Elkhorn, Wisconsin Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Elkhorn, Wisconsin
City
City of Elkhorn

Motto(s): “Living in Harmony”
Location of Elkhorn in Walworth County, Wisconsin.
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Walworth
Area
• Total	8.11 sq mi (21.00 km²)
• Land	8.06 sq mi (20.88 km²)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.11 km²)
Elevation	1,030 ft (314 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	10,247
• Density	1,242.59/sq mi (479.78/km²)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip Code	53121
Area code(s)	262
FIPS code	55-23300
GNIS feature ID	1564532
Website	www.cityofelkhorn.org

Elkhorn is a city and the county seat of Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Milwaukee. As of the 2020 census, it was home to 10,247 people, up from 10,084 at the 2010 census.

Geography
History
Demographics
- 2010 census
Transportation
Notable people
Images for kids
See also

Geography

Elkhorn is located at 42°40′22″N 88°32′25″W / 42.67278°N 88.54028°W / 42.67278; -88.54028 (42.672900, −88.540342).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.81 square miles (20.23 km²), of which 7.76 square miles (20.10 km²) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km²) is water.

History

In 1836, Colonel Samuel Phoenix spotted a rack of elk antlers in a tree and proclaimed the area as "Elk Horn."

The area's beauty and fertile soil led Daniel Bradley, his brother Milo, and LeGrand Rockwell to create a community in the area. Its growth to a population of 539 led to the first town meeting in 1846. Elkhorn was designated county seat that same year because of its location in Walworth County.

In 1851, Elkhorn became the location of the Walworth County Fair, which is now hosted annually at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. The Walworth County Fair is the largest county fair in Wisconsin.

In the 1870s, saline water from springs located in Elkhorn was believed to cure rheumatism.

Because the city places Christmas decorations around its center, Elkhorn has been called the "Christmas Card Town" since before World War II. This tradition is celebrated every year by an annual oil painting by local artist Jan Castle Reed. These watercolor paintings are turned into Christmas cards.

Elkhorn is also known for the folklore of the Beast of Bray Road, a supposed werewolf type creature that has become the focus of books, documentaries, and other media including 2005 movie, The Beast of Bray Road.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	42	—
1860	1,081	2,473.8%
1870	1,205	11.5%
1880	1,122	−6.9%
1890	1,447	29.0%
1900	1,731	19.6%
1910	1,707	−1.4%
1920	1,991	16.6%
1930	2,340	17.5%
1940	2,382	1.8%
1950	2,935	23.2%
1960	3,586	22.2%
1970	3,992	11.3%
1980	4,605	15.4%
1990	5,337	15.9%
2000	7,305	36.9%
2010	10,084	38.0%
2020	10,247	1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

Elkhorn, 11:23:40 PM CDT in 2012 during Expedition 30 at the International Space Station

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 10,084 people, 3,801 households, and 2,514 families living in the city. The population density was 1,299.5 inhabitants per square mile (501.7/km²). There were 4,043 housing units at an average density of 521.0 per square mile (201.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.4% White, 1.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 4.8% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.0% of the population.

There were 3,801 households, of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.9% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.11.

The median age in the city was 34.3 years. 27.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.1% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

Transportation

Elkhorn was a stop on the Racine & Southwestern branch line of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, better known as the Milwaukee Road. In its 1980 bankruptcy, the Milwaukee Road disposed of the Southwestern Line. The Wisconsin & Southern continues to service Elkhorn from a connection at Bardwell to the west.