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Rock County, Wisconsin
Rock County Courthouse, Wisconsin
Rock County Courthouse
Seal of Rock County, Wisconsin
Seal
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Rock County
Location in the state of Wisconsin
Map of the U.S
Wisconsin's location in the U.S.
Founded 1839
Named for Rock River
Seat Janesville
Largest city Janesville
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

726 sq mi (1,880 km²)
718 sq mi (1,860 km²)
8.0 sq mi (21 km²), 1.1%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

163,687
Congressional districts 1st, 2nd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.rock.wi.us

Rock County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 163,687.[1] Its county seat is Janesville.[2]

Rock County comprises the Janesville-Beloit, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Madison-Janesville-Beloit, WI Combined Statistical Area.

History[]

Rock County was created in 1836 as a territorial county on December 7, 1836, from Milwaukee County and fully organized February 19, 1839.[3] The county is named for the Rock River, which bisects the county from north to south.[4]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 726 square miles (1,880 km2), of which 718 square miles (1,860 km2) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km2) (1.1%) is water.[5]

Cook Memorial Arboretum, a natural area with birding and nature trails, is located northwest of Janesville. It is owned by the Janesville School District.[6]

Transportation[]

Major highways[]

  • I-39 Interstate 39
  • I-43 Interstate 43
  • I-90 Interstate 90
  • US 12 U.S. Highway 12
  • US 14 U.S. Highway 14
  • US 51 U.S. Highway 51
  • WIS 11 Highway 11
  • WIS 26 Highway 26
  • WIS 59 Highway 59
  • WIS 67 Highway 67
  • WIS 81 Highway 81
  • WIS 89 Highway 89
  • WIS 104 Highway 104
  • WIS 140 Highway 140
  • WIS 213 Highway 213

Airport[]

Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (KJVL) serves Rock County and the surrounding communities.

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1840 1,701
1850 20,750 1,119.9%
1860 36,690 76.8%
1870 39,030 6.4%
1880 38,823 −0.5%
1890 43,220 11.3%
1900 51,203 18.5%
1910 55,538 8.5%
1920 66,150 19.1%
1930 74,206 12.2%
1940 80,173 8.0%
1950 92,778 15.7%
1960 113,913 22.8%
1970 131,970 15.9%
1980 139,420 5.6%
1990 139,510 0.1%
2000 152,307 9.2%
2010 160,331 5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]
USA Rock County, Wisconsin age pyramid

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Rock County

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 160,331 people, 58,617 households, and 40,387 families residing in the county. The population density was 211 people per square mile (82/km2). There were 62,187 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile (33/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.01% white, 4.63% black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.77% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. 3.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.8% were of German, 13.0% Norwegian, 10.1% Irish, 7.5% English and 5.5% American ancestry.

There were 58,617 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.50% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.

Communities[]

Cities[]

Villages[]

  • Clinton
  • Orfordville
  • Footville

Towns[]

  • Avon
  • Beloit
  • Bradford
  • Center
  • Clinton
  • Edgerton
  • Fulton
  • Harmony
  • Janesville
  • Johnstown
  • La Prairie
  • Lima
  • Magnolia
  • Milton
  • Newark
  • Plymouth
  • Porter
  • Rock
  • Spring Valley
  • Turtle
  • Union

Census-designated place[]

  • Hanover

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Afton
  • Anderson
  • Avon
  • Avalon
  • Belcrest
  • Bergen
  • Cainville
  • Center
  • Charlie Bluff
  • Cooksville
  • Coopers Shores
  • Crestview
  • Emerald Grove
  • Fairfield (partial)
  • Foxhollow
  • Fulton
  • Indianford
  • Johnstown
  • Johnstown Center
  • Koshkonong (partial)
  • Leyden
  • Lima Center
  • Magnolia
  • Maple Beach
  • Newark
  • Newville
  • Porters
  • Shopiere
  • Stebbinsville
  • Tiffany
  • Union
  • Victory Heights

Ghost towns/neighborhoods[]

  • Fellows
  • Jefferson Prairie Settlement

Politics[]

Hillary Clinton carried the county in 2016, but it was the smallest margin of victory since Michael Dukakis in 1988.

United States presidential election results for Rock County, Wisconsin[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 37,138 43.51% 46,658 54.66% 1,564 1.83%
2016 31,493 41.40% 39,339 51.71% 5,242 6.89%
2012 30,517 37.82% 49,219 61.00% 954 1.18%
2008 27,364 34.56% 50,529 63.82% 1,276 1.61%
2004 33,151 41.19% 46,598 57.90% 730 0.91%
2000 27,467 39.01% 40,472 57.49% 2,465 3.50%
1996 20,096 33.32% 32,450 53.80% 7,774 12.89%
1992 21,942 31.79% 31,154 45.13% 15,929 23.08%
1988 28,178 48.43% 29,576 50.83% 434 0.75%
1984 32,491 54.76% 26,433 44.55% 410 0.69%
1980 30,960 50.60% 24,740 40.44% 5,482 8.96%
1976 28,325 49.04% 28,048 48.56% 1,389 2.40%
1972 30,361 58.03% 21,033 40.20% 925 1.77%
1968 25,229 50.97% 20,567 41.56% 3,697 7.47%
1964 20,372 41.85% 28,257 58.04% 55 0.11%
1960 29,675 60.63% 19,194 39.22% 76 0.16%
1956 28,980 67.42% 13,834 32.18% 173 0.40%
1952 27,837 64.64% 15,183 35.26% 45 0.10%
1948 17,068 50.66% 16,150 47.93% 474 1.41%
1944 18,477 52.23% 16,766 47.39% 133 0.38%
1940 20,141 53.15% 17,543 46.29% 214 0.56%
1936 14,693 43.56% 17,991 53.34% 1,045 3.10%
1932 16,825 56.07% 12,612 42.03% 571 1.90%
1928 21,497 70.75% 8,726 28.72% 161 0.53%
1924 14,815 60.92% 1,453 5.97% 8,052 33.11%
1920 16,152 83.53% 2,447 12.65% 738 3.82%
1916 7,011 61.09% 4,015 34.98% 451 3.93%
1912 4,276 43.21% 3,032 30.64% 2,587 26.14%
1908 7,839 66.81% 3,227 27.50% 668 5.69%
1904 7,972 71.65% 2,348 21.10% 807 7.25%
1900 8,249 69.97% 3,094 26.24% 447 3.79%
1896 8,282 67.46% 3,655 29.77% 340 2.77%
1892 6,052 55.24% 4,231 38.62% 673 6.14%



Tree cities[]

  • Beloit
  • Clinton
  • Edgerton
  • Evansville
  • Janesville

See also[]

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

References[]

Further reading[]

External links[]

Coordinates: 42°40′N 89°04′W / 42.67, -89.07


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Rock County, Wisconsin. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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