Kenosha County, Wisconsin

History

The Potowatomi inhabited the area that would become Kenosha County for centuries prior to the acquisition of the area in 1833. The city of Kenosha was founded in 1835, and Kenosha County was formed from Racine County on January 30, 1850. Its location led to development and factories being built in the 19th century. Manufacturing continued to be a key component of the economy into the 20th century.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 754.025 sqmi, of which 271.833 sqmi is land and 482.192 sqmi (63.95%) is water. It is the 69th largest county in Wisconsin by total area (fourth-smallest county). Although the county contains area from Lake Michigan.

Major highways

• [[Image:I-41.svg|20px]] Interstate 41
• [[Image:I-94.svg|20px]] Interstate 94
• [[Image:US 41.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 41 (Skokie Highway)
• [[Image:US 45.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 45
• [[Image:WIS 31.svg|20px]] Highway 31 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 32.svg|20px]] Highway 32 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 50.svg|20px]] Highway 50 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 75.svg|20px]] Highway 75 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 83.svg|20px]] Highway 83 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 142.svg|20px]] Highway 142 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 158.svg|20px]] Highway 158 (Wisconsin)
• [[Image:WIS 165.svg|20px]] Highway 165 (Wisconsin)

Railroads

• Canadian National
• Canadian Pacific
• Metra
• Union Pacific
• Kenosha station
• Kenosha Streetcar

Buses

• Kenosha Area Transit
• Jefferson Lines

Airport

Kenosha Regional Airport (KENW) serves the county and surrounding communities.

Adjacent counties

• Racine County (north)
• Allegan County, Michigan (east across Lake Michigan)
• Lake County, Illinois (south)
• McHenry County, Illinois (southwest)
• Walworth County (west)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1980 1990 2000 2010–2020

As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Kenosha County was $284,600.

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 67,631 estimated households in Kenosha County with an average of 2.43 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $79,412. Approximately 11.3% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Kenosha County has an estimated 67.0% employment rate, with 30.8% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 95.0% holding a high school diploma.

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (85.8%), Spanish (9.5%), Indo-European (3.3%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.9%), and Other (0.5%).

Racial and ethnic composition

2023 estimate

As of the 2023 estimate, there were 167,488 people and 67,631 households residing in the county. There were 73,786 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 86.3% White (72.8% NH White), 7.7% African American, 0.8% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 15.4% of the population.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 169,151 people, 66,842 households, and 42,891 families residing in the county. The population density was 622.3 PD/sqmi. There were 72,451 housing units at an average density of 266.5 /sqmi.

The median age was 39.0 years; 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.1 males age 18 and over.

There were 66,842 households in the county, of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.2% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Of the 72,451 housing units, 7.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 65.2% were owner-occupied and 34.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.

The racial makeup of the county was 75.9% White, 7.1% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.2% from some other race, and 9.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 14.5% of the population.

86.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 13.1% lived in rural areas.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 166,426 people, 62,650 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was 611.9 PD/sqmi. There were 69,288 housing units at an average density of 254.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 83.77% White, 6.64% African American, 0.49% Native American, 1.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.73% from some other races and 2.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 11.77% of the population.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 149,577 people, 56,057 households, and 38,455 families residing in the county. The population density was 548.0 PD/sqmi. There were 59,989 housing units at an average density of 220.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 88.38% White, 5.08% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.29% from some other races and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.19% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, 28.8% were of German, 10.4% Italian, 7.9% Irish, 7.6% Polish and 7.5% English.

There were 56,057 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

Government

The county legislature is known as the Board of Supervisors. It consists of 23 members, each elected from single-member districts. The county executive is elected in a spring countywide, nonpartisan vote. The county executive is Samantha Kerkman. The district attorney, treasurer, clerk, and register of deeds are elected in fall countywide, partisan elections held in presidential years, while the sheriff and clerk of circuit court are elected in fall countywide, partisan elections held in gubernatorial years.

Politics

In presidential elections, Kenosha County has voted Democratic for most of the past century. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win the county since President Nixon in 1972. In 2020 and 2024, Trump was able to gain more of the vote share with 2024 being the highest share for a Republican since 1972.

Education

Libraries

Library services are provided by the Kenosha County Library System (KCLS), comprising the Kenosha Public Library (KPL), serving the city of Kenosha and the village of Pleasant Prairie, and the Community Library, which serves the town of Randall and the villages of Paddock Lake, Salem Lakes, and Twin Lakes.

Communities

City

• Kenosha (county seat)

Villages

• Bristol
• Genoa City (mostly in Walworth County)
• Paddock Lake
• Pleasant Prairie
• Salem Lakes
• Somers
• Twin Lakes

Towns

• Brighton
• Paris
• Randall
• Somers
• Wheatland

Census-designated places

• Lily Lake
• New Munster
• Powers Lake

Unincorporated communities

• Bassett
• Benet Lake
• Brighton
• Camp Lake
• Chapin
• Cross Lake
• Fox River
• Klondike
• Lake Shangrila
• Liberty Corners
• Paris
• Salem
• Salem Oaks
• Slades Corners
• Trevor
• Truesdell
• Voltz Lake
• Wilmot

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

• Aurora

Notes

References

References

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2. "Find a County". [[National Association of Counties]].
3. (June 16, 1932). "Here's How Iron Got Its Name". The Rhinelander Daily News.
4. (August 1, 2021). "Forget the suburbs, the 'exurbs' are the place to be". [[Business Insider]].
5. (June 6, 2023). "Record-Breaking Year for Kenosha County Tourism in 2022". [[Kenosha News]].
6. (2008). "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". The [[Newberry Library]].
7. "Kenosha County". [[University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee]].
8. (August 16, 2012). "A Brief History of Kenosha, Wisconsin".
9. "2024 County Gazetteer Files – Wisconsin". [[United States Census Bureau]].
10. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Kenosha County, Wisconsin".
11. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024".
12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
13. (2007). "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
14. Forstall, Richard L.. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
15. "1980 General Population Characteristics - Wisconsin - Table 15 and Table 16".
16. "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Wisconsin".
17. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Wisconsin".
18. (January 8, 2025). "County Median Home Price". [[National Association of Realtors]].
19. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Kenosha County, Wisconsin".
20. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Kenosha County, Wisconsin".
21. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kenosha County, Wisconsin".
22. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kenosha County, Wisconsin".
23. Compiliation of American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut categories
24. Compiliation of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Asian Indian, and Vietnamese categories
25. Compiliation of Hawaiian, Guamanian, and Samoan categories. Other Pacific Islander groups would be included in the Some Other Race category
26. Calculated as the difference between the total population and all other categories
27. Not an option in the 1980 Census
28. Not an option in the 1990 Census
29. "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau.
30. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
31. "How many people live in Kenosha County, Wisconsin". USA Today.
32. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
33. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
34. (April 6, 2022). "Samantha Kerkman: Republican County Executive Elected In Kenosha County".
35. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
36. "Kenosha County Library System".