# Jefferson County, Wisconsin

Jefferson County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 84,900. Its county seat is Jefferson. Jefferson County comprises the Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI Combined Statistical Area.

## History

Jefferson County was created in 1836 as part of Wisconsin Territory and was organized in 1839. Jefferson County was founded by "Yankee" settlers from New England. It was named after Jefferson County, New York, where some of the original settlers came from. The town of Watertown, Wisconsin, was named after Watertown, New York, in Jefferson County, New York.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 583 square miles (1,510 km$^2$), of which 556 square miles (1,440 km$^2$) is land and 26 square miles (67 km$^2$) (4.5%) is water.

### Major highways

| Interstate 94 U.S. Highway 12 U.S. Highway 18 Wisconsin Highway 16 Wisconsin Highway 19 | Wisconsin Highway 26 Wisconsin Highway 59 Wisconsin Highway 89 Wisconsin Highway 106 Wisconsin Highway 134 |

### Railroads

* Amtrak
* Canadian Pacific
* Union Pacific
* Wisconsin and Southern Railroad

### Airports

* Watertown Municipal Airport (KRYV) provides services for the county and surrounding communities.
* Fort Atkinson Municipal Airport (61C), enhances county service.

### Adjacent counties

* Dodge County - north
* Waukesha County - east
* Walworth County - southeast
* Rock County - southwest
* Dane County - west

## Demographics

As of the census of 2020, the population was 84,900. The population density was 152.6 people per square mile (58.9 people/km$^2$). There were 36,376 housing units at an average density of 65.4 units per square mile (25.3 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 3.4% from other races, and 5.8% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 8.3% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the census of 2010, there were 83,686 people, 32,117 households, and 21,872 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 people per square mile (51 people/km$^2$). There were 30,092 housing units at an average density of 54 units per square mile (21 units/km$^2$). The county's racial makeup was 96.34% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 4.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 55.1% were of German, 6.1% Norwegian, 6.0% Irish and 5.1% American ancestry.
There were 28,205 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.
In 2017, there were 861 births, giving a general fertility rate of 53.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the eleventh lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.
The Dwight Foster Public Library, which serves as the resource library for the county, had a total service population of 19,095 in 2010. It is a member of the Bridges Library System.

## Government

The County Board of Supervisors, with 30 members, serves as the legislative body for the county. There are seven elected officials in addition to the County Board of Supervisors. County-wide partisan elections are held in November. The County Board's members are elected for two-year terms during a spring non-partisan election. The County Board is responsible for the county administrator. The County Board elects a chairman, vice-chairman, and second vice-chairman.

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Jefferson County, Wisconsin :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 28,771 | 57.37% | 20,574 | 41.03% | 801 | 1.60% |
| 2020 | 27,208 | 56.71% | 19,904 | 41.48% | 867 | 1.81% |
| 2016 | 23,417 | 54.32% | 16,569 | 38.44% | 3,123 | 7.24% |
| 2012 | 23,517 | 53.11% | 20,158 | 45.52% | 606 | 1.37% |
| 2008 | 21,096 | 48.87% | 21,448 | 49.69% | 622 | 1.44% |
| 2004 | 23,776 | 56.45% | 17,925 | 42.56% | 414 | 0.98% |
| 2000 | 19,204 | 53.20% | 15,203 | 42.11% | 1,692 | 4.69% |
| 1996 | 12,681 | 42.59% | 13,188 | 44.29% | 3,905 | 13.12% |
| 1992 | 13,072 | 39.85% | 11,593 | 35.34% | 8,137 | 24.81% |
| 1988 | 14,309 | 54.32% | 11,816 | 44.86% | 217 | 0.82% |
| 1984 | 17,780 | 61.77% | 10,788 | 37.48% | 216 | 0.75% |
| 1980 | 16,174 | 53.91% | 11,335 | 37.78% | 2,491 | 8.30% |
| 1976 | 15,528 | 53.89% | 12,577 | 43.65% | 707 | 2.45% |
| 1972 | 14,621 | 59.47% | 9,303 | 37.84% | 663 | 2.70% |
| 1968 | 12,478 | 54.97% | 8,716 | 38.40% | 1,504 | 6.63% |
| 1964 | 8,741 | 39.58% | 13,295 | 60.20% | 48 | 0.22% |
| 1960 | 14,133 | 61.64% | 8,757 | 38.19% | 39 | 0.17% |
| 1956 | 13,357 | 67.02% | 6,452 | 32.37% | 122 | 0.61% |
| 1952 | 13,884 | 66.93% | 6,827 | 32.91% | 32 | 0.15% |
| 1948 | 8,244 | 52.42% | 7,256 | 46.13% | 228 | 1.45% |
| 1944 | 10,245 | 59.16% | 6,988 | 40.35% | 84 | 0.49% |
| 1940 | 10,178 | 56.02% | 7,842 | 43.16% | 149 | 0.82% |
| 1936 | 5,599 | 32.32% | 11,144 | 64.33% | 581 | 3.35% |
| 1932 | 5,062 | 30.78% | 11,230 | 68.28% | 156 | 0.95% |
| 1928 | 8,612 | 57.29% | 6,305 | 41.94% | 116 | 0.77% |
| 1924 | 4,250 | 31.22% | 1,374 | 10.09% | 7,987 | 58.68% |
| 1920 | 8,865 | 80.38% | 1,844 | 16.72% | 320 | 2.90% |
| 1916 | 3,785 | 49.57% | 3,645 | 47.73% | 206 | 2.70% |
| 1912 | 1,926 | 27.43% | 4,381 | 62.40% | 714 | 10.17% |
| 1908 | 3,207 | 40.43% | 4,492 | 56.63% | 233 | 2.94% |
| 1904 | 3,669 | 47.67% | 3,778 | 49.09% | 249 | 3.24% |
| 1900 | 3,729 | 46.25% | 4,127 | 51.18% | 207 | 2.57% |
| 1896 | 4,344 | 52.61% | 3,504 | 42.44% | 409 | 4.95% |
| 1892 | 2,679 | 35.37% | 4,661 | 61.53% | 235 | 3.10% |
Jefferson County has been primarily Republican since 1940. Only three Democratic presidential candidates have won the county since then, in 1964, 1996, and 2008. Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 is the last Democratic Party candidate to win a majority of the county's votes.

## Communities
### Cities

* Fort Atkinson
* Jefferson (county seat)
* Lake Mills
* Waterloo
* Watertown (partly in Dodge County)
* Whitewater (mostly in Walworth County)

### Villages

* Cambridge (mostly in Dane County)
* Johnson Creek
* Lac La Belle (mostly in Waukesha County)
* Palmyra
* Sullivan

### Towns

* Aztalan
* Cold Spring
* Concord
* Farmington
* Hebron
* Ixonia
* Jefferson
* Koshkonong
* Lake Mills
* Milford
* Oakland
* Palmyra
* Sullivan
* Sumner
* Waterloo
* Watertown

### Census-designated places

* Hebron
* Helenville
* Ixonia
* Lake Koshkonong
* Lake Ripley
* Rome

### Unincorporated communities

* Aztalan
* Blackhawk Island
* Busseyville
* Carcajou
* Cold Spring
* Concord
* Ebenezer
* Farmington
* Glenn Oaks Beach
* Heath Mills
* Hoopers Mill
* Hubbleton
* Jefferson Junction
* Koshkonong (partial)
* Koshkonong Manor
* Koshkonong Mounds
* Kroghville
* Lake Lac La Belle
* London (partial)
* Maranatha Baptist University (College Campus)
* Milford
* North Shore
* Oakland
* Pipersville
* Portland (partial)
* Slabtown
* Sylvan Mounds
* Vinnie Ha Ha

## Education

School districts (all K-12) include:
* Cambridge School District
* Edgerton School District
* Fort Atkinson School District
* Jefferson School District
* Johnson Creek School District
* Kettle Moraine School District
* Lake Mills Area School District
* Oconomowoc Area School District
* Palmyra-Eagle Area School District
* Waterloo School District
* Watertown School District
* Whitewater School District