Elkhorn, Wisconsin

In 1836, Colonel Samuel Phoenix spotted a rack of elk antlers in a tree and proclaimed the area as "Elk Horn."{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA117 | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Henry Gannett | year=1905 | page=117}}

The area's beauty and fertile soil led Daniel Bradley, his brother Milo, and LeGrand Rockwell to create a community in the area.{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.cityofelkhorn.org/Community/History.asp|website=City of Elkhorn|access-date=15 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616205246/http://www.cityofelkhorn.org/Community/History.asp|archive-date=16 June 2017|url-status=dead}} Its growth to a population of 539 led to the first town meeting in 1846. Elkhorn was designated county seat that same year because of its location in Walworth County.

In 1851, Elkhorn became the location of the Walworth County Fair, which is now hosted annually at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. The Walworth County Fair is the largest county fair in Wisconsin.{{Cite news |last=Brands |first=Rachel |date=August 24, 2023 |title=Walworth County Fair returns for 174th end-of-summer celebration |work=The Gazette |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D8DE8DE83992E4A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1939CE1B633E1070 |url-access=registration |access-date=November 24, 2023 |via=NewsBank}}

In the 1870s, saline water from springs located in Elkhorn was believed to cure rheumatism.Editor (4 Sep 1874) [https://www.ci.brainerd.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/1195/September-5-1874-PDF “Remarkable Cure.”] Brainerd Tribune, Vol 3 No 30. Page 1. (Retrieved November 13, 2019).

Because the city places Christmas decorations around its center, Elkhorn has been called the "Christmas Card Town" since before World War II. This tradition is celebrated every year by an annual oil painting by local artist Jan Castle Reed. These watercolor paintings are turned into Christmas cards.{{Cite web |url=http://cityofelkhorn.org/Community/History.htm |title=History, City of Elkhorn, Wisconsin (WI) |access-date=2009-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202112654/http://www.cityofelkhorn.org/Community/History.htm |archive-date=2008-12-02 |url-status=dead }}

Elkhorn is also known for the folklore of the Beast of Bray Road, a supposed werewolf type creature that has become the focus of books, documentaries, and other media including 2005 movie, The Beast of Bray Road.{{cite book |last1=Godfrey |first1=Linda S. |title=The Beast of Bray Road: Tailing Wisconsin's Werewolf |date=2003 |publisher=Prairie Oak Press |location=Black Earth, Wisconsin |isbn=9781879483910 |language=en |quote=53090741}}

Elkhorn is located at {{coord|42|40|22|N|88|32|25|W|type:city}} (42.672900, −88.540342).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|7.81|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|7.76|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2012-11-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}

{{US Census population

|1850= 42

|1860= 1081

|1870= 1205

|1880= 1122

|1890= 1447

|1900= 1731

|1910= 1707

|1920= 1991

|1930= 2340

|1940= 2382

|1950= 2935

|1960= 3586

|1970= 3992

|1980= 4605

|1990= 5337

|2000= 7305

|2010= 10084

|2020= 10247

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

{{CSS image crop

|Image = ISS030-E-223828.jpg|bSize = 4256|cWidth = 153|cHeight = 137|oTop = 554 |oLeft =1049 |Location = right

|Description = Elkhorn, 11:23:40 PM CDT in 2012 during Expedition 30 at the International Space Station}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-11-18}} of 2010, there were 10,084 people, 3,801 households, and 2,514 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1299.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,043 housing units at an average density of {{convert|521.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.4% White, 1.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 4.8% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.0% of the population.

There were 3,801 households, of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.9% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.11.

The median age in the city was 34.3 years. 27.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.1% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,305 people, 2,919 households, and 1,903 families living in the city. The population density was 1,005.2 people per square mile (388.0/km²). There were 3,014 housing units at an average density of 414.7 per square mile (160.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.81% White, 0.47% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.83% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.13% of the population.

There were 2,919 households, out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,395, and the median income for a family was $47,475. Males had a median income of $34,867 versus $22,253 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,003. About 7.4% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Elkhorn was a stop on the Racine & Southwestern branch line of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, better known as the Milwaukee Road. In its 1980 bankruptcy, the Milwaukee Road disposed of the Southwestern Line. The Wisconsin & Southern continues to service Elkhorn from a connection at Bardwell to the west.{{cite web|url=http://www.glenviewcreek.com/elkhorn.html|title=Elkhorn Railroad History and Photos|website=glenviewcreek.com|access-date=19 April 2018}}

• Lucius Allen, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Thomas Ryum Amlie, U.S. Representative
• Tom Bigelow, racing driver
• Charles Coleman, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Ely B. Dewing, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Charles Dunlap, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Sidney Clayton Goff, Wisconsin State Assembly
• John Harris, Wisconsin State Senator
• William H. Hurlbut, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Greg Kent, NFL Player
• Jay G. Lamberson, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Hollis Latham, Wisconsin State Assembly
• Tallan Noble Latz, musician
• John Raleigh, MLB player
• Eldo T. Ridgway, Wisconsin State Senator, mayor of Elkhorn
• Jim Roslof, fantasy artist
• James D. Swan, Wisconsin State SenatorWisconsin Blue Book 1973, p. 50
• Patrick Smage, motorcycle racer
• Joseph Philbrick Webster, composer of In the Sweet By-and-By
• Clarence J. Wilger, Wisconsin State Assembly

File:Elkhorn Wisconsin Police Department and Municipal Court.jpg|Police department and Municipal Court

File:Elkhorn Wisconsin Town Square.jpg|Park in town square

File:Elkhorn Wisconsin Downtown Looking South WIS11 WIS67.jpg|Downtown looking south

File:Elkhorn Wisconsin Welcome Sign.jpg|Welcome sign

File:Elkhorn Wisconsin Medical Center.jpg|Mercy Elkhorn Medical Center

File:Elkhorn Wisconsin Downtown Looking East WIS11.jpg|Southern town square

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Elkhorn, Wisconsin}}

• [http://www.cityofelkhorn.org City of Elkhorn, Wisconsin website]
• [http://www.elkhorn-wi.org Elkhorn Chamber of Commerce website]
• Sanborn fire insurance maps: [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/4821 1893] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/4825 1898] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/4830 1904] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/4837 1911]

{{Adjacent communities|Center=Elkhorn|North-east=File:I-43.svg Milwaukee, East Troy|South-west=File:I-43.svg Beloit, Delavan|WEST=File:WIS 11.svg Janesville, Delavan|North=File:US 12.svg File:WIS 67.svg Madison, Lauderdale Shores|South=File:WIS 67.svg Williams Bay|SOUTHWEST=File:I-43.svg Beloit, Delavan|EAST=File:WIS 11.svg Racine, Spring Prairie|SOUTHEAST=File:I-43.svg Chicago, Lake Geneva}}

{{Walworth County, Wisconsin}}

{{Wisconsin county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Wisconsin

Category:Cities in Walworth County, Wisconsin

Category:County seats in Wisconsin