Racine County, Wisconsin

Racine County (/rəˈsiːn, reɪ-/ rə-SEEN, ray-) is a county in southeastern Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, its population was 197,727,[1] making it Wisconsin's fifth-most populous county. Its county seat is Racine.[2] The county was founded in 1836, then a part of the Wisconsin Territory. Racine County comprises the Racine metropolitan statistical area. This area is part of the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha combined statistical area.[3] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 792 square miles (2,050 km2), of which 333 square miles (860 km2) is land and 460 square miles (1,200 km2) (58%) is water.[4] The county's unemployment rate was 5.6% in June 2021.[5]

Racine County
County
Racine County Courthouse
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.
Coordinates: 42.78°N 87.76°W / 42.78; -87.76
Country United States
State Wisconsin
FoundedDecember 7, 1836
SeatRacine
Largest cityRacine
Area
 • Total792 sq mi (2,050 km2)
 • Land333 sq mi (860 km2)
 • Water460 sq mi (1,200 km2)  58%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total197,727 Increase
 • Density594.4/sq mi (229.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.racinecounty.com

History

The Potawatomi people occupied the area of Racine County until European settlement. The Wisconsin Territory legislature established Racine County in 1836, separating it from Milwaukee County. Racine County originally extended to Wisconsin's southern border and encompassed the land that is now Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Kenosha County was created as a separate entity in 1850.[6]

Geography

The Root River is the county's namesake.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18403,475—
185014,973330.9%
186021,36042.7%
187026,74025.2%
188030,92215.6%
189036,26817.3%
190045,64425.9%
191057,42425.8%
192078,96137.5%
193090,21714.3%
194094,0474.2%
1950109,58516.5%
1960141,78129.4%
1970170,83820.5%
1980173,1321.3%
1990175,0341.1%
2000188,8317.9%
2010195,4083.5%
2020197,7271.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[11] 2020 census[12]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 197,727. The population density was 594.4 people per square mile (229.5 people/km2). There were 84,490 housing units at an average density of 254.0 units per square mile (98.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 72.0% White, 11.8% Black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 5.4% from other races, and 9.0% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 14.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Racine County

2000 census

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 188,831 people, 70,819 households, and 49,856 families residing in the county. The population density was 567 people per square mile (219 people/km2). There were 74,718 housing units at an average density of 224 units per square mile (86 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 83.04% White, 10.47% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.69% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 7.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.9% were of German, 7.4% Polish and 5.5% Irish ancestry.

There were 70,819 households, of which 34.5% had children under 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

Transportation

Major highways

Railroads

Buses

Airports

Communities
Map of Racine County, with municipal boundaries
Racine County sign on WIS 11

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

Government
1879 engraving of the Racine County courthouse

The County Board has 21 members, each elected from single-member districts.[14] The county executive is elected in a countywide vote. The county executive is Jonathan Delagrave. The Circuit Court is made up of ten judges, elected in countywide elections to six-year terms.

Politics

Racine County has been a bellwether county, having voted for the winning presidential candidate in 28 of the last 33 elections since 1896 despite its solidly Democratic county seat, Racine, Wisconsin. The only exceptions to this were when it voted for Charles Evans Hughes in 1916, Gerald Ford in 1976, Michael Dukakis in 1988, and Donald Trump in 2020.

United States presidential election results for Racine County, Wisconsin[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 54,479 51.18% 50,159 47.12% 1,813 1.70%
2016 46,681 49.50% 42,641 45.22% 4,980 5.28%
2012 49,347 47.74% 53,008 51.28% 1,009 0.98%
2008 45,954 45.66% 53,408 53.07% 1,280 1.27%
2004 52,456 51.65% 48,229 47.48% 884 0.87%
2000 44,014 49.53% 41,563 46.77% 3,288 3.70%
1996 30,107 38.81% 38,567 49.72% 8,894 11.47%
1992 32,310 36.79% 34,875 39.71% 20,634 23.50%
1988 36,342 47.42% 39,631 51.72% 658 0.86%
1984 42,092 52.84% 36,955 46.39% 616 0.77%
1980 39,683 49.76% 33,565 42.09% 6,494 8.14%
1976 37,088 49.00% 36,740 48.54% 1,858 2.45%
1972 38,490 56.41% 27,778 40.71% 1,968 2.88%
1968 28,028 44.78% 27,045 43.21% 7,513 12.00%
1964 21,434 36.14% 37,785 63.71% 87 0.15%
1960 29,562 49.03% 30,596 50.74% 136 0.23%
1956 31,968 58.21% 22,646 41.24% 305 0.56%
1952 30,628 54.65% 25,241 45.03% 180 0.32%
1948 19,029 43.45% 23,266 53.12% 1,502 3.43%
1944 18,220 41.11% 25,697 57.97% 408 0.92%
1940 18,753 43.63% 23,532 54.75% 693 1.61%
1936 10,850 28.73% 24,474 64.80% 2,447 6.48%
1932 10,754 32.49% 19,960 60.31% 2,383 7.20%
1928 17,423 56.56% 13,021 42.27% 362 1.18%
1924 13,040 50.21% 1,463 5.63% 11,466 44.15%
1920 14,406 71.95% 3,650 18.23% 1,965 9.81%
1916 5,081 47.77% 4,495 42.26% 1,061 9.97%
1912 2,606 29.42% 3,909 44.13% 2,343 26.45%
1908 5,490 52.77% 3,688 35.45% 1,226 11.78%
1904 5,573 55.61% 2,584 25.79% 1,864 18.60%
1900 5,925 58.37% 3,855 37.98% 371 3.65%
1896 5,849 57.61% 3,975 39.15% 329 3.24%
1892 3,956 46.19% 3,750 43.79% 858 10.02%

See also

References
  1. "2020 Decennial Census: Racine County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. US Department of Commerce Economic & Statistics Administration; US Census Bureau (January 2012). "Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI Combined Statistical Area" (PDF). Census.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  5. "Unemployment in the United States". Local Area Unemployment Statistics Map. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  6. Kellogg, Louise Phelps (1910). "Organization, Boundaries and Names of Wisconsin Counties". In Thwaites, Reuben Gold (ed.). Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin at its Fifty-Seventh Annual Meeting. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society. p. 190. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 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 8, 2015.
  11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Racine County, Wisconsin; United States". Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. Racine County Website, "Racine County". Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

Further reading
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