| Notes | Kenosha County, Wisconsin From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigationJump to search Kenosha County U.S. county Kenosha County Courthouse and Jail Kenosha County Courthouse and Jail Map of Wisconsin highlighting Kenosha County Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin Wisconsin's location within the U.S. Coordinates: 42°35′N 87°49′W Country United States State Wisconsin Founded 1850 Seat Kenosha Largest city Kenosha Area • Total 754 sq mi (1,950 km2) • Land 272 sq mi (700 km2) • Water 482 sq mi (1,250 km2) 64%% Population (2010) • Total 166,426 • Estimate (2019) 169,561 • Density 220/sq mi (85/km2) Time zone UTC−6 (Central) • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT) Congressional district 1st Website www.co.kenosha.wi.us Kenosha County is located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Its population in 2019 was estimated to be 169,561, making it the eighth most populous county in Wisconsin.[1] The county is named after the county seat, Kenosha,[2] the fourth largest city in Wisconsin.[1] Kenosha County is part of the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is on the west shore of Lake Michigan. The county has traditionally attracted newcomers from suburban Chicago, and in March 2008 the demographers of the Wisconsin Department of Administration reported that Kenosha County's improvements in roads, business's need for personnel, and quality-of-life factors had contributed to a decades-long influx of Illinois transplants, along with the direct rail link to Chicago via Metra's Union Pacific / North Line. Since 2000, the county saw a population increase of 12.6%, higher than the overall state growth of 6.0%.[3] Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Major highways 2.2 Airport 2.3 Adjacent counties 3 Demographics 4 Government 5 Politics 6 Communities 6.1 City 6.2 Villages 6.3 Towns 6.4 Census-designated places 6.5 Unincorporated communities 6.6 Ghost towns/neighborhoods 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 External links History The Potowatomi inhabited the area that would become Kenosha County for centuries prior to the acquisition of the area in 1833. The city of Kenosha was founded in 1835, and Kenosha County was formed from Racine County in 1850. Its location led to development and factories being built in the 19th century. Manufacturing continued to be a key component of the economy into the 20th century.[4] Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 754 square miles (1,950 km2), of which 272 square miles (700 km2) is land and 482 square miles (1,250 km2) (64%) is water.[5] Although the county contains area from Lake Michigan, it is the fourth-smallest county in Wisconsin by land area.[6] Major highways I-41.svg Interstate 41 I-94.svg Interstate 94 US 41.svg U.S. Highway 41 (Skokie Highway) US 45.svg U.S. Highway 45 WIS 31.svg Highway 31 (Wisconsin) WIS 32.svg Highway 32 (Wisconsin) WIS 50.svg Highway 50 (Wisconsin) WIS 75.svg Highway 75 (Wisconsin) WIS 83.svg Highway 83 (Wisconsin) WIS 142.svg Highway 142 (Wisconsin) WIS 158.svg Highway 158 (Wisconsin) WIS 165.svg Highway 165 (Wisconsin) Airport Kenosha Regional Airport (KENW) serves the county and surrounding communities. Adjacent counties Racine County (north) Allegan County, Michigan (east) Lake County, Illinois (southeast) McHenry County, Illinois (southwest) Walworth County (west) Demographics Historical population Census Pop. %± 1850 10,734 — 1860 13,900 29.5% 1870 13,147 −5.4% 1880 13,550 3.1% 1890 15,581 15.0% 1900 21,707 39.3% 1910 32,929 51.7% 1920 51,284 55.7% 1930 63,277 23.4% 1940 63,505 0.4% 1950 75,238 18.5% 1960 100,615 33.7% 1970 117,917 17.2% 1980 123,137 4.4% 1990 128,181 4.1% 2000 149,577 16.7% 2010 166,426 11.3% 2019 (est.) 169,561 [7] 1.9% U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010–2019[12] 2000 Census Age Pyramid for Kenosha County As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 149,577 people, 56,057 households, and 38,455 families residing in the county. The population density was 548 people per square mile (212/km2). There were 59,989 housing units at an average density of 220 per square mile (85/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.38% White, 5.08% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.29% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. 7.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.8% were of German, 10.4% Italian, 7.9% Irish, 7.6% Polish and 7.5% English ancestry. There were 56,057 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.13. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males. In 2017, there were 1,873 births, giving a general fertility rate of 55.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 13th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[14] Government This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) The county legislature is known as the Board of Supervisors. It consists of 23 members, each elected from single-member districts. The county executive is elected in a spring countywide, nonpartisan vote. The county executive is James Kreuser. The district attorney, treasurer, clerk, and register of deeds are elected in fall countywide, partisan elections held in presidential years, while the sheriff and clerk of circuit court are elected in fall countywide, partisan elections held in gubernatorial years. Politics In presidential elections, Kenosha County has voted Democratic for most of the past century. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate in 44 years to win the county; the last time this happened was when President Nixon carried it in his 1972 landslide. Trump won it yet again in 2020, with turnout high for both major candidates, marking the first consecutive victories for the GOP in Kenosha County since 1928. Presidential elections results |