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Manitowoc County, Wisconsin facts for kids

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Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Manitowoc County Courthouse
Manitowoc County Courthouse
Flag of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Flag
Official seal of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Seal
Map of Wisconsin showing Manitowoc County
Map of Wisconsin showing Manitowoc County
Wisconsin's location in the United States
Wisconsin's location in the United States
Country  United States
State  Wisconsin
Incorporated 1848
County seat City of Manitowoc
Incorporated Municipalities
Government
 • Type County
 • Body Board of Supervisors
Area
 • Total 1,494 sq mi (3,870 km2)
 • Land 589 sq mi (1,530 km2)
 • Water 905 sq mi (2,340 km2)
Area rank 6th largest county in Wisconsin
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 81,359
 • Estimate 
(2023)
81,331 Decrease
 • Rank 21st largest county in Wisconsin
 • Density 138.1/sq mi (53.3/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (Central)
Area codes 920
Congressional districts 6th
Interstates I-43.svg
U.S. Routes US 10.svg US 151 (WI).svg
State Routes link = Highway 32 (Wisconsin) link = Highway 42 (Wisconsin) link = Highway 57 (Wisconsin) link = Highway 67 (Wisconsin) link = Highway 147 (Wisconsin) link = Highway 310 (Wisconsin)
Airports Manitowoc County Airport
Waterways Lake MichiganManitowoc River
Public transit Maritime Metro Transit

Manitowoc County (/ˈmænɪtəwɒk/ MAN-it-Ə-wok) is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 81,359. Its county seat is Manitowoc. The county was created in 1836 prior to Wisconsin's statehood and organized in 1848. Manitowoc County comprises the Manitowoc, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,494 square miles (3,870 km2), of which 589 square miles (1,530 km2) is land and 905 square miles (2,340 km2) (61%) is water.

Major highways

  • I-43.svg Interstate 43
  • US 10.svg U.S. Highway 10
  • US 151 (WI).svg U.S. Highway 151
  • WIS 32.svg Highway 32 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 42.svg Highway 42 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 57.svg Highway 57 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 67.svg Highway 67 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 147.svg Highway 147 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 310.svg Highway 310 (Wisconsin)

Railroads

Buses

  • Maritime Metro Transit
  • List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

Airport

Manitowoc County Airport (KMTW) serves the county and surrounding communities.

Adjacent counties

National marine sanctuary

The Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary was established in 2021 in the waters of Lake Michigan, with most of its northern half lying off Manitowoc County's coast. The national marine sanctuary is the site of a large number of historically significant shipwrecks.

Climate

Weather chart for Manitowoc County
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
62
 
-6
-8
 
 
62
 
-6
-11
 
 
66
 
3
-3
 
 
141
 
9
2
 
 
105
 
12
2
 
 
106
 
21
9
 
 
108
 
19
14
 
 
88
 
18
18
 
 
72
 
19
12
 
 
121
 
9
5
 
 
68
 
5
2
 
 
61
 
1
-2
temperatures in °C
precipitation totals in mm

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 235
1850 3,702 1,475.3%
1860 22,416 505.5%
1870 33,364 48.8%
1880 37,505 12.4%
1890 37,831 0.9%
1900 42,261 11.7%
1910 44,978 6.4%
1920 51,644 14.8%
1930 58,674 13.6%
1940 61,617 5.0%
1950 67,159 9.0%
1960 75,215 12.0%
1970 82,294 9.4%
1980 82,918 0.8%
1990 80,421 −3.0%
2000 82,887 3.1%
2010 81,442 −1.7%
2020 81,359 −0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

As of the census of 2020, the population was 81,359. The population density was 138.1 people per square mile (53.3 people/km2). There were 37,818 housing units at an average density of 64.2 units per square mile (24.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% White, 2.8% Asian, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.8% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 5.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

USA Manitowoc County, Wisconsin age pyramid
2000 Census age pyramid for Manitowoc County

The 2000 census shows Manitowoc County as having 82,887 people, 32,721 households and 22,348 families. The population density was 140 people per square mile (54 people/km2). There were 34,651 housing units at an average density of 59 units per square mile (23 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.90% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.98% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 1.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 53.7% were of German, 7.3% Polish, 5.3% Czech and 5.0% American ancestry. 95.2% spoke English, 1.8% Spanish, 1.3% Hmong and 1.1% German as their first language.

There were 32,721 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population is spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.

In 2017, there were 780 births, giving a general fertility rate of 60.2 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 27th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

At night

The bright light on the lakeshore to the far left is the Point Beach Nuclear Plant. Taken at 3:09:47 A.M. CDT on March 28, 2012, from an altitude of 211 nautical miles (391 km) during ISS Expedition 30.
The bright light on the lakeshore to the far left is the Point Beach Nuclear Plant. Taken at 3:09:47 A.M. CDT on March 28, 2012, from an altitude of 211 nautical miles (391 km) during ISS Expedition 30.

In the media

The Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer (2015) explores the arrests and trials in 2007 of Manitowoc County residents Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey for the murder of Teresa Halbach, who disappeared in October 2005. The series describes an earlier wrongful conviction of Avery, for which he served 18 years, and his subsequent lawsuit against Manitowoc County. It then focuses on the procedures of the Calumet County Sheriff's Office and the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department, which investigated the later Halbach case. The Sheriffs officers have come under intense scrutiny for their involvement in the Halbach case due to Steven Avery's $36 million lawsuit and their questionable police and investigative techniques.

In 2017, Charlie Berens created a comedic short-form video series called Manitowoc Minute, which features a fictitious news presenter character who exaggerates the culture and dialect of Wisconsin.

Gallery

See also

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

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