Jefferson County, Wisconsin

History

Jefferson County was created in 1836 as part of Wisconsin Territory and was organized in 1839. Jefferson County was founded by "Yankee" settlers from New England. It was named after Jefferson County, New York, where some of the original settlers came from. The town of Watertown was named after Watertown, New York, in Jefferson County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 583 sqmi, of which 556 sqmi is land and 26 sqmi (4.5%) is water.

Major highways

• [[Image:I-94.svg|20px]] Interstate 94
• [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 12
• [[Image:US 18.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 18
• [[Image:WIS 16.svg|20px]] Wisconsin Highway 16
• [[Image:WIS 19.svg|20px]] Wisconsin Highway 19
• [[Image:WIS 26.svg|20px]] Wisconsin Highway 26
• [[Image:WIS 59.svg|20px]] Wisconsin Highway 59
• [[Image:WIS 89.svg|20px]] Wisconsin Highway 89
• [[Image:WIS 106.svg|20px]] Wisconsin Highway 106
• [[Image:WIS 134.svg|20px]] Wisconsin Highway 134

Railroads

• Amtrak
• Canadian Pacific
• Union Pacific
• Wisconsin and Southern Railroad

Buses

Airports

• Watertown Municipal Airport (KRYV) provides services for the county and surrounding communities.
• Fort Atkinson Municipal Airport (61C), enhances county service.

Adjacent counties

• Dodge County - north
• Waukesha County - east
• Walworth County - southeast
• Rock County - southwest
• Dane County - west

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 84,900, a population density of 152.6 /mi2, and 36,376 housing units at an average density of 65.4 /mi2.

The median age was 41.0 years; 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.9 males age 18 and over.

There were 33,844 households in the county, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.7% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian,

55.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 44.5% lived in rural areas.

Of the 36,376 housing units, 7.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.2% were owner-occupied and 28.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 83,686 people, 32,117 households, and 21,872 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 /mi2. There were 30,092 housing units at an average density of 54 /mi2. The county's racial makeup was 96.34% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 4.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 55.1% were of German, 6.1% Norwegian, 6.0% Irish and 5.1% American ancestry.

There were 28,205 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

In 2017, there were 861 births, giving a general fertility rate of 53.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the eleventh lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.

The Dwight Foster Public Library, which serves as the resource library for the county, had a total service population of 19,095 in 2010. It is a member of the Bridges Library System.

Government

The County Board of Supervisors, with 30 members, serves as the legislative body for the county. There are seven elected officials in addition to the County Board of Supervisors. County-wide partisan elections are held in November. The County Board's members are elected for two-year terms during a spring non-partisan election. The County Board is responsible for the county administrator. The County Board elects a chairman, vice-chairman, and second vice-chairman.

Politics

Jefferson County has been primarily Republican since 1940. Only three Democratic presidential candidates have won the county since then, in 1964, 1996, and 2008. Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 is the last Democratic Party candidate to win a majority of the county's votes.

Communities

Cities

• Fort Atkinson
• Jefferson (county seat)
• Lake Mills
• Waterloo
• Watertown (partly in Dodge County)
• Whitewater (mostly in Walworth County)

Villages

• Cambridge (mostly in Dane County)
• Johnson Creek
• Lac La Belle (mostly in Waukesha County)
• Palmyra
• Sullivan

Towns

• Aztalan
• Cold Spring
• Concord
• Farmington
• Hebron
• Ixonia
• Jefferson
• Koshkonong
• Lake Mills
• Milford
• Oakland
• Palmyra
• Sullivan
• Sumner
• Waterloo
• Watertown

Census-designated places

• Hebron
• Helenville
• Ixonia
• Lake Koshkonong
• Lake Ripley
• Rome

Unincorporated communities

• Aztalan
• Blackhawk Island
• Busseyville
• Carcajou
• Cold Spring
• Concord
• Ebenezer
• Farmington
• Glenn Oaks Beach
• Heath Mills
• Hoopers Mill
• Hubbleton
• Jefferson Junction
• Koshkonong (partial)
• Koshkonong Manor
• Koshkonong Mounds
• Kroghville
• Lake Lac La Belle
• London (partial)
• Maranatha Baptist University (College Campus)
• Milford
• North Shore
• Oakland
• Pipersville
• Portland (partial)
• Slabtown
• Sylvan Mounds
• Vinnie Ha Ha

Education

School districts (all K-12) include:

• Cambridge School District
• Edgerton School District
• Fort Atkinson School District
• Jefferson School District
• Johnson Creek School District
• Kettle Moraine School District
• Lake Mills Area School District
• Oconomowoc Area School District
• Palmyra-Eagle Area School District
• Waterloo School District
• Watertown School District
• Whitewater School District

References

References

1. "2020 Decennial Census: Jefferson County, Wisconsin". U.S. Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (2007). "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". [[Newberry Library.
4. Jefferson County Historic Alliance. (1999). "Jefferson county, Wisconsin". Arcadia.
5. link. (March 4, 2016 " in ''Dictionary of Wisconsin History''.)
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates Tables". United States Census Bureau.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
10. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
11. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables".
18. "Jefferson County Library Service".
19. "Wisconsin Public Library Service Data, 2010". Department of Public Instruction.
20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
21. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jefferson County, WI". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].