Waukesha County, Wisconsin

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 county seat and largest city is Waukesha.[2]

"Waukesha County" redirects here. For other uses, see Waukesha County (disambiguation).

Waukesha County, Wisconsin
County
Waukesha County Courthouse
Waukesha County Courthouse
Flag of Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Flag
Official seal of Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Seal
Motto: 
"Leading the way!"
Map of Wisconsin showing Waukesha County
Map of Wisconsin showing Waukesha County
Wisconsin's location in the contiguous United States
Wisconsin's location in the contiguous United States
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Incorporated1846
County seatWaukesha
Largest cityWaukesha
Area
 • Total581 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Land550 sq mi (1,400 km2)
 • Water31 sq mi (80 km2)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total406,978
 • Estimate 
(2021)
408,756
 • Rank3rd largest county in Wisconsin
 • Density740.3/sq mi (285.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (Central)
Area codes262, 414
Congressional districts1st, 5th
Interstates
U.S. Routeslink = U.S. Route 18 in Wisconsin link = U.S. Route 41 in Wisconsin link = U.S. Route 45 in Wisconsin
State Routeslink = Wisconsin Highway 16 link = Wisconsin Highway 36 link = Wisconsin Highway 59 link = Wisconsin Highway 67 link = Wisconsin Highway 83 link = Wisconsin Highway 100
AirportsWaukesha County Airport Capitol Airport
Websitewww.waukeshacounty.gov
Waukesha County sign on WIS 59

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.[3][4]

The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County occupies was a part of Michigan Territory when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834.[5] On July 4, 1836, the Wisconsin Territory was formed, which included land that is now in the state of Minnesota.[5] In January 1846, part of Milwaukee County was split off into Waukesha County.[6][7] Curtis Reed was the first county chairman.[6] When a vote decided the county seat, Waukesha defeated Pewaukee by two votes.[6] 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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11]

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

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
185019,258—
186026,83139.3%
187028,2745.4%
188028,9572.4%
189033,27014.9%
190035,2295.9%
191037,1005.3%
192042,61214.9%
193052,35822.9%
194062,74419.8%
195085,90136.9%
1960158,24984.2%
1970231,36546.2%
1980280,32621.2%
1990304,7158.7%
2000360,76718.4%
2010389,8918.1%
2020406,9784.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010–2020[16]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020,[17] 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.

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.[18] 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

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 360,767 people, 135,229 households, and 100,475 families living in the county. The population density was 649 people per square mile (251 people/km2). There were 140,309 housing units at an average density of 252 units per square mile (97 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.77% White, 0.73% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.87% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 2.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.5% were of German, 9.2% Polish, 7.5% Italian, and 7.7% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.3% spoke English, 2.2% Spanish and 1.2% German as their first language.[18] Of the 135,229 households 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 20.90% of households were one person and 8.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 26.30% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median household income was $62,839 and the median family income was $71,773 (these figures had risen to $71,907 and $85,116 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[19]). Males had a median income of $49,232 versus $31,643 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,164. About 1.7% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Elected officials

Departments

There are 12 departments in Waukesha County, with most located in the Administration Center.

  • Administration

The Department of Administration has five divisions that provide administrative services to the county: the finance division, the human resources division, the information technology division, the purchasing and risk management division, and the administrative services division.

  • Aging and Disability Resource Center

The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Waukesha County (ADRC) provides information, assistance, counseling and supportive services regarding adults age 60 and above, adults with physical or developmental disabilities; and adults with mental health or substance abuse concerns. It also provides publicly funded long-term care to county residents.[20]

  • Airport

The Waukesha County Airport serves commercial and private aircraft and is supervised by the Airport Commission.

  • Corporation Counsel
  • Emergency Preparedness

The Department of Emergency Preparedness encompasses Waukesha County Communications, providing 9-1-1 dispatch services to the majority of the county, Waukesha County Emergency Management, and Waukesha County Radio Services, providing technical and maintenance support to the countywide trunked radio system (OASIS) and 9-1-1 centers.

The Bridges Library System works in partnership with 16 public libraries in Waukesha County to cooperatively provide library services. This includes the purchase of shared electronic databases, summer library programming, and circulation services. Bridges also oversees Internet access for member libraries.

  • Health and Human Services
  • Medical Examiner

The Medical Examiner investigates suspicious or unexplained deaths or deaths that result from a homicide, suicide, or accident. The office also generates statistics for the county.

  • Parks and Land Use

The Department of Parks and Land Use (PLU), oversees six divisions that design and maintain county parks. The division also works with state and federal agencies. The planning division administers permits for construction and landscaping activities. The land conservation division works to educate on and regulate soil and water issues. Most programs look to control water runoff and soil erosion. The recycling and solid waste division oversees recycling and disposal programs. It also performs educational outreach on topics such as composting and waste reduction. The official mascot of the recycling division is Recycle Raccoon. The environmental health division oversees animal welfare issues, food safety, and air, water and sewage, and safety issues (such as radon testing, well testing, and septic system monitoring). The land information systems division coordinates databases of information relating to land use and development.

  • Public Works
  • Sheriff
  • University of Wisconsin Extension

The University of Wisconsin-Extension is a partnership with Waukesha County and brings the research of the UW System to families, businesses, governments, and organizations through educational outreach programs. The UW-Extension office also houses 180° Juvenile Diversion, a non-profit organization that rehabilitates first-time young offenders in Waukesha County.

  • Veterans

Politics
United States presidential election results for Waukesha County, Wisconsin[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 159,649 59.57% 103,906 38.77% 4,441 1.66%
2016 142,543 59.99% 79,224 33.34% 15,826 6.66%
2012 162,798 66.76% 78,779 32.31% 2,279 0.93%
2008 145,152 62.32% 85,339 36.64% 2,406 1.03%
2004 154,926 67.25% 73,626 31.96% 1,811 0.79%
2000 133,105 65.33% 64,319 31.57% 6,310 3.10%
1996 91,729 55.43% 57,354 34.66% 16,389 9.90%
1992 91,461 51.04% 50,270 28.06% 37,451 20.90%
1988 90,467 60.76% 57,598 38.68% 828 0.56%
1984 92,426 65.71% 47,313 33.64% 921 0.65%
1980 81,059 58.25% 46,612 33.50% 11,477 8.25%
1976 70,418 58.22% 47,487 39.26% 3,048 2.52%
1972 59,399 60.85% 34,573 35.42% 3,650 3.74%
1968 47,557 54.98% 31,947 36.93% 7,000 8.09%
1964 35,502 47.07% 39,796 52.76% 131 0.17%
1960 39,380 57.56% 28,963 42.33% 76 0.11%
1956 35,212 68.93% 15,496 30.33% 376 0.74%
1952 30,238 65.58% 15,756 34.17% 117 0.25%
1948 17,324 54.22% 13,952 43.67% 674 2.11%
1944 17,995 57.44% 13,038 41.62% 293 0.94%
1940 16,726 55.86% 12,859 42.94% 358 1.20%
1936 8,921 35.41% 14,982 59.47% 1,291 5.12%
1932 8,538 37.76% 13,487 59.65% 584 2.58%
1928 12,218 60.15% 7,846 38.63% 247 1.22%
1924 7,026 45.45% 1,965 12.71% 6,468 41.84%
1920 8,665 71.63% 2,759 22.81% 673 5.56%
1916 3,768 45.21% 4,192 50.29% 375 4.50%
1912 2,714 36.86% 3,594 48.81% 1,055 14.33%
1908 4,758 55.91% 3,206 37.67% 546 6.42%
1904 5,247 62.63% 2,693 32.14% 438 5.23%
1900 5,127 60.91% 3,016 35.83% 275 3.27%
1896 5,411 60.93% 3,192 35.95% 277 3.12%
1892 3,600 47.54% 3,635 48.01% 337 4.45%

Waukesha County is the largest Republican-leaning county in Wisconsin and has been one of the GOP's most solid suburban strongholds for many years. It is one of the WOW counties, which share similar traits in suburban Wisconsin.

It has not supported a Democrat for president since 1964, and has only supported a Democrat four other times since 1892. While other non-Southern suburban counties have moved towards Democrats since the 1990s, Waukesha and other Milwaukee suburbs have continued to vote solidly Republican.[22] Underlining this, Lyndon Johnson's narrow win in 1964 is the last time that a Democratic presidential candidate has even garnered 40 percent of the county's vote, though Jimmy Carter, Michael Dukakis, and Joe Biden came close. In 2008, John McCain carried the county by a 25.7% margin over Barack Obama, when Obama won Wisconsin by 13.9% over McCain.[23]

The county is split between 10 state assembly districts, all but one which are held by Republicans, and six state senate districts, all held by Republicans.

2011 Supreme Court election

The initial unofficial statewide tally in the 2011 Wisconsin Supreme Court election had Democratic challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg defeating incumbent justice David Prosser by a 204-vote margin. On the Thursday after the election, Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus reported, among other smaller errors, a failure to report votes in the Waukesha city of Brookfield. The newly reported votes gave Prosser the lead, and he retained his seat.[24] Media reports stemming from this incident referred to the county as "crucial Waukesha County," and the phrase has continued to be widely used in U.S. political media as an in-joke, despite the county being a Republican stronghold.[25][26][27]

Communities

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns/neighborhoods
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.[28]

Climate
Waukesha County
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
102
 
 
−6
−14
 
 
96
 
 
−4
−12
 
 
69
 
 
5
−5
 
 
160
 
 
18
3
 
 
102
 
 
23
9
 
 
148
 
 
25
14
 
 
95
 
 
27
17
 
 
105
 
 
26
17
 
 
70
 
 
22
13
 
 
95
 
 
15
5
 
 
66
 
 
8
−1
 
 
79
 
 
−2
−11
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [29]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
4
 
 
21
7
 
 
3.8
 
 
25
10
 
 
2.7
 
 
41
23
 
 
6.3
 
 
64
37
 
 
4
 
 
73
48
 
 
5.8
 
 
77
57
 
 
3.7
 
 
81
63
 
 
4.1
 
 
79
63
 
 
2.8
 
 
72
55
 
 
3.7
 
 
59
41
 
 
2.6
 
 
46
30
 
 
3.1
 
 
28
12
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Education

School districts include:[30]

K-12:

Secondary:

Elementary:

Transportation

Railroads

Buses

See also

References
  1. "QuickFacts: Waukesha County, Wisconsin". www.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "American Indians in Wisconsin: History". Wisconsin Department of Health Services. April 21, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  4. "Waukesha/Pewaukee, Wisconsin: Explorers Meet Our History". Visit Waukesha. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  5. Barquist, Barbara; Barquist, David (1987). "The Beginning". In Haley, Leroy (ed.). The Summit of Oconomowoc: 150 Years of Summit Town. Summit History Group. p. 6.
  6. Barquist, Barbara; Barquist, David (1987). "The Beginning". In Haley, Leroy (ed.). The Summit of Oconomowoc: 150 Years of Summit Town. Summit History Group. p. 7.
  7. Barquist, Barbara; Barquist, David (1987). "The Early Years". In Haley, Leroy (ed.). The Summit of Oconomowoc: 150 Years of Summit Town. Summit History Group. p. 37.
  8. "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
  9. The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin: Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources; an Extensive and Minute Sketch of Its Cities, Towns and Villages—their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Churches, Schools and Societies; Its War Record, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers; the Whole Preceded by a History of Wisconsin, Statistics of the State, and an Abstract of Its Laws and Constitution and of the Constitution of the United States Western Historical Company, 1880 pages 173, 232, 233
  10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  11. "Driving on the Right: America's Polarized Transportation Policies". Governing. February 24, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  14. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  15. "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.
  16. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  17. "2020 Decennial Census: Waukesha County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  19. "Waukesha County, Wisconsin – Fact Sheet – American FactFinder". Factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  20. Mission Statement from "Waukesha County". Archived from the original on May 22, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2008.
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  22. Cohn, Nate (May 6, 2014). "The Curious Case of Milwaukee's Suburban Voters". New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  23. 2008 U.S. Presidential Election Results
  24. Stein, Jason; Walker, Laurel; Glauber, Bill (April 7, 2011). "Corrected Brookfield tally puts Prosser ahead after 7,500-vote gain". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  25. Gallitz, Sean (April 5, 2016). "The Wisconsin county that could stop Donald Trump". CBS News. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  26. Kondik, Kyle (May 5, 2014). "10 Maps That Explain the 2014 Midterms". POLITICO. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  27. Gehrke, Joel (February 20, 2015). "Ron Johnson, Ready Already for 2016". National Review. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  28. Mike Mulvey. "Colleges squaring off over taxes". Milwaukee Sentinel, May 18, 1991, part 1, p. 6.
  29. "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  30. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Waukesha County, WI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022. - Text list

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