Racine County is a county located in southeastern Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, its population was 195,408, making it the fifth-most populous county in Wisconsin. Its county seat is Racine. The county was founded in 1836, then a part of the Wisconsin Territory.
Racine County comprises the Racine metropolitan statistical area. It is included in the Milwaukee metropolitan area (Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 792 square miles (2,050Â km2), of which 333 square miles (860Â km2) is land and 460 square miles (1,200Â km2) (58%) is water.
The county's unemployment rate was 6.7% in August 2016.
Adjacent counties
- Milwaukee County (north)
- Ottawa County, Michigan (northeast)
- Allegan County, Michigan (southeast)
- Kenosha County (south)
- Walworth County (west)
- Waukesha County (northwest)
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 188,831 people, 70,819 households, and 49,856 families residing in the county. The population density was 567 people per square mile (219/km²). There were 74,718 housing units at an average density of 224 per square mile (87/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.04% White, 10.47% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.69% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 7.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.9% were of German, 7.4% Polish and 5.5% Irish ancestry.
There were 70,819 households out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.00% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.
Transportation
Major highways
Airports
- John H. Batten Airport (KRAC) serves the county and surrounding communities.
- Burlington Municipal Airport (KBUU) enhances county service.
- Cindy Guntly Memorial Airport (62C) serves the county.
- Sylvania Airport (C89) enhances county service.
Communities
Cities
- Burlington (partly in Walworth County)
- Racine (county seat)
Villages
Towns
- Burlington
- Dover
- Raymond
- Norway
- Waterford
- Yorkville
Census-designated places
- Bohners Lake (Town of Burlington)
- Browns Lake (Town of Burlington)
- Eagle Lake (Town of Dover)
- Tichigan (Town of Waterford)
- Wind Lake (Town of Norway)
Unincorporated communities
Ghost towns/neighborhoods
- Beaumont
- DeNoon
- Husher
- Kneeland
- Muskego Settlement
- Raymond Center
- Rosewood
- Sylvania
Government
The County Board consists of 21 members, each elected from single-member districts. The county executive is elected in a countywide vote. The county executive is Jonathan Delagrave. The Circuit Court is made up of ten judges, elected in countywide elections for six-year terms.
Politics
Racine County has been a bellwether county having voted for the winning presidential candidate in 13 of the last 15 elections since 1960. The only exceptions were when it voted for President Ford in 1976 and Michael Dukakis in 1988.
See also
- Racine County Jane Doe, a young woman whose body was discovered in 1999 in the town of Raymond, Racine County
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Racine County, Wisconsin
References
Further reading
- Commemorative Biographical Record of Prominent and Representative Men of Racine and Kenosha Counties Wisconsin. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1906.
External links
- Racine County website
- Racine County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation