Waupaca County takes its name from a river, whose Indian appellation has been variously interpreted. It is said to mean "white sand bottom" - Legler, Wis. Place Names., p. 35; and "pale water," or "to-morrow river" - Wis. Hist. Colls., iii, p. 487.

Description from John W. Hunt's 1853 Wisconsin Gazetteer: "WAUPACCA, County, is bounded on the north and northeast by Oconto, on the east by Outagamie, on the south by Winnebago and Waushara, and on the west by Portage. It was set off from Winnebago and established February 17, 1851, and attached thereto for judicial purposes. It is watered by the Wolf, Waupacca, Wabunk, Embarrass and Little Wolf rivers, and contains some of the best pine timber in the State. It being new, but little is known of its agricultural capacities. The county seat is at Mukwa, on Wolf river. Waupacca county belongs to the fourth judicial circuit, to the second senate and third congressional district, and with Outagamie and Oconto, sends one member to the assembly."

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[Source: Kellogg, Louise Phelps. "Derivation of County Names" in Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for 1909, pages 219-231.]