Menominee County, Wisconsin

Menominee County
County
Menominee Indian Tribal Offices in Keshena, Wisconsin
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°01′N88°42′W / 45.02°N 88.7°W / 45.02; -88.7
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Founded	July 3, 1959
Named for	Menominee tribe
Seat	Keshena
Largest town	Menominee
Area
• Total	365 sq mi (950 km2)
• Land	358 sq mi (930 km2)
• Water	7.4 sq mi (19 km2)  2.0%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	4,255
• Density	11.9/sq mi (4.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	8th
Website	www.co.menominee.wi.us

Menominee County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,255, ^[1] making it the least populous county in Wisconsin. Its county seat is in the community of Keshena. ^[2]

Menominee is Wisconsin's newest county, having been created in 1959 after recognition of the Menominee tribe was terminated by federal law. In 1974, the tribe regained federal recognition and restoration of most of its reservation. Today Menominee County is essentially coterminous with the boundaries of the federally recognized Menominee Indian Reservation.^{[ citation needed ]}

Menominee County is included in the Shawano, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Green Bay-Shawano, WI Combined Statistical Area.

History

The county was created from the northeastern portion of 7 townships of Shawano County and the Western 3 townships of Oconto County on July 3, 1959, in anticipation of the termination of the Menominee Indian Reservation in 1961. The reservation status was restored in 1973, and is now co-extensive with the county.

Most of the land within the county boundary is under Federal trust for the exclusive use by enrolled members of the Menominee nation. Scattered parcels that were purchased during termination, as well as many lots around the Legend Lake area in the southeastern part of the county, are the only parts of the county that are privately owned by non-Native Americans. Most of Menominee County's population consists of members of the Menominee nation. ^[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 365 square miles (950 km²), of which 358 square miles (930 km²) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km²) (2.0%) is water. ^[4] It is the second-smallest county in Wisconsin by total area.

Soils of Menominee County

Adjacent counties

• Oconto County – east
• Shawano County – south
• Langlade County – northwest

Major highways

• Highway 47 (Wisconsin)
• Highway 55 (Wisconsin)

Buses

• List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1970	2,607		—
1980	3,373		29.4%
1990	3,890		15.3%
2000	4,562		17.3%
2010	4,232		−7.2%
2020	4,255		0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [5] 1900–1990 [6] 1990–2000 [7] 2010 [8] 2020 [1]

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Menominee County

2020 census

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

Menominee County racial composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^{[9] [10]}

Race	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	447	483	10.56%	11.35%
Black or African American (NH)	19	2	0.45%	0.05%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	3,538	3,549	83.6%	83.41%
Asian (NH)	1	2	0.02%	0.05%
Pacific Islander (NH)	0	2	0.0%	0.05%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	49	81	1.16%	1.9%
Hispanic or Latino	178	136	4.21%	3.2%
Total	4,232	4,255

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,255 people, 1,400 households, and 1,064 families residing in the county. The population density was 11.9 people per square mile (4.6 people/km²). There were 2,145 housing units at an average density of 6.0 units per square mile (2.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county (including Hispanics and Latinos) was 85.6% Native American, 11.8% White, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[1]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 4,562 people, 1,345 households, and 1,065 families in the county. This total makes it the least-populated county in the state. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5.0 people/km²). There were 2,098 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km²). The racial makup of the county was 11.57% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 87.26% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 2.67%. ^[11] were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 5.0% were of German ancestry. 89.8% spoke English, 7.0% Menominee and 1.6% Hmong as their first language. At over 80% of the county's population, Menominee County has the highest percentage of Native Americans in the state of Wisconsin by far. ^[12]

Of the 1,345 households 42.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.50% were married couples living together, 26.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.80% were non-families. 16.50% of households were one person and 6.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.35 and the average family size was 3.66.

The age distribution was 38.90% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 19.50% from 45 to 64, and 8.50% 65 or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

In 2017, there were 89 births, giving a general fertility rate of 115.9 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. ^[13]

Politics

Menominee County has always been a Democratic stronghold. In every election since its creation, Menominee has been the most Democratic-leaning county in Wisconsin. No Republican has ever won even 40% of the county's vote in its history. It is one of only four counties in the entire nation that has never voted for a Republican presidential candidate, the others being Jim Hogg and Brooks counties in South Texas and Kalawao County, Hawaii.

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	278	17.48%	1,303	81.95%	9	0.57%
2016	267	20.41%	1,002	76.61%	39	2.98%
2012	179	13.00%	1,191	86.49%	7	0.51%
2008	185	12.78%	1,257	86.81%	6	0.41%
2004	288	16.84%	1,412	82.57%	10	0.58%
2000	225	18.25%	949	76.97%	59	4.79%
1996	230	17.04%	992	73.48%	128	9.48%
1992	244	21.03%	691	59.57%	225	19.40%
1988	381	26.89%	1,028	72.55%	8	0.56%
1984	392	31.84%	832	67.59%	7	0.57%
1980	302	32.26%	544	58.12%	90	9.62%
1976	324	28.88%	766	68.27%	32	2.85%
1972	355	36.37%	608	62.30%	13	1.33%
1968	179	24.19%	531	71.76%	30	4.05%
1964	78	10.74%	647	89.12%	1	0.14%

Communities

Entrance sign on WIS 47

Woods occupy most of Menominee County.

Menominee County is one of only two counties in Wisconsin with no incorporated communities, the other being Florence County.

Town

• Menominee

Census-designated places

• Keshena (county seat)
• Legend Lake
• Middle Village (partial)
• Neopit
• Zoar

Ghost town/neighborhood

• Perote

See also

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

References

1. "2020 Decennial Census: Menominee County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Paxton Hart. "The Making of Menominee County". Wisconsin Magazine of History, vol. 143, no. 3 (Spring 1960):181-189.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
6. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
7. "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 6, 2015.
8. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
9. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
10. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
12. "Wisconsin American Indian and Alaska Native Population Percentage by County". www.indexmundi.com. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
13. "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.
14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 14, 2018.

External links

• Menominee County government website
• Town of Menominee government
• Menominee County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
• Legend Lake Community

45°01′N88°42′W / 45.02°N 88.70°W / 45.02; -88.70