Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County, Wisconsin | |
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Airports | Waukesha County Airport Capitol Airport |
Website | www |
Waukesha County (/ˈwɔːkɪʃɔː/) is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 406,978, making it the third-most populous county in Wisconsin. Its county seat and largest city is Waukesha.[2]
Waukesha County is included in the Milwaukee–Waukesha–West Allis, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Known as forested and prairie land, the region was first home to Indigenous tribes like Menomonie, Ojibwe (Chippewa), Potawatomi, and Ho-Chunk (Winnebago), who practiced agriculture and trade. In 1836, Native American tribes formally lost title to the land when treaties were disregarded and were forcibly removed by the Federal Army. Prior to the 1830s, the area was unoccupied by settlers due to its inland location and the fact that the Fox River was not a water highway. The New England settlers only came to the area to set up fur trading posts between their new encampments and established cities like Milwaukee. Morris D. Cutler and Alonso Cutler, seeking claims for homesteads, were the first permanent white colonial settlers.[3][4]
The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County occupies was a part of Michigan Territory when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834.[5] On July 4, 1836, the Wisconsin Territory was formed, which included land that is now in the state of Minnesota.[5] In January 1846, part of Milwaukee County was split off into Waukesha County.[6][7] Curtis Reed was the first county chairman.[6] When a vote decided the county seat, Waukesha defeated Pewaukee by two votes.[6] The name is derived from the Potawatomi word for 'fox' because the streams in the lower part of the county drain into the Fox River.[8]
Waukesha was a
The
Geography
According to the
Waukesha County is located to the west of Milwaukee and its suburban development was spurred by the construction of Interstate 94 in Wisconsin.[11]
Lake country
Because of its large number of lakes, the northwestern corner of Waukesha County is referred to as "Lake Country" by local residents. It includes Pewaukee, Delafield, Hartland, Merton, Nashotah, Chenequa, Okauchee Lake, Oconomowoc, Summit, and Lac La Belle.
Adjacent counties
- Washington County – north
- Ozaukee County – northeast
- Milwaukee County – east
- Racine County – southeast
- Walworth County – southwest
- Jefferson County – west
- Dodge County – northwest
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 19,258 | — | |
1860 | 26,831 | 39.3% | |
1870 | 28,274 | 5.4% | |
1880 | 28,957 | 2.4% | |
1890 | 33,270 | 14.9% | |
1900 | 35,229 | 5.9% | |
1910 | 37,100 | 5.3% | |
1920 | 42,612 | 14.9% | |
1930 | 52,358 | 22.9% | |
1940 | 62,744 | 19.8% | |
1950 | 85,901 | 36.9% | |
1960 | 158,249 | 84.2% | |
1970 | 231,365 | 46.2% | |
1980 | 280,326 | 21.2% | |
1990 | 304,715 | 8.7% | |
2000 | 360,767 | 18.4% | |
2010 | 389,891 | 8.1% | |
2020 | 406,978 | 4.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14] 1990–2000[15] 2010–2020[16] |
2020 census
As of the
2010 census
At the
The age distribution was 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.
2000 census
At the
Of the 135,229 households 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 20.90% of households were one person and 8.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.08.The age distribution was 26.30% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.
The median household income was $62,839 and the median family income was $71,773 (these figures had risen to $71,907 and $85,116 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[19]). Males had a median income of $49,232 versus $31,643 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,164. About 1.7% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Elected officials
- County Executive: Paul Farrow
- County Board Chair: Paul Decker
- County Clerk: Meg Wartman (interim)
- Treasurer: Pamela F. Reeves (R)
- Register of Deeds: James Behrend (R)
- Clerk of Circuit Court: Kathy Madden (R)
- District Attorney: Susan Opper (interim)
- Sheriff: Eric Severson (R)
Departments
There are 12 departments in Waukesha County, with most located in the Administration Center.
- Administration
The Department of Administration has five divisions that provide administrative services to the county: the finance division, the human resources division, the information technology division, the purchasing and risk management division, and the administrative services division.
- Aging and Disability Resource Center
The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Waukesha County (ADRC) provides information, assistance, counseling and supportive services regarding adults age 60 and above, adults with physical or developmental disabilities; and adults with mental health or substance abuse concerns. It also provides publicly funded long-term care to county residents.[20]
- Airport
The Waukesha County Airport serves commercial and private aircraft and is supervised by the Airport Commission.
- Corporation Counsel
- Emergency Preparedness
The Department of Emergency Preparedness encompasses Waukesha County Communications, providing 9-1-1 dispatch services to the majority of the county, Waukesha County Emergency Management, and Waukesha County Radio Services, providing technical and maintenance support to the countywide trunked radio system (OASIS) and 9-1-1 centers.
The Bridges Library System works in partnership with 16 public libraries in Waukesha County to cooperatively provide library services. This includes the purchase of shared electronic databases, summer library programming, and circulation services. Bridges also oversees Internet access for member libraries.
- Health and Human Services
- Medical Examiner
The Medical Examiner investigates suspicious or unexplained deaths or deaths that result from a homicide, suicide, or accident. The office also generates statistics for the county.
- Parks and Land Use
The Department of Parks and Land Use (PLU), oversees six divisions that design and maintain county parks. The division also works with state and federal agencies. The planning division administers permits for construction and landscaping activities. The land conservation division works to educate on and regulate soil and water issues. Most programs look to control water runoff and soil erosion. The recycling and solid waste division oversees recycling and disposal programs. It also performs educational outreach on topics such as composting and waste reduction. The official mascot of the recycling division is Recycle Raccoon. The environmental health division oversees animal welfare issues, food safety, and air, water and sewage, and safety issues (such as radon testing, well testing, and septic system monitoring). The land information systems division coordinates databases of information relating to land use and development.
- Public Works
- Sheriff
- University of Wisconsin Extension
The
- Veterans
Politics
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 159,649 | 59.57% | 103,906 | 38.77% | 4,441 | 1.66% |
2016 | 142,543 | 59.99% | 79,224 | 33.34% | 15,826 | 6.66% |
2012 | 162,798 | 66.76% | 78,779 | 32.31% | 2,279 | 0.93% |
2008 | 145,152 | 62.32% | 85,339 | 36.64% | 2,406 | 1.03% |
2004 | 154,926 | 67.25% | 73,626 | 31.96% | 1,811 | 0.79% |
2000 | 133,105 | 65.33% | 64,319 | 31.57% | 6,310 | 3.10% |
1996 | 91,729 | 55.43% | 57,354 | 34.66% | 16,389 | 9.90% |
1992 | 91,461 | 51.04% | 50,270 | 28.06% | 37,451 | 20.90% |
1988 | 90,467 | 60.76% | 57,598 | 38.68% | 828 | 0.56% |
1984 | 92,426 | 65.71% | 47,313 | 33.64% | 921 | 0.65% |
1980 | 81,059 | 58.25% | 46,612 | 33.50% | 11,477 | 8.25% |
1976 | 70,418 | 58.22% | 47,487 | 39.26% | 3,048 | 2.52% |
1972 | 59,399 | 60.85% | 34,573 | 35.42% | 3,650 | 3.74% |
1968 | 47,557 | 54.98% | 31,947 | 36.93% | 7,000 | 8.09% |
1964 | 35,502 | 47.07% | 39,796 | 52.76% | 131 | 0.17% |
1960 | 39,380 | 57.56% | 28,963 | 42.33% | 76 | 0.11% |
1956 | 35,212 | 68.93% | 15,496 | 30.33% | 376 | 0.74% |
1952 | 30,238 | 65.58% | 15,756 | 34.17% | 117 | 0.25% |
1948 | 17,324 | 54.22% | 13,952 | 43.67% | 674 | 2.11% |
1944 | 17,995 | 57.44% | 13,038 | 41.62% | 293 | 0.94% |
1940 | 16,726 | 55.86% | 12,859 | 42.94% | 358 | 1.20% |
1936 | 8,921 | 35.41% | 14,982 | 59.47% | 1,291 | 5.12% |
1932 | 8,538 | 37.76% | 13,487 | 59.65% | 584 | 2.58% |
1928 | 12,218 | 60.15% | 7,846 | 38.63% | 247 | 1.22% |
1924 | 7,026 | 45.45% | 1,965 | 12.71% | 6,468 | 41.84% |
1920 | 8,665 | 71.63% | 2,759 | 22.81% | 673 | 5.56% |
1916 | 3,768 | 45.21% | 4,192 | 50.29% | 375 | 4.50% |
1912 | 2,714 | 36.86% | 3,594 | 48.81% | 1,055 | 14.33% |
1908 | 4,758 | 55.91% | 3,206 | 37.67% | 546 | 6.42% |
1904 | 5,247 | 62.63% | 2,693 | 32.14% | 438 | 5.23% |
1900 | 5,127 | 60.91% | 3,016 | 35.83% | 275 | 3.27% |
1896 | 5,411 | 60.93% | 3,192 | 35.95% | 277 | 3.12% |
1892 | 3,600 | 47.54% | 3,635 | 48.01% | 337 | 4.45% |
Waukesha County is the largest Republican-leaning county in Wisconsin and has been one of the GOP's most solid suburban strongholds for many years. It is one of the WOW counties, which share similar traits in suburban Wisconsin.
It has not supported a
The county is split between 10 state assembly districts, all but one of which are held by Republicans, and six state senate districts, all held by Republicans.
2011 Supreme Court election
The initial unofficial statewide tally in the
Communities
Cities
- Brookfield
- Delafield
- Milwaukee (mostly in Milwaukee County and Washington County)
- Muskego
- New Berlin
- Oconomowoc
- Pewaukee
- Waukesha (county seat)
Villages
- Big Bend
- Butler
- Chenequa
- Dousman
- Eagle
- Elm Grove
- Hartland
- Lac La Belle (partly in Jefferson County)
- Lannon
- Lisbon
- Menomonee Falls
- Merton
- Mukwonago (partly in Walworth County)
- Nashotah
- North Prairie
- Oconomowoc Lake
- Pewaukee
- Summit
- Sussex
- Vernon
- Wales
- Waukesha
Towns
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
- Bethesda
- Buena Vista
- Camp Whitcomb
- Colgate (partly in Washington County)
- Eagleville
- Genesee
- Genesee Depot
- Goerke's Corners
- Guthrie
- Jericho
- Lake Five (partly in Washington County)
- Mapleton
- Monches
- Monterey
- Ottawa
- Saylesville
- Stone Bank
- Summit Center
- Summit Corners
- Vernon
- Waterville
Ghost towns/neighborhoods
- Note – for zoning purposes, a single acre of Waukesha County was annexed by the city of Milwaukee in 2003 to accommodate the Ambrosia Chocolate Factory.[28]
Climate
|
Education
School districts include:[30]
K-12:
- Elmbrook School District
- Hamilton School District
- Kettle Moraine School District
- Menomonee Falls School District
- Mukwonago School District
- Muskego-Norway School District
- New Berlin School District
- Norris School District
- Oconomowoc Area School District
- Palmyra-Eagle Area School District
- Pewaukee School District
- Waukesha School District
- West Allis School District
Secondary:
- Arrowhead Union High School District
- Waterford Union High School District
Elementary:
- Hartland-Lakeside Joint No. 3 School District
- Lake Country School District
- Merton Community School District
- North Lake School District
- Richmond School District
- Stone Bank School District
- Swallow School District
- Washington-Caldwell School District
Transportation
Railroads
- Canadian National
- Canadian Pacific
- Union Pacific
- Wisconsin and Southern Railroad
Buses
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Waukesha County, Wisconsin
- Waukesha County gangsters
- Waukesha County Park System
- Waukesha, Wisconsin
- Waukesha (village), Wisconsin
References
- ^ "QuickFacts: Waukesha County, Wisconsin". www.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "American Indians in Wisconsin: History". Wisconsin Department of Health Services. April 21, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ "Waukesha/Pewaukee, Wisconsin: Explorers Meet Our History". Visit Waukesha. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Barquist, Barbara; Barquist, David (1987). "The Beginning". In Haley, Leroy (ed.). The Summit of Oconomowoc: 150 Years of Summit Town. Summit History Group. p. 6.
- ^ a b c Barquist, Barbara; Barquist, David (1987). "The Beginning". In Haley, Leroy (ed.). The Summit of Oconomowoc: 150 Years of Summit Town. Summit History Group. p. 7.
- ^ Barquist, Barbara; Barquist, David (1987). "The Early Years". In Haley, Leroy (ed.). The Summit of Oconomowoc: 150 Years of Summit Town. Summit History Group. p. 37.
- ^ The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin: Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources; an Extensive and Minute Sketch of Its Cities, Towns and Villages—their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Churches, Schools and Societies; Its War Record, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers; the Whole Preceded by a History of Wisconsin, Statistics of the State, and an Abstract of Its Laws and Constitution and of the Constitution of the United States Western Historical Company, 1880 pages 173, 232, 233
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ "Driving on the Right: America's Polarized Transportation Policies". Governing. February 24, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census: Waukesha County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "Waukesha County, Wisconsin – Fact Sheet – American FactFinder". Factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
- ^ Mission Statement from "Waukesha County". Archived from the original on May 22, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2008.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ Cohn, Nate (May 6, 2014). "The Curious Case of Milwaukee's Suburban Voters". New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ 2008 U.S. Presidential Election Results
- ^ Stein, Jason; Walker, Laurel; Glauber, Bill (April 7, 2011). "Corrected Brookfield tally puts Prosser ahead after 7,500-vote gain". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ Gallitz, Sean (April 5, 2016). "The Wisconsin county that could stop Donald Trump". CBS News. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ Kondik, Kyle (May 5, 2014). "10 Maps That Explain the 2014 Midterms". POLITICO. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ Gehrke, Joel (February 20, 2015). "Ron Johnson, Ready Already for 2016". National Review. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ Mike Mulvey. "Colleges squaring off over taxes"[dead link]. Milwaukee Sentinel, May 18, 1991, part 1, p. 6.
- ^ "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
Further reading
- Haight, Theron W. (ed.) Memoirs of Waukesha County. Madison: Western Historical Association, 1907.
- The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880.
- Portrait and Biographical Record of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Excelsior Publishing Co. 1894.