Jefferson, Wisconsin

Jefferson is a city in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States, and is its county seat. It is located at the confluence of the Rock and Crawfish rivers. The population was 7,973 at the 2010 census.^[6] The city is located partially within the Town of Jefferson.

History

The location of Jefferson was selected to make use of the water power and transportation opportunities offered by the Rock River. It was the furthest point that a steamboat was able to navigate the Rock in 1839.^[7] Later bridges built downstream prevented such navigation.

Jefferson was a New England settlement. The original founders of Jefferson consisted entirely of settlers from New England, particularly Connecticut, rural Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, as well some from upstate New York who were born to parents who had migrated to that region from New England shortly after the American Revolution. These people were "Yankees", that is to say they were descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s. They were part of a wave of New England farmers who headed west into what was then the wilds of the Northwest Territory during the early 1800s. Most of them arrived as a result of the completion of the Erie Canal as well as the end of the Black Hawk War. When they arrived in what is now Jefferson there was nothing but dense virgin forest and wild prairie, the New Englanders laid out farms, constructed roads, erected government buildings and established post routes. They brought with them many of their Yankee New England values, such as a passion for education, establishing many schools as well as staunch support for abolitionism. They were mostly members of the Congregationalist Church though some were Episcopalian. Due to the second Great Awakening some of them had converted to Methodism and some had become Baptists before moving to what is now Jefferson. Jefferson, like much of Wisconsin, would be culturally very continuous with early New England culture for most of its early history.^[8][9]

During World War II, Camp Jefferson, a prison camp for German POWs, was erected at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.^[10] The Jefferson County Fairgrounds hosted horse buggy racing prior to the renovations to the new fairgrounds.

Geography

Jefferson is located at 43°0′11″N 88°48′28″W / 43.00306°N 88.80778°W / 43.00306; -88.80778 (43.003091, -88.807855).^[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.93 square miles (15.36 km²), of which 5.72 square miles (14.81 km²) is land and 0.21 square miles (0.54 km²) is water.^[1]

Jefferson's elevation is 797 ft (243 m) at the center of downtown.

Demographics

Population sign

2010 census

As of the census^[3] of 2010, there were 7,973 people, 3,132 households, and 1,989 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,393.9 inhabitants per square mile (538.2/km²). There were 3,378 housing units at an average density of 590.6 per square mile (228.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.2% White, 0.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.4% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.8% of the population.

There were 3,132 households of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.5% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the city was 37.5 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[5] of 2000, there were 7,338 people, 2,816 households, and 1,819 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,645.9 people per square mile (635.3/km²). There were 2,934 housing units at an average density of 658.1 per square mile (254.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.28% White, 0.53% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.04% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 6.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,816 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,962, and the median income for a family was $47,737. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $25,142 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,124. About 5.4% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over

Education

Welcome sign

In Jefferson there are six schools: two elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and two private schools. In 1939, East Elementary School was built as a public works project during the Great Depression. The names of the schools are East Elementary, West Elementary, Jefferson Middle School, Jefferson High School, St. John's Catholic, and St. John's Lutheran.

Economy

Valero Renewables is an ethanol plant located in Jefferson. There is also a Purina Cat Food Manufacturing plant, and a Tyson Foods Plant.

Notable people

Notes

External links

• City of Jefferson official website
• Jefferson Area Chamber of Commerce
• Sanborn fire insurance maps: 1884 1892 1898 1904 1909 1914

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jefferson, Wisconsin.

Municipalities and communities of Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States County seat: Jefferson Cities Fort Atkinson Jefferson Lake Mills Waterloo Watertown‡ Whitewater‡ Villages Cambridge‡ Johnson Creek Lac La Belle‡ Palmyra Sullivan Towns Aztalan Cold Spring Concord Farmington Hebron Ixonia Jefferson Koshkonong Lake Mills Milford Oakland Palmyra Sullivan Sumner Waterloo Watertown CDPs Hebron Helenville Ixonia Lake Koshkonong Lake Ripley Rome Unincorporated communities Aztalan Blackhawk Island Breezy Knoll Busseyville Carcajou Cold Spring Concord Ebenezer Farmington Glenn Oaks Beach Grellton Heath Mills Hoopers Mill Hubbleton Jefferson Junction Koshkonong‡ Koshkonong Manor Koshkonong Mounds Kroghville Lake Lac La Belle London‡ Milford North Shore Oak Hill Oakland Pipersville Portland‡ Slabtown Sylvan Mounds Vinnie Ha Ha Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties