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Jefferson County, Wisconsin

Coordinates: 43°01′N 88°47′W / 43.02°N 88.78°W / 43.02; -88.78
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Jefferson County
County
autoJefferson County courthouse
autoJefferson County courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Jefferson County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°01′N 88°47′W / 43.02°N 88.78°W / 43.02; -88.78
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1839
Named forThomas Jefferson
SeatJefferson
Largest cityWatertown
Area
 • Total583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land556 sq mi (1,440 km2)
 • Water26 sq mi (70 km2)  4.5%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total84,900
 • Estimate 
(2023)
85,743 Increase
 • Density150/sq mi (56/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.jeffersoncountywi.gov

Jefferson County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 84,900.[1] Its county seat is Jefferson.[2] Jefferson County comprises the Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI Combined Statistical Area.

History

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Jefferson County was created in 1836 as part of Wisconsin Territory and was organized in 1839.[3] Jefferson County was founded by "Yankee" settlers from New England.[4] It was named after Jefferson County, New York, where some of the original settlers came from.[5] The town of Watertown, Wisconsin, was named after Watertown, New York, in Jefferson County, New York.

Geography

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Soils of Jefferson County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 583 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 556 square miles (1,440 km2) is land and 26 square miles (67 km2) (4.5%) is water.[6]

Major highways

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Railroads

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Buses

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Airports

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1840914—
185015,3171,575.8%
186030,43898.7%
187034,04011.8%
188032,156−5.5%
189033,5304.3%
190034,7893.8%
191034,306−1.4%
192035,0222.1%
193036,7855.0%
194038,8685.7%
195043,06910.8%
196050,09416.3%
197060,06019.9%
198066,15210.1%
199067,7832.5%
200074,0219.2%
201083,68613.1%
202084,9001.5%
2023 (est.)85,7431.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[1]

As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 84,900. The population density was 152.6 people per square mile (58.9 people/km2). There were 36,376 housing units at an average density of 65.4 units per square mile (25.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 3.4% from other races, and 5.8% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 8.3% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Jefferson County

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 83,686 people, 32,117 households, and 21,872 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 people per square mile (51 people/km2). There were 30,092 housing units at an average density of 54 units per square mile (21 units/km2). The county's racial makeup was 96.34% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 4.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 55.1% were of German, 6.1% Norwegian, 6.0% Irish and 5.1% American ancestry.

There were 28,205 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

In 2017, there were 861 births, giving a general fertility rate of 53.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the eleventh lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[13]

The Dwight Foster Public Library, which serves as the resource library for the county,[14] had a total service population of 19,095 in 2010.[15] It is a member of the Bridges Library System.

Government

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The County Board of Supervisors, with 30 members, serves as the legislative body for the county. There are seven elected officials in addition to the County Board of Supervisors. County-wide partisan elections are held in November. The County Board's members are elected for two-year terms during a spring non-partisan election. The County Board is responsible for the county administrator.[clarification needed] The County Board elects a chairman, vice-chairman, and second vice-chairman.

Politics

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Jefferson County has been primarily Republican since 1940. Only three Democratic presidential candidates have won the county since then, in 1964, 1996, and 2008. Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 is the last Democratic Party candidate to win a majority of the county's votes.

United States presidential election results for Jefferson County, Wisconsin[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 27,208 56.71% 19,904 41.48% 867 1.81%
2016 23,417 54.32% 16,569 38.44% 3,123 7.24%
2012 23,517 53.11% 20,158 45.52% 606 1.37%
2008 21,096 48.87% 21,448 49.69% 622 1.44%
2004 23,776 56.45% 17,925 42.56% 414 0.98%
2000 19,204 53.20% 15,203 42.11% 1,692 4.69%
1996 12,681 42.59% 13,188 44.29% 3,905 13.12%
1992 13,072 39.85% 11,593 35.34% 8,137 24.81%
1988 14,309 54.32% 11,816 44.86% 217 0.82%
1984 17,780 61.77% 10,788 37.48% 216 0.75%
1980 16,174 53.91% 11,335 37.78% 2,491 8.30%
1976 15,528 53.89% 12,577 43.65% 707 2.45%
1972 14,621 59.47% 9,303 37.84% 663 2.70%
1968 12,478 54.97% 8,716 38.40% 1,504 6.63%
1964 8,741 39.58% 13,295 60.20% 48 0.22%
1960 14,133 61.64% 8,757 38.19% 39 0.17%
1956 13,357 67.02% 6,452 32.37% 122 0.61%
1952 13,884 66.93% 6,827 32.91% 32 0.15%
1948 8,244 52.42% 7,256 46.13% 228 1.45%
1944 10,245 59.16% 6,988 40.35% 84 0.49%
1940 10,178 56.02% 7,842 43.16% 149 0.82%
1936 5,599 32.32% 11,144 64.33% 581 3.35%
1932 5,062 30.78% 11,230 68.28% 156 0.95%
1928 8,612 57.29% 6,305 41.94% 116 0.77%
1924 4,250 31.22% 1,374 10.09% 7,987 58.68%
1920 8,865 80.38% 1,844 16.72% 320 2.90%
1916 3,785 49.57% 3,645 47.73% 206 2.70%
1912 1,926 27.43% 4,381 62.40% 714 10.17%
1908 3,207 40.43% 4,492 56.63% 233 2.94%
1904 3,669 47.67% 3,778 49.09% 249 3.24%
1900 3,729 46.25% 4,127 51.18% 207 2.57%
1896 4,344 52.61% 3,504 42.44% 409 4.95%
1892 2,679 35.37% 4,661 61.53% 235 3.10%

Communities

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Grandstands at the county fairgrounds in Jefferson
Sign at fairgrounds

Cities

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Villages

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Education

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School districts (all K-12) include:[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census: Jefferson County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. 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 14, 2015.
  4. ^ Jefferson County Historic Alliance (1999). Jefferson county, Wisconsin. Charleston, SC: Arcadia. ISBN 978-0-7385-0307-3. OCLC 44807135.
  5. ^ "Term: Jefferson County [origin of place name] Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine" in Dictionary of Wisconsin History.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 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 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  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. ^ "Jefferson County Library Service". Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  15. ^ "Wisconsin Public Library Service Data, 2010" (PDF). Department of Public Instruction. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  17. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jefferson County, WI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022. - Text list
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43°01′N 88°47′W / 43.02°N 88.78°W / 43.02; -88.78

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