Racine County, Wisconsin Facts for Kids

This page is about the county. For the city, see Racine, Wisconsin.

Quick facts for kids

Racine County

U.S. county

Racine County Courthouse

Flag

Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin

Wisconsin's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Wisconsin

Founded

December 7, 1836

Seat

Racine

Largest city

Racine

Area

• Total

792 sq mi (2,050 km²)

• Land

333 sq mi (860 km²)

• Water

460 sq mi (1,200 km²) 58%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

197,727

• Estimate

(2023)

196,613

• Density

594.4/sq mi (229.5/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional district

1st

Racine County (ⁱ/rəˈsiːn, reɪ-/ rə-SEEN-,_-RAY--) is a county in southeastern Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, its population was 197,727, making it Wisconsin's fifth-most populous county. Its county seat is Racine. The county was founded in 1836, then a part of the Wisconsin Territory. Racine County comprises the Racine metropolitan statistical area. This area is part of the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha combined statistical area. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 792 square miles (2,050 km²), of which 333 square miles (860 km²) is land and 460 square miles (1,200 km²) (58%) is water. The county's unemployment rate was 5.6% in June 2021.

History
Geography
Demographics
- 2020 census
Transportation
Communities
See also

History

The Potawatomi people occupied the area of Racine County until European settlement. The Wisconsin Territory legislature established Racine County in 1836, separating it from Milwaukee County. Racine County originally extended to Wisconsin's southern border and encompassed the land that is now Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Kenosha County was created as a separate entity in 1850.

Geography

Milwaukee County (north)
Ottawa County, Michigan (northeast across Lake Michigan)
Allegan County, Michigan (southeast across Lake Michigan)
Kenosha County (south)
Walworth County (west)
Waukesha County (northwest)

The Root River is the county's namesake.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1840	3,475	—
1850	14,973	330.9%
1860	21,360	42.7%
1870	26,740	25.2%
1880	30,922	15.6%
1890	36,268	17.3%
1900	45,644	25.9%
1910	57,424	25.8%
1920	78,961	37.5%
1930	90,217	14.3%
1940	94,047	4.2%
1950	109,585	16.5%
1960	141,781	29.4%
1970	170,838	20.5%
1980	173,132	1.3%
1990	175,034	1.1%
2000	188,831	7.9%
2010	195,408	3.5%
2020	197,727	1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 2020 census

**Racine County, Wisconsin – Racial and ethnic composition**
*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 may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	150,238	145,414	135,333	79.56%	74.42%	68.44%
Black or African American alone (NH)	19,441	21,212	22,531	10.30%	10.86%	11.40%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	541	614	538	0.29%	0.31%	0.27%
Asian alone (NH)	1,331	2,081	2,261	0.70%	1.06%	1.14%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	54	40	47	0.03%	0.02%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	156	228	792	0.08%	0.12%	0.40%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	2,080	3,273	8,314	1.10%	1.67%	4.20%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	14,990	22,546	27,911	7.94%	11.54%	14.12%
Total	188,831	195,408	197,727	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 197,727. The population density was 594.4 people per square mile (229.5 people/km²). There were 84,490 housing units at an average density of 254.0 units per square mile (98.1 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 72.0% White, 11.8% Black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 5.4% from other races, and 9.0% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 14.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race.