Washington County, Wisconsin

Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,887.[1] Its county seat is West Bend.[2] The county was created from Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and organized in 1845.[3] It was named after President George Washington.[4]

For counties with a similar name, see Washington County (disambiguation).
Washington County
U.S. county
Washington County courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°22′N 88°14′W
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1836
Named forGeorge Washington
SeatWest Bend
Largest cityWest Bend
Area
 • Total436 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Land431 sq mi (1,120 km2)
 • Water5.0 sq mi (13 km2)  1.2%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total131,887
 • Estimate 
(2019)
136,034
 • Density300/sq mi (120/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.co.washington.wi.us

Washington County is part of the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 436 square miles (1,130 km2), of which 431 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 5.0 square miles (13 km2) (1.2%) is water.[5] It is the fifth-smallest county in Wisconsin by total area.

Major highways
  • Interstate 41
  • U.S. Highway 41
  • U.S. Highway 45
  • Highway 28 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 33 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 60 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 83 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 144 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 145 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 164 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 167 (Wisconsin)
  • Highway 175 (Wisconsin)

Airports

Hartford Municipal Airport (KHXF) and West Bend Municipal Airport (KETB) serve the county and surrounding communities.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1840343—
185019,4855,580.8%
186023,62221.2%
187023,9191.3%
188023,442−2.0%
189022,751−2.9%
190023,5893.7%
191023,7840.8%
192025,7138.1%
193026,5513.3%
194028,4307.1%
195033,90219.2%
196046,11936.0%
197063,83938.4%
198084,84832.9%
199095,32812.4%
2000117,49323.3%
2010131,88712.3%
2019 (est.)136,034[6]3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2019[1]
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Washington County

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 117,493 people, 43,842 households, and 32,749 families residing in the county. The population density was 273 people per square mile (105/km2). There were 45,808 housing units at an average density of 106 per square mile (41/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.69% White, 0.40% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 1.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 59.9% were of German, 6.3% Polish and 5.5% Irish ancestry. 95.5% spoke English, 2.0% German and 1.7% Spanish as their first language.

There were 43,842 households, out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.70% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

Communities
Sign on WIS 28 marking the county boundary

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Government

The County Executive is Josh Schoemann, a Republican who is the 1st County Executive, with the office having been established in 2020.

Politics

Like most other suburban counties surrounding Milwaukee (the "WOW counties"), Washington County is a Republican stronghold. Since 1940, the county has been won by the Republican presidential candidate in every election except 1964, as is the case in neighboring Ozaukee and Waukesha counties. Additionally, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter are the only Democratic presidential candidates since the 1936 election to have crossed the 40 percent mark.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 68.4% 60,237 30.3% 26,650 1.3% 1,183'
2016 67.4% 51,740 27.2% 20,852 5.4% 4,165
2012 69.6% 54,765 29.4% 23,166 1.0% 811
2008 64.1% 47,729 34.6% 25,719 1.3% 963
2004 69.9% 50,641 29.3% 21,234 0.8% 592
2000 67.0% 41,162 29.5% 18,115 3.5% 2,135
1996 53.0% 25,829 35.2% 17,154 11.9% 5,784
1992 45.4% 22,739 26.6% 13,339 28.0% 13,995
1988 60.0% 24,328 39.2% 15,907 0.8% 304
1984 65.5% 25,279 33.6% 12,966 0.9% 328
1980 58.8% 23,213 32.8% 12,944 8.4% 3,314
1976 55.2% 18,798 42.3% 14,422 2.5% 850
1972 56.8% 15,338 38.6% 10,434 4.6% 1,229
1968 55.0% 12,439 35.8% 8,104 9.2% 2,088
1964 44.2% 9,191 55.6% 11,563 0.2% 37
1960 57.3% 11,452 42.6% 8,523 0.1% 16
1956 72.9% 12,167 26.7% 4,447 0.4% 69
1952 73.8% 12,626 26.0% 4,440 0.2% 34
1948 59.5% 6,876 38.9% 4,495 1.7% 194
1944 69.4% 8,921 29.9% 3,840 0.7% 86
1940 63.5% 8,501 35.0% 4,683 1.5% 196
1936 29.7% 3,589 59.0% 7,129 11.4% 1,374
1932 20.1% 2,209 78.0% 8,570 1.9% 206
1928 41.1% 4,163 57.6% 5,827 1.3% 132
1924 24.4% 1,987 12.1% 980 63.5% 5,164
1920 76.8% 5,949 17.1% 1,328 6.1% 471
1916 50.3% 2,892 47.5% 2,732 2.2% 125
1912 38.3% 1,799 51.6% 2,425 10.2% 478
1908 48.5% 2,588 49.2% 2,625 2.2% 119
1904 52.0% 2,565 45.5% 2,243 2.5% 125
1900 50.2% 2,614 48.5% 2,524 1.3% 65
1896 53.2% 2,877 44.4% 2,404 2.4% 128
1892 39.0% 1,700 60.3% 2,624 0.7% 30

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. "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  4. "Winnebago Took Its Name from an Indian Tribe". The Post-Crescent. December 28, 1963. p. 14. Retrieved August 25, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

Further reading

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