Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county
Kenosha County (Template:IPAc-en) is located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 169,151,<ref name="2020 Census (City)">Template:Cite web</ref> and was estimated to be 168,754 in 2024,<ref name="QF"/> making it the eighth-most populous county in Wisconsin. Its county seat and the largest city is Kenosha,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref> the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin.
Kenosha County is situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county has a direct rail link to Chicago via Metra's Union Pacific North Line. In 2022, Kenosha County was ranked 16th out of 72 Wisconsin counties for tourism revenue, at $424 million in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
History
The Potowatomi inhabited the area that would become Kenosha County for centuries prior to the acquisition of the area in 1833. The city of Kenosha was founded in 1835, and Kenosha County was formed from Racine County on January 30, 1850.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its location led to development and factories being built in the 19th century. Manufacturing continued to be a key component of the economy into the 20th century.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (63.95%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the 69th largest county in Wisconsin by total area (fourth-smallest county). Although the county contains area from Lake Michigan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Major highways
Interstate 41
Interstate 94
U.S. Highway 41 (Skokie Highway)
U.S. Highway 45
Highway 31 (Wisconsin)
Highway 32 (Wisconsin)
Highway 50 (Wisconsin)
Highway 75 (Wisconsin)
Highway 83 (Wisconsin)
Highway 142 (Wisconsin)
Highway 158 (Wisconsin)
Highway 165 (Wisconsin)
Railroads
Buses
Airport
Kenosha Regional Airport (KENW) serves the county and surrounding communities.
Adjacent counties
- Racine County (north)
- Allegan County, Michigan (east across Lake Michigan)
- Lake County, Illinois (south)
- McHenry County, Illinois (southwest)
- Walworth County (west)
Demographics
As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Kenosha County was $284,600.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 67,631 estimated households in Kenosha County with an average of 2.43 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $79,412. Approximately 11.3% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Kenosha County has an estimated 67.0% employment rate, with 30.8% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 95.0% holding a high school diploma.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref>
The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (85.8%), Spanish (9.5%), Indo-European (3.3%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.9%), and Other (0.5%).Template:Citation needed
The median age in the county was 39.5 years.Template:Citation needed
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980<ref name=1980CensusWI/> | Pop 1990<ref name=1990CensusWI/> | Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> | Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | Template:Partial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 115,691 | 116,223 | 127,287 | 129,892 | 121,936 | 93.95% | 90.71% | 85.10% | 78.08% | 72.09% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,850 | 5,190 | 7,446 | 10,655 | 11,480 | 2.31% | 4.05% | 4.98% | 6.40% | 6.79% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 349 <ref>Compiliation of American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut categories</ref> | 443 | 491 | 513 | 371 | 0.32% | 0.35% | 0.33% | 0.31% | 0.22% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 401 <ref>Compiliation of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Asian Indian, and Vietnamese categories</ref> | 648 | 1,350 | 2,343 | 2,793 | 0.33% | 0.51% | 0.90% | 1.41% | 1.65% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 7 <ref>Compiliation of Hawaiian, Guamanian, and Samoan categories. Other Pacific Islander groups would be included in the Some Other Race category</ref> | 24 | 53 | 67 | 67 | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 268 <ref>Calculated as the difference between the total population and all other categories</ref> | 267 | 160 | 177 | 528 | 0.22% | 0.01% | 0.11% | 0.11% | 0.31% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x <ref>Not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> | x <ref>Not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> | 2,033 | 3,187 | 7,430 | x | x | 1.36% | 1.91% | 4.39% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,578 | 5,580 | 10,757 | 19,592 | 24,546 | 2.91% | 4.36% | 7.19% | 11.77% | 14.51% |
| Total | 123,137 | 128,121 | 149,577 | 166,426 | 169,151 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2023 estimate
As of the 2023 estimate, there were 167,488 people and 67,631 households residing in the county. There were 73,786 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 86.3% White (72.8% NH White), 7.7% African American, 0.8% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 15.4% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 169,151 people, 66,842 households, and 42,891 families residing in the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 72,451 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 75.92% White, 7.14% African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 5.24% from some other races and 9.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 14.51% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 166,426 people, 62,650 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 69,288 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 83.77% White, 6.64% African American, 0.49% Native American, 1.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.73% from some other races and 2.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 11.77% of the population.
2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 149,577 people, 56,057 households, and 38,455 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 59,989 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 88.38% White, 5.08% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.29% from some other races and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.19% of the population.
In terms of ancestry, 28.8% were of German, 10.4% Italian, 7.9% Irish, 7.6% Polish and 7.5% English.
There were 56,057 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% 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 3.13.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.
Government
The county legislature is known as the Board of Supervisors. It consists of 23 members, each elected from single-member districts. The county executive is elected in a spring countywide, nonpartisan vote. The county executive is Samantha Kerkman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The district attorney, treasurer, clerk, and register of deeds are elected in fall countywide, partisan elections held in presidential years, while the sheriff and clerk of circuit court are elected in fall countywide, partisan elections held in gubernatorial years.
Politics
In presidential elections, Kenosha County has voted Democratic for most of the past century. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win the county since President Nixon in 1972. In 2020 and 2024, Trump was able to gain more of the vote share with 2024 being the highest share for a Republican since 1972.
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Education
Libraries
Library services are provided by the Kenosha County Library System (KCLS), comprising the Kenosha Public Library (KPL), serving the city of Kenosha and the village of Pleasant Prairie, and the Community Library, which serves the town of Randall and the villages of Paddock Lake, Salem Lakes, and Twin Lakes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Communities
City
- Kenosha (county seat)
Villages
- Bristol
- Genoa City (mostly in Walworth County)
- Paddock Lake
- Pleasant Prairie
- Salem Lakes
- Somers
- Twin Lakes
Towns
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
- Bassett
- Benet Lake
- Brighton
- Camp Lake
- Chapin
- Cross Lake
- Fox River
- Klondike
- Lake Shangrila
- Liberty Corners
- Paris
- Salem
- Salem Oaks
- Slades Corners
- Trevor
- Truesdell
- Voltz Lake
- Wilmot
Ghost towns/neighborhoods
See also
Notes
References
External links
- Template:Official website
- Kenosha County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
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