Douglas County, Wisconsin

Douglas County, Wisconsin
Douglas County Courthouse in Superior
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Douglas County
Location in the state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location in the U.S.
Founded February 8, 1854
Named for Stephen A. Douglas
Seat Superior
Largest city Superior
Area
 • Total 1,480 sq mi (3,833 km2)
 • Land 1,304 sq mi (3,377 km2)
 • Water 176 sq mi (456 km2), 11.9%
Population (Est.)
 • (2013) 43,887
 • Density 34/sq mi (13/km²)
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.douglascountywi.org

Douglas County is a county located at the north-west corner of the State of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 44,159.[1] Its county seat is Superior.[2]

Douglas County is included in the Duluth, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Douglas County, named after Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas,[3][4] was established on February 8, 1854, from the larger La Pointe County, Wisconsin, and the City of Superior was immediately selected as the county seat.[5]

In Wisconsin's 1952 U.S. Senate primary, Douglas County was one of two counties (out of 71 in the state at the time) that Sen. Joe McCarthy did not carry.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,480 square miles (3,800 km2), of which 1,304 square miles (3,380 km2) is land and 176 square miles (460 km2) (11.9%) is water.[7]

A portion of the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation is located within Douglas County.

Adjacent counties

 Saint Louis County, Minnesota Lake Superior Lake County, Minnesota
Carlton County, Minnesota Bayfield County
   Douglas County, Wisconsin  
Pine County, Minnesota and Burnett County Washburn County Sawyer County

Major highways

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860812—
18701,12238.2%
1880655−41.6%
189013,4681,956.2%
190036,335169.8%
191047,42230.5%
192049,7715.0%
193046,583−6.4%
194047,1191.2%
195046,715−0.9%
196045,008−3.7%
197044,657−0.8%
198044,421−0.5%
199041,758−6.0%
200043,2873.7%
201044,1592.0%
Est. 201343,887−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Douglas County

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 44,159 people residing in the county. 93.2% were White, 2.0% Native American, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 2.7% of two or more races. 1.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 20.7% were of German, 11.2% Norwegian, 9.7% Swedish, 7.8% Irish, 6.4% Finnish and 6.1% Polish ancestry.[12]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 43,287 people, 17,808 households, and 11,272 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 20,356 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.35% White, 0.57% Black or African American, 1.82% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.8% had German, 13.5% Norwegian, 11.5% Swedish, 8.5% Irish, 8.2% Finnish, 6.8% Polish and 5.1% United States or American ancestry. 96.7% spoke English and 1.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 17,808 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.10% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.70% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.60% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

Communities

City

Villages

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

† Annexed by the City of Superior

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 108.
  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. ↑ Douglas County: County History
  6. ↑ "The Wisconsin Primary," Time, 22 September 1952
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder"
  13. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

External links

Coordinates: 46°27′N 91°55′W / 46.45°N 91.91°W