Crawford County, Wisconsin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Crawford County
U.S. county
Crawford County Courthouse
Crawford County Courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Crawford County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°14′N 90°56′W / 43.23°N 90.93°W / 43.23; -90.93
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1818
Named forWilliam H. Crawford
SeatPrairie du Chien
Largest cityPrairie du Chien
Area
 • Total599 sq mi (1,550 km2)
 • Land571 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Water29 sq mi (80 km2)  4.8%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total16,644
 • Estimate 
(2020)
16,021
 • Density28/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.crawfordcountywi.org

Crawford County is a county in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,644.[1] Its county seat is Prairie du Chien.[2]

History[]

Along with Brown County, Crawford County is one of Wisconsin's original counties, established by the Michigan Territorial legislature in 1818, and named after William H. Crawford,[3] James Monroe's Treasurer at the time. It originally covered the western half of Wisconsin's present area. In 1836, it was transferred to the newly formed Wisconsin Territory as Michigan prepared for statehood and has gradually been subdivided into its present area.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 599 square miles (1,550 km2), of which 571 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (4.8%) is water.[4] The county's highest point is near St. James Church in Rising Sun.[5]

Three rivers run through the county: The Kickapoo River, nicknamed "the crookedest river in Wisconsin" was carved out by glacial run-off. It is considered one of the best Class 1 paddling rivers in the Midwest.

  • The Wisconsin River borders the county's southern edge. Although it is the state's busiest river, its run within the county is tranquil, with high bluff escarpments and sandy islands.
  • The Mississippi River, serves as the county's western border. The steep limestone cliffs are interspersed with bluffs and prairies.

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18401,502—
18502,49866.3%
18608,068223.0%
187013,07562.1%
188015,64419.6%
189015,9872.2%
190017,2868.1%
191016,288−5.8%
192016,7723.0%
193016,7810.1%
194018,3289.2%
195017,652−3.7%
196016,351−7.4%
197015,252−6.7%
198016,5568.5%
199015,940−3.7%
200017,2438.2%
201016,644−3.5%
2020 (est.)16,021[6]−3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Crawford County

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 16,644 people, 6,677 households, and 4,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 12/km2 (30/sq mi). There were 8,480 housing units at an average density of 6/km2 (15/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 96.61% White, 1.78% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 0.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.6% were of German, 16.0% Norwegian, 11.4% Irish, 7.2% Czech, 7.2% English and 6.4% United States or American ancestry.

There were 6,677 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.25% under the age of 20, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 20 to 44, 31.16% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.30 males.

Transportation[]

Major highways[]

The sign for Crawford County on WIS60
  • US 18.svg U.S. Highway 18
  • US 61.svg U.S. Highway 61
  • WIS 27.svg Highway 27 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 35.svg Highway 35 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 60.svg Highway 60 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 82.svg Highway 82 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 131.svg Highway 131 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 171.svg Highway 171 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 179.svg Highway 179 (Wisconsin)

Airport[]

Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport (KPDC) serves Crawford County and the surrounding communities.

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Prairie du Chien (county seat)

Villages[]

Towns[]

Unincorporated communities[]

Politics[]

When the county was founded, Crawford County was a Republican stronghold, Having voted for the Republican presidential candidate every year from 1892 to 1908, and having only voted Democrat once from 1892 to 1920. The county leaned Republican for many years, until 1988 when Michael Dukakis won it by a margin of 5.3 percentage points. The county voted for the Democratic presidential candidate every year from 1988 to 2012. In 2016, Donald Trump won Crawford County by 5.4 percentage points. Trump would win it again in 2020 by a larger margin of 7.8 percentage points, marking the first time the county Voted for a Republican back to back election cycles since 1984 when Ronald Reagan carried Crawford County.

Presidential elections results

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 95.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  5. ^ United States Geological Survey (2016). Rising Sun Quadrangle, Wisconsin (PDF) (Map). 1:24,000. 7.5-Minute Series. Rising Sun, WI, USA: United States Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  6. ^ "County Population Totals: 2010-2020". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

Further reading[]

External links[]

Coordinates: 43°14′N 90°56′W / 43.23°N 90.93°W / 43.23; -90.93

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