsin, United States

790Population

64.4 sq miArea

823 ftElevation

Sterling is a town in Polk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 724 at the 2020 census. The unincorporated communities of Cushing and Wolf Creek are located partially in the town.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP codeSign in to add

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Sterling

Health in Sterling

Compared with Wisconsin

2better than WI·8worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 22 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▼ 4 close Habits all close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

80.8%More adults treating high blood pressureWI 77.8% · better 87.6%More adults getting cholesterol checkedWI 85.9% · better 8.3%More adults with COPDWI 6.5% · worse

Care nearby

Burnett Medical CenterGrantsburg · 12.1 mi · ER · rural critical access

Northlakes--Turtle LakeTurtle Lake · 33 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP codes 54840, 54024, 54006 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Sterling →

Natural hazards in Sterling

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 30% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Sterling flood?no paid flood claims on record 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Sterling MapSterling vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Sterling →

Climate in Sterling

Full climate →

Sterling has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 4°, and about 43 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

26° / 8°Winter

55° / 33°Spring

80° / 57°Summer

56° / 37°Fall

How much snow does Sterling get?About 43 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 25, with the last in spring around May 19.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Sterling →

Libraries near Sterling

Nearest: Rush City Public LibraryRush City · 11 miles · 28 hrs a week

Famous people from SterlingWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Sterling.Meet them →

Where Sterling is

Explore map →

Locator map of Sterling — Wikimedia Commons · Map: The original uploader was Bumm13 at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0

Location map

Wisconsin · WI · Polk CountyTown boundary on OpenStreetMap →

How things work in Sterling

All explainers →

No one has written Sterling’s explainers yetKnow how one of these works here? Each explainer earns +10 karma.

Town hall & decisionsTrash, recycling & yard wasteUtilities & servicesStreets, parking & getting aroundSafety & preparednessSchools & learningParks, sports & recreationHealth & emergency care