Oconto County, Wisconsin

Oconto County, Wisconsin

The Oconto County Court House, circa 1910
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Oconto County
Location in the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location in the U.S.
Founded 1854
Named for Oconto River
Seat Oconto
Largest city Oconto
Area
 • Total 1,149 sq mi (2,976 km2)
 • Land 998 sq mi (2,585 km2)
 • Water 151 sq mi (391 km2), 13%
Population
 • (2010) 37,660
 • Density 38/sq mi (15/km²)
Congressional district 8th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.oconto.wi.us
Rural Oconto County in fall

Oconto County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,660.[1] Its county seat is Oconto.[2] The county was established in 1851.[3]

Oconto County is part of the Green Bay, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Green Bay-Shawano, WI Combined Statistical Area.

History

First visited by French explorers in the 17th century, Oconto County is among the oldest settlements in Wisconsin. Father Claude-Jean Allouez of the Roman Catholic Jesuit order said the first Mass in Oconto. Among the first settlers was Joseph Tourtilott, who explored much of the Oconto River watershed. Oconto County was created in 1851 and organized in 1854.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,149 square miles (2,980 km2), of which 998 square miles (2,580 km2) is land and 151 square miles (390 km2) (13%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Airport

J. Douglas Bake Memorial Airport (KOCQ) serves the county and surrounding communities.

National protected area

Demographics

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Oconto County
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18603,592—
18709,321159.5%
18809,8485.7%
189015,00952.4%
190020,87439.1%
191025,65722.9%
192027,1045.6%
193026,386−2.6%
194027,0752.6%
195026,238−3.1%
196025,110−4.3%
197025,5531.8%
198028,94713.3%
199030,2264.4%
200035,63417.9%
201037,6605.7%
Est. 201537,435[6]−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2014[1]
Woods along U.S. Route 41

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 35,634 people, 13,979 households, and 10,050 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 19,812 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.76% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.9% were of German, 11.8% Polish, 6.0% French and 5.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 13,979 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.

Communities

Oconto County sign

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Columbia-Lippincott Gazeteer, (New York:Columbia University Press, 1952) p. 1364
  4. ↑ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  6. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

Further reading

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Coordinates: 44°59′N 88°14′W / 44.99°N 88.23°W / 44.99; -88.23

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