Columbia County, Wisconsin

Columbia County
County
Columbia County courthouse in December 2014
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°28′N89°20′W / 43.47°N 89.33°W / 43.47; -89.33
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Founded	1846
Named for	Christopher Columbus
Seat	Portage
Largest city	Portage
Area
• Total	796 sq mi (2,060 km2)
• Land	766 sq mi (1,980 km2)
• Water	30 sq mi (80 km2)  3.8%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	58,490
• Estimate  (2023)	58,091
• Density	76.4/sq mi (29.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	www.co.columbia.wi.us

Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,490. ^[2] Its county seat and largest city is Portage. ^[3] The county was created in 1846 ^[4] as part of Wisconsin Territory.

Columbia County is part of the Madison, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Madison-Janesville-Beloit, WI Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 796 square miles (2,060 km²), of which 766 square miles (1,980 km²) is land and 30 square miles (78 km²) (3.8%) is water. ^[5] The county's highest point is in the Baraboo Range, near Durward's Glen at 1,480 feet above sea level. ^[6]

Major highways

• Interstate 39
• Interstate 90
• Interstate 94
• U.S. Highway 51
• U.S. Highway 151
• Highway 13
• Highway 16
• Highway 22
• Highway 23
• Highway 33
• Highway 44
• Highway 60
• Highway 73
• Highway 78
• Highway 89
• Highway 113
• Highway 127
• Highway 146
• Highway 188

Railroads

• Amtrak
• Wisconsin and Southern Railroad
• Canadian Pacific
• Union Pacific
• Columbus station
• Portage station
• Wisconsin Dells station

Airports

• 94C - Gilbert Field airport serves the county and surrounding communities.
• C47 - Portage Municipal Airport supports the county.

Adjacent counties

• Marquette County – north
• Green Lake County – northeast
• Dodge County – east
• Dane County – south
• Sauk County – west
• Juneau County – northwest
• Adams County – northwest

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	9,565		—
1860	24,441		155.5%
1870	28,802		17.8%
1880	28,065		−2.6%
1890	28,350		1.0%
1900	31,121		9.8%
1910	31,129		0.0%
1920	30,468		−2.1%
1930	30,503		0.1%
1940	32,517		6.6%
1950	34,023		4.6%
1960	36,708		7.9%
1970	40,150		9.4%
1980	43,222		7.7%
1990	45,088		4.3%
2000	52,468		16.4%
2010	56,833		8.3%
2020	58,490		2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9] 1990–2000 [10] 2010–2020 [2]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, ^[1] the population was 58,490. The population density was 76.4 people per square mile (29.5 people/km²). There were 26,565 housing units at an average density of 34.7 units per square mile (13.4 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.9% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 1.3% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.7% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Columbia County

Columbia County Law Enforcement Center

Columbus, Wisconsin

Doylestown Wisconsin Municipal Building

As of the census ^[11] of 2000, there were 52,468 people, 20,439 households, and 14,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile (26 people/km²). There were 22,685 housing units at an average density of 29 units per square mile (11 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.18% White, 0.88% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 46.4% were of German, 10.2% Norwegian, 7.8% Irish, 6.4% English and 5.0% United States or American ancestry.

There were 20,439 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.40 males.

In 2017, there were 602 births, giving a general fertility rate of 63.9 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 35th highest out of all 72 Wisconsin Counties. ^[12] Additionally, there were 63 reported induced abortions performed on women of Columbia County residence, with a rate of 6.7 abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44, which is above the Wisconsin average rate of 5.2. ^[13]

Communities

Cities

• Columbus (partly in Dodge County)
• Lodi
• Portage (county seat)
• Wisconsin Dells (partly in Adams County, Juneau County, and Sauk County)

Villages

• Arlington
• Cambria
• Doylestown
• Fall River
• Friesland
• Pardeeville
• Poynette
• Randolph (mostly in Dodge County)
• Rio
• Wyocena

Towns

• Arlington
• Caledonia
• Columbus
• Courtland
• Dekorra
• Fort Winnebago
• Fountain Prairie
• Hampden
• Leeds
• Lewiston
• Lodi
• Lowville
• Marcellon
• Newport
• Otsego
• Pacific
• Randolph
• Scott
• Springvale
• West Point
• Wyocena

Census-designated places

• Lake Wisconsin (partial)

Unincorporated communities

• Anacker
• Belle Fountain
• Dekorra
• Durwards Glen
• East Friesland
• Englewood
• Harmony Grove
• Ingle
• Keyeser
• Leeds
• Leeds Center
• Lewiston
• Lowville
• Marcellon
• North Leeds
• Okee
• Otsego

Ghost town/neighborhood

• Moe Settlement

Politics

United States presidential election results for Columbia County, Wisconsin ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	17,988	51.52%	16,388	46.94%	538	1.54%
2020	16,927	49.98%	16,410	48.45%	532	1.57%
2016	14,163	47.69%	13,528	45.55%	2,007	6.76%
2012	13,026	42.64%	17,175	56.23%	345	1.13%
2008	12,193	41.65%	16,661	56.92%	418	1.43%
2004	14,956	50.60%	14,300	48.38%	299	1.01%
2000	11,987	46.85%	12,636	49.38%	964	3.77%
1996	8,377	38.92%	10,336	48.03%	2,808	13.05%
1992	9,099	37.94%	9,348	38.98%	5,537	23.09%
1988	10,475	53.09%	9,132	46.28%	123	0.62%
1984	11,662	58.52%	8,125	40.77%	140	0.70%
1980	10,478	49.90%	8,715	41.51%	1,803	8.59%
1976	10,075	50.63%	9,457	47.52%	368	1.85%
1972	10,122	58.02%	7,083	40.60%	242	1.39%
1968	8,633	52.60%	6,698	40.81%	1,083	6.60%
1964	6,253	38.20%	10,093	61.66%	24	0.15%
1960	10,282	60.94%	6,576	38.97%	15	0.09%
1956	10,120	66.01%	5,158	33.65%	52	0.34%
1952	11,133	67.78%	5,272	32.10%	20	0.12%
1948	6,406	52.64%	5,615	46.14%	148	1.22%
1944	7,867	56.50%	5,997	43.07%	60	0.43%
1940	8,260	53.68%	7,021	45.63%	106	0.69%
1936	5,607	37.25%	8,936	59.36%	511	3.39%
1932	4,970	36.43%	8,455	61.98%	216	1.58%
1928	7,615	60.70%	4,819	38.41%	111	0.88%
1924	4,724	40.41%	907	7.76%	6,059	51.83%
1920	7,394	83.25%	1,201	13.52%	287	3.23%
1916	3,395	57.52%	2,299	38.95%	208	3.52%
1912	2,463	42.55%	2,473	42.73%	852	14.72%
1908	4,072	60.12%	2,363	34.89%	338	4.99%
1904	4,730	67.53%	1,907	27.23%	367	5.24%
1900	4,763	65.71%	2,181	30.09%	305	4.21%
1896	4,845	63.57%	2,380	31.23%	397	5.21%
1892	3,314	49.26%	2,957	43.95%	457	6.79%

For most of its history, Columbia County voters have backed the Republican Party candidate in national elections. Prior to 1992, the only times Republicans failed to win the county in the preceding 100 years of presidential elections were in the midst of a divided party vote in 1912, in 1924 when Wisconsinite Robert La Follette was on the ballot, and in the national Democratic Party landslides of 1932, 1936, & 1964. From 1992 onward, the county has been a swing county, voting for the statewide winner in all presidential elections since then except in 2004 and 2020, and voting for the national winner in all except 2000 and 2020. Republican Donald Trump won narrow pluralities in the county in 2016 and 2020, although a majority of county residents supported Democrat Tammy Baldwin's re-election to the United States Senate in 2018.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbia County, Wisconsin
• List of counties in Wisconsin

References

1. "2020 Decennial Census: Columbia County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
6. Wisconsin High Points. Wisconsin State Cartographer's Office.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
12. "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
13. 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
14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

Further reading

• The History of Columbia County, Wisconsin . Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880.
• Memorial and Biographical Record and Illustrated Compendium of Biography ... of Columbia, Sauk and Adams counties, Wisconsin... . Chicago: Geo. A. Ogle, 1901.

External links

• Columbia County government website
• Columbia County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation

43°28′N89°20′W / 43.47°N 89.33°W / 43.47; -89.33