Editing Jefferson County, Wisconsin

{{Short description|County in Wisconsin, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county     = Jefferson County
 | state               = Wisconsin
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1839
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl           = Jefferson
 | largest city wl   = Watertown
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 583
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 556
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 26
 | area percentage      = 4.5
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 84900
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 85743 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | population_footnotes = <ref name="2020-census-55055" />
 | time zone           = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.jeffersoncountywi.gov
 | named for            = [[Thomas Jefferson]]
 | ex image             = JeffersonCountyCourthouseWIS26.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Jefferson County courthouse
 | district             = 5th }}

'''Jefferson County''' is a [[county (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Wisconsin]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 84,900.<ref name="2020-census-55055" /> Its [[county seat]] is [[Jefferson, Wisconsin|Jefferson]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> Jefferson County comprises the [[Watertown, Wisconsin|Watertown]]-[[Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin|Fort Atkinson]], WI [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also included in the [[Milwaukee]]-[[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]]-[[Waukesha, Wisconsin|Waukesha]], WI [[Milwaukee metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
Jefferson County was created in 1836 as part of [[Wisconsin Territory]] and was organized in 1839.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/WI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies|website=Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=[[Newberry Library|The Newberry Library]]|date=2007|access-date=August 14, 2015|archive-date=April 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414132220/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/WI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Jefferson County was founded by "Yankee" settlers from [[New England]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jefferson County Historic Alliance |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44807135 |title=Jefferson county, Wisconsin |publisher=Arcadia |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-7385-0307-3 |location=Charleston, SC |oclc=44807135}}</ref> It was named after [[Jefferson County, New York]], where some of the original settlers came from.<ref>"[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=3400&search_term=JEFFERSON+COUNTY Term: Jefferson County &#91;origin of place name&#93;] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212857/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=3400&search_term=JEFFERSON+COUNTY |date=March 4, 2016 }}" in ''Dictionary of Wisconsin History''.</ref> The town of [[Watertown, Wisconsin]], was named after [[Watertown, New York]], in [[Jefferson County, New York]].

==Geography==
[[File:Jefferson County WI Pie Chart.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Jefferson County]]

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|583|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|556|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|26|sqmi}} (4.5%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_55.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 5, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
{|
|-valign=top
|
* [[Image:I-94.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 94]]
* [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 12]]
* [[Image:US 18.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 18]]
* [[Image:WIS 16.svg|20px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 16]]
* [[Image:WIS 19.svg|20px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 19]]
|
* [[Image:WIS 26.svg|20px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 26]]
* [[Image:WIS 59.svg|20px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 59]]
* [[Image:WIS 89.svg|20px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 89]]
* [[Image:WIS 106.svg|20px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 106]]
* [[Image:WIS 134.svg|20px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 134]]
|}

===Railroads===
*[[Amtrak]]
*[[Canadian Pacific]]
*[[Union Pacific]]
*[[Wisconsin and Southern Railroad]]

===Buses===

===Airports===
* [[Watertown Municipal Airport (Wisconsin)|Watertown Municipal Airport]] (KRYV) provides services for the county and surrounding communities.
* [[Fort Atkinson Municipal Airport]] (61C), enhances county service.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Dodge County, Wisconsin|Dodge County]] - north
* [[Waukesha County, Wisconsin|Waukesha County]] - east
* [[Walworth County, Wisconsin|Walworth County]] - southeast
* [[Rock County, Wisconsin|Rock County]] - southwest
* [[Dane County, Wisconsin|Dane County]] - west

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 914
|1850= 15317
|1860= 30438
|1870= 34040
|1880= 32156
|1890= 33530
|1900= 34789
|1910= 34306
|1920= 35022
|1930= 36785
|1940= 38868
|1950= 43069
|1960= 50094
|1970= 60060
|1980= 66152
|1990= 67783
|2000= 74021
|2010= 83686
|2020= 84900
|estyear= 2023
|estimate= 85743
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 5, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 5, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wi190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=August 5, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=August 5, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55055.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 21, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606160626/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55055.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020-census-55055" />
}}

As of the [[2020 United States census|census of 2020]],<ref name="2020-census-55055">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Jefferson County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US55055&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 5, 2022}}</ref> the population was 84,900. The [[population density]] was {{convert|152.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 36,376 housing units at an average density of {{convert|65.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.0% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.8% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.4% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 5.8% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 8.3% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

{{Stack|[[Image:USA Jefferson County, Wisconsin age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|2000 Census Age Pyramid for Jefferson County]]}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 83,686 people, 32,117 households, and 21,872 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|133|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 30,092 housing units at an average density of {{convert|54|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The county's racial makeup was 96.34% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.28% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.34% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.45% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.65% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.93% from two or more races. 4.09% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 55.1% were of [[German people|German]], 6.1% [[norwegian people|Norwegian]], 6.0% [[Irish people|Irish]] and 5.1% [[United States|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 [[Marriage|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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publication/p01161-2019-tb.xlsx |title=Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables |access-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619175940/https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publication/p01161-2019-tb.xlsx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Dwight Foster Public Library]], which serves as the resource library for the county,<ref>{{cite web|title=Jefferson County Library Service|url=http://jeffersoncountylibraryservice.wordpress.com|access-date=April 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517070830/http://jeffersoncountylibraryservice.wordpress.com/|archive-date=May 17, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> had a total service population of 19,095 in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wisconsin Public Library Service Data, 2010|url=http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/pdf/10publib.pdf|publisher=Department of Public Instruction|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306202912/http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/pdf/10publib.pdf|archive-date=March 6, 2012}}</ref> It is a member of the [[Bridges Library System]].

==Government==
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.{{Clarify|date=April 2009}} The County Board elects a chairman, vice-chairman, and second vice-chairman.

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Jefferson County, Wisconsin|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|28,771|20,574|801|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|27,208|19,904|867|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|23,417|16,569|3,123|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|23,517|20,158|606|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|21,096|21,448|622|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|23,776|17,925|414|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|19,204|15,203|1,692|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|12,681|13,188|3,905|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|13,072|11,593|8,137|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|14,309|11,816|217|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|17,780|10,788|216|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|16,174|11,335|2,491|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|15,528|12,577|707|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|14,621|9,303|663|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|12,478|8,716|1,504|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|8,741|13,295|48|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|14,133|8,757|39|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|13,357|6,452|122|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|13,884|6,827|32|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|8,244|7,256|228|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|10,245|6,988|84|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|10,178|7,842|149|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|5,599|11,144|581|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|5,062|11,230|156|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|8,612|6,305|116|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive (Wisconsin)|4,250|1,374|7,987|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|8,865|1,844|320|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,785|3,645|206|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,926|4,381|714|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|3,207|4,492|233|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|3,669|3,778|249|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|3,729|4,127|207|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|4,344|3,504|409|Wisconsin}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|2,679|4,661|235|Wisconsin}}
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.

==Communities==
[[File:Jefferson County Wisconsin Fairgrounds Grandstand.jpg|thumb|right|Grandstands at the county fairgrounds in Jefferson]]
[[File:Jefferson County Wisconsin Fairgrounds sign.jpg|thumb|right|Sign at fairgrounds]]

===Cities===
* [[Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin|Fort Atkinson]]
* [[Jefferson, Wisconsin|Jefferson]] (county seat)
* [[Lake Mills, Wisconsin|Lake Mills]]
* [[Waterloo, Wisconsin|Waterloo]]
* [[Watertown, Wisconsin|Watertown]] (partly in [[Dodge County, Wisconsin|Dodge County]])
* [[Whitewater, Wisconsin|Whitewater]] (mostly in [[Walworth County, Wisconsin|Walworth County]])

===Villages===
* [[Cambridge, Wisconsin|Cambridge]] (mostly in [[Dane County, Wisconsin|Dane County]])
* [[Johnson Creek, Wisconsin|Johnson Creek]]
* [[Lac La Belle, Wisconsin|Lac La Belle]] (mostly in [[Waukesha County, Wisconsin|Waukesha County]])
* [[Palmyra, Wisconsin|Palmyra]]
* [[Sullivan, Wisconsin|Sullivan]]

===Towns===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Aztalan, Wisconsin|Aztalan]]
* [[Cold Spring, Wisconsin|Cold Spring]]
* [[Concord, Wisconsin|Concord]]
* [[Farmington, Jefferson County, Wisconsin|Farmington]]
* [[Hebron, Wisconsin|Hebron]]
* [[Ixonia, Wisconsin|Ixonia]]
* [[Jefferson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin|Jefferson]]
* [[Koshkonong, Wisconsin|Koshkonong]]
* [[Lake Mills (town), Wisconsin|Lake Mills]]
* [[Milford, Wisconsin|Milford]]
* [[Oakland, Jefferson County, Wisconsin|Oakland]]
* [[Palmyra (town), Wisconsin|Palmyra]]
* [[Sullivan (town), Wisconsin|Sullivan]]
* [[Sumner, Jefferson County, Wisconsin|Sumner]]
* [[Waterloo, Jefferson County, Wisconsin|Waterloo]]
* [[Watertown (town), Wisconsin|Watertown]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
* [[Hebron (CDP), Wisconsin|Hebron]]
* [[Helenville, Wisconsin|Helenville]]
* [[Ixonia (CDP), Wisconsin|Ixonia]]
* [[Lake Koshkonong, Wisconsin|Lake Koshkonong]]
* [[Lake Ripley, Wisconsin|Lake Ripley]]
* [[Rome, Jefferson County, Wisconsin|Rome]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Aztalan (community), Wisconsin|Aztalan]]
* [[Blackhawk Island, Wisconsin|Blackhawk Island]]
* [[Busseyville, Wisconsin|Busseyville]]
* [[Carcajou, Wisconsin|Carcajou]]
* [[Cold Spring (community), Wisconsin|Cold Spring]]
* [[Concord (community), Wisconsin|Concord]]
* [[Ebenezer, Wisconsin|Ebenezer]]
* [[Farmington (community), Wisconsin|Farmington]]
* [[Glenn Oaks Beach, Wisconsin|Glenn Oaks Beach]]
* [[Heath Mills, Wisconsin|Heath Mills]]
* [[Hoopers Mill, Wisconsin|Hoopers Mill]]
* [[Hubbleton, Wisconsin|Hubbleton]]
* [[Jefferson Junction, Wisconsin|Jefferson Junction]]
* [[Koshkonong (community), Wisconsin|Koshkonong]] (partial)
* [[Koshkonong Manor, Wisconsin|Koshkonong Manor]]
* [[Koshkonong Mounds, Wisconsin|Koshkonong Mounds]]
* [[Kroghville, Wisconsin|Kroghville]]
* [[Lake Lac La Belle, Wisconsin|Lake Lac La Belle]]
* [[London, Wisconsin|London]] (partial)
* [[Maranatha Baptist University]] (College Campus)
* [[Milford (community), Wisconsin|Milford]]
* [[North Shore, Wisconsin|North Shore]]
* [[Oakland (community), Jefferson County, Wisconsin|Oakland]]
* [[Pipersville, Wisconsin|Pipersville]]
* [[Portland (community), Dodge County, Wisconsin|Portland]] (partial)
* [[Slabtown, Wisconsin|Slabtown]]
* [[Sylvan Mounds, Wisconsin|Sylvan Mounds]]
* [[Vinnie Ha Ha, Wisconsin|Vinnie Ha Ha]]
{{div col end}}

==Education==
School districts (all K-12) include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st55_wi/schooldistrict_maps/c55055_jefferson/DC20SD_C55055.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st55_wi/schooldistrict_maps/c55055_jefferson/DC20SD_C55055.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jefferson County, WI|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 31, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st55_wi/schooldistrict_maps/c55055_jefferson/DC20SD_C55055_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Cambridge School District (Wisconsin)|Cambridge School District]]
* [[Edgerton School District]]
* [[Fort Atkinson School District]]
* [[Jefferson School District (Wisconsin)|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]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Wisconsin]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/ Jefferson County]
* [https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/jefferson.pdf Jefferson County map] from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
* [http://www.dailyunion.com/ ''Daily Jefferson County Union''] newspaper

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Jefferson County, Wisconsin
|North     = [[Dodge County, Wisconsin|Dodge County]]
|Northeast = [[Washington County, Wisconsin|Washington County]]
|East      = [[Waukesha County, Wisconsin|Waukesha County]]
|Southeast = [[Walworth County, Wisconsin|Walworth County]]
|South     =
|Southwest = [[Rock County, Wisconsin|Rock County]]
|West      = [[Dane County, Wisconsin|Dane County]]
|Northwest = [[Columbia County, Wisconsin|Columbia County]]
}}

{{Jefferson County, Wisconsin}}
{{Wisconsin}}
{{authority control}}

{{coord|43.02|-88.78|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WI_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Jefferson County, Wisconsin| ]]
[[Category:1839 establishments in Wisconsin Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1839]]