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Green County, Wisconsin facts for kids

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Green County
Green County Courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Green County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Wisconsin
Founded 1837
Named for Nathanael Greene
Seat Monroe
Largest city Monroe
Area
 • Total 584 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land 584 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Water 0.5 sq mi (1 km2)  0.09%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 37,093
 • Estimate 
(2023)
36,951 Decrease
 • Density 63.5/sq mi (24.5/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd

Green County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,093. Its county seat is Monroe. Green County is included in the Madison, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The land of Green County had long been settled by Native Americans. In 1632, Samuel de Champlain included this area in the region belonging to the Illinois, and in the 18th century the Sauk mined lead within the present county limits. By the time the first white settlers arrived there, all of Green County was the property of the Ho-Chunk, who referred to the mines as the "Sac Diggings." The federal government recognized Indian title to frontier land, and generally forbade the private sale of Indian land to individuals, but as squatters continued to work the mines in southwestern Wisconsin, conflict arose between them and the Ho-Chunk, as well as the Sauk and Meskwaki, all of whom mined and sold lead. In 1832, Black Hawk attempted to bring his people back into their former Illinois lands, they were pursued across the border into Wisconsin, then known as western Michigan Territory. The Ho-Chunk were divided in the Black Hawk War, with many warriors siding with the Sauk, and others taking personal revenge on frontier settlers in the lead mining district. Although many other Ho-Chunk aided the US army in pursuing the Sauk, they were coerced into selling their lands south of the Wisconsin River in a treaty signed in September, one month after Black Hawk's surrender. Although other towns had been founded in the lead region of Wisconsin prior to the land cession, Monroe, Wisconsin was one of the many communities founded in the mid-1830s after this land became legally open to settlement.

The county was created in 1837 from the Wisconsin Territory. When in December 1837, a new county was to be split off from the over-large Iowa County, William Boyles of Monroe, as the Representative of the area, was allowed to choose a name. He chose Green County, after the verdant color of the vegetation there. Another member suggested that it be modified to "Greene" after General Nathanael Greene, who commanded the Southern Campaign in the American Revolutionary War but Boyles insisted on his original choice. The story that it was named for General Greene still persists in some circles.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 584 square miles (1,510 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) (0.09%) is water.

Major highways

  • WIS 11.svg Highway 11 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 39.svg Highway 39 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 59.svg Highway 59 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 69.svg Highway 69 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 78.svg Highway 78 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 81.svg Highway 81 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 92.svg Highway 92 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 104.svg Highway 104 (Wisconsin)

Railroads

  • Wisconsin and Southern Railroad

Buses

  • List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

Airport

Monroe Municipal Airport (KEFT) serves the county and surrounding communities.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 933
1850 8,566 818.1%
1860 19,808 131.2%
1870 23,611 19.2%
1880 21,729 −8.0%
1890 22,732 4.6%
1900 22,719 −0.1%
1910 21,641 −4.7%
1920 21,568 −0.3%
1930 21,870 1.4%
1940 23,146 5.8%
1950 24,172 4.4%
1960 25,851 6.9%
1970 26,714 3.3%
1980 30,012 12.3%
1990 30,339 1.1%
2000 33,647 10.9%
2010 36,842 9.5%
2020 37,093 0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 37,093. The population density was 63.5 people per square mile (24.5 people/km2). There were 16,273 housing units at an average density of 27.9 units per square mile (10.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.5% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 1.9% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 4.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Communities

Farm in GreenCountyWI
A farm in Green County, Wisconsin

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Green (Wisconsin) para niños

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