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Racine County, Wisconsin facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
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 of Racine County
Flag
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Racine 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 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 Decrease
 • Density 594.4/sq mi (229.5/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st

Racine County is a county located in southeastern Wisconsin. It's a place where many people live and work. In 2020, about 197,727 people called Racine County home. This makes it the fifth-largest county in Wisconsin by population.

The main city and county seat of Racine County is Racine. The county was first created in 1836. At that time, it was part of the Wisconsin Territory, before Wisconsin became a state. Racine County is also part of a larger area called the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha combined statistical area. This means it's connected to the bigger Milwaukee city area. The county covers about 792 square miles. A large part of this area, 58%, is water.

History of Racine County

Before European settlers arrived, the Potawatomi people lived in the area that is now Racine County. They were the original inhabitants of this land.

Founding the County

The government of the Wisconsin Territory officially created Racine County in 1836. It was separated from Milwaukee County to form its own area. When it was first made, Racine County was much larger. It stretched all the way to Wisconsin's southern border. It even included the land that is now Kenosha County, Wisconsin.

Changes Over Time

Later, in 1850, Kenosha County was separated from Racine County. It became its own independent county. This change helped shape Racine County into the size and shape it is today.

Geography of Racine County

Racine County is in a unique spot in Wisconsin. It shares borders with several other counties. It also has a large body of water nearby.

Neighboring Areas

Here are the counties that border Racine County:

Across Lake Michigan, Racine County is also near:

The Root River

The Root River flows through the county. This river is very important because it's where Racine County gets its name!

Population and People

Understanding the population helps us learn about the people who live in Racine County.

Population Changes Over Time

The number of people living in Racine County has grown a lot since 1840.

  • In 1840, there were 3,475 people.
  • By 1900, the population had grown to 45,644.
  • In 1950, it reached 109,585 people.
  • The latest count in 2020 showed 197,727 people living here.

Who Lives in Racine County?

According to the 2020 census, Racine County is home to a diverse group of people.

  • About 72% of the population is White.
  • Around 11.8% are Black or African American.
  • About 1.2% are Asian.
  • About 0.5% are Native American.
  • About 5.4% are from other races.
  • About 9% are from two or more races.
  • Also, about 14.1% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino. People of Hispanic or Latino background can be of any race.

Getting Around Racine County

Racine County has many ways for people and goods to travel. This includes major roads, train lines, buses, and airports.

Main Roads

Many important highways pass through Racine County, connecting it to other parts of Wisconsin and beyond. These include:

  • I-41 / I-94 / US 41
  • US 45
  • WIS 11
  • WIS 20
  • WIS 31
  • WIS 32
  • WIS 36
  • WIS 38
  • WIS 75
  • WIS 83
  • WIS 142
  • WIS 164
  • WIS 311

Train Services

Several train companies operate in Racine County, moving both people and freight:

Bus Services

  • Ryde Racine provides bus transportation within the county.

Airports

There are several airports in and around Racine County that help people travel by air:

  • John H. Batten Airport (KRAC)
  • Burlington Municipal Airport (KBUU)
  • Cindy Guntly Memorial Airport (62C)
  • Fox River Airport (96C)
  • Sylvania Airport (C89)

Communities in Racine County

Racine County is made up of several different types of communities, including cities, villages, towns, and smaller places.

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-Designated Places

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

  • Bohners Lake (in the Town of Burlington)
  • Browns Lake (in the Town of Burlington)
  • Eagle Lake (in the Town of Dover)
  • Tichigan (in the Town of Waterford)
  • Wind Lake (in the Town of Norway)

Unincorporated Communities

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

Former Communities

Some places that used to be communities in Racine County are now considered "ghost towns" or old neighborhoods.

Images for kids

  • USA Racine County, Wisconsin age pyramid

    This chart shows the age groups of people in Racine County from the 2000 census.

Racine County census map of municipalities
Map of Racine County, showing the boundaries of its cities, villages, and towns.
Racine County Wisconsin Sign WIS11
A sign welcoming you to Racine County on WIS 11.

See also

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

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Racine County, Wisconsin Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.