Brown County, Wisconsin

This article is about the county in Wisconsin. For other counties of the same name in other states, see Brown County (disambiguation).

Brown County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 268,740,^[1] making it the fourth-most populous county in Wisconsin. The county seat is Green Bay.^[2] Brown County is part of the Green Bay, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Brown County
County
Brown County Courthouse in Green Bay
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°29′N 87°59′W
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Founded	1818
Named for	Jacob Brown
Seat	Green Bay
Largest city	Green Bay
Area
• Total	616 sq mi (1,600 km2)
• Land	530 sq mi (1,400 km2)
• Water	86 sq mi (220 km2)  14%
Population  (2020)
• Total	268,740
• Estimate  (2023)	271,417
• Density	507.0/sq mi (195.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	8th
Website	www.browncountywi.gov

History

Wisconsin Territory depicted on this 1835 Tourist's Pocket Map Of Michigan, showing a Menominee-filled Brown County, Wisconsin that spans the northern half of the territory.

Brown County is one of Wisconsin's two original counties, along with Crawford County. It originally spanned the entire eastern half of the state when formed by the Michigan Territorial legislature in 1818.^{[citation needed]} It was named for Major General Jacob Brown, a military leader during the War of 1812.^[3][4]

Several towns along the Fox River vied for the position of county seat in Brown County's early years. The first county seat was located at Menomoneeville (now a part of Allouez) in 1824. In 1837, a public referendum relocated the county seat to De Pere. The location was put up for the popular vote again in 1854, resulting in the establishment of the present county seat at Green Bay.^[5]

The oldest known tree in Wisconsin, a 1,300 year-old cedar growing on the Niagara Escarpment, was found in Brown County.^[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 616 square miles (1,600 km²), of which 530 square miles (1,400 km²) is land and 86 square miles (220 km²) (14%) is water.^[7]

Major highways

Interstate 41 Interstate 43 U.S. Highway 41 U.S. Highway 141 Highway 29 Highway 32

Highway 54 Highway 57 Highway 96 Highway 160 Highway 172

Railroads

• Watco
• Canadian National
• Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad

Buses

• Green Bay Metro
• List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

Climate

Brown County Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     62     −8 −13     62     −6 −11     66     1 −8     141     16 1     105     20 7     106     24 14     108     28 16     88     27 15     72     22 12     121     12 5     68     5 −2     61     −5 −11 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: [8] Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.4     18 9     2.4     21 12     2.6     34 18     5.6     61 34     4.1     68 45     4.2     75 57     4.3     82 61     3.5     81 59     2.8     72 54     4.8     54 41     2.7     41 28     2.4     23 12 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Demographics

Birth related statistics

In 2017, there were 3,324 births, giving a general fertility rate of 65.6 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, which is above the Wisconsin average of 60.1.^[9] Additionally, there were 168 reported induced abortions performed on women of Brown County residence, with a rate of 3.3 abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44, which is below the Wisconsin average rate of 5.2.^[10]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	2,107		—
1850	6,215		195.0%
1860	11,795		89.8%
1870	25,168		113.4%
1880	34,078		35.4%
1890	39,164		14.9%
1900	46,359		18.4%
1910	54,098		16.7%
1920	61,889		14.4%
1930	70,249		13.5%
1940	83,109		18.3%
1950	98,314		18.3%
1960	125,082		27.2%
1970	158,244		26.5%
1980	175,280		10.8%
1990	194,594		11.0%
2000	226,778		16.5%
2010	248,007		9.4%
2020	268,740		8.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020,^[15] the population was 268,740. The population density was 507.0 people per square mile (195.8 people/km²). There were 112,908 housing units at an average density of 213.0 units per square mile (82.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.2% White, 3.2% Asian, 3.1% Black or African American, 2.8% Native American, 4.4% from other races, and 7.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 9.8% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 248,007 people, 98,383 households, and 63,721 families living in the county. The population density was 403 people per square mile (156 people/km²). There were 104,371 housing units at an average density of 170 units per square mile (66 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.5% White, 2.2% Black or African American, 2.7% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.0004% Pacific Islander, 3.7% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 7.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[16] Of the 98,383 households 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 27.7% of households were one person and 8.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.

The age distribution was 24.1% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% 65 or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Brown County

At the 2000 census there were 226,778 people, 87,295 households, and 57,527 families living in the county. The population density was 429 people per square mile (166 people/km²). There were 90,199 housing units at an average density of 171 units per square mile (66 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.14% White, 1.16% Black or African American, 2.29% Native American, 2.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 3.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.8% were of German, 8.9% Polish, 7.8% Belgian and 6.8% Irish ancestry. 93.2% spoke only English at home, 3.8% spoke Spanish and 1.2% Hmong.^[16] Of the 87,295 households 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.20% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 26.50% of households were one person and 8.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 26.10% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 31.90% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.

Government

The legislative branch of Brown County is the 26-member Board of Supervisors. Each member represents a single district and serves a two-year term, with elections held in the spring of even-numbered years. The Board of Supervisors elects a Chairman and Vice Chairman from its membership.

The executive branch of Brown County is the County Executive, who is elected in the spring of every other odd-numbered year. The executive appoints department heads with the approval of the County Board. The current county executive is Troy Streckenbach.

Brown County has several other elected officials that are established under the Wisconsin State constitution and are referred to as the "constitutional officers". Constitutional officers are the only partisan elected officials within Brown County government, as the Executive and County Board are non-partisan positions.

The current constitutional officers are:

• County Executive: Troy Streckenbach (Independent)
• Clerk: Sandy Juno (R)
• Clerk of Circuit Courts: John Vander Leest (R)
• District Attorney: David L. Lasee (R)
• Register of Deeds: Cheryl Berken (R)
• Sheriff: Todd Delain (R)
• Treasurer: Paul Zeller (R)

In July 2002, the county declared English its official language, voting 17–8 to do so and to increase spending to promote fluency in English.

Communities

Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena

Farmland in rural Brown County

The County Executive Troy Streckenbach, Brown County Neville Museum Director, and Mayor Jim Schmitt of Green Bay in front of the dinosaur sculpture.

Cities

• De Pere
• Green Bay (county seat)

Villages

• Allouez
• Ashwaubenon
• Bellevue
• Denmark
• Hobart
• Howard (partly in Outagamie County)
• Pulaski (partly in Shawano County and Oconto County)
• Suamico
• Wrightstown (partly in Outagamie County)

Towns

• Eaton
• Glenmore
• Green Bay (town)
• Holland
• Humboldt
• Lawrence
• Ledgeview
• Morrison
• New Denmark
• Pittsfield
• Rockland
• Scott
• Wrightstown

Census-designated places

• Dyckesville
• Greenleaf

Unincorporated communities

• Anston
• Askeaton
• Bay Settlement
• Benderville
• Buckman
• Champion
• Chapel Ridge
• Coppens Corner
• Edgewater Beach
• Fontenoy
• Glenmore
• Henrysville
• Hollandtown
• Humboldt
• Kolb
• Kunesh
• Langes Corners
• Lark
• Little Rapids
• Mill Center
• Morrison
• New Franken
• Pine Grove
• Pittsfield (partial)
• Poland
• Red Banks
• Shirley
• Sniderville (partial)
• Sugar Bush
• Wayside
• Wequiock

Native American communities

• Oneida Nation of Wisconsin (partial)

Ghost towns/Neighborhoods

• Fort Howard
• Preble

Adjacent counties

• Oconto County – north
• Door County – northeast, shares a short water border within Green Bay
• Kewaunee County – east
• Manitowoc County – southeast
• Calumet County – southwest
• Outagamie County – west
• Shawano County – northwest

Brown County and adjacent counties, in the early morning of January 1, 2018, taken from the International Space Station

Green Bay, center, is the seat of Brown County. The city of Oconto (half cut off at the bottom right) is the county seat of Oconto County. Slightly above and much further right of Oconto is Oconto Falls, also in Oconto County. The somewhat larger city above Oconto Falls is Pulaski, which is in Brown County at the very border with Shawano County. Shawano County extends between Pulaski and past the edge of the photograph.

The large city in the top right is Appleton, the county seat of Outagamie County. To the left of Appleton and across the northern edge of Lake Winnebago is Brillion in Calumet County.

The village directly to the left of Green Bay and its immediate suburbs is Denmark, in Brown County. The smaller communities above and slightly to the left of Denmark (including Cooperstown, Maribel, and Kellnersville) are in Manitowoc County.

Luxembourg (larger village in lower left) and Casco (half cut off at lower far left) are in Kewaunee County.

Politics

Since 1968, Brown County has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in all but two elections, 1996 and 2008. Democratic strength is concentrated in the city of Green Bay, while the suburban and rural areas typically vote Republican.^[17]

United States presidential election results for Brown County, Wisconsin^[18]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	75,871	52.68%	65,511	45.49%	2,635	1.83%
2016	67,210	52.10%	53,382	41.38%	8,419	6.53%
2012	64,836	50.29%	62,526	48.50%	1,566	1.21%
2008	55,854	44.77%	67,269	53.92%	1,631	1.31%
2004	67,173	54.48%	54,935	44.56%	1,186	0.96%
2000	54,258	50.35%	49,096	45.56%	4,415	4.10%
1996	38,563	42.45%	42,823	47.14%	9,451	10.40%
1992	42,352	41.24%	37,513	36.53%	22,836	22.24%
1988	43,625	50.75%	41,788	48.62%	540	0.63%
1984	51,202	62.44%	30,218	36.85%	583	0.71%
1980	47,067	56.72%	29,796	35.91%	6,114	7.37%
1976	36,571	50.62%	33,572	46.47%	2,100	2.91%
1972	37,101	56.49%	26,511	40.37%	2,063	3.14%
1968	30,133	53.67%	21,615	38.50%	4,395	7.83%
1964	21,134	40.59%	30,851	59.26%	79	0.15%
1960	26,329	49.72%	26,577	50.19%	46	0.09%
1956	32,878	70.24%	13,642	29.14%	288	0.62%
1952	30,400	67.80%	14,342	31.99%	94	0.21%
1948	17,729	48.50%	18,449	50.47%	380	1.04%
1944	17,762	50.14%	17,576	49.61%	88	0.25%
1940	16,379	45.45%	19,526	54.18%	135	0.37%
1936	8,433	27.14%	21,417	68.92%	1,227	3.95%
1932	7,150	25.87%	19,990	72.34%	494	1.79%
1928	9,371	36.04%	16,465	63.32%	168	0.65%
1924	7,611	37.90%	2,328	11.59%	10,141	50.50%
1920	8,845	61.66%	3,877	27.03%	1,623	11.31%
1916	4,132	40.02%	5,771	55.90%	421	4.08%
1912	2,764	32.76%	3,557	42.16%	2,116	25.08%
1908	4,947	55.25%	3,354	37.46%	653	7.29%
1904	6,027	65.84%	2,667	29.13%	460	5.03%
1900	4,934	56.80%	3,588	41.30%	165	1.90%
1896	5,436	57.51%	3,841	40.64%	175	1.85%
1892	2,855	42.41%	3,653	54.26%	224	3.33%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Brown County, Wisconsin
• List of historical markers in Brown County, Wisconsin

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. History of the Origin of the Place Names in Nine Northwestern States. 1908. p. 12.
4. "Here's How Iron Got Its Name". The Rhinelander Daily News. June 16, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
5. History of Northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources... Chicago: Western Historical Company. 1881. p. 103. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
6. The oldest known tree in Wisconsin is a 1,300-year-old cedar growing from a cliff
7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
8. "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Archived from the original on November 28, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
9. "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 19, 2019.
10. 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
11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
13. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
15. "2020 Decennial Census: Brown County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
17. BeMiller, Haley; Bollier, Jeff (November 4, 2020). "Green Bay pads Biden's lead in Wisconsin as Brown County overall goes for Trump". Green Bay Press Gazette. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

Further reading

• Commemorative Biographical Record of the Fox River Valley Counties of Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1895.
• Martin, Deborah B. History of Brown Country Wisconsin: Past and Present. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke, 1913. Vol. 1 Vol. 2

External links

• Brown County website
• Brown County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
• Northeast Wisconsin Historical County Plat Maps & Atlases
• Old plat maps: 1870 1875 1889 1900 1903 ca. 1920 1930s

44.48°N 87.99°W / 44.48; -87.99