Rock County, Wisconsin

Rock County, Wisconsin
Rock County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 163,687. Its county seat is Janesville. Rock County comprises the Janesville-Beloit, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Madison-Janesville-Beloit, WI Combined Statistical Area.
History
Rock County was created as a territorial county on December 7, 1836, from Milwaukee County and fully organized February 19, 1839. The county is named for the Rock River, which bisects the county from north to south.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.1%) is water.
Cook Memorial Arboretum, a natural area with birding and nature trails, is located northwest of Janesville. It is owned by the Janesville School District.
Transportation
Major highways
Interstate 39
Interstate 43
Interstate 90
U.S. Highway 12
U.S. Highway 14
U.S. Highway 51
Highway 11
Highway 26
Highway 59
Highway 67
Highway 81
Highway 89
Highway 104
Highway 140
Highway 213
Railroads
Canadian Pacific
Union Pacific
Wisconsin and Southern Railroad
Buses
Beloit Transit
Janesville Transit System
List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin
Airport
Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (KJVL) serves Rock County and the surrounding communities.
Adjacent counties
Green County – west
Dane County – north
Jefferson County – northeast
Walworth County – east
Boone County, Illinois – south
Winnebago County, Illinois – south
Demographics
As of the census of 2020, the population was 163,687. The population density was . There were 70,068 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 81.3% White, 5.1% Black or African American, 1.3% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 4.6% from other races, and 7.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 9.7% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the census of 2010, there were 160,331 people residing in the county.
As of the census of 2000, were 152,307 people, 58,617 households, and 40,387 families residing in the county. The population density was . there were 62,187 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 91.01% white, 4.63% black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.77% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. 3.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.8% were of German, 13.0% Norwegian, 10.1% Irish, 7.5% English and 5.5% American ancestry.
There were 58,617 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.50% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.10 males.
Communities
Cities
Beloit
Brodhead (mostly in Green County)
Edgerton (partly in Dane County)
Evansville
Janesville (County seat)
Milton
Villages
Clinton
Orfordville
Footville
Towns
Avon
Beloit
Bradford
Center
Clinton
Fulton
Harmony
Janesville
Johnstown
La Prairie
Lima
Magnolia
Milton
Newark
Plymouth
Porter
Rock
Spring Valley
Turtle
Union
Census-designated places
Fulton
Hanover
Shopiere
Unincorporated communities
Afton
Anderson
Avalon
Avon
Belcrest
Bergen
Cainville
Center
Charlie Bluff
Cooksville
Coopers Shores
Crestview
Emerald Grove
Fairfield (partial)
Foxhollow
Indianford
Johnstown
Johnstown Center
Koshkonong (partial)
Leyden
Lima Center
Magnolia
Mallwood
Maple Beach
Newark
Newville
Porters
Stebbinsville
Tiffany
Union
Victory Heights
Ghost towns/neighborhoods
Fellows
Jefferson Prairie Settlement
Politics
Since 1988, Rock County has consistently voted for the Democratic candidate in every Presidential election. In 2016, Hillary Clinton carried the county by the smallest margin of victory since Michael Dukakis in 1988.
Education
School districts include:
Albany School District
Beloit School District
Beloit Turner School District
Brodhead School District
Clinton Community School District
Delavan-Darien School District
Edgerton School District
Evansville Community School District
Fort Atkinson School District
Janesville School District
Milton School District
Oregon School District
Parkview School District
Stoughton Area School District
Whitewater School District
There is a state-operated school, Wisconsin School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Tree cities
Beloit
Clinton
Edgerton
Evansville
Janesville
Milton
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Rock County, Wisconsin
References
Further reading
Brown, William F. Rock County, Wisconsin: A New History... Vol. 1, Chicago: Cooper, 1908.
Brown, William F. Rock County, Wisconsin: A New History... Vol. 2, Chicago: Cooper, 1908.
Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette, Wisconsin, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families. Chicago: J. H. Beers and Co., 1901.
The History of Rock County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Acme Publishing Company, 1889.
Sayre, David F. "Early Life in Southern Wisconsin", Wisconsin Magazine of History, vol. 3, no. 4 (June 1920), pp. 420–427.
Smith, Isaac T. "Early Settlement of Rock County" in Wisconsin Historical Collections, vol. VI. Madison, Wis.: Atwood & Culver, 1872, pp. 416–425.
Walterman, Thomas. There Stands "Old Rock": Rock County, Wisconsin and the War to Preserve the Union. Friendship, Wis.: New Past Press, 2001.
External links
Rock County government website
Rock County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Rock County 5.0
Rock County Historical Society
Rock County Genealogical Society
Beloit Janesville Symphony
1839 establishments in Wisconsin Territory
Populated places established in 1839