# Racine County, Wisconsin

Racine County (/rəˈsiːn, reɪ-/ rə-SEEN, ray-) is a county in southeastern Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, its population was 197,727, making it Wisconsin's fifth-most populous county. Its county seat is Racine. The county was founded in 1836, then a part of the Wisconsin Territory. The Root River is the county's namesake.
Racine County comprises the Racine metropolitan statistical area. This area is part of the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha combined statistical area. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 792 square miles (2,050 km$^2$), of which 333 square miles (860 km$^2$) is land and 460 square miles (1,200 km$^2$) (58%) is water. The county's unemployment rate was 5.6% in June 2021.

## History

The Potawatomi people occupied the area of Racine County until European settlement. The Wisconsin Territory legislature established Racine County in 1836, separating it from Milwaukee County. Racine County originally extended to Wisconsin's southern border and encompassed the land that is now Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Kenosha County was created as a separate entity in 1850.

## Adjacent counties

* Milwaukee County (north)
* Ottawa County, Michigan (northeast across Lake Michigan)
* Allegan County, Michigan (southeast across Lake Michigan)
* Kenosha County (south)
* Walworth County (west)
* Waukesha County (northwest)

## Demographics

Racine County, Wisconsin – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. :
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 150,238 | 145,414 | 135,333 | 79.56% | 74.42% | 68.44% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 19,441 | 21,212 | 22,531 | 10.30% | 10.86% | 11.40% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 541 | 614 | 538 | 0.29% | 0.31% | 0.27% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,331 | 2,081 | 2,261 | 0.70% | 1.06% | 1.14% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 54 | 40 | 47 | 0.03% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 156 | 228 | 792 | 0.08% | 0.12% | 0.40% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 2,080 | 3,273 | 8,314 | 1.10% | 1.67% | 4.20% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 14,990 | 22,546 | 27,911 | 7.94% | 11.54% | 14.12% |
| Total | 188,831 | 195,408 | 197,727 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |

### 2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 197,727. The population density was 594.4 people per square mile (229.5 people/km$^2$). There were 84,490 housing units at an average density of 254.0 units per square mile (98.1 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 72.0% White, 11.8% Black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 5.4% from other races, and 9.0% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 14.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 188,831 people, 70,819 households, and 49,856 families residing in the county. The population density was 567 people per square mile (219 people/km$^2$). There were 74,718 housing units at an average density of 224 units per square mile (86 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 83.04% White, 10.47% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.69% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 7.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.9% were of German, 7.4% Polish and 5.5% Irish ancestry.
There were 70,819 households, of which 34.5% had children under 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

## Transportation
### Major highways

* I-41 / I-94 / US 41
* US 45
* WIS 11
* WIS 20
* WIS 31
* WIS 32
* WIS 36
* WIS 38
* WIS 75
* WIS 83
* WIS 142
* WIS 164
* WIS 311

### Railroads

* Amtrak
* Canadian National
* Canadian Pacific
* Union Pacific
* Sturtevant station

### Buses

* Ryde Racine

### Airports

* John H. Batten Airport (KRAC) serves the county and surrounding communities.
* Burlington Municipal Airport (KBUU) enhances county service.
* Cindy Guntly Memorial Airport (62C) enhances county service.
* Fox River Airport (96C) enhances county service.
* Sylvania Airport (C89) enhances county service.

## Communities
### Cities

* Burlington (partly in Walworth County)
* Racine (county seat)

### Villages

* Caledonia
* Elmwood Park
* Mount Pleasant
* North Bay
* Raymond
* Rochester
* Sturtevant
* Union Grove
* Waterford
* Wind Point
* Yorkville

### Towns

* Burlington
* Dover
* Norway
* Waterford

### Census-designated places

* Bohners Lake (Town of Burlington)
* Browns Lake (Town of Burlington)
* Eagle Lake (Town of Dover)
* Tichigan (Town of Waterford)
* Wind Lake (Town of Norway)

### Unincorporated communities

* Beaumont
* Buena Park
* Caldwell
* Cedar Park
* Eagle Lake Manor
* Eagle Lake Terrace
* Franksville
* Honey Creek (partial)
* Honey Lake (partial)
* Husher
* Ives Grove
* Kansasville
* Kneeland
* North Cape
* Raymond
* Rosewood
* Sylvania
* Union Church
* Yorkville

### Ghost towns/neighborhoods

* DeNoon
* Muskego Settlement
* Raymond Center

## Government

The County Board has 21 members, each elected from single-member districts. The county executive is elected in a countywide vote. The county executive is Jonathan Delagrave. The Circuit Court is made up of ten judges, elected in countywide elections to six-year terms.

## Politics

Racine County has been a bellwether county, having voted for the winning presidential candidate in 28 of the last 33 elections since 1896 despite its solidly Democratic county seat, Racine, Wisconsin. The only exceptions to this were when it voted for Charles Evans Hughes in 1916, Gerald Ford in 1976, Michael Dukakis in 1988, and Donald Trump in 2020.
United States presidential election results for Racine County, Wisconsin :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 56,347 | 52.33% | 49,721 | 46.17% | 1,618 | 1.50% |
| 2020 | 54,479 | 51.18% | 50,159 | 47.12% | 1,813 | 1.70% |
| 2016 | 46,681 | 49.50% | 42,641 | 45.22% | 4,980 | 5.28% |
| 2012 | 49,347 | 47.74% | 53,008 | 51.28% | 1,009 | 0.98% |
| 2008 | 45,954 | 45.66% | 53,408 | 53.07% | 1,280 | 1.27% |
| 2004 | 52,456 | 51.65% | 48,229 | 47.48% | 884 | 0.87% |
| 2000 | 44,014 | 49.53% | 41,563 | 46.77% | 3,288 | 3.70% |
| 1996 | 30,107 | 38.81% | 38,567 | 49.72% | 8,894 | 11.47% |
| 1992 | 32,310 | 36.79% | 34,875 | 39.71% | 20,634 | 23.50% |
| 1988 | 36,342 | 47.42% | 39,631 | 51.72% | 658 | 0.86% |
| 1984 | 42,092 | 52.84% | 36,955 | 46.39% | 616 | 0.77% |
| 1980 | 39,683 | 49.76% | 33,565 | 42.09% | 6,494 | 8.14% |
| 1976 | 37,088 | 49.00% | 36,740 | 48.54% | 1,858 | 2.45% |
| 1972 | 38,490 | 56.41% | 27,778 | 40.71% | 1,968 | 2.88% |
| 1968 | 28,028 | 44.78% | 27,045 | 43.21% | 7,513 | 12.00% |
| 1964 | 21,434 | 36.14% | 37,785 | 63.71% | 87 | 0.15% |
| 1960 | 29,562 | 49.03% | 30,596 | 50.74% | 136 | 0.23% |
| 1956 | 31,968 | 58.21% | 22,646 | 41.24% | 305 | 0.56% |
| 1952 | 30,628 | 54.65% | 25,241 | 45.03% | 180 | 0.32% |
| 1948 | 19,029 | 43.45% | 23,266 | 53.12% | 1,502 | 3.43% |
| 1944 | 18,220 | 41.11% | 25,697 | 57.97% | 408 | 0.92% |
| 1940 | 18,753 | 43.63% | 23,532 | 54.75% | 693 | 1.61% |
| 1936 | 10,850 | 28.73% | 24,474 | 64.80% | 2,447 | 6.48% |
| 1932 | 10,754 | 32.49% | 19,960 | 60.31% | 2,383 | 7.20% |
| 1928 | 17,423 | 56.56% | 13,021 | 42.27% | 362 | 1.18% |
| 1924 | 13,040 | 50.21% | 1,463 | 5.63% | 11,466 | 44.15% |
| 1920 | 14,406 | 71.95% | 3,650 | 18.23% | 1,965 | 9.81% |
| 1916 | 5,081 | 47.77% | 4,495 | 42.26% | 1,061 | 9.97% |
| 1912 | 2,606 | 29.42% | 3,909 | 44.13% | 2,343 | 26.45% |
| 1908 | 5,490 | 52.77% | 3,688 | 35.45% | 1,226 | 11.78% |
| 1904 | 5,573 | 55.61% | 2,584 | 25.79% | 1,864 | 18.60% |
| 1900 | 5,925 | 58.37% | 3,855 | 37.98% | 371 | 3.65% |
| 1896 | 5,849 | 57.61% | 3,975 | 39.15% | 329 | 3.24% |
| 1892 | 3,956 | 46.19% | 3,750 | 43.79% | 858 | 10.02% |