Waukesha County, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Waukesha County, Wisconsin
County
Waukesha County Courthouse
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  "Leading the way!"
Map of Wisconsin showing Waukesha County
Wisconsin's location in the contiguous United States
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Incorporated	1846
County seat	Waukesha
Largest city	Waukesha
Area
• Total	581 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Land	550 sq mi (1,400 km2)
• Water	31 sq mi (80 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	406,978
• Estimate  (2023)	412,591
• Rank	3rd largest county in Wisconsin
• Density	740.3/sq mi (285.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (Central)
Area codes	262, 414
Congressional districts	1st, 5th
Interstates
U.S. Routes
State Routes
Airports	Waukesha County Airport Capitol Airport

Waukesha County sign on WIS 59

Waukesha County (/ˈwɔːkɪʃɔː/) is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 406,978, making it the third-most populous county in Wisconsin. Its median income of $88,985 placed it as the only county in Wisconsin on the list of the 100 highest-income counties in the U.S. by median income as of 2020. Its county seat and largest city is Waukesha.

Waukesha County is included in the Milwaukee–Waukesha–West Allis, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Known as forested and prairie land, the region was first home to Indigenous tribes like Menomonie, Ojibwe (Chippewa), Potawatomi, and Ho-Chunk (Winnebago), who practiced agriculture and trade. In 1836, Native American tribes formally lost title to the land when treaties were disregarded and were forcibly removed by the Federal Army. Prior to the 1830s, the area was unoccupied by settlers due to its inland location and the fact that the Fox River was not a water highway. The New England settlers only came to the area to set up fur trading posts between their new encampments and established cities like Milwaukee. Morris D. Cutler and Alonso Cutler, seeking claims for homesteads, were the first permanent white colonial settlers.

The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County occupies was a part of Michigan Territory when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834. On July 4, 1836, the Wisconsin Territory was formed, which included land that is now in the state of Minnesota. In January 1846, part of Milwaukee County was split off into Waukesha County. Curtis Reed was the first county chairman. When a vote decided the county seat, Waukesha defeated Pewaukee by two votes. The name is derived from the Potawatomi word for 'fox' because the streams in the lower part of the county drain into the Fox River.

Waukesha was a New England settlement, and Waukesha's founders were settlers from New England, particularly Connecticut, rural Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as from upstate New York who were born to parents who had migrated there from New England shortly after the American Revolution. These people were "Yankees" descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s. They were part of a wave of New England farmers who headed west into what was the wilds of the Northwest Territory during the early 1800s. Most arrived as a result of the completion of the Erie Canal as well as the end of the Black Hawk War.

The New Englanders built farms, roads, government buildings and established post routes. They brought many of their Yankee New England values, such as a passion for education that led to the establishment of many schools as well as staunch support for abolitionism. They were mostly members of the Congregationalist Church, though some were Episcopalian. Due to the second Great Awakening some converted to Methodism, and others became Baptists before moving to what is now Waukesha County. Waukesha, like much of Wisconsin, would be culturally very continuous with early New England culture for most of its early history, before the state received a substantial influx of German immigrants in the latter half of the 19th century.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 581 square miles (1,500 km²), of which 550 square miles (1,400 km²) is land and 31 square miles (80 km²) (5.3%) is water. The Fox River runs through it.

Waukesha County is located to the west of Milwaukee and its suburban development was spurred by the construction of Interstate 94 in Wisconsin.

Lake country

Because of its large number of lakes, the northwestern corner of Waukesha County is referred to as "Lake Country" by local residents. It includes Pewaukee, Delafield, Hartland, Merton, Nashotah, Chenequa, Okauchee Lake, Oconomowoc, Summit, and Lac La Belle.

Adjacent counties

• Washington County – north
• Ozaukee County – northeast
• Milwaukee County – east
• Racine County – southeast
• Walworth County – southwest
• Jefferson County – west
• Dodge County – northwest

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 406,978. The population density was 740.3 people per square mile (285.8 people/km²). There were 172,177 housing units at an average density of 313.2 units per square mile (120.9 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% White, 3.9% Asian, 1.7% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.5% from other races, and 5.7% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 5.4% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Its 2020 median income was $88,985. This ranked 97th in the nation.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 389,891 people, 152,663 households, and 108,810 families living in the county. The population density was 672 people per square mile (259 people/km²). There were 160,864 housing units at an average density of 277 units per square mile (107 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.3% White, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.0003% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. 4.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 152,663 households 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 23.8% of households were one person and 10.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.

The age distribution was 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.

2000 Census age pyramid for Waukesha County

Communities

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

• North Lake
• Okauchee Lake

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

• Calhoun
• Dodges Corners
• DeNoon
• Duplainville
• Menomonee
• Muskego Settlement
• New Upsala

Note – for zoning purposes, a single acre of Waukesha County was annexed by the city of Milwaukee in 2003 to accommodate the Ambrosia Chocolate Factory.

Climate

Education

School districts include:

K-12:

Secondary:

• Arrowhead Union High School District
• Waterford Union High School District

Elementary:

Transportation

Railroads

• Canadian National
• Canadian Pacific
• Union Pacific
• Wisconsin and Southern Railroad

Buses

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

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Waukesha para niños