# Winnebago County, Wisconsin

Winnebago County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 171,730. Its county seat is Oshkosh. It was named for the historic Winnebago people, a federally recognized Native American tribe now known as the Ho-Chunk Nation. Chief Oshkosh was a Menominee leader in the area. Winnebago County comprises the Oshkosh-Neenah, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI Combined Statistical Area.

## History

The region was occupied by several Native American tribes in the period of European encounter, including the Sauk, Fox, Menominee, and Ojibwa (known as Chippewa in the US). French traders from what is now Canada had early interaction with them, as did French Jesuit missionaries, who sought to convert them to Catholicism. European and American settlement encroached on their traditional territories, and the United States negotiated treaties in the mid-19th century to keep pushing the Indians to the west.
Winnebago County was created in 1840 by European Americans and organized in 1848. The name Winnebago is of Algonquin origin, with variations used by the Fox and Potowatomi to refer to the Fox River below Lake Winnebago, which sometimes got muddy and full of fish. It means 'people dwelling by the fetid or ill-smelling water', which may also refer to a sulfur spring. The county seat, Oshkosh, was incorporated as a city in 1853, when it already had a population of nearly 2,800.
Chief Oshkosh was the namesake for the county seat. A leader of the Menominee in the region, he was successful in gaining authorization from the federal government for 2500 of his people to remain in Wisconsin, at a time when the government was pushing for their removal west of the Mississippi River.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 579 square miles (1,500 km$^2$), of which 434 square miles (1,120 km$^2$) is land and 144 square miles (370 km$^2$) (25%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Waupaca County - northwest
* Outagamie County - northeast
* Calumet County - east
* Fond du Lac County - south
* Green Lake County - southwest
* Waushara County - west

### Major highways

* Interstate 41
* U.S. Highway 10
* U.S. Highway 41
* U.S. Highway 45
* Wisconsin Highway 21
* Wisconsin Highway 26
* Wisconsin Highway 44
* Wisconsin Highway 47
* Wisconsin Highway 76
* Wisconsin Highway 91
* Wisconsin Highway 114
* Wisconsin Highway 116
* Wisconsin Highway 441

### Railroads

* Canadian National
* Wisconsin and Southern Railroad

### Buses

* GO Transit (Wisconsin)
* Valley Transit (Wisconsin)

### Airports

Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) serves the county and surrounding communities.
Brennand Airport (79C) in the Town of Clayton is a major recreational aircraft hub year-round.
Commercial airline service for Winnebago County is provided by Appleton International Airport in the neighboring Outagamie County.

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 171,730. The population density was 395.1 people per square mile (152.5 people/km$^2$). There were 76,046 housing units at an average density of 174.9 units per square mile (67.5 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 86.2% White, 3.3% Asian, 3.0% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.8% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 4.8% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 156,763 people, 61,157 households, and 39,568 families residing in the county. The population density was 357 people per square mile (138 people/km$^2$). There were 64,721 housing units at an average density of 148 units per square mile (57 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 94.92% White, 1.12% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.4% were of German, 6.2% Irish and 5.7% Polish ancestry. 94.6% spoke English, 2.5% Spanish and 1.0% Hmong as their first language.
There were 61,157 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.30% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.
By age, 23.80% of the population was under 18, 11.80% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males.
In 2017, there were 1,833 births, giving a general fertility rate of 56.5 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 15th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Additionally, there were 123 reported induced abortions performed on women of Winnebago County residence in 2017.

## Government

Winnebago County is governed by the 36-member Winnebago County Board of Supervisors. Supervisors are elected to the board in a nonpartisan election held the first Tuesday of April in even numbered years and serve two-year terms. The board has several committees. It meets on the third Tuesday of each month at the Winnebago County Courthouse in Oshkosh.

### Politics

United States presidential election results for Winnebago County, Wisconsin :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 49,179 | 51.57% | 44,660 | 46.83% | 1,532 | 1.61% |
| 2020 | 47,796 | 50.83% | 44,060 | 46.86% | 2,176 | 2.31% |
| 2016 | 43,445 | 49.86% | 37,047 | 42.52% | 6,643 | 7.62% |
| 2012 | 42,122 | 47.24% | 45,449 | 50.97% | 1,602 | 1.80% |
| 2008 | 37,946 | 43.28% | 48,167 | 54.94% | 1,564 | 1.78% |
| 2004 | 46,542 | 52.53% | 40,943 | 46.21% | 1,111 | 1.25% |
| 2000 | 38,330 | 50.38% | 33,983 | 44.67% | 3,767 | 4.95% |
| 1996 | 27,880 | 42.73% | 29,564 | 45.31% | 7,803 | 11.96% |
| 1992 | 33,709 | 43.56% | 27,234 | 35.19% | 16,443 | 21.25% |
| 1988 | 35,085 | 54.82% | 28,508 | 44.54% | 410 | 0.64% |
| 1984 | 39,014 | 62.74% | 22,791 | 36.65% | 378 | 0.61% |
| 1980 | 34,286 | 53.28% | 24,203 | 37.61% | 5,864 | 9.11% |
| 1976 | 32,149 | 55.35% | 24,485 | 42.16% | 1,448 | 2.49% |
| 1972 | 29,488 | 57.28% | 20,450 | 39.72% | 1,544 | 3.00% |
| 1968 | 25,361 | 53.84% | 18,605 | 39.50% | 3,138 | 6.66% |
| 1964 | 21,084 | 47.03% | 23,636 | 52.72% | 115 | 0.26% |
| 1960 | 28,598 | 61.72% | 17,656 | 38.11% | 80 | 0.17% |
| 1956 | 28,759 | 71.44% | 11,115 | 27.61% | 380 | 0.94% |
| 1952 | 28,172 | 68.17% | 13,016 | 31.49% | 140 | 0.34% |
| 1948 | 17,165 | 55.18% | 13,116 | 42.16% | 829 | 2.66% |
| 1944 | 19,310 | 59.56% | 12,841 | 39.61% | 269 | 0.83% |
| 1940 | 18,697 | 54.14% | 15,570 | 45.08% | 268 | 0.78% |
| 1936 | 11,679 | 36.93% | 18,522 | 58.57% | 1,420 | 4.49% |
| 1932 | 11,505 | 41.31% | 15,591 | 55.98% | 756 | 2.71% |
| 1928 | 16,191 | 61.10% | 9,995 | 37.72% | 315 | 1.19% |
| 1924 | 11,239 | 48.70% | 1,801 | 7.80% | 10,038 | 43.50% |
| 1920 | 12,035 | 69.53% | 3,397 | 19.63% | 1,876 | 10.84% |
| 1916 | 5,923 | 50.49% | 5,242 | 44.69% | 566 | 4.82% |
| 1912 | 1,922 | 17.01% | 4,631 | 41.00% | 4,743 | 41.99% |
| 1908 | 6,797 | 52.24% | 5,511 | 42.36% | 703 | 5.40% |
| 1904 | 7,720 | 62.63% | 4,006 | 32.50% | 600 | 4.87% |
| 1900 | 7,467 | 55.67% | 5,605 | 41.78% | 342 | 2.55% |
| 1896 | 7,898 | 59.23% | 5,089 | 38.17% | 347 | 2.60% |
| 1892 | 5,354 | 45.06% | 5,893 | 49.60% | 635 | 5.34% |
Winnebago County has become a swing county in recent decades. It has voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election since 1980, except in 1992 when it supported George Bush, and in 2020, when it supported Donald Trump.

## Communities
### Cities

* Appleton (mostly in Outagamie County and Calumet County)
* Menasha (partly in Calumet County)
* Neenah
* Omro
* Oshkosh (county seat)

### Villages

* Fox Crossing
* Winneconne

### Towns

* Algoma
* Black Wolf
* Clayton
* Neenah
* Nekimi
* Nepeuskun
* Omro
* Oshkosh
* Poygan
* Rushford
* Utica
* Vinland
* Winchester
* Winneconne
* Wolf River

### Census-designated places

* Butte des Morts
* Eureka
* Waukau
* Winchester

### Unincorporated communities

* Adella Beach
* Allenville
* Black Wolf
* Black Wolf Point
* Clarks Point
* Decorah Beach
* Elo
* Fairview Beach
* Fisk
* Fitzgerald
* Harbor Springs
* Highland Shore
* Indian Shores
* Island Park
* Larsen
* Lasleys Point
* Leonards Point
* Little Point
* Koro
* Medina Junction
* Melrose Park
* Metz (partial)
* Mikesville
* Nichols Shore Acres
* Oakwood
* Orihula
* Paukotuk
* Piacenza
* Pickett
* Plummer Point
* Point Comfort
* Reighmoor
* Ricker Bay
* Ring
* Rivermoor
* Rush Lake
* Shangri La Point
* Snells
* Sunrise Bay
* Waverly Beach (partial)
* Winnebago
* Zion
* Zittau

### Ghost towns/neighborhoods

* Delhi
* Menasha (former)

## Notable people

* Martin Madison (born 1854, Winnebago County), South Dakota politician