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Green County, Wisconsin

Coordinates: 42°41′N 89°36′W / 42.68°N 89.60°W / 42.68; -89.60
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Green County
County
Green County Courthouse
Green County Courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Green County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°41′N 89°36′W / 42.68°N 89.6°W / 42.68; -89.6
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1837
Named forNathanael Greene
SeatMonroe
Largest cityMonroe
Area
 • Total
584 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land584 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Water0.5 sq mi (1 km2)  0.09%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
37,093
 • Estimate 
(2023)
36,951 Decrease
 • Density63.5/sq mi (24.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.co.green.wi.gov

Green County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,093.[1] Its county seat is Monroe.[2] Green County is included in the Madison, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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The land of Green County had long been settled by Native Americans. In 1632, Samuel de Champlain included this area in the region belonging to the Illinois, and in the 18th century the Sauk mined lead within the present county limits. By the time the first white settlers arrived there, all of Green County was the property of the Ho-Chunk, who referred to the mines as the "Sac Diggings." The federal government recognized Indian title to frontier land, and generally forbade the private sale of Indian land to individuals, but as squatters continued to work the mines in southwestern Wisconsin, conflict arose between them and the Ho-Chunk, as well as the Sauk and Meskwaki, all of whom mined and sold lead. In 1832, Black Hawk attempted to bring his people back into their former Illinois lands, they were pursued across the border into Wisconsin, then known as western Michigan Territory. The Ho-Chunk were divided in the Black Hawk War, with many warriors siding with the Sauk, and others taking personal revenge on frontier settlers in the lead mining district. Although many other Ho-Chunk aided the US army in pursuing the Sauk, they were coerced into selling their lands south of the Wisconsin River in a treaty signed in September, one month after Black Hawk's surrender. Although other towns had been founded in the lead region of Wisconsin prior to the land cession, Monroe, Wisconsin was one of the many communities founded in the mid-1830s after this land became legally open to settlement.[3][4][5]

The county was created in 1837 from the Wisconsin Territory.[6] When in December 1837, a new county was to be split off from the over-large Iowa County, William Boyles of Monroe, as the Representative of the area, was allowed to choose a name. He chose Green County, after the verdant color of the vegetation there. Another member suggested that it be modified to "Greene" after General Nathanael Greene, who commanded the Southern Campaign in the American Revolutionary War but Boyles insisted on his original choice.[7] The story that it was named for General Greene still persists in some circles.[8]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 584 square miles (1,510 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) (0.09%) is water.[9]

Major highways

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Railroads

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Buses

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Airport

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Monroe Municipal Airport (KEFT) serves the county and surrounding communities.

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1840933—
18508,566818.1%
186019,808131.2%
187023,61119.2%
188021,729−8.0%
189022,7324.6%
190022,719−0.1%
191021,641−4.7%
192021,568−0.3%
193021,8701.4%
194023,1465.8%
195024,1724.4%
196025,8516.9%
197026,7143.3%
198030,01212.3%
199030,3391.1%
200033,64710.9%
201036,8429.5%
202037,0930.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[1]

2020 census

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As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 37,093. The population density was 63.5 people per square mile (24.5 people/km2). There were 16,273 housing units at an average density of 27.9 units per square mile (10.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.5% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 1.9% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 4.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

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2000 Census Age Pyramid for Green County

As of the 2000 census,[15] there were 33,647 people, 13,212 households, and 9,208 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22 people/km2). There were 13,878 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.14% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 31.9% were of German, 20.3% Swiss, 14.9% Norwegian, 6.7% Irish, 5.7% English and 5.5% American ancestry. 96.5% spoke English, 2.0% German and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 13,212 households, out of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

As late as the 1970 federal census, Green County was the only county in the United States in which the largest foreign-born population was people born in Switzerland.

Communities

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A farm in Green County, Wisconsin

Cities

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Villages

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns/neighborhoods

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Politics

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Until the 1992 presidential election, Green County voters primarily backed the Republican Party candidate in national elections. Prior to that year, the only times they failed to win the county were in the midst of a divided party vote in 1912, the presence of Wisconsinite Robert La Follette on the ballot in 1924, & national Democratic Party landslides in 1932, 1936, & 1964. From 1992 onward, the county has backed the Democratic candidate in every presidential election, though their margins of victory have been often relatively narrow.

United States presidential election results for Green County, Wisconsin[16][17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 10,843 49.23% 10,903 49.50% 280 1.27%
2020 10,169 47.51% 10,851 50.69% 386 1.80%
2016 8,693 45.79% 9,122 48.05% 1,170 6.16%
2012 7,857 40.66% 11,206 58.00% 259 1.34%
2008 6,730 36.31% 11,502 62.06% 302 1.63%
2004 8,497 46.56% 9,575 52.47% 176 0.96%
2000 6,790 44.45% 7,863 51.47% 623 4.08%
1996 4,697 37.23% 6,136 48.64% 1,783 14.13%
1992 4,887 34.46% 5,467 38.55% 3,829 27.00%
1988 6,636 55.73% 5,153 43.27% 119 1.00%
1984 7,827 63.65% 4,367 35.52% 102 0.83%
1980 7,714 54.03% 5,336 37.37% 1,227 8.59%
1976 7,085 54.31% 5,632 43.17% 329 2.52%
1972 7,422 66.14% 3,634 32.38% 166 1.48%
1968 6,502 61.03% 3,501 32.86% 651 6.11%
1964 5,364 49.08% 5,548 50.76% 17 0.16%
1960 7,939 67.79% 3,766 32.16% 6 0.05%
1956 7,114 66.00% 3,614 33.53% 51 0.47%
1952 7,949 70.46% 3,326 29.48% 6 0.05%
1948 4,403 52.43% 3,881 46.21% 114 1.36%
1944 5,556 57.28% 4,101 42.28% 42 0.43%
1940 5,711 55.10% 4,565 44.05% 88 0.85%
1936 3,700 37.53% 5,941 60.26% 218 2.21%
1932 3,190 36.42% 5,406 61.73% 162 1.85%
1928 5,152 64.18% 2,812 35.03% 63 0.78%
1924 2,922 35.07% 423 5.08% 4,986 59.85%
1920 5,466 84.68% 633 9.81% 356 5.52%
1916 2,422 55.77% 1,687 38.84% 234 5.39%
1912 1,601 38.82% 1,716 41.61% 807 19.57%
1908 2,617 54.48% 1,856 38.63% 331 6.89%
1904 2,992 62.05% 1,466 30.40% 364 7.55%
1900 2,996 60.21% 1,776 35.69% 204 4.10%
1896 3,093 54.72% 2,339 41.38% 220 3.89%
1892 2,329 46.05% 2,052 40.57% 677 13.38%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census: Green County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "A Brief History of Monroe". Wisconsin Historical Society. Wisconsin State Historical Society. July 27, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "History of Green County, Wisconsin. together with biographies of representative citizens. history of Wisconsin, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief account of its territorial and state governments. - Full view - UWDC - UW-Madison Libraries". search.library.wisc.edu. Union Publishing Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Marty, Dwayne L. "Old Exeter And The Sugar River Diggings" (PDF). Monticello Historical Society. Monticello Historical Society. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  7. ^ History of Green County, Wisconsin. together with biographies of representative citizens. history of Wisconsin, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief account of its territorial and state governments Springfield, Illinois: Union Pub. Co., 1884; p. 220
  8. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 143.
  9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  13. ^ "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 4, 2015.
  14. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  17. ^ https://wi-greencounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/2880/FINAL-OFFICIAL-RESULTS-11-12-2024

Further reading

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42°41′N 89°36′W / 42.68°N 89.60°W / 42.68; -89.60

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