Editing Washington County, Wisconsin

{{Short description|County in Wisconsin, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Washington County
 | state             = Wisconsin
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1836
 | founded date         = 
 | named for            = [[George Washington]]
 | seat wl           = West Bend
 | largest city wl   = West Bend
<!-- Government -->
 | government_footnotes = 
 | government_type      = 
 | leader_title         = County Executive 
 | leader_name  = Josh Schoemann
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 436
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 431
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 5.0
 | area percentage      = 1.2%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 136761
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 138168 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | population_footnotes = <ref name="2020-census-55131" />
 | web                  = https://www.washcowisco.gov/
 | ex image             = Washington County Courthouse Wisconsin.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Washington County Courthouse and Jail|Old Washington County courthouse]]
 | time zone           = Central
 | district             = 5th }}

'''Washington 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 136,761.<ref name="2020-census-55131" /> Its [[county seat]] is [[West Bend, Wisconsin|West Bend]].<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}}</ref> The county was created from [[Wisconsin Territory]] in 1836 and organized in 1845.<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 15, 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> It was named after President [[George Washington]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Winnebago Took Its Name from an Indian Tribe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/915335/wisconsin_county_names/|newspaper=The Post-Crescent|date=December 28, 1963|page=14|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 25, 2014}} {{Open access}}</ref> Washington County is part of the [[Milwaukee metropolitan area]].

==History==
Washington County was created on December 7, 1836, by the [[Wisconsin Territory]] Legislature, with [[Port Washington, WI|Port Washington]] designated as the county seat. It was run administratively from [[Milwaukee County]] until 1840, when an Act of Organization allowed the county self-governance, and the county seat was moved to [[Grafton, WI|Grafton]], then called Hamburg. This solution was not satisfactory, as at that time four cities were vying to become the county seat: Port Washington, Grafton, [[Cedarburg, WI|Cedarburg]], and [[West Bend, WI|West Bend]]. At least four inconclusive elections were held between 1848 and 1852, but the results were unusable due to accusations of foul play and serious irregularities.

In 1852, the state Legislature attempted to split the county into a northern and southern half, with the northern half retaining the name and the southern half becoming Tuskola County. Voters refused this decision, so in 1853 the Legislature again split the county, this time into a western and eastern portion. The western portion remained Washington County, with West Bend as its county seat, while the eastern portion became [[Ozaukee County, WI|Ozaukee County]], with Port Washington as its county seat.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Quickert |first1=Carl |title=Washington County, Wisconsin: Past and Present |date=1912 |publisher=S.J. Clarke Publishing Company |pages=51–52 |url=https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wch/id/48341 |access-date=February 24, 2021}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|436|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|431|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.0|sqmi}} (1.2%) 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 9, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> It is the fifth-smallest county in Wisconsin by total area.

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[File:I-41.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 41]]
* [[File:US 41.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 41 in Wisconsin|U.S. Highway 41]]
* [[File:US 45.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 45 (Wisconsin)|U.S. Highway 45]]
* [[File:WIS 28.svg|20px]] [[Highway 28 (Wisconsin)]]
* [[File:WIS 33.svg|20px]] [[Highway 33 (Wisconsin)]]
* [[File:WIS 60.svg|20px]] [[Highway 60 (Wisconsin)]]
* [[File:WIS 83.svg|20px]] [[Highway 83 (Wisconsin)]]
* [[File:WIS 144.svg|20px]] [[Highway 144 (Wisconsin)]]
* [[File:WIS 145.svg|20px]] [[Highway 145 (Wisconsin)]]
* [[File:WIS 164.svg|20px]] [[Highway 164 (Wisconsin)]]
* [[File:WIS 167.svg|20px]] [[Highway 167 (Wisconsin)]]
* [[File:WIS 175.svg|20px]] [[Highway 175 (Wisconsin)]]
{{div col end}}

===Railroads===
*[[Canadian National]]
*[[Wisconsin and Southern Railroad]]

===Buses===

Washington County was formerly served by the [[Washington County Commuter Express]] until 2023 when the county board elected to terminate the service without replacement, as of the end of 2023 there are no public transit options linking Washington County to the rest of the Milwaukee Metro area. Limited county sponsored shared ride taxi service remains available.

===Airports===
[[Hartford Municipal Airport]] (KHXF) and [[West Bend Municipal Airport]] (KETB) serve the county and surrounding communities.

[[Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport]] is the nearest commercial airport.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin|Fond du Lac County]] - northwest
* [[Sheboygan County, Wisconsin|Sheboygan County]] - northeast
* [[Ozaukee County, Wisconsin|Ozaukee County]] - east
* [[Milwaukee County, Wisconsin|Milwaukee County]] - southeast
* [[Waukesha County, Wisconsin|Waukesha County]] - south
* [[Dodge County, Wisconsin|Dodge County]] - west

===Protected areas===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Ackerman's Grove County Park
* [[Allenton Marsh State Wildlife Area]]
* Goeden County Park
* Heritage Trails County Park
* Isadore and Lorraine Spaeth County Park
* [[Jackson Marsh State Wildlife Area]]
* [[Kettle Moraine State Forest]] (part)
* Leonard J. Yahr County Park
* [[Lizard Mound State Park]]
* [[Pike Lake, Washington County, Wisconsin|Pike Lake State Park]]
* Sandy Knoll County Park
* [[Theresa Marsh State Wildlife Area]] (part)
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 343
|1850= 19485
|1860= 23622
|1870= 23919
|1880= 23442
|1890= 22751
|1900= 23589
|1910= 23784
|1920= 25713
|1930= 26551
|1940= 28430
|1950= 33902
|1960= 46119
|1970= 63839
|1980= 84848
|1990= 95328
|2000= 117493
|2010= 131887
|2020= 136761
|estyear=
|estimate=
|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 9, 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 9, 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 9, 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 9, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55131.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 24, 2014|archive-date=February 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228033735/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55131.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020-census-55131" />
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|census of 2020]],<ref name="2020-census-55131">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Washington County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US55131&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 4, 2022}}</ref> the population was 136,761. The [[population density]] was {{convert|317.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 58,311 housing units at an average density of {{convert|135.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 91.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.3% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.1% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 4.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.5% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

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

===2000 census===
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 2000, there were 117,493 people, 43,842 households, and 32,749 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|273|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 45,808 housing units at an average density of {{convert|106|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.69% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.40% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.25% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.57% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.40% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.66% from two or more races. 1.30% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 59.9% were of [[german people|German]], 6.3% [[polish people|Polish]] and 5.5% [[irish people|Irish]] ancestry. 95.5% spoke [[english language|English]], 2.0% [[german language|German]] and 1.7% [[spanish language|Spanish]] as their first language.

There were 43,842 households, out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.70% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.
{{clear left}}

==Communities==
[[File:Washington County Sign WIS28 Looking West.jpg|thumb|right|Sign on [[Wisconsin Highway 28|WIS 28]] marking the county boundary]]

===Cities===
* [[Hartford, Washington County, Wisconsin|Hartford]] (partly in [[Dodge County, Wisconsin|Dodge County]])
* [[Milwaukee]] (mostly in [[Milwaukee County, Wisconsin|Milwaukee County]] and [[Waukesha County, Wisconsin|Waukesha County]])
* [[West Bend, Wisconsin|West Bend]] (county seat)

===Villages===
* [[Germantown, Wisconsin|Germantown]]
* [[Jackson (village), Wisconsin|Jackson]]
* [[Kewaskum, Wisconsin|Kewaskum]] (partly in [[Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin|Fond du Lac County]])
* [[Newburg, Wisconsin|Newburg]] (partly in [[Ozaukee County, Wisconsin|Ozaukee County]])
* [[Richfield, Washington County, Wisconsin|Richfield]]
* [[Slinger, Wisconsin|Slinger]]

===Towns===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Addison, Wisconsin|Addison]]
* [[Barton, Wisconsin|Barton]]
* [[Erin, Wisconsin|Erin]]
* [[Farmington, Washington County, Wisconsin|Farmington]]
* [[Germantown, Washington County, Wisconsin|Germantown]]
* [[Hartford (town), Wisconsin|Hartford]]
* [[Jackson, Washington County, Wisconsin|Jackson]]
* [[Kewaskum (town), Wisconsin|Kewaskum]]
* [[Polk, Wisconsin|Polk]]
* [[Trenton, Washington County, Wisconsin|Trenton]]
* [[Wayne, Washington County, Wisconsin|Wayne]]
* [[West Bend (town), Wisconsin|West Bend]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
* [[Allenton, Wisconsin|Allenton]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Ackerville, Wisconsin|Ackerville]]
* [[Addison (community), Wisconsin|Addison]]
* [[Aurora, Washington County, Wisconsin|Aurora]]
* [[Boltonville, Wisconsin|Boltonville]]
* [[Cedar Creek, Wisconsin|Cedar Creek]]
* [[Cedar Lake (community), Wisconsin|Cedar Lake]]
* [[Cheeseville, Wisconsin|Cheeseville]]
* [[Colgate, Wisconsin|Colgate]]
* [[Diefenbach Corners, Wisconsin|Diefenbach Corners]]
* [[Fillmore, Wisconsin|Fillmore]]
* [[Hubertus, Wisconsin|Hubertus]]
* [[Kirchhayn, Wisconsin|Kirchhayn]]
* [[Kohlsville, Wisconsin|Kohlsville]]
* [[Mayfield, Wisconsin|Mayfield]]
* [[Myra, Wisconsin|Myra]]
* [[Nenno, Wisconsin|Nenno]]
* [[Nabob, Wisconsin|Nabob]]
* [[Orchard Grove, Wisconsin|Orchard Grove]]
* [[Pike Lake, Washington County, Wisconsin|Pike Lake]]
* [[Pleasant Hill, Wisconsin|Pleasant Hill]]
* [[Rockfield, Wisconsin|Rockfield]]
* [[Rugby Junction, Wisconsin|Rugby Junction]]
* [[Saint Anthony, Wisconsin|Saint Anthony]]
* [[Saint Lawrence (community), Wisconsin|Saint Lawrence]]
* [[Saint Michaels, Wisconsin|Saint Michaels]]
* [[Thompson, Wisconsin|Thompson]]
* [[Toland's Prairie, Wisconsin|Toland's Prairie]]
* [[Victory Center, Wisconsin|Victory Center]]
* [[Wayne (community), Wisconsin|Wayne]]
* [[Young America, Wisconsin|Young America]]
{{div col end}}

== Public High Schools ==

* [[West Bend High School|East High School]]
* [[Germantown High School (Wisconsin)|Germantown High School]]
* [[Hartford Union High School]]
*[[Kewaskum High School]]
* [[Slinger High School]]
* [[West Bend High School|West High School]]

The East High School and West High Schools share the same building but are separated.

The Slinger High School's Owls and the Hartford Union High School's Orioles have a rivalry, playing every year at the Coaches vs Cancer Game. Despite their rivalry they have a joint swim team.

==Government==
The County Executive is Josh Schoemann, a Republican who is the 1st County Executive, with the office having been established in 2020.

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Washington County, Wisconsin|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|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|61,604|28,504|1,299|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|60,237|26,650|1,183|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|51,740|20,852|4,165|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|54,765|23,166|811|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|47,729|25,719|963|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|50,641|21,234|592|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|41,162|18,115|2,135|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|25,829|17,154|5,784|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|22,739|13,339|13,995|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|24,328|15,907|304|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|25,279|12,966|328|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|23,213|12,944|3,314|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|18,798|14,422|850|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|15,338|10,434|1,229|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|12,439|8,104|2,088|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|9,191|11,563|37|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|11,452|8,523|16|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|12,167|4,447|69|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|12,626|4,440|34|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|6,876|4,495|194|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|8,921|3,840|86|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|8,501|4,683|196|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,589|7,129|1,374|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,209|8,570|206|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|4,163|5,827|132|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive (Wisconsin)|1,987|980|5,164|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,949|1,328|471|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,892|2,732|125|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,799|2,425|478|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,588|2,625|119|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,565|2,243|125|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,614|2,524|65|Wisconsin}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,877|2,404|128|Wisconsin}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|1,700|2,624|30|Wisconsin}}
Like most other suburban counties surrounding Milwaukee (the "[[WOW counties]]"), Washington County is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] stronghold. Since [[1940 United States presidential election|1940]], the county has been won by the Republican presidential candidate in every election except 1964, as is the case in neighboring Ozaukee and Waukesha counties. Additionally, [[John F. Kennedy]], [[Lyndon Johnson]] and [[Jimmy Carter]] are the only Democratic presidential candidates since the [[1936 United States presidential election|1936 election]] to have crossed the 40 percent mark. In 2008, while [[Barack Obama]] won Wisconsin by 14 points, Washington County, one of the 13 out of 72 counties to vote for his Republican rival [[John McCain]] was his weakest county in the state, as McCain won it by almost 30 points; and other WOW counties were the only three counties where Obama did not win 40 percent of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2008 Presidential General Election Results - Wisconsin |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2008&off=0&elect=0&fips=55&f=0 |website=[[Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections]]}}</ref>

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* ''[http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wch/id/12277/rec/1 History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties, Wisconsin]''. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1881.
* Quickert, Carl. ''[http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wch/id/49018/rec/2 The Story of Washington County]''. West Bend, Wis.: Author, 1923.
* Quickert, Carl (ed.). ''[http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wch/id/48781/rec/4 Washington County, Wisconsin: Past and Present]''. Chicago: S. J. Clarke, 1912.

==External links==
* [http://www.co.washington.wi.us/ Washington County website]
* [http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/washington.pdf Washington County map] at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
* [http://www.visitwashingtoncounty.com/ Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Washington County, Wisconsin
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Sheboygan County, Wisconsin|Sheboygan County]]
|East      = [[Ozaukee County, Wisconsin|Ozaukee County]]
|Southeast = [[Milwaukee County, Wisconsin|Milwaukee County]]
|South     = [[Waukesha County, Wisconsin|Waukesha County]]
|Southwest = [[Jefferson County, Wisconsin|Jefferson County]]
|West      = [[Dodge County, Wisconsin|Dodge County]]
|Northwest = [[Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin|Fond du Lac County]]
}}

{{Milwaukee Metropolitan Area}}
{{Washington County, Wisconsin}}
{{Wisconsin}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|43.37|-88.23|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WI_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Washington County, Wisconsin| ]]
[[Category:1845 establishments in Wisconsin Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1845]]