# Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin

Fond du Lac County (/ˈfɒndəlæk/ ) is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 104,154. Its county seat is Fond du Lac. The county was created in the Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and later organized in 1844. Fond du Lac is French for "bottom of the lake", given so because of the county's location at the southern shore of Lake Winnebago. Fond du Lac County comprises the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Holyland region is in northeastern Fond du Lac County.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 766 square miles (1,980 km$^2$), of which 720 square miles (1,900 km$^2$) is land and 46 square miles (120 km$^2$) (6.0%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Winnebago County – north
* Calumet County – northeast
* Sheboygan County – east
* Washington County – southeast
* Dodge County – southwest
* Green Lake County – west

### National protected area

* Horicon National Wildlife Refuge (part)

## Transportation
### Major highways

* Interstate 41
* U.S. Highway 41
* U.S. Highway 45
* U.S. Highway 151
* Highway 23 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 26 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 44 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 49 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 67 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 175 (Wisconsin)

### Railroads

* Canadian National
* Wisconsin and Southern Railroad

### Buses

* Fond du Lac Area Transit

### Airport

Fond du Lac County Airport (IATA: FLD, ICAO: KFLD, FAA LID: FLD) serves the county and surrounding communities.

## Climate

Fond du Lac County :
Climate chart (explanation) :

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 104,154. The population density was 144.7 inhabitants per square mile (55.9/km$^2$). There were 45,740 housing units at an average density of 63.6 units per square mile (24.6 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 88.0% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 3.0% from other races, and 5.0% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 6.4% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 97,296 people, 36,931 households, and 25,482 families residing in the county. The population density was 135 people per square mile (52 people/km$^2$). There were 39,271 housing units at an average density of 54 units per square mile (21 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 96.16% White, 0.90% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 2.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 57.7% were of German, 6.1% Irish and 5.3% American ancestry. 95.5% spoke English, 2.1% Spanish and 1.3% German as their first language.
There were 36,931 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.
In 2017, there were 1,066 births, giving a general fertility rate of 57.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 20th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Additionally, there were 74 reported induced abortions performed on women of Fond du Lac County residence in 2017.

## Communities
### Cities

* Fond du Lac (county seat)
* Ripon
* Waupun (mostly in Dodge County)

### Villages

* Brandon
* Campbellsport
* Eden
* Fairwater
* Kewaskum (mostly in Washington County)
* Mount Calvary
* North Fond du Lac
* Oakfield
* Rosendale
* St. Cloud

### Towns

* Alto
* Ashford
* Auburn
* Byron
* Calumet
* Eden
* Eldorado
* Empire
* Fond du Lac
* Forest
* Friendship
* Lamartine
* Marshfield
* Metomen
* Oakfield
* Osceola
* Ripon
* Rosendale
* Springvale
* Taycheedah
* Waupun

### Census-designated places

* St. Peter
* Taycheedah
* Van Dyne

### Unincorporated communities

* Alto
* Arcade Acres
* Armstrong
* Artesia Beach
* Ashford
* Banner
* Bergen Beach
* Byron
* Calumet Harbor
* Calumetville
* Calvary
* Chinatown
* Dexter
* Dotyville
* Dundee
* Eldorado
* Elmore
* Garnet
* Gladstone Beach
* Graham Corners
* Hamilton
* Highland Park
* Hopokoekau Beach
* Johnsburg
* Ladoga
* Laudolff Beach
* Luco
* Malone
* Marblehead
* Marytown
* Metomen
* Minawa Beach
* New Fane
* New Prospect
* Oak Center
* Peebles
* Pipe
* Pukwana Beach
* Rogersville
* Rosendale Center
* St. Joe
* Silica
* South Byron
* Waucousta
* Welling Beach
* West Rosendale
* Wilmoore Heights
* Winnebago Heights
* Winnebago Park
* Woodhull

### Ghost towns/neighborhoods

* Ceresco
* New Cassel
* Reeds Corners

## Public High Schools

* Campbellsport High School
* Fond Du Lac High School
* Horace Mann High School
* Ripon High School

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 37,272 | 63.68% | 20,495 | 35.02% | 760 | 1.30% |
| 2020 | 35,754 | 62.45% | 20,588 | 35.96% | 909 | 1.59% |
| 2016 | 31,022 | 59.89% | 17,387 | 33.57% | 3,387 | 6.54% |
| 2012 | 30,355 | 56.84% | 22,379 | 41.91% | 668 | 1.25% |
| 2008 | 28,164 | 53.83% | 23,463 | 44.84% | 696 | 1.33% |
| 2004 | 33,291 | 62.77% | 19,216 | 36.23% | 529 | 1.00% |
| 2000 | 26,548 | 56.98% | 18,181 | 39.02% | 1,860 | 3.99% |
| 1996 | 16,488 | 44.65% | 15,542 | 42.08% | 4,901 | 13.27% |
| 1992 | 19,785 | 44.45% | 13,757 | 30.91% | 10,964 | 24.63% |
| 1988 | 21,985 | 57.59% | 15,887 | 41.62% | 303 | 0.79% |
| 1984 | 26,069 | 64.61% | 13,983 | 34.66% | 294 | 0.73% |
| 1980 | 24,196 | 56.97% | 15,293 | 36.01% | 2,981 | 7.02% |
| 1976 | 22,226 | 55.79% | 16,571 | 41.59% | 1,044 | 2.62% |
| 1972 | 21,007 | 60.99% | 12,050 | 34.99% | 1,386 | 4.02% |
| 1968 | 18,184 | 55.59% | 12,563 | 38.41% | 1,962 | 6.00% |
| 1964 | 12,708 | 41.29% | 18,040 | 58.61% | 30 | 0.10% |
| 1960 | 19,498 | 59.65% | 13,132 | 40.17% | 58 | 0.18% |
| 1956 | 21,496 | 72.46% | 7,940 | 26.76% | 230 | 0.78% |
| 1952 | 22,794 | 74.43% | 7,724 | 25.22% | 107 | 0.35% |
| 1948 | 13,760 | 59.61% | 8,904 | 38.57% | 419 | 1.82% |
| 1944 | 16,785 | 63.81% | 9,378 | 35.65% | 143 | 0.54% |
| 1940 | 16,804 | 61.46% | 10,323 | 37.76% | 215 | 0.79% |
| 1936 | 9,179 | 35.40% | 14,821 | 57.16% | 1,931 | 7.45% |
| 1932 | 8,436 | 33.74% | 16,143 | 64.56% | 425 | 1.70% |
| 1928 | 12,593 | 51.36% | 11,719 | 47.80% | 205 | 0.84% |
| 1924 | 8,516 | 41.62% | 2,222 | 10.86% | 9,722 | 47.52% |
| 1920 | 12,543 | 74.58% | 3,409 | 20.27% | 867 | 5.15% |
| 1916 | 5,781 | 52.16% | 5,021 | 45.30% | 282 | 2.54% |
| 1912 | 3,014 | 31.34% | 4,838 | 50.31% | 1,764 | 18.34% |
| 1908 | 5,872 | 50.86% | 5,194 | 44.99% | 479 | 4.15% |
| 1904 | 7,027 | 59.58% | 4,417 | 37.45% | 350 | 2.97% |
| 1900 | 6,258 | 53.82% | 5,140 | 44.20% | 230 | 1.98% |
| 1896 | 6,174 | 54.15% | 4,933 | 43.27% | 294 | 2.58% |
| 1892 | 4,129 | 42.47% | 5,254 | 54.04% | 339 | 3.49% |
Fond du Lac has been a historically Republican county, as the party was founded in the town of Ripon, located within the county. It has only voted Democratic in the national landslides of 1964, 1936, and 1932, as well as from 1872 to 1892.