Black Earth at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 1,448 residents, ranking 309th of 605 places in Wisconsin (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,493 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.0% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 309th of 605 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 49% of Wisconsin places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.1346, -89.7474 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Mazomanie, WI (4 mi); Cross Plains, WI (5 mi); Mount Horeb, WI (9 mi); Sauk City, WI (10 mi); Prairie du Sac, WI (11 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: Arena, WI (8 mi); Blue Mounds, WI (9 mi); Barneveld, WI (11 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Black Earth
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Black Earth
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Black Earth
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Black Earth:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.