Oconto County
County
The Oconto County Courthouse, circa 1910
The Oconto County Courthouse, circa 1910
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Oconto County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°59′N 88°14′W / 44.99°N 88.23°W / 44.99; -88.23
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1854
Named forOconto River
SeatOconto
Largest cityOconto
Area
 • Total1,149 sq mi (2,980 km2)
 • Land998 sq mi (2,580 km2)
 • Water151 sq mi (390 km2)  13%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total38,965
 • Density39.1/sq mi (15.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.co.oconto.wi.us
Rural Oconto County in fall

Oconto County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,965.[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 and 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

Railroads

Buses

Airport

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

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
202038,9653.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 38,965. The population density was 39.1 people per square mile (15.1 people/km2). There were 23,754 housing units at an average density of 23.8 units per square mile (9.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% White, 1.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.8% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Oconto County
Woods along U.S. Route 41

2000 census

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 people/km2). There were 19,812 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7 units/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.

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.

In 2017, there were 353 births, giving a general fertility rate of 61.0 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 28th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[12] Additionally, there were 14 reported induced abortions performed on women of Oconto County residence in 2017.[13]

Communities

Oconto County sign

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Native American community

Ghost town/neighborhood

  • Leighton

Politics

In the latter half of the 20th century and the early 21st century, Oconto County was a bellwether in presidential elections, supporting the winning candidate in every election from 1964 to 2008. In 2012, however, the county voted for Republican Mitt Romney despite Romney losing the state of Wisconsin and the national election. In 2016, the county swung 27 percentage points to the right, giving Republican Donald Trump a margin of victory of more than 37 percentage points and a vote share of 66%. In 2020, Trump improved his performance, carrying Oconto by a margin of 41 percentage points and winning 69.9% of the vote to Democrat Joe Biden's 28.9%. This was the best result for any presidential nominee in Oconto County since 1920, when Warren Harding received 78.2% of the vote, and remains the third strongest performance of any candidate ever.

United States presidential election results for Oconto County, Wisconsin[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 16,226 69.89% 6,715 28.93% 274 1.18%
2016 13,345 66.04% 5,940 29.40% 921 4.56%
2012 10,741 54.09% 8,865 44.64% 253 1.27%
2008 8,755 46.16% 9,927 52.34% 286 1.51%
2004 11,043 55.79% 8,534 43.11% 217 1.10%
2000 8,706 52.46% 7,260 43.75% 630 3.80%
1996 5,389 38.81% 6,723 48.42% 1,773 12.77%
1992 5,720 35.59% 5,898 36.70% 4,455 27.72%
1988 7,084 51.65% 6,549 47.75% 83 0.61%
1984 8,714 61.70% 5,289 37.45% 121 0.86%
1980 8,292 58.01% 5,352 37.44% 649 4.54%
1976 6,232 47.84% 6,541 50.21% 254 1.95%
1972 6,511 59.38% 4,041 36.85% 413 3.77%
1968 5,680 53.74% 3,737 35.36% 1,152 10.90%
1964 4,420 40.94% 6,360 58.92% 15 0.14%
1960 6,223 55.15% 5,045 44.71% 15 0.13%
1956 6,836 64.95% 3,632 34.51% 57 0.54%
1952 7,807 69.58% 3,382 30.14% 31 0.28%
1948 4,865 52.61% 4,269 46.17% 113 1.22%
1944 5,923 57.38% 4,348 42.12% 51 0.49%
1940 6,238 53.88% 5,273 45.55% 66 0.57%
1936 3,774 34.20% 6,729 60.98% 531 4.81%
1932 2,915 30.80% 6,440 68.04% 110 1.16%
1928 4,661 51.91% 4,253 47.37% 65 0.72%
1924 2,562 33.12% 602 7.78% 4,571 59.10%
1920 4,735 78.16% 1,030 17.00% 293 4.84%
1916 2,570 56.21% 1,892 41.38% 110 2.41%
1912 1,988 46.60% 1,523 35.70% 755 17.70%
1908 3,020 64.77% 1,453 31.16% 190 4.07%
1904 3,279 73.70% 1,024 23.02% 146 3.28%
1900 2,754 69.72% 1,117 28.28% 79 2.00%
1896 2,836 67.08% 1,290 30.51% 102 2.41%
1892 1,275 43.31% 1,499 50.92% 170 5.77%

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "2020 Decennial Census: Oconto County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer, (New York:Columbia University Press, 1952) p. 1364
  4. ↑ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  8. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  10. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  13. ↑ Reported Induced Abortions in Wisconsin, Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013-2017, Table 18, pages 17-18
  14. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 14, 2018.

Further reading

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