Walworth County, Wisconsin

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Walworth County

| state = Wisconsin

| ex image = Walworth County Courthouse - panoramio.jpg

| ex image cap = Walworth County Courthouse

| seal =

| founded year = 1839

| founded date =

| seat wl = Elkhorn

| largest city wl = Whitewater

| area_total_sq_mi = 577

| area_land_sq_mi = 555

| area_water_sq_mi = 21

| area percentage = 3.7%

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 106478

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 105822 {{loss}}

| population_density_sq_mi = 191.7

| population_footnotes =

| time zone = Central

| footnotes =

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

| named for = Reuben H. Walworth{{cite web|title=County Directory - Walworth County|publisher=Wisconsin Counties Association|access-date=May 13, 2007|url=http://www.wicounties.org/WS_County_Detail.asp?countyid=65}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

| district = 1st

| district2 = 5th

}}

Walworth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 106,478. Its county seat is Elkhorn.{{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 }} The county was created in 1836 from Wisconsin Territory 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=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}} It is named for Reuben H. Walworth.{{cite news|title=Winnebago Took Its Name from an Indian Tribe|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/915335/wisconsin_county_names/|newspaper=The Post-Crescent|date=December 28, 1963|page=14|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 25, 2014}} {{Open access}} Walworth County comprises the Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI Combined Statistical Area. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is located in Walworth County.

Walworth County features several major tourist destinations: Lake Geneva, Alpine Valley Resort, and Alpine Valley Music Theatre. Tourism is a large contributor to Walworth County's economy. It is Wisconsin's fifteenth largest county in population, but it is the sixth largest in terms of economic impact from tourism (nearly $1 billion in 2023).{{cite web |url=https://www.industry.travelwisconsin.com/research/economic-impact/ |title=Economic Impact |publisher=Travel Wisconsin }}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|577|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|555|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|21|sqmi}} (3.7%) 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 9, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

Transportation

=Major highways=

=Railroads=

=Buses=

=Airport=

East Troy Municipal Airport {{airport codes|||57C}}, serves the county and surrounding communities

Adjacent counties

Waukesha County (northeast)
Racine County (east)
Kenosha County (east)
McHenry County, Illinois (southeast)
Boone County, Illinois (southwest)
Rock County (west)
Jefferson County (northwest)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1840= 2611

|1850= 17862

|1860= 26496

|1870= 25972

|1880= 26249

|1890= 27860

|1900= 29259

|1910= 29614

|1920= 29327

|1930= 31058

|1940= 33103

|1950= 41584

|1960= 52368

|1970= 63444

|1980= 71507

|1990= 75000

|2000= 93759

|2010= 102228

|2020= 106478

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates/2020-evaluation-estimates/2010s-counties-total.html/|title=County Population Totals: 2010-2020|access-date=June 20, 2021}}

|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 9, 2015}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 9, 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 9, 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 9, 2015}} 2010{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55127.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128194043/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/55127.html|archive-date=January 28, 2016|url-status=dead}} 2020

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Walworth County, Wisconsin – Racial and ethnic composition
{{nobold|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.}}

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 2000{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Walworth County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US55127&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}

!Pop 2010{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Walworth County, Wisconsin|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US55127&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}

!{{partial|Pop 2020}}{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Walworth County, Wisconsin|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US55127&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}

!% 2000

!% 2010

!{{partial|% 2020}}

White alone (NH)

|85,428

|88,690

|style='background: #ffffe6; |88,104

|91.11%

|86.76%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |82.74%

Black or African American alone (NH)

|747

|904

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,166

|0.80%

|0.88%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.10%

Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|177

|196

|style='background: #ffffe6; |229

|0.19%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22%

Asian alone (NH)

|592

|819

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,002

|0.63%

|0.80%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.94%

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|16

|33

|style='background: #ffffe6; |10

|0.02%

|0.03%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.01%

Other race alone (NH)

|46

|67

|style='background: #ffffe6; |268

|0.05%

|0.07%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.25%

Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|617

|941

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,149

|0.66%

|0.92%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.96%

Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|6,136

|10,578

|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,550

|6.54%

|10.35%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |11.79%

Total

|93,759

|102,228

|style='background: #ffffe6; |106,478

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

=2020 census=

As of the census of 2020,{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Walworth County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US55127&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 4, 2022}} the population was 106,478. The population density was {{convert|191.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 53,146 housing units at an average density of {{convert|95.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 85.4% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 4.6% from other races, and 7.4% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 11.8% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

=2000 census=

At the 2000 census there were 93,759 people, 34,522 households, and 23,267 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|169|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 43,783 housing units at an average density of {{convert|79|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.49% White, 0.84% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.62% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 6.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}

Of the 34,522 households 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 24.70% of households were one person and 9.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.07.

The age distribution was 24.20% under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.

In 2017, there were 918 births, giving a general fertility rate of 48.8 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the sixth lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.{{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-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619175940/https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publication/p01161-2019-tb.xlsx |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |url-status=dead }}

Communities

File:Walworth County Wisconsin Sign Cty H.jpg

=Cities=

Burlington (mostly in Racine County)
Delavan

File:Delavan Wisconsin 9.jpg

Elkhorn (county seat)
Lake Geneva
Whitewater (partly in Jefferson County)

=Villages=

=Towns=

=Census-designated places=

File:Turtle Lake floating.jpg

Turtle Lake

=Unincorporated communities=

=Ghost towns=

Politics

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

Owing to its Yankee heritage,Fowler, Robert Booth; Wisconsin Vites: An Electoral History, p. 14 {{ISBN|0299227448}} which contrasts with the German-American or Scandinavian-American character of most of Wisconsin, Walworth County was initially a stronghold of the Free Soil Party.Fowler, Robert Booth; Wisconsin Votes: An Electoral History, Volume 3, p. 11 {{ISBN|0299227405}} It voted for Martin van Buren and John P. Hale in Wisconsin's first two presidential elections,Beckwith, Albert Clayton; History of Walworth County, Wisconsin pp. 98-99 Published 1912 by B.F. Bowen and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana and its opposition to the spread of slavery led to its population voting Republican in subsequent elections, even resisting the appeal of Wisconsin native Robert La Follette when he carried the state in 1924 as a Progressive.See Phillips, Kevin P.; The Emerging Republican Majority, pp. 441-442 {{ISBN|978-0-691-16324-6}}

Walworth County remains strongly Republican.See McDade, Philip J.; [http://www.badgerinstitute.org/WIInterest/McDade11.2.pdf 'Congressional Restricting in Wisconsin'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120124303/http://www.badgerinstitute.org/WIInterest/McDade11.2.pdf |date=January 20, 2018 }} The only Democrat to carry the county was Woodrow Wilson in 1912, who won 36 percent of the vote. Even with the GOP mortally divided between President William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt, Wilson only won the county by 29 votes. The best Democratic showings since then have been by Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and Barack Obama in 2008, both of whom received around 48 percent. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Bill Clinton are the only other Democrats since Wilson to cross the 40 percent mark, though Joe Biden came very close in 2020.

Education

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st55_wi/schooldistrict_maps/c55127_walworth/DC20SD_C55127.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st55_wi/schooldistrict_maps/c55127_walworth/DC20SD_C55127.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Walworth County, WI|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 23, 2022}} - [Text list]

K-12:

Secondary:

Elementary:

Wisconsin School for the Deaf, a state-operated school, is in the county.

References

External links

[http://www.co.walworth.wi.us/ Walworth County]
[http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/walworth.pdf Walworth County map] from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160206174738/http://www.walworthcogetaway.com/ Travel Guide for Lake Geneva and Walworth County, WI]
[http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=turn&entity=WI.LGAtlas.p0003&id=WI.LGAtlas&isize=L Combination Atlas Map, 1873]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Walworth County, Wisconsin

|North =

|Northeast = Waukesha County

|East = Racine County and Kenosha County

|Southeast = McHenry County, Illinois

|South =

|Southwest = Boone County, Illinois

|West = Rock County

|Northwest = Jefferson County

}}

{{coord|42.67|-88.54|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WI_source:UScensus1990}}