New Richmond tornado destroys Wisconsin town

Background. New Richmond, Wisconsin, was established by Hiram Foster, who built a sawmill on the Willow River, attracting settlers from New England. By 1899, the town had approximately 2,000 residents. On June 12, 1899, the Gollmar Brothers Circus drew hundreds of visitors to the town, increasing the population present during the disaster.

Storm Characteristics. The tornado formed in the early evening of Monday, June 12, 1899. It was estimated as an F5 on the original Fujita scale, with winds exceeding 200 miles per hour. The storm created a 45-mile-long path of destruction through St. Croix, Polk, and Barron counties, with a damage path width of 400–500 yards.

Impact and Casualties. Over half of New Richmond was left in ruins. The tornado killed 117 people, 111 of whom died in New Richmond alone. More than 125 people were injured, and over 1,500 were left homeless. The estimated damage was $18 million. As of 2019, it ranked as the ninth deadliest tornado in U.S. history.