Juneau County, Wisconsin
Juneau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,718.[1] Its county seat is Mauston.[2]
History
[edit | edit source]Before white settlement, before loggers and explorers, the area that is now Juneau County was the home of Native Americans who left behind artifacts like the thunderbirds etched on the wall at Twin Bluffs[3] and the Gee's Slough mounds outside New Lisbon.[4]
Juneau County was established in 1857 when the Wisconsin Legislature passed legislation separating lands west of the Wisconsin River from what was then Adams County.[5] After a contest with neighboring New Lisbon, the county seat was established in Maugh's Town, which is known today as Mauston. The county was named after Solomon Juneau, a founder of Milwaukee.[6][7]
In the 1970s, county officials had indicated their interest, and submitted a request to Wisconsin Power and Light Company, to build a nuclear power plant on Petenwell Lake.[8]
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 804 square miles (2,080 km2), of which 767 square miles (1,990 km2) is land and 37 square miles (96 km2) (4.6%) is water.[9]
Major highways
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Interstate 90- Error creating thumbnail: Interstate 94
U.S. Highway 12- Error creating thumbnail: Highway 16 (Wisconsin)
- Error creating thumbnail: Highway 21 (Wisconsin)
- Error creating thumbnail: Highway 33 (Wisconsin)
- File:WIS 58.svg Highway 58 (Wisconsin)
- File:WIS 71.svg Highway 71 (Wisconsin)
- File:WIS 80.svg Highway 80 (Wisconsin)
- File:WIS 82.svg Highway 82 (Wisconsin)
- File:WIS 173.svg Highway 173 (Wisconsin)
Railroads
[edit | edit source]Buses
[edit | edit source]Airports
[edit | edit source]- Necedah Airport (KDAF), serves the county and surrounding communities.
- Mauston–New Lisbon Union Airport (82C) enhances county service.
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Wood County - north
- Adams County - east
- Columbia County - southeast
- Sauk County - south
- Vernon County - southwest
- Monroe County - west
- Jackson County - northwest
National protected area
[edit | edit source]United States Military Posts
[edit | edit source]Fort McCoy outside of Juneau county
Demographics
[edit | edit source]Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[10] | Pop 1990[11] | Pop 2000[12] | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 20,681 | 21,228 | 23,318 | 24,706 | 24,008 | 98.30% | 98.05% | 95.90% | 92.66% | 89.86% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 19 | 28 | 76 | 545 | 548 | 0.09% | 0.13% | 0.31% | 2.04% | 2.05% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 176 | 162 | 310 | 361 | 355 | 0.84% | 0.75% | 1.27% | 1.35% | 1.33% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 30 | 76 | 100 | 113 | 147 | 0.14% | 0.35% | 0.41% | 0.42% | 0.55% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [15] | x [16] | 3 | 4 | 1 | x | x | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 28 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 52 | 0.13% | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.19% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [17] | x [18] | 157 | 239 | 880 | x | x | 0.65% | 0.90% | 3.29% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 105 | 152 | 347 | 687 | 727 | 0.50% | 0.70% | 1.43% | 2.58% | 2.72% |
| Total | 21,039 | 21,650 | 24,316 | 26,664 | 26,718 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 26,718, a median age of 46.0 years, 20.0% of residents were under the age of 18, and 21.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 113.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 115.6 males age 18 and over.[1][19]
The population density was 34.8 people per square mile (13.4 people/km2). There were 14,441 housing units at an average density of 18.8 units per square mile (7.3 units/km2).[19]
There were 10,741 households in the county, of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.6% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[19]
Of the housing units, 25.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.5% were owner-occupied and 24.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.[19]
The racial makeup of the county was 90.9% White, 2.1% Black or African American, 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.7% of the population.[20]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[21]
2000 census
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As of the census[22] of 2000, there were 24,316 people, 9,696 households, and 6,699 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 12,370 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.61% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.2% were of German, 9.9% Irish, 8.8% Norwegian, 6.5% Polish and 5.8% English ancestry.
There were 9,696 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.
In 2017, there were 282 births, giving a general fertility rate of 72.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 12th highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Of these, only 2 of the births occurred at home.[23] Additionally, there were 16 reported induced abortions performed on women of Juneau County residence in 2017, a figure higher than the records for the preceding four years.[24]
Communities
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Cities
[edit | edit source]- Elroy
- Mauston (county seat)
- New Lisbon
- Wisconsin Dells (mostly in Columbia County, Adams County, and Sauk County)
Villages
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Towns
[edit | edit source]Unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Politics
[edit | edit source]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 1,945 | 47.11% | 1,978 | 47.91% | 206 | 4.99% |
| 1896 | 2,832 | 61.49% | 1,671 | 36.28% | 103 | 2.24% |
| 1900 | 2,914 | 63.35% | 1,586 | 34.48% | 100 | 2.17% |
| 1904 | 3,234 | 70.11% | 1,244 | 26.97% | 135 | 2.93% |
| 1908 | 2,454 | 57.59% | 1,691 | 39.69% | 116 | 2.72% |
| 1912 | 1,322 | 41.48% | 1,236 | 38.78% | 629 | 19.74% |
| 1916 | 2,292 | 58.65% | 1,442 | 36.90% | 174 | 4.45% |
| 1920 | 4,385 | 81.22% | 774 | 14.34% | 240 | 4.45% |
| "text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin) |1924 | 1,917 | 31.10% | 403 | 6.54% | 3,844 | 62.36% |
| 1928 | 3,777 | 57.74% | 2,708 | 41.40% | 56 | 0.86% |
| 1932 | 2,018 | 29.37% | 4,723 | 68.75% | 129 | 1.88% |
| 1936 | 3,084 | 37.83% | 4,544 | 55.74% | 524 | 6.43% |
| 1940 | 5,268 | 60.51% | 3,354 | 38.53% | 84 | 0.96% |
| 1944 | 4,733 | 61.97% | 2,857 | 37.41% | 47 | 0.62% |
| 1948 | 3,793 | 55.71% | 2,889 | 42.43% | 127 | 1.87% |
| 1952 | 5,978 | 73.22% | 2,163 | 26.49% | 23 | 0.28% |
| 1956 | 5,135 | 67.58% | 2,428 | 31.96% | 35 | 0.46% |
| 1960 | 4,997 | 60.60% | 3,238 | 39.27% | 11 | 0.13% |
| 1964 | 2,976 | 39.33% | 4,583 | 60.57% | 8 | 0.11% |
| 1968 | 3,828 | 53.60% | 2,595 | 36.33% | 719 | 10.07% |
| 1972 | 4,833 | 60.19% | 2,943 | 36.65% | 254 | 3.16% |
| 1976 | 4,242 | 46.73% | 4,512 | 49.71% | 323 | 3.56% |
| 1980 | 5,591 | 55.14% | 3,884 | 38.30% | 665 | 6.56% |
| 1984 | 5,629 | 63.62% | 3,152 | 35.62% | 67 | 0.76% |
| 1988 | 4,869 | 56.21% | 3,734 | 43.11% | 59 | 0.68% |
| 1992 | 4,051 | 36.85% | 4,177 | 38.00% | 2,765 | 25.15% |
| 1996 | 3,226 | 35.13% | 4,331 | 47.17% | 1,625 | 17.70% |
| 2000 | 4,910 | 48.05% | 4,813 | 47.10% | 495 | 4.84% |
| 2004 | 6,473 | 52.29% | 5,734 | 46.32% | 172 | 1.39% |
| 2008 | 5,148 | 44.65% | 6,186 | 53.65% | 196 | 1.70% |
| 2012 | 5,411 | 45.75% | 6,242 | 52.78% | 174 | 1.47% |
| 2016 | 7,130 | 60.76% | 4,073 | 34.71% | 532 | 4.53% |
| 2020 | 8,749 | 63.82% | 4,746 | 34.62% | 214 | 1.56% |
| 2024 | 9,525 | 65.45% | 4,854 | 33.35% | 174 | 1.20% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Juneau County was long considered a bellwether in presidential elections. From 1964 through 2016, the winning candidate has carried the county in every presidential election; however, this trend ended in 2020.
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "2020 Decennial Census: Juneau County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ "Twin Bluff". Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
- ↑ Birmingham, Robert A.; Leslie E. Eisenberg (2000). Indian Mounds of Wisconsin. Madison, Wisc.: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 204. ISBN 9780299168742.
- ↑ Wisconsin Acts. 1856. Ch. 130 Approved October 13, 1856. Went into effect January 1, 1857.
- ↑ Juneau County - Home Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- ↑ Stennett, William H. (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways.
Juneau County, State of Wisconsin.
- ↑ Jaeger, Richard W. (February 15, 1973). "Juneau Officials Seek A-Plant". The Wisconsin State Journal. pp. Section 4, Page 1.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- ↑ "1980 General Population Characteristics - Wisconsin - Table 15: Persons by Race and Table 16: Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race". United States Census Bureau – via Internet Archive.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Wisconsin - Table 3: Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 23-111. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Juneau County, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Juneau County, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Juneau County, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ↑ "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
- ↑ Reported Induced Abortions in Wisconsin, Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013-2017, Table 18, pages 17-18
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
Further reading
[edit | edit source]- Biographical History of La Crosse, Monroe and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.
External links
[edit | edit source]- Juneau County government website
- Juneau County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
- Juneau County Economic Development website
- Juneau County Health and Demographic Data
- Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Juneau County Archived August 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Documentary produced by PBS Wisconsin