Dane County, Wisconsin

Dane County, Wisconsin
Dane County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 561,504, making it the second-most populous county in Wisconsin (after Milwaukee). The county seat is Madison, which is also the state capital.
Dane County is the central county of the Madison, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well as the Madison-Janesville-Beloit Combined Statistical Area.
History
Dane County was formed in 1836 as a territorial county and organized in 1839. It was named after Nathan Dane, a Massachusetts delegate to the Congress of the Confederation who helped carve Wisconsin out of the Northwest Territory. Dane County was settled in the 1840s by settlers from New England.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (3.3%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 39
Interstate 90
Interstate 94
U.S. Highway 12
U.S. Highway 14
U.S. Highway 18
U.S. Highway 51
U.S. Highway 151
Highway 19 (Wisconsin)
Highway 30 (Wisconsin)
Highway 69 (Wisconsin)
Highway 73 (Wisconsin)
Highway 78 (Wisconsin)
Highway 89 (Wisconsin)
Highway 92 (Wisconsin)
Highway 104 (Wisconsin)
Highway 106 (Wisconsin)
Highway 113 (Wisconsin)
Highway 134 (Wisconsin)
Highway 138 (Wisconsin)
Highway 188 (Wisconsin)
Railroads
Canadian Pacific
Wisconsin and Southern Railroad
Buses
Madison Metro
List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin
Airports
Blackhawk Airfield (87Y)
Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) provides commercial airline service.
Middleton Municipal Airport (C29)
Verona Airport (W19)
Waunakee Airport (6P3)
Adjacent counties
Columbia County (north)
Dodge County (northeast)
Green County (south)
Iowa County (west)
Jefferson County (east)
Rock County (southeast)
Sauk County (northwest)
Demographics
In 2017, there were 5,891 births, giving a general fertility rate of 51.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the eighth lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Of these, 73 of the births occurred at home, the fifth highest number of home births for Wisconsin counties. 428 of the births were to mothers who held doctorate or professional degrees, more than any other Wisconsin county. These accounted for 7.3% of total births for the county, a higher percent than any other Wisconsin county and more than Ozaukee County which had 5.8% of births to mothers who held doctorate or professional degrees and ranked second.
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, the population was 561,504. The population density was . There were 248,795 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 77.6% White, 6.4% Asian, 5.4% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 3.2% from other races, and 6.9% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 7.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 488,073 people, 203,750 households, and 116,752 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 216,022 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 84.7% White, 5.2% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.003% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. 5.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 203,750 households 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 30.5% of households were one person and 7.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.95.
The age distribution was 21.7% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% 65 or older. The median age was 34.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.
2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 88.96% White, 4.00% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 3.45% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.43% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. 3.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.4% were of German, 11.5% Norwegian, 8.9% Irish and 6.0% English ancestry.
Of the 173,484 households 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.10% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.90% were non-families. 29.40% of households were one person and 7.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.
The age distribution was 22.60% under the age of 18, 14.30% from 18 to 24, 32.50% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 9.30% 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.
Religion
In 2010, the largest religious groups in Dane County by number of adherents were Catholic at 106,036 adherents, ELCA Lutheran at 48,620 adherents, United Methodist at 9,753 adherents, non-denominational Christian at 7,448 adherents, Evangelical Free at 6,075 adherents, United Church of Christ at 5,035 adherents, Wisconsin Synod Lutheran at 4,214 adherents, Missouri Synod Lutheran at 3,921 adherents, American Baptist at 3,755 adherents, and PC-USA Presbyterian at 3,664 adherents.
Government
Dane County is governed by a county executive and a county board of supervisors. The county executive is elected in a countywide vote. The county executive is Joe Parisi. The board of supervisors consists of 37 members, each elected from single member districts. As the policy-making body of the county government, the board of supervisors enacts county ordinances, levies taxes, and appropriates money for services.
Politics
Like most other counties anchored by an urban population center and a large public university, Dane County is solidly Democratic, with a long history in the progressive movement. It has backed the Democratic presidential nominee in every election since 1960 (and the only Republican president to carry the county since 1932 was Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956), even in the Republican landslide victories of 1972, 1980, 1984, and 1988. In that time, Republicans have only crossed the 35% mark six times. Only the predominantly Native American county of Menominee is more reliably Democratic.
At state level, the county is no less Democratic. The last Republicans the county supported at state level were Governor Tommy Thompson and Treasurer Jack Voight in 1994. The last Republican Senator to carry the county was Alexander Wiley in 1956 by less than one percent, 10 years earlier the county was the only one in the state to not vote for notorious Senator Joseph McCarthy. In the three-party era of 1930s-1940s, the county backed Progressive Party candidates, such as the La Follette brothers, Orland Steen Loomis and Herman Ekern.
Dane County is one of the only counties in the United States to have elected a member of the Green Party (Leland Pan) into county-level office.
County executives
George Reinke, 1973-1981
Jonathan B. Barry, 1981-1988
Richard J. Phelps, 1988-1997
Kathleen Falk, 1997-2011
Joe Parisi, 2011–present
Recreation
County parks
Babcock County Park
Badger Prairie County Park
Blooming Grove Drumlins
Blue Mounds Natural Resource Area
Brigham County Park
CamRock County Park
Cherokee Marsh
Donald County Park
Festge County Park
Fish Camp County Park
Fish Lake County Park
Goodland County Park
Halfway Prairie School
Indian Lake County Park
Jenni & Kyle Preserve
La Follette County Park
Lake Farm County Park
Lake View Hill Park
Lussier County Park
McCarthy County Park
Mendota County Park
Phil's Woods County Park
Prairie Moraine County Park
Riley-Deppe County Park
Salmo Pond County Park
Scheidegger Forest
Schumacher Farm
Stewart Lake County Park
Token Creek County Park
Viking County Park
Walking Iron County Park
Yahara Heights County Park
Communities
Cities
Cities are incorporated, generally have a mayor (or a administrator/manager), an elected council, and generally provide more services than smaller administrative divisions.
Edgerton (mostly in Rock County)
Fitchburg
Madison (county seat)
Middleton
Monona
Stoughton
Sun Prairie (city)
Verona
Villages
Villages are incorporated, are governed by a Village President and Board of Trustees, and provide residential services.
Belleville (partly in Green County)
Black Earth
Blue Mounds
Brooklyn (partly in Green County)
Cambridge (partly in Jefferson County)
Cottage Grove
Cross Plains
Dane
Deerfield
DeForest
Maple Bluff
Marshall
Mazomanie
McFarland
Mount Horeb
Oregon
Rockdale
Shorewood Hills
Waunakee
Windsor
Towns
Towns may have the same name as a city or village associated with it, but it is a separate municipality. Towns are not incorporated, are governed by a town board, and only provide limited services to residents.
Albion
Berry
Black Earth (town)
Blooming Grove
Blue Mounds (town)
Bristol
Burke
Christiana
Cottage Grove (town)
Cross Plains
Dane
Deerfield (town)
Dunkirk
Dunn
Mazomanie (town)
Medina
Middleton (town)
Montrose
Oregon (town)
Perry
Pleasant Springs
Primrose
Roxbury
Rutland
Springdale
Springfield
Sun Prairie (town)
Vermont
Verona
Vienna
Westport
York
Unincorporated communities
Unincorporated communities are smaller communities that are governed by the town they are located in and often exist as nomenclature in vital records.
Albion
Aldens Corners
Ashton
Ashton Corners
Bakers Corners
Basco
Burke
Daleyville
Deansville
Door Creek
Dunkirk
East Bristol
Elvers
Five Points
Forward
Hanerville
Highwood
Hillside
Hoffman Corners
Indian Heights
Kegonsa
Kingsley Corners
Klevenville
London (partial)
Lutheran Hill
Martinsville
Marxville
Montrose
Morrisonville
Mt. Vernon
Nora
North Bristol
Norway Grove
Old Deerfield
Paoli
Pierceville
Pine Bluff
Primrose
Riley
Roxbury
Rutland
Seminary Springs
Schey Acres
Springfield Corners
Stone
Token Creek
Utica
Vermont
Vilas
West Middleton
York Center
Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods exist mostly for nomenclature purposes; some may have administrative associations with powers that are defined in the property deed covenants of the neighborhood. This is a partial list that primarily consists of former unincorporated communities that are now within the boundaries of an incorporated city or village.
Hope (Madison)
Lake Windsor (Windsor)
Fitchburg Center (Fitchburg)
Middleton Junction (Madison)
Oak Hall (Fitchburg)
Native American community
Ho-Chunk Indian Reservation
Education
School districts (all K-12) include:
Barneveld School District
Belleville School District
Cambridge School District
Columbus School District
DeForest Area School District
Deerfield Community School District
Edgerton School District
Evansville Community School District
Fort Atkinson School District
Lodi School District
Madison Metropolitan School District
Marshall School District
McFarland School District
Middleton-Cross Plains School District
Monona Grove School District
Mount Horeb Area School District
Oregon School District
Pecatonica Area School District
Poynette School District
River Valley School District
Sauk Prairie School District
Stoughton Area School District
Sun Prairie Area School District
Verona Area School District
Waterloo School District
Waunakee Community School District
Wisconsin Heights School District
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Dane County, Wisconsin
References
Further reading
Biographical Review of Dane County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1893.
Cassidy, Frederic G. Dane County Place-Names. 2nd ed. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2009.
Durrie, Daniel S. A History of Madison, the Capital of Wisconsin; Including the Four Lake Country. Madison: Atwood & Culver, 1874.
History of Dane County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880.
History of Dane County, Biographical and Genealogical. Madison: Western Historical Association, 1906.
Madison, Dane County and Surrounding Towns. Madison: W. J. Park, 1877.
Ruff, Allen and Tracy Will. Forward!: A History of Dane, the Capital County. Cambridge, Wis: Woodhenge Press, 2000.
External links
Official Dane County government website
Dane County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
1839 establishments in Wisconsin Territory
Populated places established in 1839
Madison, Wisconsin, metropolitan statistical area