Monroe County, Wisconsin
County in Wisconsin, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,274.[4] Its county seat is Sparta.[5]
United StatesMonroe County, Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
Monroe County Courthouse in Sparta | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin | |
| Coordinates: 43°57′N 90°37′W | |
| Country | United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| Founded | 1854 DT Moseley was the first white child born to settlers in Monroe County. |
| Named after | James Monroe[1] |
| Seat | Sparta |
| Largest city | Sparta |
| Area | |
• Total | 908 sq mi (2,350 km2) |
| • Land | 901 sq mi (2,330 km2) |
| • Water | 7.4 sq mi (19 km2) 0.8% |
| Population | |
• Total | 46,274 |
46,572  | |
| • Density | 51.5/sq mi (19.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 3rd, 7th |
| Website | www |
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 908 square miles (2,350 km2), of which 901 square miles (2,330 km2) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km2) (0.8%) is water.[6]
United States Army posts
Adjacent counties
- Jackson County – north
- Juneau County – east
- Vernon County – south
- La Crosse County – west
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 8,410 | — | |
| 1870 | 16,550 | 96.8% | |
| 1880 | 21,607 | 30.6% | |
| 1890 | 23,211 | 7.4% | |
| 1900 | 28,103 | 21.1% | |
| 1910 | 28,881 | 2.8% | |
| 1920 | 28,666 | −0.7% | |
| 1930 | 28,739 | 0.3% | |
| 1940 | 30,080 | 4.7% | |
| 1950 | 31,378 | 4.3% | |
| 1960 | 31,241 | −0.4% | |
| 1970 | 31,610 | 1.2% | |
| 1980 | 35,074 | 11.0% | |
| 1990 | 36,633 | 4.4% | |
| 2000 | 40,899 | 11.6% | |
| 2010 | 44,673 | 9.2% | |
| 2020 | 46,274 | 3.6% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 46,572 | [7] | 0.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[4] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[12] | Pop 1990[13] | Pop 2000[14] | Pop 2010[15] | Pop 2020[16] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 34,558 | 35,836 | 39,135 | 41,260 | 40,608 | 98.53% | 97.82% | 95.69% | 92.36% | 87.76% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 46 | 136 | 181 | 475 | 620 | 0.13% | 0.37% | 0.44% | 1.06% | 1.34% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 241 | 288 | 363 | 464 | 493 | 0.69% | 0.79% | 0.89% | 1.04% | 1.07% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 71 | 133 | 195 | 281 | 352 | 0.20% | 0.36% | 0.48% | 0.63% | 0.76% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [17] | x [18] | 14 | 40 | 63 | x | x | 0.03% | 0.09% | 0.14% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 33 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 111 | 0.09% | 0.02% | 0.04% | 0.03% | 0.24% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [19] | x [20] | 256 | 477 | 1,467 | x | x | 0.63% | 1.07% | 3.17% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 125 | 234 | 740 | 1,661 | 2,560 | 0.36% | 0.64% | 1.81% | 3.72% | 5.53% |
| Total | 35,074 | 36,633 | 40,899 | 44,673 | 46,274 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 46,274 and a median age of 39.6 years.[21][22] 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older.[22] For every 100 females there were 102.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.6 males age 18 and over.[22]
The population density was 51.4 people per square mile (19.8 people/km2). There were 19,769 housing units at an average density of 21.9 units per square mile (8.5 units/km2).[22]
The racial makeup of the county was 89.2% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.1% from some other race, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.5% of the population.[21]
43.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 56.8% lived in rural areas.[23]
There were 18,197 households in the county, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.3% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[22]
There were 19,769 housing units, of which 8.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.5% were owner-occupied and 30.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.9%.[22]
2000 census
As of the census[24] of 2000, there were 40,899 people, 15,399 households, and 10,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile (17 people/km2). There were 16,672 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.52% White, 0.46% Black or African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.5% were of German, 13.4% Norwegian, 7.6% Irish, 6.3% American and 5.0% English ancestry. 92.9% spoke English, 3.1% German and 2.2% Spanish as their first language.
There were 15,399 households, out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.00% 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 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.10% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.60 males.
In 2017, there were 534 births, giving a general fertility rate of 67.9 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 21st highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Of these, 43 of the births occurred at home.[25] Additionally, there were 21 reported induced abortions performed on women of Monroe County residence in 2017.[26]
In 2010, the reported adherence figures for the largest religious groups in Monroe County were Catholic at 9,250 adherents, Wisconsin Synod Lutheran at 3,102 adherents, ELCA Lutheran at 2,297 adherents, Amish at 1,627 adherents, LCMC Lutheran at 1,270 adherents, and United Methodist at 1,155 adherents.[27]
Transportation
Communities
Cities
Villages
Towns
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Economy
Largest employers
- Tomah VA Medical Center
- Dept. of Defense
- Walmart distribution center
- Toro
- County of Monroe
- Northern Engraving
- Century Foods
- Cardinal Glass Industries
- Wal-Mart stores
- Tomah Memorial Hospital[28]
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 2,530 | 47.14% | 2,458 | 45.80% | 379 | 7.06% |
| 1896 | 3,683 | 59.46% | 2,361 | 38.12% | 150 | 2.42% |
| 1900 | 3,709 | 60.31% | 2,247 | 36.54% | 194 | 3.15% |
| 1904 | 3,892 | 66.77% | 1,749 | 30.01% | 188 | 3.23% |
| 1908 | 3,304 | 58.11% | 2,155 | 37.90% | 227 | 3.99% |
| 1912 | 1,841 | 38.13% | 2,084 | 43.16% | 903 | 18.70% |
| 1916 | 3,013 | 57.58% | 1,991 | 38.05% | 229 | 4.38% |
| 1920 | 6,784 | 83.29% | 977 | 12.00% | 384 | 4.71% |
| 1924 | 2,661 | 26.70% | 428 | 4.30% | 6,876 | 69.00% |
| 1928 | 5,936 | 60.83% | 3,709 | 38.01% | 114 | 1.17% |
| 1932 | 3,022 | 30.36% | 6,757 | 67.88% | 175 | 1.76% |
| 1936 | 4,695 | 39.10% | 6,491 | 54.06% | 822 | 6.85% |
| 1940 | 8,042 | 62.52% | 4,673 | 36.33% | 148 | 1.15% |
| 1944 | 7,277 | 64.09% | 4,013 | 35.34% | 64 | 0.56% |
| 1948 | 5,347 | 50.97% | 4,970 | 47.38% | 173 | 1.65% |
| 1952 | 8,744 | 69.98% | 3,717 | 29.75% | 34 | 0.27% |
| 1956 | 7,460 | 63.16% | 4,311 | 36.50% | 40 | 0.34% |
| 1960 | 7,410 | 58.87% | 5,161 | 41.00% | 16 | 0.13% |
| 1964 | 5,126 | 44.48% | 6,385 | 55.41% | 13 | 0.11% |
| 1968 | 6,938 | 57.74% | 4,012 | 33.39% | 1,065 | 8.86% |
| 1972 | 7,625 | 66.68% | 3,640 | 31.83% | 171 | 1.50% |
| 1976 | 7,242 | 51.85% | 6,465 | 46.28% | 261 | 1.87% |
| 1980 | 8,136 | 51.87% | 6,521 | 41.58% | 1,027 | 6.55% |
| 1984 | 8,227 | 59.26% | 5,567 | 40.10% | 90 | 0.65% |
| 1988 | 7,073 | 52.06% | 6,437 | 47.38% | 75 | 0.55% |
| 1992 | 6,118 | 36.41% | 6,427 | 38.24% | 4,260 | 25.35% |
| 1996 | 5,299 | 36.29% | 6,924 | 47.42% | 2,377 | 16.28% |
| 2000 | 8,217 | 50.30% | 7,460 | 45.67% | 658 | 4.03% |
| 2004 | 10,375 | 53.06% | 8,973 | 45.89% | 206 | 1.05% |
| 2008 | 8,666 | 45.25% | 10,198 | 53.25% | 288 | 1.50% |
| 2012 | 9,675 | 49.65% | 9,515 | 48.83% | 295 | 1.51% |
| 2016 | 11,356 | 57.65% | 7,052 | 35.80% | 1,291 | 6.55% |
| 2020 | 13,775 | 60.92% | 8,433 | 37.30% | 403 | 1.78% |
| 2024 | 14,563 | 62.32% | 8,476 | 36.27% | 330 | 1.41% |
For most of its existence, Monroe County has favored the Republican Party. Since 1936, only four Democrats have won the county in presidential races.
Education
School districts include:[30]
- Bangor School District
- Black River Falls School District
- Cashton School District
- Hillsboro School District (Wisconsin)
- Melrose-Mindoro School District
- New Lisbon School District
- Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District
- Royall School District
- Sparta Area School District
- Tomah Area School District
- Westby Area School District
