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Juneau County, Wisconsin

Coordinates: 43°55′N 90°07′W / 43.92°N 90.11°W / 43.92; -90.11
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Juneau County
Juneau County Courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Juneau County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°55′N 90°07′W / 43.92°N 90.11°W / 43.92; -90.11
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1857
Named forSolomon Juneau
SeatMauston
Largest cityMauston
Area
 • Total804 sq mi (2,080 km2)
 • Land767 sq mi (1,990 km2)
 • Water37 sq mi (100 km2)  4.6%
Population
 • Total26,718
 • Estimate 
(2023)
26,594 Decrease
 • Density34.8/sq mi (13.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts3rd, 7th
Websitewww.co.juneau.wi.gov

Juneau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,718.[1] Its county seat is Mauston.[2]

History

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Thunderbird petroglyph at Twin Bluff

Before white settlement, before loggers and explorers, the area that is now Juneau County was the home of Native Americans who left behind artifacts like the thunderbirds etched on the wall at Twin Bluffs[3] and the Gee's Slough mounds outside New Lisbon.[4]

Juneau County was established in 1857 when the Wisconsin Legislature passed legislation separating lands west of the Wisconsin River from what was then Adams County.[5] After a contest with neighboring New Lisbon, the county seat was established in Maugh's Town, which is known today as Mauston. The county was named after Solomon Juneau, a founder of Milwaukee.[6][7]

In the 1970s, county officials had indicated their interest, and submitted a request to Wisconsin Power and Light Company, to build a nuclear power plant on Petenwell Lake.[8]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 804 square miles (2,080 km2), of which 767 square miles (1,990 km2) is land and 37 square miles (96 km2) (4.6%) is water.[9]

Major highways

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Railroads

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Buses

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Airports

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Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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United States Military Posts

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Fort McCoy outside of Juneau county

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18608,770
187012,37241.1%
188015,58225.9%
189017,1219.9%
190020,62920.5%
191019,569−5.1%
192019,209−1.8%
193017,264−10.1%
194018,7088.4%
195018,9301.2%
196017,490−7.6%
197018,4555.5%
198021,03914.0%
199021,6502.9%
200024,31612.3%
201026,6649.7%
202026,7180.2%
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 26,718. The population density was 34.8 people per square mile (13.4 people/km2). There were 14,441 housing units at an average density of 18.8 units per square mile (7.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.9% White, 2.1% Black or African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.7% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

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2000 Census Age Pyramid for Juneau County

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 24,316 people, 9,696 households, and 6,699 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 12,370 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.61% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.2% were of German, 9.9% Irish, 8.8% Norwegian, 6.5% Polish and 5.8% English ancestry.

There were 9,696 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

In 2017, there were 282 births, giving a general fertility rate of 72.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 12th highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Of these, only 2 of the births occurred at home.[16] Additionally, there were 16 reported induced abortions performed on women of Juneau County residence in 2017, a figure higher than the records for the preceding four years.[17]

Communities

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10 sided barn south of Mauston
Welcome sign on WIS 173

Cities

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Villages

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Towns

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Unincorporated communities

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Juneau County, Wisconsin[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 8,749 63.82% 4,746 34.62% 214 1.56%
2016 7,130 60.76% 4,073 34.71% 532 4.53%
2012 5,411 45.75% 6,242 52.78% 174 1.47%
2008 5,148 44.65% 6,186 53.65% 196 1.70%
2004 6,473 52.29% 5,734 46.32% 172 1.39%
2000 4,910 48.05% 4,813 47.10% 495 4.84%
1996 3,226 35.13% 4,331 47.17% 1,625 17.70%
1992 4,051 36.85% 4,177 38.00% 2,765 25.15%
1988 4,869 56.21% 3,734 43.11% 59 0.68%
1984 5,629 63.62% 3,152 35.62% 67 0.76%
1980 5,591 55.14% 3,884 38.30% 665 6.56%
1976 4,242 46.73% 4,512 49.71% 323 3.56%
1972 4,833 60.19% 2,943 36.65% 254 3.16%
1968 3,828 53.60% 2,595 36.33% 719 10.07%
1964 2,976 39.33% 4,583 60.57% 8 0.11%
1960 4,997 60.60% 3,238 39.27% 11 0.13%
1956 5,135 67.58% 2,428 31.96% 35 0.46%
1952 5,978 73.22% 2,163 26.49% 23 0.28%
1948 3,793 55.71% 2,889 42.43% 127 1.87%
1944 4,733 61.97% 2,857 37.41% 47 0.62%
1940 5,268 60.51% 3,354 38.53% 84 0.96%
1936 3,084 37.83% 4,544 55.74% 524 6.43%
1932 2,018 29.37% 4,723 68.75% 129 1.88%
1928 3,777 57.74% 2,708 41.40% 56 0.86%
1924 1,917 31.10% 403 6.54% 3,844 62.36%
1920 4,385 81.22% 774 14.34% 240 4.45%
1916 2,292 58.65% 1,442 36.90% 174 4.45%
1912 1,322 41.48% 1,236 38.78% 629 19.74%
1908 2,454 57.59% 1,691 39.69% 116 2.72%
1904 3,234 70.11% 1,244 26.97% 135 2.93%
1900 2,914 63.35% 1,586 34.48% 100 2.17%
1896 2,832 61.49% 1,671 36.28% 103 2.24%
1892 1,945 47.11% 1,978 47.91% 206 4.99%

Juneau County was long considered a bellwether in presidential elections. From 1964 through 2016, the winning candidate has carried the county in every presidential election. However, this trend ended in 2020 when the county was again won by Donald Trump by an even larger margin than he had won it in 2016, despite his nationwide defeat to Joe Biden.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census: Juneau County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Twin Bluff". Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  4. ^ Birmingham, Robert A.; Leslie E. Eisenberg (2000). Indian Mounds of Wisconsin. Madison, Wisc.: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 204. ISBN 9780299168742.
  5. ^ Wisconsin Acts. 1856. Ch. 130 Approved October 13, 1856. Went into effect January 1, 1857.
  6. ^ Juneau County - Home Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  7. ^ Stennett, William H. (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. Juneau County, State of Wisconsin.
  8. ^ Jaeger, Richard W. (February 15, 1973). "Juneau Officials Seek A-Plant". The Wisconsin State Journal. pp. Section 4, Page 1.
  9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 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 5, 2015.
  14. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ "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 23, 2019.
  17. ^ 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
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 10, 2020.

Further reading

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