Rock County, Wisconsin

Rock County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 160,331.[1] Its county seat is Janesville.[2]

Rock County
U.S. county
Rock County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°40′N 89°04′W
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1839
Named forRock River
SeatJanesville
Largest cityJanesville
Area
 • Total726 sq mi (1,880 km2)
 • Land718 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Water8.0 sq mi (21 km2)  1.1%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total160,331
 • Estimate 
(2019)
163,354
 • Density220/sq mi (85/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts1st, 2nd
Websitewww.co.rock.wi.us

Rock County comprises the Janesville-Beloit, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Madison-Janesville-Beloit, WI Combined Statistical Area.

History

Rock County was created in 1836 as a territorial county on December 7, 1836 from Milwaukee County and fully organized February 19, 1839.[3] The county is named for the Rock River, which bisects the county from north to south.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 726 square miles (1,880 km2), of which 718 square miles (1,860 km2) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km2) (1.1%) is water.[5]

Cook Memorial Arboretum, a natural area with birding and nature trails, is located northwest of Janesville. It is owned by the Janesville School District.[6]

Transportation

Major highways

Airport

Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (KJVL) serves Rock County and the surrounding communities.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18401,701—
185020,7501,119.9%
186036,69076.8%
187039,0306.4%
188038,823−0.5%
189043,22011.3%
190051,20318.5%
191055,5388.5%
192066,15019.1%
193074,20612.2%
194080,1738.0%
195092,77815.7%
1960113,91322.8%
1970131,97015.9%
1980139,4205.6%
1990139,5100.1%
2000152,3079.2%
2010160,3315.3%
2019 (est.)163,354[7]1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2019[1]
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Rock County

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 152,307 people, 58,617 households, and 40,387 families residing in the county. The population density was 211 people per square mile (82/km2). There were 62,187 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile (33/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.01% white, 4.63% black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.77% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. 3.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.8% were of German, 13.0% Norwegian, 10.1% Irish, 7.5% English and 5.5% American ancestry.

There were 58,617 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.50% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

Politics

Hillary Clinton carried the county in 2016, but it was the smallest margin of victory since Michael Dukakis in 1988.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 43.5% 37,138 54.7% 46,658 1.8% 1,564
2016 41.4% 31,493 51.7% 39,339 6.9% 5,242
2012 37.8% 30,517 61.0% 49,219 1.2% 954
2008 34.6% 27,364 63.8% 50,529 1.6% 1,276
2004 41.2% 33,151 57.9% 46,598 0.9% 730
2000 39.0% 27,467 57.5% 40,472 3.5% 2,465
1996 33.3% 20,096 53.8% 32,450 12.9% 7,774
1992 31.8% 21,942 45.1% 31,154 23.1% 15,929
1988 48.4% 28,178 50.8% 29,576 0.8% 434
1984 54.8% 32,491 44.6% 26,433 0.7% 410
1980 50.6% 30,960 40.4% 24,740 9.0% 5,482
1976 49.0% 28,325 48.6% 28,048 2.4% 1,389
1972 58.0% 30,361 40.2% 21,033 1.8% 925
1968 51.0% 25,229 41.6% 20,567 7.5% 3,697
1964 41.9% 20,372 58.0% 28,257 0.1% 55
1960 60.6% 29,675 39.2% 19,194 0.2% 76
1956 67.4% 28,980 32.2% 13,834 0.4% 173
1952 64.6% 27,837 35.3% 15,183 0.1% 45
1948 50.7% 17,068 47.9% 16,150 1.4% 474
1944 52.2% 18,477 47.4% 16,766 0.4% 133
1940 53.2% 20,141 46.3% 17,543 0.6% 214
1936 43.6% 14,693 53.3% 17,991 3.1% 1,045
1932 56.1% 16,825 42.0% 12,612 1.9% 571
1928 70.8% 21,497 28.7% 8,726 0.5% 161
1924 60.9% 14,815 6.0% 1,453 33.1% 8,052
1920 83.5% 16,152 12.7% 2,447 3.8% 738
1916 61.1% 7,011 35.0% 4,015 3.9% 451
1912 43.2% 4,276 30.6% 3,032 26.1% 2,587
1908 66.8% 7,839 27.5% 3,227 5.7% 668
1904 71.7% 7,972 21.1% 2,348 7.3% 807
1900 70.0% 8,249 26.2% 3,094 3.8% 447
1896 67.5% 8,282 29.8% 3,655 2.8% 340
1892 55.2% 6,052 38.6% 4,231 6.1% 673

Tree cities
  • Beloit
  • Clinton
  • Edgerton
  • Evansville
  • Janesville

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  4. "Rock County, origin of place name" Dictionary of Wisconsin History.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  6. Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail. Cook Memorial Arboretum.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

Further reading

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