Jefferson County, Wisconsin

County in Wisconsin, United States

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U.S. county in Wisconsin

Jefferson County

U.S. county

Jefferson County courthouse

Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin

Wisconsin's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Wisconsin
Founded| 1839
Named for| Jefferson County, New York
Seat| Jefferson
Largest city| Watertown
Area

• Total| 583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
• Land| 556 sq mi (1,440 km2)
• Water| 26 sq mi (70 km2)  4.5%
Population

(2020)[1]

• Total| 84,900
• Density| 152.6/sq mi (58.9/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 5th
Website| www.jeffersoncountywi.gov

Jefferson County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 84,900.[1] Its county seat is Jefferson.[2] Jefferson County comprises the Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI Combined Statistical Area.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Railroads
* 2.3 Buses
* 2.4 Airports
* 2.5 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Government
* 5 Politics
* 6 Communities
* 6.1 Cities
* 6.2 Villages
* 6.3 Towns
* 6.4 Census-designated places
* 6.5 Unincorporated communities
* 7 Education
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 External links

## History

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Jefferson County was created in 1836 as part of Wisconsin Territory and was organized in 1839.[3] Jefferson County was founded by "Yankee" settlers from New England.[4] It was named after Jefferson County, New York, where some of the original settlers came from.[5] The town of Watertown, Wisconsin, was named after Watertown, New York, in Jefferson County, New York.

## Geography

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Soils of Jefferson County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 583 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 556 square miles (1,440 km2) is land and 26 square miles (67 km2) (4.5%) is water.[6]

### Major highways

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* Interstate 94
* U.S. Highway 12
* U.S. Highway 18
* Wisconsin Highway 16
* Wisconsin Highway 19

* Wisconsin Highway 26
* Wisconsin Highway 59
* Wisconsin Highway 89
* Wisconsin Highway 106
* Wisconsin Highway 134

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### Railroads

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* Canadian Pacific
* Union Pacific
* Wisconsin and Southern Railroad

### Buses

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* List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

### Airports

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* Watertown Municipal Airport (KRYV) provides services for the county and surrounding communities.
* Fort Atkinson Municipal Airport (61C), enhances county service.

### Adjacent counties

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* Dodge County \- north
* Waukesha County \- east
* Walworth County \- southeast
* Rock County \- southwest
* Dane County \- west

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1840| 914| | —
1850| 15,317| | 1,575.8%
1860| 30,438| | 98.7%
1870| 34,040| | 11.8%
1880| 32,156| | −5.5%
1890| 33,530| | 4.3%
1900| 34,789| | 3.8%
1910| 34,306| | −1.4%
1920| 35,022| | 2.1%
1930| 36,785| | 5.0%
1940| 38,868| | 5.7%
1950| 43,069| | 10.8%
1960| 50,094| | 16.3%
1970| 60,060| | 19.9%
1980| 66,152| | 10.1%
1990| 67,783| | 2.5%
2000| 74,021| | 9.2%
2010| 83,686| | 13.1%
2020| 84,900| | 1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[1]

As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 84,900. The population density was 152.6 inhabitants per square mile (58.9/km2). There were 36,376 housing units at an average density of 65.4 per square mile (25.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 3.4% from other races, and 5.8% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 8.3% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Jefferson County

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 83,686 people, 32,117 households, and 21,872 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 people per square mile (51/km2). There were 30,092 housing units at an average density of 54 per square mile (21/km2). The county's racial makeup was 96.34% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 4.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 55.1% were of German, 6.1% Norwegian, 6.0% Irish and 5.1% American ancestry.

There were 28,205 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

In 2017, there were 861 births, giving a general fertility rate of 53.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the eleventh lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[13]

The Dwight Foster Public Library, which serves as the resource library for the county,[14] had a total service population of 19,095 in 2010.[15] It is a member of the Bridges Library System.

## Government

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The County Board of Supervisors, with 30 members, serves as the legislative body for the county. There are seven elected officials in addition to the County Board of Supervisors. County-wide partisan elections are held in November. The County Board's members are elected for two-year terms during a spring non-partisan election. The County Board is responsible for the county administrator.[clarification needed] The County Board elects a chairman, vice-chairman, and second vice-chairman.

## Politics

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Jefferson County has been primarily Republican since 1940. Only three Democratic presidential candidates have won the county since then, in 1964, 1996, and 2008. Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 is the last Democratic Party candidate to win a majority of the county's votes.

United States presidential election results for Jefferson County, Wisconsin[16] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

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No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 27,208  | 56.71% | 19,904  | 41.48%  | 867  | 1.81%
2016 | 23,417  | 54.32% | 16,569  | 38.44%  | 3,123  | 7.24%
2012 | 23,517  | 53.11% | 20,158  | 45.52%  | 606  | 1.37%
2008 | 21,096  | 48.87%  | 21,448  | 49.69% | 622  | 1.44%
2004 | 23,776  | 56.45% | 17,925  | 42.56%  | 414  | 0.98%
2000 | 19,204  | 53.20% | 15,203  | 42.11%  | 1,692  | 4.69%
1996 | 12,681  | 42.59%  | 13,188  | 44.29% | 3,905  | 13.12%
1992 | 13,072  | 39.85% | 11,593  | 35.34%  | 8,137  | 24.81%
1988 | 14,309  | 54.32% | 11,816  | 44.86%  | 217  | 0.82%
1984 | 17,780  | 61.77% | 10,788  | 37.48%  | 216  | 0.75%
1980 | 16,174  | 53.91% | 11,335  | 37.78%  | 2,491  | 8.30%
1976 | 15,528  | 53.89% | 12,577  | 43.65%  | 707  | 2.45%
1972 | 14,621  | 59.47% | 9,303  | 37.84%  | 663  | 2.70%
1968 | 12,478  | 54.97% | 8,716  | 38.40%  | 1,504  | 6.63%
1964 | 8,741  | 39.58%  | 13,295  | 60.20% | 48  | 0.22%
1960 | 14,133  | 61.64% | 8,757  | 38.19%  | 39  | 0.17%
1956 | 13,357  | 67.02% | 6,452  | 32.37%  | 122  | 0.61%
1952 | 13,884  | 66.93% | 6,827  | 32.91%  | 32  | 0.15%
1948 | 8,244  | 52.42% | 7,256  | 46.13%  | 228  | 1.45%
1944 | 10,245  | 59.16% | 6,988  | 40.35%  | 84  | 0.49%
1940 | 10,178  | 56.02% | 7,842  | 43.16%  | 149  | 0.82%
1936 | 5,599  | 32.32%  | 11,144  | 64.33% | 581  | 3.35%
1932 | 5,062  | 30.78%  | 11,230  | 68.28% | 156  | 0.95%
1928 | 8,612  | 57.29% | 6,305  | 41.94%  | 116  | 0.77%
1924 | 4,250  | 31.22%  | 1,374  | 10.09%  | 7,987  | 58.68%
1920 | 8,865  | 80.38% | 1,844  | 16.72%  | 320  | 2.90%
1916 | 3,785  | 49.57% | 3,645  | 47.73%  | 206  | 2.70%
1912 | 1,926  | 27.43%  | 4,381  | 62.40% | 714  | 10.17%
1908 | 3,207  | 40.43%  | 4,492  | 56.63% | 233  | 2.94%
1904 | 3,669  | 47.67%  | 3,778  | 49.09% | 249  | 3.24%
1900 | 3,729  | 46.25%  | 4,127  | 51.18% | 207  | 2.57%
1896 | 4,344  | 52.61% | 3,504  | 42.44%  | 409  | 4.95%
1892 | 2,679  | 35.37%  | 4,661  | 61.53% | 235  | 3.10%

## Communities

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Grandstands at the county fairgrounds in Jefferson File:Jefferson County Wisconsin Fairgrounds sign.jpgSign at fairgrounds

### Cities

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* Fort Atkinson
* Jefferson (county seat)
* Lake Mills
* Waterloo
* Watertown (partly in Dodge County)
* Whitewater (mostly in Walworth County)

### Villages

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* Cambridge (mostly in Dane County)
* Johnson Creek
* Lac La Belle (mostly in Waukesha County)
* Palmyra
* Sullivan

### Towns

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* Aztalan
* Cold Spring
* Concord
* Farmington
* Hebron
* Ixonia
* Jefferson
* Koshkonong
* Lake Mills
* Milford
* Oakland
* Palmyra
* Sullivan
* Sumner
* Waterloo
* Watertown

### Census-designated places

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* Hebron
* Helenville
* Ixonia
* Lake Koshkonong
* Lake Ripley
* Rome

### Unincorporated communities

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* Aztalan
* Blackhawk Island
* Busseyville
* Carcajou
* Cold Spring
* Concord
* Ebenezer
* Farmington
* Glenn Oaks Beach
* Heath Mills
* Hoopers Mill
* Hubbleton
* Jefferson Junction
* Koshkonong (partial)
* Koshkonong Manor
* Koshkonong Mounds
* Kroghville
* Lake Lac La Belle
* London (partial)
* Maranatha Baptist University (College Campus)
* Milford
* North Shore
* Oakland
* Pipersville
* Portland (partial)
* Slabtown
* Sylvan Mounds
* Vinnie Ha Ha

## Education

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School districts (all K-12) include:[17]

* Cambridge School District
* Edgerton School District
* Fort Atkinson School District
* Jefferson School District
* Johnson Creek School District
* Kettle Moraine School District
* Lake Mills Area School District
* Oconomowoc Area School District
* Palmyra-Eagle Area School District
* Waterloo School District
* Watertown School District
* Whitewater School District

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Wisconsin

## References

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1. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census: Jefferson County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
4. ^ https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9780738503073
5. ^ "Term: Jefferson County [origin of place name]" in Dictionary of Wisconsin History.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. ^ "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
14. ^ "Jefferson County Library Service". Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
15. ^ "Wisconsin Public Library Service Data, 2010" (PDF). Department of Public Instruction. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2012.
16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
17. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jefferson County, WI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022. \- Text list

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jefferson County, Wisconsin.

* Jefferson County
* Daily Jefferson County Union newspaper

Places adjacent to Jefferson County, Wisconsin

|  | Dodge County |

|
|

|  |
Dane County |

Jefferson County, Wisconsin

| Waukesha County
|  |
Rock County |  | Walworth County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States

County seat: Jefferson

Cities|

* Fort Atkinson
* Jefferson
* Lake Mills
* Waterloo
* Watertown‡
* Whitewater‡

Villages|

* Cambridge‡
* Johnson Creek
* Lac La Belle‡
* Palmyra
* Sullivan

Towns|

* Aztalan
* Cold Spring
* Concord
* Farmington
* Hebron
* Ixonia
* Jefferson
* Koshkonong
* Lake Mills
* Milford
* Oakland
* Palmyra
* Sullivan
* Sumner
* Waterloo
* Watertown

CDPs|

* Hebron
* Helenville
* Ixonia
* Lake Koshkonong
* Lake Ripley
* Rome

Unincorporated
communities|

* Aztalan
* Blackhawk Island
* Breezy Knoll
* Busseyville
* Carcajou
* Cold Spring
* Concord
* Ebenezer
* Farmington
* Glenn Oaks Beach
* Grellton
* Heath Mills
* Hoopers Mill
* Hubbleton
* Jefferson Junction
* Koshkonong‡
* Koshkonong Manor
* Koshkonong Mounds
* Kroghville
* Lake Lac La Belle
* London‡
* Milford
* North Shore
* Oak Hill
* Oakland
* Pipersville
* Portland‡
* Slabtown
* Sylvan Mounds
* Vinnie Ha Ha

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

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* e

State of Wisconsin

Madison (capital)

Topics|

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Society|

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Regions|

* Apostle Islands
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Major metropolitan areas
(pop. over 500,000)|

* Chicago metropolitan area
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Largest cities
(pop. over 50,000)|

* Appleton
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Smaller cities
(pop. 15,000 to 50,000)|

* Beaver Dam
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Largest villages
(pop. over 15,000)|

* Ashwaubenon
* Bellevue
* Caledonia
* Fox Crossing
* Germantown
* Howard
* Menomonee Falls
* Mount Pleasant
* Pleasant Prairie

Counties|

* Adams
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* Oneida
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* Pepin
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* Portage
* Price
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* Sauk
* Sawyer
* Shawano
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* Taylor
* Trempealeau
* Vernon
* Vilas
* Walworth
* Washburn
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* Waukesha
* Waupaca
* Waushara
* Winnebago
* Wood

Coordinates: 43°01′N 88°47′W﻿ / ﻿43.02°N 88.78°W﻿ / 43.02; -88.78
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