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Dane County, Wisconsin

{{Short description|County in Wisconsin, United States}}

{{Redirect|Dane County|the county in Illinois formerly known as Dane County|Christian County, Illinois}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Dane County

| state = Wisconsin

| seal = Dane County wi seal.png

| founded year = 1836

| seat wl = Madison

| largest city wl = Madison

| area_total_sq_mi = 1238

| area_land_sq_mi = 1197

| area_water_sq_mi = 41

| area percentage = 3.3

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 561504

| pop_est_as_of = 2024

| population_est = 588347 {{gain}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Central

| web = danecounty.gov

| ex image = Wisconsin State Capitol Building 6.jpg

| ex image size = 250px

| ex image cap = Wisconsin State Capitol building in Dane County

| named for = Nathan Dane

| district = 2nd

| leader_title = Executive

| leader_name = Melissa Agard }}

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 after Milwaukee County.{{Cite web|url=https://data.tallahassee.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/dane_county_wisconsin/050-55025/?vtb=place#ctable|title=Dane County, Wisconsin Demographics and Housing 2020 Decennial Census}} Dane County is the fastest growing county in Wisconsin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2024/03/26/which-wisconsin-counties-have-the-greatest-population-growth-us-census-estimates/73092719007/ |access-date=April 16, 2025 |title=What are the fastest growing counties in Wisconsin? Here's what census data shows |publisher=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel}} It contains nearly 10% of the population of Wisconsin, and it only contained 5% of Wisconsin's population in 1950.

The county seat is Madison,{{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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}} which is also the state capital. Dane County is the central county of the Madison metropolitan 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.{{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| date=2007| access-date=August 13, 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}} It was named after Nathan Dane, a Massachusetts delegate to the Congress of the Confederation who helped carve Wisconsin out of the Northwest Territory."[https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Newspaper/BA9479 Early Wisconsin]". The Milwaukee Journal, September 26, 1896.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ| title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States| publisher=Government Printing Office| last=Gannett| first=Henry| year=1905| pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n98 99]}} Dane County was settled in the 1840s by settlers from New England.{{cite book| title=The Red Book of the Sun Prairie Methodist Episcopal Church| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zGbUAAAAMAAJ&q=Wisconsin+%22settled+by+immigrants+from+New+England%22&pg=PT21| editor-first=Charles Marcus| editor-last=Starkweather| publisher=C. M. Starkweather| year=1898}}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of {{convert|1238|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1197|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|41|sqmi}} (3.3%) is water.{{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 4, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

File:Dane County WI Pie Chart.pdf

=Major highways=

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=Railroads=

Freight

=Buses=

Public Transit

Intercity

=Airports=

Commercial

General Aviation

=Adjacent counties=

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1840= 314

|1850= 16639

|1860= 43922

|1870= 53096

|1880= 53233

|1890= 59578

|1900= 69435

|1910= 77435

|1920= 89432

|1930= 112737

|1940= 130660

|1950= 169357

|1960= 222095

|1970= 290272

|1980= 323545

|1990= 367085

|2000= 426526

|2010= 488073

|2020= 561504

|estyear= 2024

|estimate= 588347

|estref= {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/counties/totals/co-est2023-pop.xlsx| title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 14, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web| url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html| title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census Bureau| access-date=August 4, 2015}}
1790–1960{{cite web| url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/| title=Historical Census Browser| publisher=University of Virginia Library| access-date=August 4, 2015| archive-date=August 11, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/| url-status=dead}} 1900–1990{{cite web| url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wi190090.txt| title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990| publisher=Census Bureau| editor-last=Forstall| editor-first=Richard L.| date=March 27, 1995| access-date=August 4, 2015}}
1990–2000{{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=Census Bureau| date=April 2, 2001| access-date=August 4, 2015}} 2010–2020{{cite web| title=Quick Facts: Dane County, Wisconsin| url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/55025,55| date=July 1, 2018| publisher=Census Bureau}} 2020 census{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/danecountywisconsin,US/PST045219 |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Dane County, Wisconsin; United States |access-date=August 13, 2021 |archive-date=September 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924080405/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/danecountywisconsin,US/PST045219 |url-status=dead }}

}}

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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publication/p01161-2019-tb.xlsx |title=Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables |access-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619175940/https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publication/p01161-2019-tb.xlsx |url-status=dead }}

=2020 census=

As of the census of 2020,{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Dane County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US55025&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 2, 2022}} the population was 561,504. The population density was {{convert|469.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 248,795 housing units at an average density of {{convert|207.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 77.6% White, 6.4% Asian, 5.4% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 3.2% from other races, and 6.9% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 7.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

=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 {{convert|394|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 216,022 housing units at an average density of {{convert|174|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. 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.{{cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| publisher=Census Bureau| access-date=May 14, 2011| title=U.S. Census website}}

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.

{{Stack|Image:USA Dane County, Wisconsin age pyramid.svg}}

=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 {{convert|355|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of {{convert|150|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. 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.

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.[http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/rcms2010A.asp?U=55025&T=county&Y=2010&S=Name thearda.com County Membership Report: Dane County (Wisconsin)]

Government

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 Melissa Agard. 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.

Economy

Dane County's recent growth has been driven by new job opportunities in healthcare and technology fields.

Politics

{{PresHead|place=Dane County, Wisconsin|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=November 11, 2020}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|85,454|273,995|6,480|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|78,794|260,121|5,813|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|71,275|217,697|20,382|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|83,644|216,071|4,466|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|73,065|205,984|3,890|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|90,369|181,052|2,828|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|75,790|142,317|14,632|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|59,487|109,347|23,468|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|61,957|114,724|33,441|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|69,143|105,414|1,377|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|74,823|94,659|1,203|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|57,545|85,609|25,251|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|63,466|82,321|6,765|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|56,020|79,567|1,439|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|39,917|59,951|4,193|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|27,124|68,118|184|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|43,245|47,045|212|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|38,955|36,891|367|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|38,724|37,987|216|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|22,934|35,486|2,244|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|23,021|37,076|554|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|21,845|40,331|611|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|15,233|35,856|1,819|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|19,083|26,841|1,899|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|23,680|19,126|364|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1924|Progressive (Wisconsin)|12,280|2,081|24,847|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|22,842|4,879|1,767|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|6,931|9,859|483|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|5,244|9,017|1,989|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|9,441|7,818|750|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|11,041|5,679|666|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|9,396|6,129|562|Wisconsin}}

{{PresRow|1896|Republican|9,080|6,521|585|Wisconsin}}

{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|6,445|6,833|1,068|Wisconsin}}

Like most other counties anchored by an urban population center and a large public university, Dane County is solidly Democratic, with a long history in the progressive movement. It has backed the Democratic presidential nominee in every election since 1932 with the exception of the two nationwide landslide victories of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956, and even then, Eisenhower's margin of victory was under 3% both times. Since then, Republicans have only crossed the 35% mark six times. Within Wisconsin, only the predominantly Native American county of Menominee is more reliably Democratic.

At state level, the county is no less Democratic. The last Republicans the county supported at state level were Governor Tommy Thompson and Treasurer Jack Voight in 1994.{{Cite web |title=1994 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Wisconsin |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=55&year=1994&f=0&off=5&elect=0}}{{Cite web |title=1994 State Treasurer General Election Results - Wisconsin |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=55&year=1994&f=0&off=8&elect=0}} The last Republican Senator to carry the county was Alexander Wiley in 1956 by less than one percent, 10 years earlier the county was the only one in the state to not vote for notorious Senator Joseph McCarthy.{{Cite web |title=1956 Senatorial General Election Results - Wisconsin |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=55&year=1956&f=0&off=3&elect=0}}{{Cite web |title=1946 Senatorial General Election Results - Wisconsin |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=55&year=1946&f=0&off=3&elect=0}} In the three-party era of 1930s-1940s, the county backed Progressive Party candidates, such as the La Follette brothers, Orland Steen Loomis and Herman Ekern.{{Cite web |title=Our Campaigns - WI US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1940 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=46904 |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}{{Cite web |title=Our Campaigns - WI Governor Race - Nov 03, 1942 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=200136 |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}

=County executives=

Recreation

=County parks=

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

  • 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

{{div col end}}

Communities

Image:Dane county.png

{{Main|Administrative divisions of Wisconsin}}

=Cities=

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

{{div col}}

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=Villages=

: Villages are incorporated, are governed by a Village President and Board of Trustees, and provide residential services.

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

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=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.

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

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=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.

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}

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=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. This is a partial list that primarily consists of former unincorporated communities that are now within the boundaries of an incorporated city or village.

{{div col}}

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=Native American community=

Education

School districts (all K-12) include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st55_wi/schooldistrict_maps/c55025_dane/DC20SD_C55025.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st55_wi/schooldistrict_maps/c55025_dane/DC20SD_C55025.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dane County, WI|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 22, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st55_wi/schooldistrict_maps/c55025_dane/DC20SD_C55025_SD2MS.txt Text list]

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See also

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

Further reading

  • [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/wch&CISOPTR=2052&REC=1 Biographical Review of Dane County, Wisconsin]. Chicago: Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1893.
  • Cassidy, Frederic G. Dane County Place-Names. 2nd ed. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2009.
  • Durrie, Daniel S. [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?id=WI.DurrieHist A History of Madison, the Capital of Wisconsin; Including the Four Lake Country]. Madison: Atwood & Culver, 1874.
  • [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wch/id/68493 History of Dane County, Wisconsin]. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880.
  • [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044105679245;view=1up;seq=9 History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical]. Madison: Western Historical Association, 1906.
  • [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?id=WI.MadDane Madison, Dane County and Surrounding Towns]. Madison: W. J. Park, 1877.
  • Ruff, Allen and Tracy Will. Forward!: A History of Dane, the Capital County. Cambridge, Wis: Woodhenge Press, 2000.

External links

  • [http://www.countyofdane.com/ Official Dane County government website]
  • [http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/dane.pdf Dane County map] from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Dane County, Wisconsin

|North = Columbia County

|Northeast = Dodge County

|East = Jefferson County

|Southeast = Rock County

|South = Green County

|Southwest =

|West = Iowa County

|Northwest = Sauk County

}}

{{Madison}}

{{Dane County, Wisconsin}}

{{Wisconsin}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|43.07|-89.42|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WI_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:1839 establishments in Wisconsin Territory

Category:Populated places established in 1839

Category:Madison, Wisconsin, metropolitan statistical area