Trempealeau County, Wisconsin

Trempealeau County (/ˈtrɛm.pə.loʊ/, TREM-pə-loh) is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,816.[1] Its county seat is Whitehall.[2] Many people of Polish, Norwegian and German descent live in this area.

Trempealeau County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°18′N 91°21′W
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1855
Named forTrempealeau River
SeatWhitehall
Largest cityArcadia
Area
 • Total742 sq mi (1,920 km2)
 • Land733 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Water9.0 sq mi (23 km2)  1.2%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total28,816
 • Estimate 
(2019)
29,649
 • Density39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.tremplocounty.com

History

Patches of woodland are all that remain of the brush and light forest that once covered the county. In ancient times, the woodlands contained a great deal of timber, but Native Americans burned them periodically to encourage the growth of berries. They did little cultivation and had been almost completely removed from the area by 1837.[3]

French fur traders were the first Europeans to enter this land, traveling by river across the county. At the mouth of the Trempealeau River at its confluence with the Mississippi River, they found a bluff surrounded by water and called it La Montagne qui trempe à l’eau ("mountain steeped in water"). It is now known as Trempealeau Mountain.[4][5] The name was later shortened to Trempealeau.[6] Created in 1854 and organized in 1855,[7] the county is named after the river.[8]

During the 19th and 20th century large numbers of Norwegian immigrants settled in the area in pursuit of cheap land, a better life and more opportunities. Much of the population is still of Norwegian descent and celebrate their ancestry by making foods native to Norway and participating in Norwegian Constitution Day events.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 742 square miles (1,920 km2), of which 733 square miles (1,900 km2) is land and 9.0 square miles (23 km2) (1.2%) is water.[9] It is part of the Driftless Zone.

Adjacent counties

Major highways
  • Interstate 94
  • U.S. Highway 10
  • U.S. Highway 53
  • Highway 35 (Wisconsin)

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18602,560—
187010,732319.2%
188017,18960.2%
189018,92010.1%
190023,11422.2%
191022,928−0.8%
192024,5066.9%
193023,910−2.4%
194024,3812.0%
195023,730−2.7%
196023,377−1.5%
197023,344−0.1%
198026,15812.1%
199025,263−3.4%
200027,0106.9%
201028,8166.7%
2018 (est.)29,649[10]2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2019[1]
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Trempealeau County

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 27,010 people, 10,747 households, and 7,243 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 inhabitants per square mile (14/km2). There were 11,482 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.81% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 43.5% were of Norwegian, 24.6% German and 17.0% Polish ancestry. 94.9% spoke English, 1.6% Norwegian and 1.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 10,747 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.

In 2017, there were 450 births, giving a general fertility rate of 93.1 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the third highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[16]

  • Fairgrounds in Galesville
  • Entrance sign to Trempealeau County in the Town of Ettrick
  • The Cow Farm, Trempealeau County

Communities

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 57.5% 8,828 40.9% 6,283 1.6% 248
2016 53.8% 7,366 41.2% 5,636 5.0% 685
2012 42.3% 5,707 56.4% 7,605 1.3% 169
2008 36.1% 4,808 62.5% 8,321 1.4% 185
2004 41.8% 5,878 57.4% 8,075 0.8% 109
2000 41.1% 5,002 54.9% 6,678 4.0% 488
1996 28.1% 3,035 54.2% 5,848 17.7% 1,911
1992 27.5% 3,577 47.8% 6,218 24.7% 3,217
1988 43.9% 4,902 55.6% 6,212 0.6% 61
1984 52.2% 6,008 47.0% 5,407 0.7% 85
1980 49.5% 5,992 44.5% 5,390 5.9% 719
1976 45.6% 5,341 53.1% 6,218 1.4% 163
1972 56.7% 5,723 41.9% 4,232 1.4% 140
1968 50.7% 4,861 41.4% 3,971 7.9% 757
1964 34.0% 3,264 65.9% 6,320 0.1% 5
1960 51.4% 5,539 48.5% 5,223 0.2% 19
1956 54.3% 5,476 45.6% 4,602 0.2% 16
1952 61.6% 6,501 38.1% 4,021 0.3% 26
1948 43.1% 3,650 55.7% 4,711 1.2% 102
1944 51.1% 4,719 48.7% 4,496 0.3% 27
1940 50.3% 5,319 48.9% 5,175 0.8% 85
1936 34.0% 3,339 60.3% 5,929 5.7% 564
1932 32.8% 2,874 66.1% 5,786 1.1% 99
1928 65.0% 5,596 34.4% 2,963 0.6% 54
1924 31.3% 2,083 5.6% 373 63.1% 4,208
1920 84.2% 4,748 12.7% 718 3.0% 170
1916 56.0% 2,138 41.4% 1,578 2.6% 99
1912 44.7% 1,763 31.3% 1,235 24.1% 950
1908 75.3% 3,733 21.9% 1,085 2.8% 139
1904 75.5% 3,560 20.8% 981 3.7% 172
1900 71.2% 3,364 25.2% 1,190 3.6% 169
1896 67.7% 3,306 28.5% 1,394 3.8% 186
1892 53.5% 2,116 38.5% 1,521 8.0% 315

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gamroth, 1976, p. 5, 87
  4. "Trempealeau County Marking 100th Anniversary on Sunday". The Winona Republican-Herald. January 23, 1954. p. 5. Retrieved October 14, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Judge Gale Led Legislative Drive to Recognize Area". The Winona Republican-Herald. January 23, 1954. p. 5. Retrieved October 14, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Elkins, 1985, p.1
  7. "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  8. "Winnebago Took Its Name from an Indian Tribe". The Post-Crescent. December 28, 1963. p. 14. Retrieved August 25, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  13. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables
  17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

Further reading

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