Monroe County, Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
 Monroe County Courthouse in Sparta | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofWisconsin | |
| Coordinates:43°57′N90°37′W / 43.95°N 90.62°W /43.95; -90.62 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| Founded | 1854 DT Moseley was the first white child born to settlers in Monroe County. |
| Named after | James Monroe[3] |
| Seat | Sparta |
| Largest city | Sparta |
| Area | |
• Total | 908 sq mi (2,350 km2) |
| • Land | 901 sq mi (2,330 km2) |
| • Water | 7.4 sq mi (19 km2) 0.8% |
| Population | |
• Total | 46,274 |
• Estimate (2024)[2] | 46,370 |
| • Density | 51.5/sq mi (19.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 3rd,7th |
| Website | www |
Monroe County is acounty in theU.S. state ofWisconsin. As of the2020 census, the population was 46,274.[4] Itscounty seat isSparta.[5]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 908 square miles (2,350 km2), of which 901 square miles (2,330 km2) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km2) (0.8%) is water.[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 8,410 | — | |
| 1870 | 16,550 | 96.8% | |
| 1880 | 21,607 | 30.6% | |
| 1890 | 23,211 | 7.4% | |
| 1900 | 28,103 | 21.1% | |
| 1910 | 28,881 | 2.8% | |
| 1920 | 28,666 | −0.7% | |
| 1930 | 28,739 | 0.3% | |
| 1940 | 30,080 | 4.7% | |
| 1950 | 31,378 | 4.3% | |
| 1960 | 31,241 | −0.4% | |
| 1970 | 31,610 | 1.2% | |
| 1980 | 35,074 | 11.0% | |
| 1990 | 36,633 | 4.4% | |
| 2000 | 40,899 | 11.6% | |
| 2010 | 44,673 | 9.2% | |
| 2020 | 46,274 | 3.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 46,370 | 0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[4] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 46,274 and a median age of 39.6 years.[11][12]25.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older.[12] For every 100 females there were 102.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.6 males age 18 and over.[12]
The population density was 51.4 people per square mile (19.8 people/km2). There were 19,769 housing units at an average density of 21.9 units per square mile (8.5 units/km2).[12]
The racial makeup of the county was 89.2%White, 1.4%Black or African American, 1.3%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 2.1% from some other race, and 5.0% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.5% of the population.[11]
43.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 56.8% lived in rural areas.[13]
There were 18,197 households in the county, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.3% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 19,769 housing units, of which 8.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.5% were owner-occupied and 30.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.9%.[12]
As of thecensus[14] of 2000, there were 40,899 people, 15,399 households, and 10,794 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 45 people per square mile (17 people/km2). There were 16,672 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.52%White, 0.46%Black orAfrican American, 0.92%Native American, 0.48%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.85% fromother races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.81% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 45.5% were ofGerman, 13.4%Norwegian, 7.6%Irish, 6.3%American and 5.0%English ancestry. 92.9% spokeEnglish, 3.1%German and 2.2%Spanish as their first language.
There were 15,399 households, out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% weremarried couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.10% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.60 males.
In 2017, there were 534 births, giving a general fertility rate of 67.9 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 21st highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Of these, 43 of the births occurred at home.[15] Additionally, there were 21 reported induced abortions performed on women of Monroe County residence in 2017.[16]
In 2010, the reported adherence figures for the largest religious groups in Monroe County were Catholic at 9,250 adherents, Wisconsin Synod Lutheran at 3,102 adherents, ELCA Lutheran at 2,297 adherents, Amish at 1,627 adherents, LCMC Lutheran at 1,270 adherents, and United Methodist at 1,155 adherents.[17]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 2,530 | 47.14% | 2,458 | 45.80% | 379 | 7.06% |
| 1896 | 3,683 | 59.46% | 2,361 | 38.12% | 150 | 2.42% |
| 1900 | 3,709 | 60.31% | 2,247 | 36.54% | 194 | 3.15% |
| 1904 | 3,892 | 66.77% | 1,749 | 30.01% | 188 | 3.23% |
| 1908 | 3,304 | 58.11% | 2,155 | 37.90% | 227 | 3.99% |
| 1912 | 1,841 | 38.13% | 2,084 | 43.16% | 903 | 18.70% |
| 1916 | 3,013 | 57.58% | 1,991 | 38.05% | 229 | 4.38% |
| 1920 | 6,784 | 83.29% | 977 | 12.00% | 384 | 4.71% |
| 1924 | 2,661 | 26.70% | 428 | 4.30% | 6,876 | 69.00% |
| 1928 | 5,936 | 60.83% | 3,709 | 38.01% | 114 | 1.17% |
| 1932 | 3,022 | 30.36% | 6,757 | 67.88% | 175 | 1.76% |
| 1936 | 4,695 | 39.10% | 6,491 | 54.06% | 822 | 6.85% |
| 1940 | 8,042 | 62.52% | 4,673 | 36.33% | 148 | 1.15% |
| 1944 | 7,277 | 64.09% | 4,013 | 35.34% | 64 | 0.56% |
| 1948 | 5,347 | 50.97% | 4,970 | 47.38% | 173 | 1.65% |
| 1952 | 8,744 | 69.98% | 3,717 | 29.75% | 34 | 0.27% |
| 1956 | 7,460 | 63.16% | 4,311 | 36.50% | 40 | 0.34% |
| 1960 | 7,410 | 58.87% | 5,161 | 41.00% | 16 | 0.13% |
| 1964 | 5,126 | 44.48% | 6,385 | 55.41% | 13 | 0.11% |
| 1968 | 6,938 | 57.74% | 4,012 | 33.39% | 1,065 | 8.86% |
| 1972 | 7,625 | 66.68% | 3,640 | 31.83% | 171 | 1.50% |
| 1976 | 7,242 | 51.85% | 6,465 | 46.28% | 261 | 1.87% |
| 1980 | 8,136 | 51.87% | 6,521 | 41.58% | 1,027 | 6.55% |
| 1984 | 8,227 | 59.26% | 5,567 | 40.10% | 90 | 0.65% |
| 1988 | 7,073 | 52.06% | 6,437 | 47.38% | 75 | 0.55% |
| 1992 | 6,118 | 36.41% | 6,427 | 38.24% | 4,260 | 25.35% |
| 1996 | 5,299 | 36.29% | 6,924 | 47.42% | 2,377 | 16.28% |
| 2000 | 8,217 | 50.30% | 7,460 | 45.67% | 658 | 4.03% |
| 2004 | 10,375 | 53.06% | 8,973 | 45.89% | 206 | 1.05% |
| 2008 | 8,666 | 45.25% | 10,198 | 53.25% | 288 | 1.50% |
| 2012 | 9,675 | 49.65% | 9,515 | 48.83% | 295 | 1.51% |
| 2016 | 11,356 | 57.65% | 7,052 | 35.80% | 1,291 | 6.55% |
| 2020 | 13,775 | 60.92% | 8,433 | 37.30% | 403 | 1.78% |
| 2024 | 14,563 | 62.32% | 8,476 | 36.27% | 330 | 1.41% |
For most of its existence, Monroe County has favored the Republican Party. Since 1936, only four Democrats have won the county in presidential races.
School districts include:[20]
Places adjacent to Monroe County, Wisconsin | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofMonroe County, Wisconsin,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
