Juneau County, Wisconsin

"Juneau County" redirects here. For the county equivalent (borough) in Alaska, see Juneau, Alaska.

Juneau County
County
Juneau County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°55′N90°07′W / 43.92°N 90.11°W / 43.92; -90.11
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Founded	1857
Named for	Solomon Juneau
Seat	Mauston
Largest city	Mauston
Area
• Total	804 sq mi (2,080 km2)
• Land	767 sq mi (1,990 km2)
• Water	37 sq mi (100 km2)  4.6%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	26,718
• Estimate  (2023)	26,594
• Density	34.8/sq mi (13.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	3rd, 7th
Website	www.co.juneau.wi.gov

Juneau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,718. ^[1] Its county seat is Mauston. ^[2]

History

Thunderbird petroglyph at Twin Bluff

Before white settlement, before loggers and explorers, the area that is now Juneau County was the home of Native Americans who left behind artifacts like the thunderbirds etched on the wall at Twin Bluffs ^[3] and the Gee's Slough mounds outside New Lisbon. ^[4]

Juneau County was established in 1857 when the Wisconsin Legislature passed legislation separating lands west of the Wisconsin River from what was then Adams County. ^[5] After a contest with neighboring New Lisbon, the county seat was established in Maugh's Town, which is known today as Mauston. The county was named after Solomon Juneau, a founder of Milwaukee. ^{[6] [7]}

In the 1970s, county officials had indicated their interest, and submitted a request to Wisconsin Power and Light Company, to build a nuclear power plant on Petenwell Lake. ^[8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 804 square miles (2,080 km²), of which 767 square miles (1,990 km²) is land and 37 square miles (96 km²) (4.6%) is water. ^[9]

Major highways

Interstate 90 Interstate 94 U.S. Highway 12 Highway 16 (Wisconsin) Highway 21 (Wisconsin) Highway 33 (Wisconsin)

Highway 58 (Wisconsin) Highway 71 (Wisconsin) Highway 80 (Wisconsin) Highway 82 (Wisconsin) Highway 173 (Wisconsin)

Railroads

• Amtrak
• Canadian National
• Canadian Pacific
• Union Pacific

Airports

• Necedah Airport (KDAF), serves the county and surrounding communities.
• Mauston–New Lisbon Union Airport (82C) enhances county service.

Adjacent counties

• Wood County - north
• Adams County - east
• Columbia County - southeast
• Sauk County - south
• Vernon County - southwest
• Monroe County - west
• Jackson County - northwest

National protected area

• Necedah National Wildlife Refuge

United States Military Posts

• Volk Field Air National Guard Base

Fort McCoy outside of Juneau county

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	8,770		—
1870	12,372		41.1%
1880	15,582		25.9%
1890	17,121		9.9%
1900	20,629		20.5%
1910	19,569		−5.1%
1920	19,209		−1.8%
1930	17,264		−10.1%
1940	18,708		8.4%
1950	18,930		1.2%
1960	17,490		−7.6%
1970	18,455		5.5%
1980	21,039		14.0%
1990	21,650		2.9%
2000	24,316		12.3%
2010	26,664		9.7%
2020	26,718		0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [10] 1790–1960 [11] 1900–1990 [12] 1990–2000 [13] 2010 [14] 2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, ^[1] the population was 26,718. The population density was 34.8 people per square mile (13.4 people/km²). There were 14,441 housing units at an average density of 18.8 units per square mile (7.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.9% White, 2.1% Black or African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.7% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Juneau County

As of the census ^[15] of 2000, there were 24,316 people, 9,696 households, and 6,699 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12 people/km²). There were 12,370 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.61% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.2% were of German, 9.9% Irish, 8.8% Norwegian, 6.5% Polish and 5.8% English ancestry.

There were 9,696 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

In 2017, there were 282 births, giving a general fertility rate of 72.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 12th highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Of these, only 2 of the births occurred at home. ^[16] Additionally, there were 16 reported induced abortions performed on women of Juneau County residence in 2017, a figure higher than the records for the preceding four years. ^[17]

Communities

10 sided barn south of Mauston

Welcome sign on WIS 173

Cities

• Elroy
• Mauston (county seat)
• New Lisbon
• Wisconsin Dells (mostly in Columbia County, Adams County, and Sauk County)

Villages

• Camp Douglas
• Hustler
• Lyndon Station
• Necedah
• Union Center
• Wonewoc

Towns

• Armenia
• Clearfield
• Cutler
• Finley
• Fountain
• Germantown
• Kildare
• Kingston
• Lemonweir
• Lindina
• Lisbon
• Lyndon
• Marion
• Necedah
• Orange
• Plymouth
• Seven Mile Creek
• Summit
• Wonewoc

Unincorporated communities

• Cloverdale
• Cutler
• Finley
• Indian Heights
• Kelly
• Lemonweir
• Lindina
• Lone Rock
• Mather
• Meadow Valley
• New Miner
• Orange Mill
• Sprague

Politics

United States presidential election results for Juneau County, Wisconsin ^[18]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	9,525	65.45%	4,854	33.35%	174	1.20%
2020	8,749	63.82%	4,746	34.62%	214	1.56%
2016	7,130	60.76%	4,073	34.71%	532	4.53%
2012	5,411	45.75%	6,242	52.78%	174	1.47%
2008	5,148	44.65%	6,186	53.65%	196	1.70%
2004	6,473	52.29%	5,734	46.32%	172	1.39%
2000	4,910	48.05%	4,813	47.10%	495	4.84%
1996	3,226	35.13%	4,331	47.17%	1,625	17.70%
1992	4,051	36.85%	4,177	38.00%	2,765	25.15%
1988	4,869	56.21%	3,734	43.11%	59	0.68%
1984	5,629	63.62%	3,152	35.62%	67	0.76%
1980	5,591	55.14%	3,884	38.30%	665	6.56%
1976	4,242	46.73%	4,512	49.71%	323	3.56%
1972	4,833	60.19%	2,943	36.65%	254	3.16%
1968	3,828	53.60%	2,595	36.33%	719	10.07%
1964	2,976	39.33%	4,583	60.57%	8	0.11%
1960	4,997	60.60%	3,238	39.27%	11	0.13%
1956	5,135	67.58%	2,428	31.96%	35	0.46%
1952	5,978	73.22%	2,163	26.49%	23	0.28%
1948	3,793	55.71%	2,889	42.43%	127	1.87%
1944	4,733	61.97%	2,857	37.41%	47	0.62%
1940	5,268	60.51%	3,354	38.53%	84	0.96%
1936	3,084	37.83%	4,544	55.74%	524	6.43%
1932	2,018	29.37%	4,723	68.75%	129	1.88%
1928	3,777	57.74%	2,708	41.40%	56	0.86%
1924	1,917	31.10%	403	6.54%	3,844	62.36%
1920	4,385	81.22%	774	14.34%	240	4.45%
1916	2,292	58.65%	1,442	36.90%	174	4.45%
1912	1,322	41.48%	1,236	38.78%	629	19.74%
1908	2,454	57.59%	1,691	39.69%	116	2.72%
1904	3,234	70.11%	1,244	26.97%	135	2.93%
1900	2,914	63.35%	1,586	34.48%	100	2.17%
1896	2,832	61.49%	1,671	36.28%	103	2.24%
1892	1,945	47.11%	1,978	47.91%	206	4.99%

Juneau County was long considered a bellwether in presidential elections. From 1964 through 2016, the winning candidate has carried the county in every presidential election. However, this trend ended in 2020 when the county was again won by Donald Trump by an even larger margin than he had won it in 2016, despite his nationwide defeat to Joe Biden.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Juneau County, Wisconsin

References

1. "2020 Decennial Census: Juneau County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Twin Bluff". Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
4. Birmingham, Robert A.; Leslie E. Eisenberg (2000). Indian Mounds of Wisconsin . Madison, Wisc.: University of Wisconsin Press. p.  204. ISBN   9780299168742.
5. Wisconsin Acts. 1856. Ch. 130 Approved October 13, 1856. Went into effect January 1, 1857.
6. Juneau County - Home Retrieved February 25, 2015.
7. Stennett, William H. (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. Juneau County, State of Wisconsin.
8. Jaeger, Richard W. (February 15, 1973). "Juneau Officials Seek A-Plant". The Wisconsin State Journal. pp. Section 4, Page 1.
9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
12. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
13. "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 5, 2015.
14. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
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". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
17. 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
18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 10, 2020.

Further reading

• Biographical History of La Crosse, Monroe and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin . Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

External links

• Juneau County government website
• Juneau County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
• Juneau County Economic Development website
• Juneau County Health and Demographic Data
• Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Juneau County Archived August 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Documentary produced by PBS Wisconsin