Green County, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Green County
|
|
---|---|
Location within the U.S. state of 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 |
• 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.
Contents
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
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
- Dane County - north
- Rock County - east
- Winnebago County, Illinois - southeast
- Stephenson County, Illinois - south
- Lafayette County - west
- Iowa County - northwest
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
Cities
- Brodhead (partly in Rock County)
- Monroe (county seat)
Villages
- Albany
- Belleville (mostly in Dane County)
- Brooklyn (mostly in Dane County)
- Browntown
- Monticello
- New Glarus
Towns
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Ghost towns/neighborhoods
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Green (Wisconsin) para niños