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Dane County
Dane County
	U.S. county
	The Dane County Courthouse, 2004
	Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
	Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 43°04?N 89°25?W / 43.07°N 89.42°W
Country
State	Wisconsin
Founded	1839
Named for	Nathan Dane
Seat	Madison
Largest city	Madison
Area
o Total	1,238 sq mi (3,210 km2)
o Land	1,197 sq mi (3,100 km2)
o Water	41 sq mi (110 km2) 3.3%
Population (2010)
o Total	488,075
o Estimate (2019)	546,695
o Density	390/sq mi (150/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central)
o Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.countyofdane.com

Dane County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 488,075, making it the second-most populous county in Wisconsin. The 2019 estimate places the county's population at 546,695.^[1] The county seat is Madison,^[2] which is also the state capital.

Dane County is the central county of the Madison, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well as the Madison-Janesville-Beloit Combined Statistical Area.

History

Dane County was formed in 1836 as a territorial county and organized in 1839.^[3] It was named after Nathan Dane, a Massachusetts delegate to the Congress of the Confederation who helped carve Wisconsin out of the Northwest Territory.^[4]^[5] Dane County was settled in the 1840s by settlers from New England.^[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,238 square miles (3,210 km²), of which 1,197 square miles (3,100 km²) is land and 41 square miles (110 km²) (3.3%) is water.^[7]

Soils of Dane County

Major highways

Airports

Blackhawk Airfield (87Y)
Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) provides commercial airline service.
Middleton Municipal Airport (C29)
Verona Airport (W19)
Waunakee Airport (6P3)

Adjacent counties

Columbia County (north)
Dodge County (northeast)
Green County (south)
Iowa County (west)
Jefferson County (east)
Rock County (southeast)
Sauk County (northwest)

Demographics

In 2017, there were 5,891 births, giving a general fertility rate of 51.7 births per 1000 women aged 15-44, the eighth lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Of these, 73 of the births occurred at home, the fifth highest number of home births for Wisconsin counties. 428 of the births were to mothers who held doctorate or professional degrees, more than any other Wisconsin county. These accounted for 7.3% of total births for the county, a higher percent than any other Wisconsin county and more than Ozaukee County which had 5.8% of births to mothers who held doctorate or professional degrees and ranked second.^[13]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 488,073 people, 203,750 households, and 116,752 families living in the county. The population density was 394 people per square mile (152/km²). There were 216,022 housing units at an average density of 174 per square mile (67/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.7% White, 5.2% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.003% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. 5.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[14] Of the 203,750 households 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 30.5% of households were one person and 7.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 21.7% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% 65 or older. The median age was 34.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Dane County.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families living in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile (137/km²). There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile (58/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.96% White, 4.00% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 3.45% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.43% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. 3.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.4% were of German, 11.5% Norwegian, 8.9% Irish and 6.0% English ancestry.^[14] Of the 173,484 households 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.10% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.90% were non-families. 29.40% of households were one person and 7.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 22.60% under the age of 18, 14.30% from 18 to 24, 32.50% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 9.30% 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

Religion

In 2010, the largest religious groups in Dane County by number of adherents were Catholic at 106,036 adherents, ELCA Lutheran at 48,620 adherents, United Methodist at 9,753 adherents, non-denominational Christian at 7,448 adherents, Evangelical Free at 6,075 adherents, United Church of Christ at 5,035 adherents, Wisconsin Synod Lutheran at 4,214 adherents, Missouri Synod Lutheran at 3,921 adherents, American Baptist at 3,755 adherents, and PC-USA Presbyterian at 3,664 adherents.^[15]

Language

As of 2020, the majority of people in Dane County speak American English. However, a small community is known to speak Kölsch or Colognian, a minority language from the German city of Cologne.

Government

Dane County Courthouse

Dane County is governed by a county executive and a county board of supervisors. The county executive is elected in a countywide vote. The county executive is Joe Parisi. The board of supervisors consists of 37 members, each elected from single member districts. As the policy-making body of the county government, the board of supervisors enacts county ordinances, levies taxes, and appropriates money for services.

Politics

Dane County has supported the Democratic nominee for president all but five times since 1912, and in every election since 1960. In that time, Republicans have only crossed the 40 percent mark four times. Historically, it has been the second-strongest Democratic bastion in the state; only the rural and heavily Native American Menominee County is more Democratic.

Dane County was one of the few counties in the United States to elect a member of the Green Party into county-level office; that official was Leland Pan.

Presidential elections results

**Presidential elections results**^[16]
Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2020	22.8% 78,794	75.4% 260,121	1.6% 5,813
2016	23.0% 71,275	71.4% 217,697	6.6% 20,382
2012	27.5% 83,644	71.0% 216,071	1.5% 4,466
2008	25.8% 73,065	72.8% 205,984	1.4% 3,890
2004	33.0% 90,369	66.0% 181,052	1.0% 2,828
2000	32.6% 75,790	61.2% 142,317	6.3% 14,632
1996	30.9% 59,487	56.9% 109,347	12.2% 23,468
1992	29.5% 61,957	54.6% 114,724	15.9% 33,441
1988	39.3% 69,143	59.9% 105,414	0.8% 1,377
1984	43.8% 74,823	55.5% 94,659	0.7% 1,203
1980	34.2% 57,545	50.8% 85,609	15.0% 25,251
1976	41.6% 63,466	54.0% 82,321	4.4% 6,765
1972	40.9% 56,020	58.1% 79,567	1.1% 1,439
1968	38.4% 39,917	57.6% 59,951	4.0% 4,193
1964	28.4% 27,124	71.4% 68,118	0.2% 184
1960	47.8% 43,245	52.0% 47,045	0.2% 212
1956	51.1% 38,955	48.4% 36,891	0.5% 367
1952	50.3% 38,724	49.4% 37,987	0.3% 216
1948	37.8% 22,934	58.5% 35,486	3.7% 2,244
1944	38.0% 23,021	61.1% 37,076	0.9% 554
1940	34.8% 21,845	64.2% 40,331	1.0% 611
1936	28.8% 15,233	67.8% 35,856	3.4% 1,819
1932	39.9% 19,083	56.1% 26,841	4.0% 1,899
1928	54.9% 23,680	44.3% 19,126	0.8% 364
1924	31.3% 12,280	5.3% 2,081	63.4% 24,847
1920	77.5% 22,842	16.6% 4,879	6.0% 1,767
1916	40.1% 6,931	57.1% 9,859	2.8% 483
1912	32.3% 5,244	55.5% 9,017	12.2% 1,989
1908	52.4% 9,441	43.4% 7,818	4.2% 750
1904	63.5% 11,041	32.7% 5,679	3.8% 666
1900	58.4% 9,396	38.1% 6,129	3.5% 562
1896	56.1% 9,080	40.3% 6,521	3.6% 585
1892	44.9% 6,445	47.6% 6,833	7.4% 1,068

County executives

George Reinke, 1973-1981
Jonathan B. Barry, 1981-1988
Richard J. Phelps, 1988-1997
Kathleen Falk, 1997-2011
Joe Parisi, 2011-present

Recreation

County parks

Babcock County Park
Badger Prairie County Park
Blooming Grove Drumlins
Blue Mounds Natural Resource Area
Brigham County Park
CamRock County Park
Cherokee Marsh
Donald County Park
Festge County Park
Fish Camp County Park
Fish Lake County Park
Goodland County Park
Halfway Prairie School
Indian Lake County Park
Jenni & Kyle Preserve
La Follette County Park
Lake Farm County Park
Lake View Hill Park
Lussier County Park
McCarthy County Park
Mendota County Park
Phil's Woods County Park
Prairie Moraine County Park
Riley-Deppe County Park
Salmo Pond County Park
Scheidegger Forest
Schumacher Farm
Stewart Lake County Park
Token Creek County Park
Viking County Park
Walking Iron County Park
Yahara Heights County Park

Communities

Cities

Cities are incorporated, generally have a mayor (or a administrator/manager), an elected council, and generally provide more services than smaller administrative divisions.

Villages

Villages are incorporated, are governed by a Village President and Board of Trustees, and provide residential services.

Towns

Towns may have the same name as a city or village associated with it, but it is a separate municipality. Towns are not incorporated, are governed by a town board, and only provide limited services to residents.

Unincorporated communities

Unincorporated communities are smaller communities that are governed by the town they are located in and often exist as nomenclature in vital records.

Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods exist mostly for nomenclature purposes; some may have administrative associations with powers that are defined in the property deed covenants of the neighborhood.

Native American community

Ho-Chunk Indian Reservation

References

^ ^a ^b "Quick Facts: Dane County, Wisconsin". Census Bureau. July 1, 2018.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011.
^ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved 2015.
^ "Early Wisconsin". The Milwaukee Journal, September 26, 1896.
^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. pp. 99.
^ Starkweather, Charles Marcus, ed. (1898). The Red Book of the Sun Prairie Methodist Episcopal Church. C. M. Starkweather.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved 2015.
^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved 2020.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved 2015.
^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved 2015.
^ Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables
^ ^a ^b "U.S. Census website". Census Bureau. Retrieved .
^ thearda.com County Membership Report: Dane County (Wisconsin)
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2020.

External links

Official Dane County government website
Dane County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Coordinates: 43°04?N 89°25?W / 43.07°N 89.42°W / 43.07; -89.42

[QF-1] "Quick Facts: Dane County, Wisconsin". Census Bureau. July 1, 2018.

[GR6-2] "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011.

[3] "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved 2015.

[4] "Early Wisconsin". The Milwaukee Journal, September 26, 1896.

[5] Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. pp. 99.

[6] Starkweather, Charles Marcus, ed. (1898). The Red Book of the Sun Prairie Methodist Episcopal Church. C. M. Starkweather.

[GR1-7] "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved 2015.

[USCensusEst2019-8] "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved 2020.

[9] "U.S. Decennial Census". Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015.

[10] "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved 2015.

[11] Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015.

[12] "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved 2015.

[13] Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables

[GR8-14] "U.S. Census website". Census Bureau. Retrieved .

[15] thearda.com County Membership Report: Dane County (Wisconsin)

[16] Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2020.

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