Brown County, Wisconsin

This article is about the county in Wisconsin. For other counties of the same name in other states, see Brown County (disambiguation).
Brown County, Wisconsin

Brown County Courthouse in Green Bay
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Brown County
Location in the state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location in the U.S.
Founded 1818
Named for Jacob Brown
Seat Green Bay
Largest city Green Bay
Area
 • Total 616 sq mi (1,595 km2)
 • Land 530 sq mi (1,373 km2)
 • Water 86 sq mi (223 km2), 14%
Population
 • (2010) 248,007
 • Density 468/sq mi (181/km²)
Congressional district 8th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.brown.wi.us

Brown County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 248,007,[1] making it the fourth-most populous county in Wisconsin. The county seat is Green Bay.[2] Brown County is part of the Green Bay, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Wisconsin Territory depicted on this 1835 Tourist's Pocket Map Of Michigan, showing a Menominee-filled Brown County, Wisconsin that spans the northern half of the territory.

Wisconsin Territory depicted on this 1835 Tourist's Pocket Map Of Michigan, showing a Menominee-filled Brown County, Wisconsin that spans the northern half of the territory.

Brown County is one of Wisconsin's two original counties, along with Crawford County. It originally spanned the entire eastern half of the state when formed by the Michigan Territorial legislature in 1818. It was named for Major General Jacob Brown,[3][4] a military leader during the War of 1812.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 616 square miles (1,600 km2), of which 530 square miles (1,400 km2) is land and 86 square miles (220 km2) (14%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18402,107—
18506,215195.0%
186011,79589.8%
187025,168113.4%
188034,07835.4%
189039,16414.9%
190046,35918.4%
191054,09816.7%
192061,88914.4%
193070,24913.5%
194083,10918.3%
195098,31418.3%
1960125,08227.2%
1970158,24426.5%
1980175,28010.8%
1990194,59411.0%
2000226,77816.5%
2010248,0079.4%
Est. 2014256,670[6]3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2014[1]
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Brown County

2010 census

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 248,007 people, 98,383 households, and 63,721 families residing in the county. The population density was 403 people per square mile (156/km²). There were 104,371 housing units at an average density of 170 per square mile (66/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.5% White, 2.2% Black or African American, 2.7% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.0004% Pacific Islander, 3.7% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 7.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 98,383 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 226,778 people, 87,295 households, and 57,527 families residing in the county. The population density was 429 people per square mile (166/km²). There were 90,199 housing units at an average density of 171 per square mile (66/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.14% White, 1.16% Black or African American, 2.29% Native American, 2.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 3.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.8% were of German, 8.9% Polish, 7.8% Belgian and 6.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 93.2% spoke only English at home, 3.8% spoke Spanish and 1.2% Hmong.

There were 87,295 households out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.20% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.40% 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 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 31.90% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.

Government

The legislative branch of Brown County is the 26-member Board of Supervisors. Each member represents a single district and serves a two-year term, with elections held in the spring of even-numbered years. The Board of Supervisors elects a Chairman and Vice Chairman from its membership.

The executive branch of Brown County is the County Executive, who is elected in the spring of every other odd-numbered year. The executive appoints department heads with the approval of the County Board. The current county executive is Troy Steckenbach.

Brown County has several other elected officials that are established under the Wisconsin State constitution and are referred to as the "constitutional officers". Constitutional officers are the only partisan elected officials within Brown County government, as the Executive and County Board are non-partisan positions.

The current constitutional officers are:

In July 2002, the county declared English its official language, voting 17-8 to do so and to increase spending to promote fluency in English.

Communities

Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena
Farmland in rural Brown County
The County Executive Troy Streckenbach, Brown County Neville Museum Director, and Mayor Jim Schmitt of Green Bay in front of the dinosaur sculpture.

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Native American communities

Ghost towns/Neighborhoods

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ History of the Origin of the Place Names in Nine Northwestern States. 1908. p. 12.
  4. ↑ "Here's How Iron Got Its Name". The Rhinelander Daily News. June 16, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  11. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

Further reading

External links

 Shawano County Oconto County Green Bay
Outagamie County Kewaunee County
   Brown County, Wisconsin  
Calumet County Manitowoc County

Coordinates: 44°29′N 87°59′W / 44.48°N 87.99°W / 44.48; -87.99

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, April 26, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.