Kenosha County, Wisconsin

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Kenosha County (Template:IPAc-en) is located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 169,151,<ref name="2020 Census (City)">Template:Cite web</ref> and was estimated to be 168,754 in 2024,<ref name="QF"/> making it the eighth-most populous county in Wisconsin. Its county seat and the largest city is Kenosha.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref> the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin.

Kenosha County is situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county has a direct rail link to Chicago via Metra's Union Pacific North Line. In 2022, Kenosha County was ranked 16th out of 72 Wisconsin counties for tourism revenue, at $424 million in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (63.95%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the 69th largest county in Wisconsin by total area (fourth-smallest county). Although the county contains area from Lake Michigan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

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Railroads

Buses

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

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As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Kenosha County was $284,600.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref>

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%).

The median age in the county was 39.5 years.

Kenosha County, Wisconsin – racial and ethnic composition
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Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic)	Pop. 1980<ref name=1980CensusScope>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 1990<ref name="Census 1990">Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>
White alone (NH)	115,691 (93.95%)	116,223 (90.67%)	127,287 (85.10%)	129,892 (78.08%)	121,936 (72.09%)
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,850 (2.31%)	5,190 (4.05%)	7,446 (4.98%)	10,655 (6.40%)	11,480 (6.79%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	349 (0.28%)	443 (0.35%)	491 (0.33%)	513 (0.31%)	371 (0.22%)
Asian alone (NH)	401 (0.33%)	652 (0.51%)	1,350 (0.90%)	2,343 (1.41%)	2,793 (1.65%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	—	—	53 (0.04%)	67 (0.04%)	67 (0.04%)
Other race alone (NH)	268 (0.22%)	93 (0.07%)	160 (0.11%)	177 (0.11%)	528 (0.31%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)	—	—	2,033 (1.36%)	3,187 (1.91%)	7,430 (4.39%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3,578 (2.91%)	5,580 (4.35%)	10,757 (7.19%)	19,592 (11.77%)	24,546 (14.51%)
Total	123,137 (100.00%)	128,181 (100.00%)	149,577 (100.00%)	166,426 (100.00%)	169,151 (100.00%)

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2020 Census

As of the 2020 census, there were 169,151 people, 66,842 households, and 42,891 families residing in the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 72,451 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 75.92% White, 7.14% African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 5.24% from some other races and 9.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 14.51% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 Template:Convert. There were 69,288 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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

File:USA Kenosha County, Wisconsin age pyramid.svg

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Kenosha County

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 Template:Convert. There were 59,989 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Communities

City

Kenosha (county seat)

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities