By the 1920s, Wisconsin’s once vast forests had been reduced from more than 30 million acres to about 2 million through farm clearing and lumbering practices that left large cut-over areas. In 1927, the Wisconsin legislature passed the County Forest Reserve Law, permitting counties to acquire lands because of tax delinquency or other reasons in order to establish county forest reserves. On November 6, 1928, voters of Langlade County approved a referendum creating Wisconsin’s first county forest, leading the way for a permanent program of county forest management. The Langlade County Forest now totals over 125,000 acres, and 27 additional county forests statewide totaling nearly 2.3 million acres have helped once threatened forests become highly productive lands that support forest products and recreation industries, enhance water quality, improve wildlife environment, and ensure public enjoyment of a vital Wisconsin resource.