Pepin County, Wisconsin

History

Pepin County was formed in the year 1858 from portions of neighboring Dunn County. Both the town of Pepin (originally named North Pepin in 1856), and the village of Pepin were named after Lake Pepin, a broadening of the Mississippi River between Pepin County and the Counties of Goodhue and Wabasha in the state of Minnesota. The lake itself is likely named for one or more of the Pepin families from the French Canadian city of Trois-Rivières in Quebec, Canada. Several Pepins appear in the early records, including the senior figure Guillaume dit Tranchemontagne and his descendants Pierre and Jean Pepin du Chardonnets. One or both of the latter may have accompanied Daniel Greysolon, the Sieur du Lhut, from Montreal to what is now Duluth, Minnesota, in 1679. Exactly when the body of water was first named Pepin is not known, but the name has been used as early as 1700, making it by far one of the oldest recorded place names in Wisconsin. The name was well accepted by the mid-1760s when Jonathan Carver wrote in his journal, "Arrived at Lake Pepin called by some Lake St. Anthony."

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 249 sqmi, of which 232 sqmi is land and 17 sqmi (6.7%) is water. It is the smallest county in Wisconsin by land area.

Adjacent counties

• Pierce County – northwest
• Dunn County – north
• Eau Claire County – east
• Buffalo County – south
• Wabasha County, Minnesota – southwest
• Goodhue County, Minnesota – west

Major highways

• [[Image:US 10.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 10
• [[Image:WIS 25.svg|20px]] Highway 25 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 35.svg|20px]] Highway 35 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 85.svg|20px]] Highway 85 (Wisconsin)

Railroads

• BNSF

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 2024

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,318. The population density was 31.5 /mi2. There were 3,573 housing units at an average density of 15.4 /mi2.

The median age was 46.2 years. 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.2 males age 18 and over.

There were 3,085 households in the county, of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.6% were married-couple households, 19.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 18.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,573 housing units, of which 13.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.6% were owner-occupied and 20.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.

The racial makeup of the county was 94.3% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian,

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,213 people, 2,759 households, and 1,934 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 /mi2. There were 3,036 housing units at an average density of 13 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.90% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.6% were of German, 13.5% Norwegian, 9.9% Austrian and 6.8% Swedish ancestry. 95.2% spoke English and 3.4% German as their first language.

There were 2,759 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.20 males.

Vital statistics

In 2017, there were 41 births, giving a general fertility rate of 79.6 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the fifth highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Additionally, there were no reported induced abortions performed on women of Pepin County residence in 2017.

Government and politics

County Board of Supervisors

Pepin County has a 12-member board of supervisors.

Presidential elections

Prior to the election of Donald Trump in 2016, the last time Pepin County voted for the Republican candidate was in 1972, when voters backed President Richard Nixon (R) over George McGovern (D). Since 2016, Pepin County has continued shifting to the right in each election.

• Note: In 1924, Progressive candidate Robert M. La Follette Sr. came in second in Pepin County, receiving 33.59% of the vote (737 votes).

Communities

City

• Durand (county seat)

Villages

• Pepin
• Stockholm

Towns

• Albany
• Durand (town)
• Frankfort
• Lima
• Pepin
• Stockholm
• Waterville
• Waubeek

Census-designated place

• Arkansaw

Unincorporated communities

• Barry Corner
• Devils Corner
• Ella
• Hawkins Corner
• Lakeport
• Lima
• Lund
• Porcupine
• Tarrant

File:PepinCounty.jpg|Pepin County panorama, west of Durand

References

References

1. "Lewis County, Missouri".
2. "2020 Decennial Census: Pepin County, Wisconsin". U.S. Census Bureau.
3. [http://www.misspronouncer.com/ MissPronouncer.com: A HALFWAY DECENT AUDIO PRONUNCIATION GUIDE FOR WISCONSIN]
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. Callary, Edward. (2016). "Place Names of Wisconsin". University of Wisconsin Press.
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
9. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
10. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
14. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
15. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables".
17. [https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p45360-17.pdf Reported Induced Abortions in Wisconsin], Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013-2017, Table 18, pages 17-18
18. [http://www.co.pepin.wi.us/cogovt/supervisors.php Pepin County Board of Supervisors] {{webarchive. link. (June 25, 2012 Retrieved April 15, 2011.)
19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
20. Sullivan, Robert David; [http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventional-wisdom/how-red-and-blue-map-evolved-over-past-century ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’]; ''America Magazine'' in ''The National Catholic Review''; June 29, 2016
21. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".