Rock County, Wisconsin

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Rock County

| state = Wisconsin

| seal = Rock County wi seal.jpg

| founded year = 1839

| founded date =

| seat wl = Janesville

| largest city wl = Janesville

| area_total_sq_mi = 726

| area_land_sq_mi = 718

| area_water_sq_mi = 8.0

| area percentage = 1.1%

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 163687

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 164278 {{gain}}

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| population_footnotes =

| web = www.co.rock.wi.us

| ex image = Rock County Courthouse, Wisconsin.JPG

| ex image cap = Rock County Courthouse

| ex image size = 225px

| time zone = Central

| district = 1st

| district2 = 2nd

| named for = Rock River

}}

Rock County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 163,687. Its county seat is Janesville.{{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}} 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 as a territorial county on December 7, 1836, from Milwaukee County and fully organized February 19, 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=The Newberry Library|date=2007|access-date=August 15, 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}} The county is named for the Rock River, which bisects the county from north to south."[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=3693&keyword=wisconsin Rock County, origin of place name]" Dictionary of Wisconsin History.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|726|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|718|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|8.0|sqmi}} (1.1%) 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 8, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

Cook Memorial Arboretum, a natural area with birding and nature trails, is located northwest of Janesville. It is owned by the Janesville School District.Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail. [http://www.wisconsinbirds.org/trail/sites/Cook.htm Cook Memorial Arboretum].

Transportation

=Major highways=

=Railroads=

=Buses=

=Airport=

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

Adjacent counties

Green County – west
Dane County – north
Jefferson County – northeast
Walworth County – east
Boone County, Illinois – south
Winnebago County, Illinois – south

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1840= 1701

|1850= 20750

|1860= 36690

|1870= 39030

|1880= 38823

|1890= 43220

|1900= 51203

|1910= 55538

|1920= 66150

|1930= 74206

|1940= 80173

|1950= 92778

|1960= 113913

|1970= 131970

|1980= 139420

|1990= 139510

|2000= 152307

|2010= 160331

|2020= 163687

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|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=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 8, 2015}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 8, 2015}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wi190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=August 8, 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=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=August 8, 2015}} 2010{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55105.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-date=February 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227230715/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55105.html|url-status=dead}} 2020

}}

As of the census of 2020,{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Rock County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US55105&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 3, 2022}} the population was 163,687. The population density was {{convert|227.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 70,068 housing units at an average density of {{convert|97.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 81.3% White, 5.1% Black or African American, 1.3% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 4.6% from other races, and 7.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 9.7% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2010, there were 160,331 people residing in the county.

As of the census of 2000, were 152,307 people, 58,617 households, and 40,387 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|211|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. there were 62,187 housing units at an average density of {{convert|86|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. 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=

Beloit
Brodhead (mostly in Green County)
Edgerton (partly in Dane County)
Evansville
Janesville (County seat)
Milton

=Villages=

=Towns=

=Census-designated places=

=Unincorporated communities=

=Ghost towns/neighborhoods=

Politics

{{PresHead|place=Rock 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}}}}

Since 1988, Rock County has consistently voted for the Democratic candidate in every Presidential election. In 2024, Kamala Harris carried the county by the smallest margin of victory since Michael Dukakis in 1988.

Education

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st55_wi/schooldistrict_maps/c55105_rock/DC20SD_C55105.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st55_wi/schooldistrict_maps/c55105_rock/DC20SD_C55105.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 census - school district reference map: Rock County, WI|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 23, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st55_wi/schooldistrict_maps/c55105_rock/DC20SD_C55105_SD2MS.txt Text list]

There is a state-operated school, Wisconsin School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

References

External links

[http://www.co.rock.wi.us/ Rock County government website]
[http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/rock.pdf Rock County map] from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
[http://rockcounty5.com/ Rock County 5.0]
[http://www.rchs.us/ Rock County Historical Society]
[http://www.rootsweb.com/~wircgs/index.html Rock County Genealogical Society]
[http://beloitjanesvillesymphony.org/ Beloit Janesville Symphony]

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Rock County, Wisconsin

|North = Dane County

|Northeast = Jefferson County

|East = Walworth County

|Southeast =

|South = Winnebago County, Illinois and Boone County, Illinois

|Southwest =

|West = Green County

|Northwest =

}}

{{coord|42.67|-89.07|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WI_source:UScensus1990}}