Jefferson County, Wisconsin

Jefferson County, Wisconsin
County
Jefferson County Courthouse
Jefferson County Courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Jefferson County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Coordinates: 43°01′N 88°47′W / 43.02°N 88.78°W / 43.02; -88.78
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1839
Named afterThomas Jefferson
SeatJefferson
Largest cityWatertown
Area
 • Total
583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land556 sq mi (1,440 km2)
 • Water26 sq mi (67 km2)  4.5%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
84,900
 • Estimate 
(2025)
86,505 Increase
 • Density153/sq mi (59.0/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

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 was named after Watertown, New York, in Jefferson County.

Geography

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

Railroads

Buses

Airports

  • Watertown Municipal Airport (KRYV) provides services for the county and surrounding communities.
  • Fort Atkinson Municipal Airport (61C), enhances county service.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

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%
2025 (est.)86,505[7] Increase1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010[12] 2020[1]

Racial and ethnic composition

Jefferson County, Wisconsin – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[13] Pop 1990[14] Pop 2000[15] Pop 2010[16] Pop 2020[17] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 64,761 65,969 69,765 75,903 73,325 97.90% 97.32% 94.25% 90.70% 86.37%
Black or African American alone (NH) 105 188 184 628 864 0.16% 0.28% 0.25% 0.75% 1.02%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 106 170 216 212 206 0.16% 0.25% 0.29% 0.25% 0.24%
Asian alone (NH) 174 278 323 551 646 0.26% 0.41% 0.44% 0.66% 0.76%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [18] x [19] 13 13 19 x x 0.02% 0.02% 0.02%
Other race alone (NH) 117 18 30 57 202 0.18% 0.03% 0.04% 0.07% 0.24%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [20] x [21] 459 767 2,570 x x 0.62% 0.92% 3.03%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 889 1,160 3,031 5,555 7,068 1.34% 1.71% 4.09% 6.64% 8.33%
Total 66,152 67,783 74,021 83,686 84,900 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 84,900, a population density of 152.6 people per square mile (58.9 people/km2), and 36,376 housing units at an average density of 65.4 units per square mile (25.3 units/km2).[22][23]

The median age was 41.0 years; 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.9 males age 18 and over.[23]

There were 33,844 households in the county, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.7% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23]

The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.4% from some other race, and 5.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.3% of the population.[22]

55.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 44.5% lived in rural areas.[24]

Of the 36,376 housing units, 7.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.2% were owner-occupied and 28.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%.[23]

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Jefferson County

2010 census

As of the census[25] 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.[26]

The Dwight Foster Public Library, which serves as the resource library for the county,[27] had a total service population of 19,095 in 2010.[28] It is a member of the Bridges Library System.

Government

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. The County Board elects a chairman, vice-chairman, and second vice-chairman.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Jefferson County, Wisconsin[29]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1892 2,679 35.37% 4,661 61.53% 235 3.10%
1896 4,344 52.61% 3,504 42.44% 409 4.95%
1900 3,729 46.25% 4,127 51.18% 207 2.57%
1904 3,669 47.67% 3,778 49.09% 249 3.24%
1908 3,207 40.43% 4,492 56.63% 233 2.94%
1912 1,926 27.43% 4,381 62.40% 714 10.17%
1916 3,785 49.57% 3,645 47.73% 206 2.70%
1920 8,865 80.38% 1,844 16.72% 320 2.90%
1924 4,250 31.22% 1,374 10.09% 7,987 58.68%
1928 8,612 57.29% 6,305 41.94% 116 0.77%
1932 5,062 30.78% 11,230 68.28% 156 0.95%
1936 5,599 32.32% 11,144 64.33% 581 3.35%
1940 10,178 56.02% 7,842 43.16% 149 0.82%
1944 10,245 59.16% 6,988 40.35% 84 0.49%
1948 8,244 52.42% 7,256 46.13% 228 1.45%
1952 13,884 66.93% 6,827 32.91% 32 0.15%
1956 13,357 67.02% 6,452 32.37% 122 0.61%
1960 14,133 61.64% 8,757 38.19% 39 0.17%
1964 8,741 39.58% 13,295 60.20% 48 0.22%
1968 12,478 54.97% 8,716 38.40% 1,504 6.63%
1972 14,621 59.47% 9,303 37.84% 663 2.70%
1976 15,528 53.89% 12,577 43.65% 707 2.45%
1980 16,174 53.91% 11,335 37.78% 2,491 8.30%
1984 17,780 61.77% 10,788 37.48% 216 0.75%
1988 14,309 54.32% 11,816 44.86% 217 0.82%
1992 13,072 39.85% 11,593 35.34% 8,137 24.81%
1996 12,681 42.59% 13,188 44.29% 3,905 13.12%
2000 19,204 53.20% 15,203 42.11% 1,692 4.69%
2004 23,776 56.45% 17,925 42.56% 414 0.98%
2008 21,096 48.87% 21,448 49.69% 622 1.44%
2012 23,517 53.11% 20,158 45.52% 606 1.37%
2016 23,417 54.32% 16,569 38.44% 3,123 7.24%
2020 27,208 56.71% 19,904 41.48% 867 1.81%
2024 28,771 57.37% 20,574 41.03% 801 1.60%

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.

Communities

Grandstands at the county fairgrounds in Jefferson
Sign at fairgrounds

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Education

School districts (all K-12) include:[30]

  • Cambridge School District
  • Edgerton School District
  • Fort Atkinson School District
  • Jefferson School District
  • Johnson Creek School District
  • Kettle Moraine School District
  • Lake Mills Area School District
  • Oconomowoc Area School District
  • Palmyra-Eagle Area School District
  • Waterloo School District
  • Watertown School District
  • Whitewater School District

See also

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

References

  1. ^ a b c "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. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  10. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 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 5, 2015.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  13. ^ "1980 General Population Characteristics - Wisconsin - Table 15: Persons by Race and Table 16: Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race". United States Census Bureau – via Internet Archive.
  14. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Wisconsin - Table 3: Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 23-111. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  15. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Jefferson County, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jefferson County, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jefferson County, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  19. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  20. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  21. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  22. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  23. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  24. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  25. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "Jefferson County Library Service". Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  28. ^ "Wisconsin Public Library Service Data, 2010" (PDF). Department of Public Instruction. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012.
  29. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  30. ^ "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
Wikimedia Commons logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jefferson County, Wisconsin.

43°01′N 88°47′W / 43.02°N 88.78°W / 43.02; -88.78

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.