Manitowoc County, Wisconsin

Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Manitowoc County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 81,359. Its county seat is Manitowoc. The county was created in 1836 prior to Wisconsin's statehood and organized in 1848. Manitowoc County comprises the Manitowoc, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (61%) is water.
Major highways
Railroads
Canadian National
Buses
Maritime Metro Transit
List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin
Airport
Manitowoc County Airport (KMTW) serves the county and surrounding communities.
Adjacent counties
Brown County – northwest
Kewaunee County – northeast
Sheboygan County – south
Calumet County – west
Mason County, Michigan – east and southeast
Manistee County, Michigan – northeast
National marine sanctuary
The Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary was established in 2021 in the waters of Lake Michigan, with most of its northern half lying off Manitowoc County's coast. The national marine sanctuary is the site of a large number of historically significant shipwrecks.
Climate
Demographics
As of the census of 2020, the population was 81,359. The population density was . There were 37,818 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% White, 2.8% Asian, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.8% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 5.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The 2000 census shows Manitowoc County as having 82,887 people, 32,721 households and 22,348 families.The population density was . There were 34,651 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.90% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.98% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 1.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 53.7% were of German, 7.3% Polish, 5.3% Czech and 5.0% American ancestry. 95.2% spoke English, 1.8% Spanish, 1.3% Hmong and 1.1% German as their first language.
There were 32,721 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population is spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.
In 2017, there were 780 births, giving a general fertility rate of 60.2 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 27th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Additionally, there were 43 reported induced abortions performed on women of Manitowoc County residence in 2017.
Government
The county executive is Bob Ziegelbauer. He is serving his fourth term in that position after being elected in April 2006 and reelected in April 2010, April 2014, and April 2018. The county is served by a 25-member county board.
Politics
Manitowoc County is fairly competitive in presidential elections; in 2016, Donald Trump became the first candidate since Lyndon B. Johnson from 1964 to win more than 55% of the vote. He expanded his share to 60% during the 2020 elections. Statewide, Manitowoc has voted Republican since the 2002 gubernatorial election.
Communities
Cities
Kiel (partly in Calumet County)
Manitowoc (county seat)
Two Rivers
Villages
Cleveland
Francis Creek
Kellnersville
Maribel
Mishicot
Reedsville
St. Nazianz
Valders
Whitelaw
Towns
Cato
Centerville
Cooperstown
Eaton
Franklin
Gibson
Kossuth
Liberty
Manitowoc
Manitowoc Rapids
Maple Grove
Meeme
Mishicot
Newton
Rockland
Schleswig
Two Creeks
Two Rivers
Census-designated places
Collins
Unincorporated communities
Alverno
Branch
Cato
Cato Falls
Clarks Mills
Clover
Cooperstown
Duveneck
Fisherville
Grimms
Hickory Grove
Kellners Corners
Kingsbridge
Larrabee
Louis Corners
Madsen
Maple Grove
Meeme
Meggers (partial)
Melnik
Menchalville
Millhome
Newton
Newtonburg
North Grimms
Northeim
Osman
Reifs Mills
Rockville
Rockwood
Rosecrans
Rube
School Hill
Shoto
Spring Valley
Steinthal
Taus
Tisch Mills (partial)
Two Creeks
Wells (partial)
Zander
At night
In the media
The Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer (2015) explores the arrests and trials in 2007 of Manitowoc County residents Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey for the murder of Teresa Halbach, who disappeared in October 2005. The series describes an earlier wrongful conviction of Avery, for which he served 18 years, and his subsequent lawsuit against Manitowoc County. It then focuses on the procedures of the Calumet County Sheriff's Office and the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department, which investigated the later Halbach case. The Sheriffs officers have come under intense scrutiny for their involvement in the Halbach case due to Steven Avery's $36 million lawsuit and their questionable police and investigative techniques.
Gallery
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
References
Further reading
Falge, Louis (ed.). History of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association, 1912. Vol. 1, Vol. 2
Langill, Ellen, Robin E. Butler, Rachel Young, and MaryBeth Matzek. Manitowoc County: A Beacon on the Lakeshore. Milwaukee, Wis.: Milwaukee Pub. Group, 1999.
Plumb, Ralph Gordon. A History of Manitowoc County. Manitowoc, Wis.: Brant Print & Binding Co., 1904.
Rapper, Joseph J. Story of a Century, 1848-1948: Manitowoc County During Wisconsin's First Hundred Years. Manitowoc, Wis.: Manitowoc County Centennial Committee, 1948.
External links
Official website
Manitowoc County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Wisconsin counties
1836 establishments in Wisconsin Territory
Populated places established in 1836