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Jefferson County, Wisconsin facts for kids

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Jefferson County
U.S. county
Jefferson County courthouse
Jefferson County courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Jefferson 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 1839
Named for Thomas Jefferson
Seat Jefferson
Largest city Watertown
Area
 • Total 583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land 556 sq mi (1,440 km2)
 • Water 26 sq mi (70 km2)  4.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 84,900
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 85,743 Increase
 • Density 152.6/sq mi (58.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 5th

Jefferson County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 84,900. Its county seat is Jefferson. Jefferson County comprises the Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI Combined Statistical Area.

History

Jefferson County was created in 1836 as part of Wisconsin Territory and was organized in 1839. Jefferson County was founded by "Yankee" settlers from New England. It was named after Jefferson County, New York, where some of the original settlers came from. The town of Watertown, Wisconsin, was named after Watertown, New York, in Jefferson County, New York.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 583 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 556 square miles (1,440 km2) is land and 26 square miles (67 km2) (4.5%) is water.

Major highways

  • I-94.svg Interstate 94
  • US 12.svg U.S. Highway 12
  • US 18.svg U.S. Highway 18
  • WIS 16.svg Wisconsin Highway 16
  • WIS 19.svg Wisconsin Highway 19
  • WIS 26.svg Wisconsin Highway 26
  • WIS 59.svg Wisconsin Highway 59
  • WIS 89.svg Wisconsin Highway 89
  • WIS 106.svg Wisconsin Highway 106
  • WIS 134.svg Wisconsin Highway 134

Railroads

Buses

  • List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

Airports

  • Watertown Municipal Airport (KRYV) provides services for the county and surrounding communities.
  • Fort Atkinson Municipal Airport (61C), enhances county service.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1840 914 —
1850 15,317 1,575.8%
1860 30,438 98.7%
1870 34,040 11.8%
1880 32,156 −5.5%
1890 33,530 4.3%
1900 34,789 3.8%
1910 34,306 −1.4%
1920 35,022 2.1%
1930 36,785 5.0%
1940 38,868 5.7%
1950 43,069 10.8%
1960 50,094 16.3%
1970 60,060 19.9%
1980 66,152 10.1%
1990 67,783 2.5%
2000 74,021 9.2%
2010 83,686 13.1%
2020 84,900 1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

As of the census of 2020, the population was 84,900. The population density was 152.6 people per square mile (58.9 people/km2). There were 36,376 housing units at an average density of 65.4 units per square mile (25.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 3.4% from other races, and 5.8% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 8.3% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

USA Jefferson County, Wisconsin age pyramid
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Jefferson County

As of the census of 2010, there were 83,686 people, 32,117 households, and 21,872 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 people per square mile (51 people/km2). There were 30,092 housing units at an average density of 54 units per square mile (21 units/km2). The county's racial makeup was 96.34% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 4.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 55.1% were of German, 6.1% Norwegian, 6.0% Irish and 5.1% American ancestry.

There were 28,205 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

In 2017, there were 861 births, giving a general fertility rate of 53.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the eleventh lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.

The Dwight Foster Public Library, which serves as the resource library for the county, had a total service population of 19,095 in 2010. It is a member of the Bridges Library System.

Communities

Jefferson County Wisconsin Fairgrounds Grandstand
Grandstands at the county fairgrounds in Jefferson
Jefferson County Wisconsin Fairgrounds sign
Sign at fairgrounds

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Education

School districts (all K-12) include:

  • Cambridge School District
  • Edgerton School District
  • Fort Atkinson School District
  • Jefferson School District
  • Johnson Creek School District
  • Kettle Moraine School District
  • Lake Mills Area School District
  • Oconomowoc Area School District
  • Palmyra-Eagle Area School District
  • Waterloo School District
  • Watertown School District
  • Whitewater School District

See also

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

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