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Dane County, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin Dec04 IMG 2851
The Dane County Courthouse, 2004
Seal of Dane County, Wisconsin
Seal
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Dane County
Location in the state of Wisconsin
Map of the U.S
Wisconsin's location in the U.S.
Founded 1839
Named for Nathan Dane
Seat Madison
Largest city Madison
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

1,238 sq mi (3,206 km²)
1,197 sq mi (3,100 km²)
41 sq mi (106 km²), 3.3
Population
 -  Density


Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.countyofdane.com

Dane County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 561,504, making it the second-most populous county in Wisconsin.[1] The county seat is Madison,[2] which is also the state capital.

Dane County is the central county of the Madison, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well as the Madison-Janesville-Beloit Combined Statistical Area.

History[]

Dane County was formed in 1836 as a territorial county and organized in 1839.[3] It was named after Nathan Dane, a Massachusetts delegate to the Congress of the Confederation who helped carve Wisconsin out of the Northwest Territory.[4][5] Dane County was settled in the 1840s by settlers from New England.[6]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,238 square miles (3,210 km2), of which 1,197 square miles (3,100 km2) is land and 41 square miles (110 km2) (3.3%) is water.[7] File:Dane County WI Pie Chart.pdf

Major highways[]

  • I-39 Interstate 39
  • I-90 Interstate 90
  • I-94 Interstate 94
  • US 12 U.S. Highway 12
  • US 14 U.S. Highway 14
  • US 18 U.S. Highway 18
  • US 51 U.S. Highway 51
  • US 151 U.S. Highway 151
  • WIS 19 Highway 19 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 30 Highway 30 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 69 Highway 69 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 73 Highway 73 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 78 Highway 78 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 89 Highway 89 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 92 Highway 92 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 104 Highway 104 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 106 Highway 106 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 113 Highway 113 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 134 Highway 134 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 138 Highway 138 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 188 Highway 188 (Wisconsin)

Airports[]

  • Blackhawk Airfield (87Y)
  • Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) provides commercial airline service.
  • Middleton Municipal Airport (C29)
  • Verona Airport (W19)
  • Waunakee Airport (6P3)

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1840 314
1850 16,639 5,199.0%
1860 43,922 164.0%
1870 53,096 20.9%
1880 53,233 0.3%
1890 59,578 11.9%
1900 69,435 16.5%
1910 77,435 11.5%
1920 89,432 15.5%
1930 112,737 26.1%
1940 130,660 15.9%
1950 169,357 29.6%
1960 222,095 31.1%
1970 290,272 30.7%
1980 323,545 11.5%
1990 367,085 13.5%
2000 426,526 16.2%
2010 488,073 14.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[12] 2020 census[13]

In 2017, there were 5,891 births, giving a general fertility rate of 51.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the eighth lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Of these, 73 of the births occurred at home, the fifth highest number of home births for Wisconsin counties. 428 of the births were to mothers who held doctorate or professional degrees, more than any other Wisconsin county. These accounted for 7.3% of total births for the county, a higher percent than any other Wisconsin county and more than Ozaukee County which had 5.8% of births to mothers who held doctorate or professional degrees and ranked second.[14]

2010 census[]

At the 2010 census there were 488,073 people, 203,750 households, and 116,752 families living in the county. The population density was 394 people per square mile (152/km2). There were 216,022 housing units at an average density of 174 per square mile (67/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.7% White, 5.2% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.003% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. 5.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[15] Of the 203,750 households 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 30.5% of households were one person and 7.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 21.7% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% 65 or older. The median age was 34.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

USA Dane County, Wisconsin age pyramid

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Dane County.

2000 census[]

At the 2000 census there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families living in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile (137/km2). There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile (58/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.96% White, 4.00% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 3.45% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.43% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. 3.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.4% were of German, 11.5% Norwegian, 8.9% Irish and 6.0% English ancestry.[15] Of the 173,484 households 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.10% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.90% were non-families. 29.40% of households were one person and 7.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 22.60% under the age of 18, 14.30% from 18 to 24, 32.50% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 9.30% 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

Religion[]

In 2010, the largest religious groups in Dane County by number of adherents were Catholic at 106,036 adherents, ELCA Lutheran at 48,620 adherents, United Methodist at 9,753 adherents, non-denominational Christian at 7,448 adherents, Evangelical Free at 6,075 adherents, United Church of Christ at 5,035 adherents, Wisconsin Synod Lutheran at 4,214 adherents, Missouri Synod Lutheran at 3,921 adherents, American Baptist at 3,755 adherents, and PC-USA Presbyterian at 3,664 adherents.[16]

Language[]

As of 2020, the majority of people in Dane County speak American English with sizable Spanish and Hmong speaking minorities. A small community is known to speak Kölsch or Colognian, a minority language from the German city of Cologne.

Government[]

Dane County Courthouse - panoramio (1)

Dane County Courthouse

Dane County is governed by a county executive and a county board of supervisors. The county executive is elected in a countywide vote. The county executive is Joe Parisi. The board of supervisors consists of 37 members, each elected from single member districts. As the policy-making body of the county government, the board of supervisors enacts county ordinances, levies taxes, and appropriates money for services.

Politics[]

Like most other counties anchored by an urban population center and a large public university, Dane County is solidly Democratic, having backed the Democratic presidential nominee in every election since 1960, even in the Republican landslide victories of 1972, 1980, 1984, and 1988. In that time, Republicans have only crossed the 35% mark five times. Only the predominantly Native American county of Menominee is more reliably Democratic.

Dane County was one of the few counties in the United States to elect a member of the Green Party into county-level office; that official was Leland Pan.

United States presidential election results for Dane County, Wisconsin[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 78,794 22.86% 260,121 75.46% 5,813 1.69%
2016 71,275 23.04% 217,697 70.37% 20,382 6.59%
2012 83,644 27.50% 216,071 71.03% 4,466 1.47%
2008 73,065 25.82% 205,984 72.80% 3,890 1.37%
2004 90,369 32.95% 181,052 66.02% 2,828 1.03%
2000 75,790 32.56% 142,317 61.15% 14,632 6.29%
1996 59,487 30.93% 109,347 56.86% 23,468 12.20%
1992 61,957 29.49% 114,724 54.60% 33,441 15.92%
1988 69,143 39.30% 105,414 59.92% 1,377 0.78%
1984 74,823 43.84% 94,659 55.46% 1,203 0.70%
1980 57,545 34.17% 85,609 50.84% 25,251 14.99%
1976 63,466 41.60% 82,321 53.96% 6,765 4.43%
1972 56,020 40.88% 79,567 58.07% 1,439 1.05%
1968 39,917 38.36% 59,951 57.61% 4,193 4.03%
1964 27,124 28.42% 68,118 71.38% 184 0.19%
1960 43,245 47.78% 47,045 51.98% 212 0.23%
1956 38,955 51.11% 36,891 48.41% 367 0.48%
1952 38,724 50.34% 37,987 49.38% 216 0.28%
1948 22,934 37.80% 35,486 58.50% 2,244 3.70%
1944 23,021 37.96% 37,076 61.13% 554 0.91%
1940 21,845 34.79% 40,331 64.23% 611 0.97%
1936 15,233 28.79% 35,856 67.77% 1,819 3.44%
1932 19,083 39.90% 26,841 56.13% 1,899 3.97%
1928 23,680 54.85% 19,126 44.30% 364 0.84%
1924 12,280 31.32% 2,081 5.31% 24,847 63.37%
1920 22,842 77.46% 4,879 16.55% 1,767 5.99%
1916 6,931 40.13% 9,859 57.08% 483 2.80%
1912 5,244 32.27% 9,017 55.49% 1,989 12.24%
1908 9,441 52.42% 7,818 43.41% 750 4.16%
1904 11,041 63.51% 5,679 32.66% 666 3.83%
1900 9,396 58.41% 6,129 38.10% 562 3.49%
1896 9,080 56.10% 6,521 40.29% 585 3.61%
1892 6,445 44.93% 6,833 47.63% 1,068 7.44%



County executives[]

  • George Reinke, 1973-1981
  • Jonathan B. Barry, 1981-1988
  • Richard J. Phelps, 1988-1997
  • Kathleen Falk, 1997-2011
  • Joe Parisi, 2011–present

Recreation[]

County parks[]

  • Babcock County Park
  • Badger Prairie County Park
  • Blooming Grove Drumlins
  • Blue Mounds Natural Resource Area
  • Brigham County Park
  • CamRock County Park
  • Cherokee Marsh
  • Donald County Park
  • Festge County Park
  • Fish Camp County Park
  • Fish Lake County Park
  • Goodland County Park
  • Halfway Prairie School
  • Indian Lake County Park
  • Jenni & Kyle Preserve
  • La Follette County Park
  • Lake Farm County Park
  • Lake View Hill Park
  • Lussier County Park
  • McCarthy County Park
  • Mendota County Park
  • Phil's Woods County Park
  • Prairie Moraine County Park
  • Riley-Deppe County Park
  • Salmo Pond County Park
  • Scheidegger Forest
  • Schumacher Farm
  • Stewart Lake County Park
  • Token Creek County Park
  • Viking County Park
  • Walking Iron County Park
  • Yahara Heights County Park

Communities[]

Political map of Dane County

Cities[]

Cities are incorporated, generally have a mayor (or a administrator/manager), an elected council, and generally provide more services than smaller administrative divisions.

Villages[]

Villages are incorporated, are governed by a Village President and Board of Trustees, and provide residential services.
  • Belleville (partly in Green County)
  • Black Earth
  • Blue Mounds
  • Brooklyn (partly in Green County)
  • Cambridge (partly in Jefferson County)
  • Cottage Grove
  • Cross Plains
  • Dane
  • Deerfield
  • DeForest
  • Maple Bluff
  • Marshall
  • Mazomanie
  • McFarland
  • Mount Horeb
  • Oregon
  • Rockdale
  • Shorewood Hills
  • Waunakee
  • Windsor

Towns[]

Towns may have the same name as a city or village associated with it, but it is a separate municipality. Towns are not incorporated, are governed by a town board, and only provide limited services to residents.
  • Albion
  • Berry
  • Black Earth (town)
  • Blooming Grove
  • Blue Mounds (town)
  • Bristol
  • Burke
  • Christiana
  • Cottage Grove (town)
  • Cross Plains
  • Dane
  • Deerfield (town)
  • Dunkirk
  • Dunn
  • Madison (town)
  • Mazomanie (town)
  • Medina
  • Middleton (town)
  • Montrose
  • Oregon (town)
  • Perry
  • Pleasant Springs
  • Primrose
  • Roxbury
  • Rutland
  • Springdale
  • Springfield
  • Sun Prairie (town)
  • Vermont
  • Verona
  • Vienna
  • Westport
  • York

Unincorporated communities[]

Unincorporated communities are smaller communities that are governed by the town they are located in and often exist as nomenclature in vital records.
  • Albion
  • Aldens Corners
  • Ashton
  • Ashton Corners
  • Bakers Corners
  • Basco
  • Burke
  • Daleyville
  • Deansville
  • Door Creek
  • Dunkirk
  • East Bristol
  • Elvers
  • Five Points
  • Forward
  • Hanerville
  • Highwood
  • Hillside
  • Hoffman Corners
  • Hope
  • Indian Heights
  • Kegonsa
  • Kingsley Corners
  • Klevenville
  • London (partial)
  • Lutheran Hill
  • Martinsville
  • Marxville
  • Middleton Junction
  • Montrose
  • Morrisonville
  • Mt. Vernon
  • Nora
  • North Bristol
  • Norway Grove
  • Old Deerfield
  • Paoli
  • Pierceville
  • Pine Bluff
  • Primrose
  • Riley
  • Roxbury
  • Rutland
  • Seminary Springs
  • Schey Acres
  • Springfield Corners
  • Stone
  • Token Creek
  • Utica
  • Vermont
  • Vilas
  • West Middleton
  • York Center

Neighborhoods[]

Neighborhoods exist mostly for nomenclature purposes; some may have administrative associations with powers that are defined in the property deed covenants of the neighborhood.
  • Lake Windsor
  • Fitchburg Center
  • Oak Hall

Native American community[]

  • Ho-Chunk Indian Reservation

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Dane County, Wisconsin

References[]

  1. ^ https://data.tallahassee.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/dane_county_wisconsin/050-55025/?vtb=place#ctable
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Newberry Library. 2007. http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/WI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm. 
  4. ^ "Early Wisconsin". The Milwaukee Journal, September 26, 1896.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. pp. 99. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ. 
  6. ^ Starkweather, Charles Marcus, ed (1898). The Red Book of the Sun Prairie Methodist Episcopal Church. C. M. Starkweather. https://books.google.com/books?id=zGbUAAAAMAAJ&q=Wisconsin+%22settled+by+immigrants+from+New+England%22&pg=PT21. 
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_55.txt. 
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  10. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wi190090.txt. 
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  12. ^ "Quick Facts: Dane County, Wisconsin". Census Bureau. July 1, 2018. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/55025,55. 
  13. ^ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/danecountywisconsin,US/PST045219
  14. ^ "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publication/p01161-2019-tb.xlsx. 
  15. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  16. ^ thearda.com County Membership Report: Dane County (Wisconsin)
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

Further reading[]

External links[]

Coordinates: 43°04′N 89°25′W / 43.07, -89.42

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