Menominee County, Wisconsin Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Menominee County
U.S. county
Menominee Indian Tribal Offices in Keshena, Wisconsin
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Founded	July 3, 1959
Named for	Menominee tribe
Seat	Keshena
Largest town	Menominee
Area
• Total	365 sq mi (950 km²)
• Land	358 sq mi (930 km²)
• Water	7.4 sq mi (19 km²) 2.0%%
Population (2020)
• Total	4,255
• Estimate (2023)	4,226
• Density	11.9/sq mi (4.6/km²)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	8th

Menominee County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,255, making it the least populous county in Wisconsin. Its county seat is in the community of Keshena.

Menominee is Wisconsin's newest county, having been created in 1959 after recognition of the Menominee tribe was terminated by federal law. In 1974, the tribe regained federal recognition and restoration of most of its reservation. Today Menominee County is essentially coterminous with the boundaries of the federally recognized Menominee Indian Reservation.

Menominee County is included in the Shawano, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Green Bay-Shawano, WI Combined Statistical Area.

History
Geography
Demographics
- 2020 census
Communities
See also

History

The county was created from the northeastern portion of 7 townships of Shawano County and the Western 3 townships of Oconto County on July 3, 1959, in anticipation of the termination of the Menominee Indian Reservation in 1961. The reservation status was restored in 1973, and is now co-extensive with the county.

Most of the land within the county boundary is under Federal trust for the exclusive use by enrolled members of the Menominee nation. Scattered parcels that were purchased during termination, as well as many lots around the Legend Lake area in the southeastern part of the county, are the only parts of the county that are privately owned by non-Native Americans. Most of Menominee County's population consists of members of the Menominee nation.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 365 square miles (950 km²), of which 358 square miles (930 km²) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km²) (2.0%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in Wisconsin by total area.

Adjacent counties

Oconto County – east
Shawano County – south
Langlade County – northwest

Major highways

Highway 47 (Wisconsin)
Highway 55 (Wisconsin)

Buses

List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1970	2,607	—
1980	3,373	29.4%
1990	3,890	15.3%
2000	4,562	17.3%
2010	4,232	−7.2%
2020	4,255	0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Menominee County

2020 census

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

**Menominee County racial composition**
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)
Race	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	447	483	10.56%	11.35%
Black or African American (NH)	19	2	0.45%	0.05%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	3,538	3,549	83.6%	83.41%
Asian (NH)	1	2	0.02%	0.05%
Pacific Islander (NH)	0	2	0.0%	0.05%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	49	81	1.16%	1.9%
Hispanic or Latino	178	136	4.21%	3.2%
Total	4,232	4,255

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,255 people, 1,400 households, and 1,064 families residing in the county. The population density was 11.9 people per square mile (4.6 people/km²). There were 2,145 housing units at an average density of 6.0 units per square mile (2.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county (including Hispanics and Latinos) was 85.6% Native American, 11.8% White, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.