Winnebago County, Wisconsin

Last updated

Winnebago County
County
WinnebagoCountyWisconsinCourthouse.jpg
Winnebago County Courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Winnebago County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin in United States.svg
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°04′N88°38′W / 44.06°N 88.64°W / 44.06; -88.64
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Wisconsin.svg  Wisconsin
Founded1848
Named for Winnebago people
Seat Oshkosh
Largest cityOshkosh
Area
 • Total
579 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Land434 sq mi (1,120 km2)
 • Water144 sq mi (370 km2)  25%
Population
 (2020) [1]
 • Total
171,730
 • Estimate 
(2023)
171,735 Increase2.svg
 • Density395.1/sq mi (152.5/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 6th, 8th
Website www.co.winnebago.wi.us

Winnebago County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 171,730. Its county seat is Oshkosh. [2] It was named for the historic Winnebago people, a federally recognized Native American tribe now known as the Ho-Chunk Nation. Chief Oshkosh was a Menominee leader in the area. Winnebago County comprises the Oshkosh-Neenah, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI Combined Statistical Area.

Contents

History

The region was occupied by several Native American tribes in the period of European encounter, including the Sauk, Fox, Menominee, and Ojibwa (known as Chippewa in the US). French traders from what is now Canada had early interaction with them, as did French Jesuit missionaries, who sought to convert them to Catholicism. European and American settlement encroached on their traditional territories, and the United States negotiated treaties in the mid-19th century to keep pushing the Indians to the west.

Winnebago County was created in 1840 by European Americans and organized in 1848. [3] The name Winnebago is of Algonquin origin, with variations used by the Fox and Potowatomi to refer to the Fox River below Lake Winnebago, which sometimes got muddy and full of fish. [4] It means 'people dwelling by the fetid or ill-smelling water', which may also refer to a sulfur spring. [5] The county seat, Oshkosh, was incorporated as a city in 1853, when it already had a population of nearly 2,800. [6]

Chief Oshkosh was the namesake for the county seat. A leader of the Menominee in the region, he was successful in gaining authorization from the federal government for 2500 of his people to remain in Wisconsin, at a time when the government was pushing for their removal west of the Mississippi River.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 579 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 434 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 144 square miles (370 km2) (25%) is water. [7]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Railroads

Buses

Airports

Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) serves the county and surrounding communities.

Brennand Airport (79C) in the Town of Clayton is a major recreational aircraft hub year-round.

Commercial airline service for Winnebago County is provided by Appleton International Airport in the neighboring Outagamie County.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1840 135—
1850 10,1677,431.1%
1860 23,770133.8%
1870 37,27956.8%
1880 42,74014.6%
1890 50,09717.2%
1900 58,22516.2%
1910 62,1166.7%
1920 63,8972.9%
1930 76,62219.9%
1940 80,5075.1%
1950 91,10313.2%
1960 107,92818.5%
1970 129,93120.4%
1980 131,7031.4%
1990 140,3206.5%
2000 156,76311.7%
2010 166,9946.5%
2020 171,7302.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790–1960 [9] 1900–1990 [10]
1990–2000 [11] 2010–2020 [12]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, [1] the population was 171,730. The population density was 395.1 people per square mile (152.5 people/km2). There were 76,046 housing units at an average density of 174.9 units per square mile (67.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.2% White, 3.3% Asian, 3.0% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.8% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 4.8% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Winnebago County USA Winnebago County, Wisconsin age pyramid.svg
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Winnebago County

2000 census

As of the census [13] of 2000, there were 156,763 people, 61,157 households, and 39,568 families residing in the county. The population density was 357 people per square mile (138 people/km2). There were 64,721 housing units at an average density of 148 units per square mile (57 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.92% White, 1.12% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.4% were of German, 6.2% Irish and 5.7% Polish ancestry. 94.6% spoke English, 2.5% Spanish and 1.0% Hmong as their first language.

There were 61,157 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.30% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.

By age, 23.80% of the population was under 18, 11.80% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males.

In 2017, there were 1,833 births, giving a general fertility rate of 56.5 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 15th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. [14] Additionally, there were 123 reported induced abortions performed on women of Winnebago County residence in 2017. [15]

Government

Winnebago County is governed by the 36-member Winnebago County Board of Supervisors. Supervisors are elected to the board in a nonpartisan election held the first Tuesday of April in even numbered years and serve two-year terms. The board has several committees. It meets on the third Tuesday of each month at the Winnebago County Courthouse in Oshkosh.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Winnebago County, Wisconsin [16] [17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 49,17951.57%44,66046.83%1,5321.61%
2020 47,79650.83%44,06046.86%2,1762.31%
2016 43,44549.86%37,04742.52%6,6437.62%
2012 42,12247.24%45,44950.97%1,6021.80%
2008 37,94643.28%48,16754.94%1,5641.78%
2004 46,54252.53%40,94346.21%1,1111.25%
2000 38,33050.38%33,98344.67%3,7674.95%
1996 27,88042.73%29,56445.31%7,80311.96%
1992 33,70943.56%27,23435.19%16,44321.25%
1988 35,08554.82%28,50844.54%4100.64%
1984 39,01462.74%22,79136.65%3780.61%
1980 34,28653.28%24,20337.61%5,8649.11%
1976 32,14955.35%24,48542.16%1,4482.49%
1972 29,48857.28%20,45039.72%1,5443.00%
1968 25,36153.84%18,60539.50%3,1386.66%
1964 21,08447.03%23,63652.72%1150.26%
1960 28,59861.72%17,65638.11%800.17%
1956 28,75971.44%11,11527.61%3800.94%
1952 28,17268.17%13,01631.49%1400.34%
1948 17,16555.18%13,11642.16%8292.66%
1944 19,31059.56%12,84139.61%2690.83%
1940 18,69754.14%15,57045.08%2680.78%
1936 11,67936.93%18,52258.57%1,4204.49%
1932 11,50541.31%15,59155.98%7562.71%
1928 16,19161.10%9,99537.72%3151.19%
1924 11,23948.70%1,8017.80%10,03843.50%
1920 12,03569.53%3,39719.63%1,87610.84%
1916 5,92350.49%5,24244.69%5664.82%
1912 1,92217.01%4,63141.00%4,74341.99%
1908 6,79752.24%5,51142.36%7035.40%
1904 7,72062.63%4,00632.50%6004.87%
1900 7,46755.67%5,60541.78%3422.55%
1896 7,89859.23%5,08938.17%3472.60%
1892 5,35445.06%5,89349.60%6355.34%

Winnebago County has become a swing county in recent decades. It has voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election since 1980, except in 1992 when it supported George Bush, and in 2020, when it supported Donald Trump.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

Notable people

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census: Winnebago County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  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. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Winnebago", Dictionary.com
  5. ↑ "Winnebago Took Its Name from an Indian Tribe". The Post-Crescent. December 28, 1963. p. 14. Retrieved August 25, 2014– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. ↑ City of Oshkosh. About Us.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  10. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  11. ↑ "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 9, 2015.
  12. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ 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
  16. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  17. ↑ In 1912, the leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 4,098 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 478 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 146 votes, and Independent candidate Arthur Reimer received 21 votes.
  18. ↑ "Madison, Martin". Political Graveyard. Retrieved December 21, 2013.

Further reading

44°04′N88°38′W / 44.06°N 88.64°W / 44.06; -88.64

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