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Kenosha County, Wisconsin facts for kids

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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.
Country  United States
State  Wisconsin
Founded January 30, 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
 (2020)
 • Total 169,151
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 167,488 Decrease
 • Density 224.3/sq mi (86.6/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st

Kenosha County is a county in the southeastern part of Wisconsin, a state in the United States. It's located right on the edge of Lake Michigan.

In 2020, about 169,151 people lived here. This makes it the eighth-most populated county in Wisconsin. The county is named after its biggest city, Kenosha, which is also the county seat. Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin.

Kenosha County is part of the larger Chicago metropolitan area. This means it's connected to the big city of Chicago. You can even travel to Chicago by train using Metra's Union Pacific / North Line. Tourism is also important here. In 2022, visitors spent over $424 million in Kenosha County!

History of Kenosha County

For many centuries, the Potowatomi people lived in the area that is now Kenosha County. In 1833, the land became part of the United States.

The city of Kenosha was started in 1835. Later, on January 30, 1850, Kenosha County was officially formed. It was created from a part of Racine County. Because of its location near Lake Michigan, many factories were built here in the 1800s. Making things in factories, called manufacturing, was a big part of the local economy for a long time.

Geography and Natural Features

Kenosha County covers a total area of about 754 square miles (1,953 square kilometers). A large part of this area, about 482 square miles (1,248 square kilometers), is water. This is because the county includes a section of Lake Michigan.

The land area of the county is about 272 square miles (704 square kilometers). Even with its size, Kenosha County is the fourth-smallest county in Wisconsin when you only count its land area.

Main Roads and Highways

Many important roads pass through Kenosha County. These roads help people travel easily to other parts of Wisconsin and nearby states.

  • 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)

Railroads and Trains

Several train lines operate in Kenosha County. They are used for moving goods and for passenger travel.

Bus Services

  • Kenosha Area Transit provides bus services for people traveling around the county.

Airport for Travelers

  • Kenosha Regional Airport (KENW) is the local airport. It serves Kenosha County and nearby towns.

Neighboring Counties

Kenosha County shares borders with several other counties.

Population and People

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%
2020 169,151 1.6%
2023 (est.) 167,488 0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020 2020 census
USA Kenosha County, Wisconsin age pyramid
Population by age in Kenosha County (2000 Census)

In 2000, there were about 149,577 people living in Kenosha County. There were 56,057 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 38,455 of these were families.

The population density was about 548 people per square mile. This means that, on average, 548 people lived in every square mile of land.

Many different groups of people live in Kenosha County. In 2000, about 28.8% of people had German roots. Other large groups included those with Italian, Irish, Polish, and English ancestry.

About 34.8% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.6 people. The average family had 3.13 people.

The population in Kenosha County is made up of people of all ages. In 2000, about 27.1% of the people were under 18 years old. About 11.5% were 65 years or older. The average age of people in the county was 35 years old.

Education and Libraries

Libraries for Learning

The Kenosha County Library System (KCLS) provides library services for everyone. It includes the Kenosha Public Library (KPL), which serves the city of Kenosha and Pleasant Prairie. There is also the Community Library, which helps people in Randall, Paddock Lake, Salem Lakes, and Twin Lakes.

Communities in Kenosha County

Kenosha County has several different types of communities.

Cities

  • Kenosha (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)

Villages

Towns

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or villages.

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not officially part of a city, village, or town.

Ghost Towns or Old Neighborhoods

Images for kids

  • Kenosha County Court House

    Kenosha County Courthouse and Jail

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Kenosha para niños

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