Racine County, Wisconsin

History

The Potawatomi people occupied the area of Racine County until European settlement. The Wisconsin Territory legislature established Racine County in 1836, separating it from Milwaukee County. Racine County originally extended to Wisconsin's southern border and encompassed the land that is now Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Kenosha County was created as a separate entity in 1850.

Adjacent counties

• Milwaukee County (north)
• Ottawa County, Michigan (northeast across Lake Michigan)
• Allegan County, Michigan (southeast across Lake Michigan)
• Kenosha County (south)
• Walworth County (west)
• Waukesha County (northwest)

Demographics

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the population was 197,727. The population density was 594.4 /mi2. There were 84,490 housing units at an average density of 254.0 /mi2.

The median age was 41.1 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older.

For every 100 females there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.9 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 72.0% White, 11.8% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian,

Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 14.1% of the population.

85.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 14.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 78,959 households in the county, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.0% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Of those housing units, 6.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.7% were owner-occupied and 32.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 188,831 people, 70,819 households, and 49,856 families residing in the county. The population density was 567 /mi2. There were 74,718 housing units at an average density of 224 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 83.04% White, 10.47% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.69% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 7.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.9% were of German, 7.4% Polish and 5.5% Irish ancestry.

There were 70,819 households, of which 34.5% had children under 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

Transportation

Major highways

Railroads

• Amtrak
• Canadian National
• Canadian Pacific
• Union Pacific
• Sturtevant station

Buses

• Ryde Racine

Airports

• John H. Batten Airport (KRAC) serves the county and surrounding communities.
• Burlington Municipal Airport (KBUU) enhances county service.
• Cindy Guntly Memorial Airport (62C) enhances county service.
• Fox River Airport (96C) enhances county service.
• Sylvania Airport (C89) enhances county service.

Communities

Cities

• Burlington (partly in Walworth County)
• Racine (county seat)

Villages

• Caledonia
• Elmwood Park
• Mount Pleasant
• North Bay
• Raymond
• Rochester
• Sturtevant
• Union Grove
• Waterford
• Wind Point
• Yorkville

Towns

• Burlington
• Dover
• Norway
• Waterford

Census-designated places

• Bohners Lake (Town of Burlington)
• Browns Lake (Town of Burlington)
• Eagle Lake (Town of Dover)
• Tichigan (Town of Waterford)
• Wind Lake (Town of Norway)

Unincorporated communities

• Beaumont
• Buena Park
• Caldwell
• Cedar Park
• Eagle Lake Manor
• Eagle Lake Terrace
• Franksville
• Honey Creek (partial)
• Honey Lake (partial)
• Husher
• Ives Grove
• Kansasville
• Kneeland
• North Cape
• Raymond
• Rosewood
• Sylvania
• Union Church
• Yorkville

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

• DeNoon
• Muskego Settlement
• Raymond Center

Government

The County Board has 21 members, each elected from single-member districts in nonpartisan elections. In 1974, county voters voted in favor of a referendum to replace the appointed county administrator with an elected county executive, with the first election taking place in 1975. The County Executive is elected in nonpartisan elections taking place in the spring. The current County Executive is Ralph Malicki, who was elected in a 2024 special election following the death of County Executive Jonathan Delagrave.

Politics

Racine County has been a bellwether county, having voted for the winning presidential candidate in 28 of the last 33 elections since 1896 despite its solidly Democratic county seat, Racine, Wisconsin. The only exceptions to this were when it voted for Charles Evans Hughes in 1916, Gerald Ford in 1976, Michael Dukakis in 1988, and Donald Trump in 2020. No presidential candidate has won over 60 percent of the vote in Racine County since 1964.

References

References

1. "2020 Decennial Census: Racine County, Wisconsin". U.S. Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (January 2012). "Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI Combined Statistical Area".
4. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
5. "Unemployment in the United States".
6. (1910). "Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin at its Fifty-Seventh Annual Meeting". Wisconsin Historical Society.
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. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Racine County, Wisconsin; United States".
14. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Racine County, Wisconsin".
15. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Racine County, Wisconsin".
16. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Racine County, Wisconsin".
17. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
18. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
19. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
20. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. (2025). "County Board Supervisors".
22. (November 6, 1974). "Racine voters ok county exec.". [[Kenosha News]].
23. (2025). "Racine County Executive".
24. (December 30, 2024). "Racine County Welcomes Newly Elected County Executive Ralph Malicki".
25. Frahm, Robert A.. (April 8, 1975). "County executive dispute settled". [[Racine Journal Times.
26. Wilson, Margo. (January 20, 1982). "'Burned out,' quitting post, Berthelsen says". [[Racine Journal Times.
27. Bergstrom, Lori. (March 12, 1982). "County executive chair now occupied by Neis". [[Racine Journal Times.
28. Wilson, Margo. (May 7, 1982). "Canvass shows win by 167 ballots; Ziolkowski inauguration at 5 p.m.". [[Racine Journal Times.
29. Nickow, Marcia. (April 21, 1987). "Kornwolf acknowledges challenge as term starts". [[Racine Journal Times.
30. (April 19, 1995). "Jacobson assumes office as executive". [[Racine Journal Times.
31. Winter, Abe. (April 25, 2003). "Retired, but not reclining". [[Racine Journal Times.
32. Jones, Stephanie. (April 5, 2011). "Ladwig wins county executive race". [[Racine Journal Times.
33. Burke, Michael. (October 29, 2014). "Ladwig to lead RAMAC". [[Racine Journal Times.
34. Knapp, Aaron. (January 14, 2015). "County Board chairman appointed to replace Ladwig". [[Racine Journal Times.
35. Cole, David. (June 28, 2024). "Racine County Executive dies at 51".
36. (July 23, 2024). "Thomas E. Roanhouse Appointed as Interim Racine County Executive".
37. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".