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Winnebago County, Wisconsin

Coordinates: 44°04′N 88°38′W / 44.06°N 88.64°W / 44.06; -88.64
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Winnebago County
County
Winnebago County Courthouse
Winnebago County Courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Winnebago County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°04′N 88°38′W / 44.06°N 88.64°W / 44.06; -88.64
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1848
Named forWinnebago people
SeatOshkosh
Largest cityOshkosh
Area
 • Total
579 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Land434 sq mi (1,120 km2)
 • Water144 sq mi (370 km2)  25%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
171,730
 • Estimate 
(2023)
171,735 Increase
 • Density395.1/sq mi (152.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts6th, 8th
Websitewww.co.winnebago.wi.us

Winnebago County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 171,730. Its county seat is Oshkosh.[2] It was named for the historic Winnebago people, a federally recognized Native American tribe now known as the Ho-Chunk Nation. Chief Oshkosh was a Menominee leader in the area. Winnebago County comprises the Oshkosh-Neenah, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI Combined Statistical Area.

History

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The region was occupied by several Native American tribes in the period of European encounter, including the Sauk, Fox, Menominee, and Ojibwa (known as Chippewa in the US). French traders from what is now Canada had early interaction with them, as did French Jesuit missionaries, who sought to convert them to Catholicism. European and American settlement encroached on their traditional territories, and the United States negotiated treaties in the mid-19th century to keep pushing the Indians to the west.

Winnebago County was created in 1840 by European Americans and organized in 1848.[3] The name Winnebago is of Algonquin origin, with variations used by the Fox and Potowatomi to refer to the Fox River below Lake Winnebago, which sometimes got muddy and full of fish.[4] It means 'people dwelling by the fetid or ill-smelling water', which may also refer to a sulfur spring.[5] The county seat, Oshkosh, was incorporated as a city in 1853, when it already had a population of nearly 2,800.[6]

Chief Oshkosh was the namesake for the county seat. A leader of the Menominee in the region, he was successful in gaining authorization from the federal government for 2500 of his people to remain in Wisconsin, at a time when the government was pushing for their removal west of the Mississippi River.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 579 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 434 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 144 square miles (370 km2) (25%) is water.[7]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Railroads

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Buses

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Airports

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Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) serves the county and surrounding communities.

Brennand Airport (79C) in the Town of Clayton is a major recreational aircraft hub year-round.

Commercial airline service for Winnebago County is provided by Appleton International Airport in the neighboring Outagamie County.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1840135—
185010,1677,431.1%
186023,770133.8%
187037,27956.8%
188042,74014.6%
189050,09717.2%
190058,22516.2%
191062,1166.7%
192063,8972.9%
193076,62219.9%
194080,5075.1%
195091,10313.2%
1960107,92818.5%
1970129,93120.4%
1980131,7031.4%
1990140,3206.5%
2000156,76311.7%
2010166,9946.5%
2020171,7302.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[12]

2020 census

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As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 171,730. The population density was 395.1 people per square mile (152.5 people/km2). There were 76,046 housing units at an average density of 174.9 units per square mile (67.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.2% White, 3.3% Asian, 3.0% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.8% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 4.8% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Winnebago County

2000 census

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As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 156,763 people, 61,157 households, and 39,568 families residing in the county. The population density was 357 people per square mile (138 people/km2). There were 64,721 housing units at an average density of 148 units per square mile (57 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.92% White, 1.12% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.4% were of German, 6.2% Irish and 5.7% Polish ancestry. 94.6% spoke English, 2.5% Spanish and 1.0% Hmong as their first language.

There were 61,157 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.30% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.

By age, 23.80% of the population was under 18, 11.80% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males.

In 2017, there were 1,833 births, giving a general fertility rate of 56.5 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 15th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[14] Additionally, there were 123 reported induced abortions performed on women of Winnebago County residence in 2017.[15]

Government

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Winnebago County is governed by the 36-member Winnebago County Board of Supervisors. Supervisors are elected to the board in a nonpartisan election held the first Tuesday of April in even numbered years and serve two-year terms. The board has several committees. It meets on the third Tuesday of each month at the Winnebago County Courthouse in Oshkosh.

Politics

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Winnebago County has become a swing county in recent decades. It has voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election since 1980, except in 1992 when it supported George Bush, and in 2020, when it supported Donald Trump.

United States presidential election results for Winnebago County, Wisconsin[16][17][18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 49,179 51.57% 44,660 46.83% 1,532 1.61%
2020 47,796 50.83% 44,060 46.86% 2,176 2.31%
2016 43,445 49.86% 37,047 42.52% 6,643 7.62%
2012 42,122 47.24% 45,449 50.97% 1,602 1.80%
2008 37,946 43.28% 48,167 54.94% 1,564 1.78%
2004 46,542 52.53% 40,943 46.21% 1,111 1.25%
2000 38,330 50.38% 33,983 44.67% 3,767 4.95%
1996 27,880 42.73% 29,564 45.31% 7,803 11.96%
1992 33,709 43.56% 27,234 35.19% 16,443 21.25%
1988 35,085 54.82% 28,508 44.54% 410 0.64%
1984 39,014 62.74% 22,791 36.65% 378 0.61%
1980 34,286 53.28% 24,203 37.61% 5,864 9.11%
1976 32,149 55.35% 24,485 42.16% 1,448 2.49%
1972 29,488 57.28% 20,450 39.72% 1,544 3.00%
1968 25,361 53.84% 18,605 39.50% 3,138 6.66%
1964 21,084 47.03% 23,636 52.72% 115 0.26%
1960 28,598 61.72% 17,656 38.11% 80 0.17%
1956 28,759 71.44% 11,115 27.61% 380 0.94%
1952 28,172 68.17% 13,016 31.49% 140 0.34%
1948 17,165 55.18% 13,116 42.16% 829 2.66%
1944 19,310 59.56% 12,841 39.61% 269 0.83%
1940 18,697 54.14% 15,570 45.08% 268 0.78%
1936 11,679 36.93% 18,522 58.57% 1,420 4.49%
1932 11,505 41.31% 15,591 55.98% 756 2.71%
1928 16,191 61.10% 9,995 37.72% 315 1.19%
1924 11,239 48.70% 1,801 7.80% 10,038 43.50%
1920 12,035 69.53% 3,397 19.63% 1,876 10.84%
1916 5,923 50.49% 5,242 44.69% 566 4.82%
1912 1,922 17.01% 4,631 41.00% 4,743 41.99%
1908 6,797 52.24% 5,511 42.36% 703 5.40%
1904 7,720 62.63% 4,006 32.50% 600 4.87%
1900 7,467 55.67% 5,605 41.78% 342 2.55%
1896 7,898 59.23% 5,089 38.17% 347 2.60%
1892 5,354 45.06% 5,893 49.60% 635 5.34%

Communities

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Cities

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Villages

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns/neighborhoods

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Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census: Winnebago County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. 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 15, 2015.
  4. ^ "Winnebago", Dictionary.com
  5. ^ "Winnebago Took Its Name from an Indian Tribe". The Post-Crescent. December 28, 1963. p. 14. Retrieved August 25, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ City of Oshkosh. About Us.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  10. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  11. ^ "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 9, 2015.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Reported Induced Abortions in Wisconsin, Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013-2017, Table 18, pages 17-18
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  17. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 4,098 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 478 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 146 votes, and Independent candidate Arthur Reimer received 21 votes.
  18. ^ https://www.co.winnebago.wi.us/sites/default/files/uploaded-files/Summary%20State%20of%20the%20Board%20of%20Canvassers%2011.5.2024.pdf
  19. ^ "Madison, Martin". Political Graveyard. Retrieved December 21, 2013.

Further reading

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44°04′N 88°38′W / 44.06°N 88.64°W / 44.06; -88.64

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