Kenosha County, Wisconsin

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Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Kenosha County Court House.jpg
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Kenosha County
Location in the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location in the U.S.
Founded 1850
Seat Kenosha
Largest city Kenosha
Area
 • Total 754 sq mi (1,953 km2)
 • Land 272 sq mi (704 km2)
 • Water 482 sq mi (1,248 km2), 64%
Population
 • (2010) 166,426
 • Density 612/sq mi (236/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.kenosha.wi.us

Kenosha County is a county located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 166,426.[1] Its county seat is Kenosha.[2] The county is named after the county seat.[3]

Kenosha County is included in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located on the west shore of Lake Michigan. The county has traditionally attracted newcomers from suburban Chicago, and in March 2008 the demographers of the Wisconsin Department of Administration reported that Kenosha County's improvements in roads, business's need for personnel and quality-of-life factors have contributed to a decades-long influx of Illinois transplants. Although commercial development has been greatly on the rise in the last decade, Kenosha County is very dependent on the economy of Chicago.

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 754 square miles (1,950 km2), of which 272 square miles (700 km2) is land and 482 square miles (1,250 km2) (64%) is water.[4] Although the county contains much area from Lake Michigan, it is the fourth-smallest county in Wisconsin by land area.

Major highways[edit]

Airport[edit]

Kenosha Regional Airport (KENW) serves the county and surrounding communities.

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Kenosha County
Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 10,734
1860 13,900 29.5%
1870 13,147 −5.4%
1880 13,550 3.1%
1890 15,581 15.0%
1900 21,707 39.3%
1910 32,929 51.7%
1920 51,284 55.7%
1930 63,277 23.4%
1940 63,505 0.4%
1950 75,238 18.5%
1960 100,615 33.7%
1970 117,917 17.2%
1980 123,137 4.4%
1990 128,181 4.1%
2000 149,577 16.7%
2010 166,426 11.3%
Est. 2014 168,068 [5] 1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 149,577 people, 56,057 households, and 38,455 families residing in the county. The population density was 548 people per square mile (212/km²). There were 59,989 housing units at an average density of 220 per square mile (85/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.38% White, 5.08% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.29% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. 7.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.8% were of German, 10.4% Italian, 7.9% Irish, 7.6% Polish and 7.5% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 56,057 households out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

Government[edit]

The county legislature is known as the Board of Supervisors. It consists of 23 members each elected from single member districts. The county executive is elected in a spring countywide, non-partisan vote. The district attorney, treasurer, clerk and register of deeds are elected in fall countywide, partisan elections held in presidential years, while the sheriff and clerk of circuit court are elected in fall countywide, partisan elections held in gubernatorial years.

Communities[edit]

City[edit]

Villages[edit]

Towns[edit]

Census-designated places[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Ghost towns[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2014. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  3. ^ "Here's How Iron Got Its Name". The Rhinelander Daily News. June 16, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.  open access publication - free to read
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015. 
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015. 
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015. 
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 5, 2015. 
  8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015. 
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 5, 2015. 
  10. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14. 
  • Forstall, Richard L. (editor) (1996). Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 : from the twenty-one decennial censuses. United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division. ISBN 0-934213-48-8. 

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 42°35′N 87°49′W / 42.58°N 87.81°W / 42.58; -87.81