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Oconto County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,965.[1] Its county seat is Oconto.[2] The county was established in 1851.[3]
Oconto County | |
|---|---|
 The Oconto County Courthouse, circa 1910 | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin | |
 Wisconsin's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 44°59′N 88°14′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| Founded | 1854 |
| Named for | Oconto River |
| Seat | Oconto |
| Largest city | Oconto |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,149 sq mi (2,980 km2) |
| • Land | 998 sq mi (2,580 km2) |
| • Water | 151 sq mi (390 km2) 13% |
| Population | |
• Total | 38,965 |
• Estimate (2023) | 39,775  |
| • Density | 39.1/sq mi (15.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | www |
Oconto County is part of the Green Bay, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Green Bay-Shawano, WI Combined Statistical Area.
First visited by French explorers in the 17th century, Oconto County is among the oldest settlements in Wisconsin. Father Claude-Jean Allouez of the Roman Catholic Jesuit order said the first Mass in Oconto. Among the first settlers was Joseph Tourtilott, who explored much of the Oconto River watershed. Oconto County was created in 1851 and organized in 1854.[4]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,149 square miles (2,980 km2), of which 998 square miles (2,580 km2) is land and 151 square miles (390 km2) (13%) is water.[5]
Adjacent counties
- Marinette County - northeast
- Door County - southeast, border is in Green Bay
- Brown County - south
- Shawano County - southwest
- Menominee County - west
- Langlade County - west
- Forest County - northwest
Major highways
Railroads
Buses
Airport
J. Douglas Bake Memorial Airport (KOCQ) serves the county and surrounding communities.
National protected area
- Nicolet National Forest (part)
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| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 3,592 | — | |
| 1870 | 9,321 | 159.5% | |
| 1880 | 9,848 | 5.7% | |
| 1890 | 15,009 | 52.4% | |
| 1900 | 20,874 | 39.1% | |
| 1910 | 25,657 | 22.9% | |
| 1920 | 27,104 | 5.6% | |
| 1930 | 26,386 | −2.6% | |
| 1940 | 27,075 | 2.6% | |
| 1950 | 26,238 | −3.1% | |
| 1960 | 25,110 | −4.3% | |
| 1970 | 25,553 | 1.8% | |
| 1980 | 28,947 | 13.3% | |
| 1990 | 30,226 | 4.4% | |
| 2000 | 35,634 | 17.9% | |
| 2010 | 37,660 | 5.7% | |
| 2020 | 38,965 | 3.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8] 1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[1] | |||
2020 census
As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 38,965. The population density was 39.1 people per square mile (15.1 people/km2). There were 23,754 housing units at an average density of 23.8 units per square mile (9.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% White, 1.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.8% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
2000 census
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 35,634 people, 13,979 households, and 10,050 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14 people/km2). There were 19,812 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.76% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.9% were of German, 11.8% Polish, 6.0% French and 5.6% American ancestry.
There were 13,979 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.50% 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 2.52 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.
In 2017, there were 353 births, giving a general fertility rate of 61.0 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 28th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[12] Additionally, there were 14 reported induced abortions performed on women of Oconto County residence in 2017.[13]
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Cities
- Gillett
- Oconto (county seat)
- Oconto Falls
Villages
- Lena
- Pulaski (mostly in Brown County and Shawano County)
- Suring
Towns
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Native American community
Ghost town/neighborhood
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| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 17,675 | 70.95% | 6,967 | 27.97% | 270 | 1.08% |
| 2020 | 16,226 | 69.89% | 6,715 | 28.93% | 274 | 1.18% |
| 2016 | 13,345 | 66.04% | 5,940 | 29.40% | 921 | 4.56% |
| 2012 | 10,741 | 54.09% | 8,865 | 44.64% | 253 | 1.27% |
| 2008 | 8,755 | 46.16% | 9,927 | 52.34% | 286 | 1.51% |
| 2004 | 11,043 | 55.79% | 8,534 | 43.11% | 217 | 1.10% |
| 2000 | 8,706 | 52.46% | 7,260 | 43.75% | 630 | 3.80% |
| 1996 | 5,389 | 38.81% | 6,723 | 48.42% | 1,773 | 12.77% |
| 1992 | 5,720 | 35.59% | 5,898 | 36.70% | 4,455 | 27.72% |
| 1988 | 7,084 | 51.65% | 6,549 | 47.75% | 83 | 0.61% |
| 1984 | 8,714 | 61.70% | 5,289 | 37.45% | 121 | 0.86% |
| 1980 | 8,292 | 58.01% | 5,352 | 37.44% | 649 | 4.54% |
| 1976 | 6,232 | 47.84% | 6,541 | 50.21% | 254 | 1.95% |
| 1972 | 6,511 | 59.38% | 4,041 | 36.85% | 413 | 3.77% |
| 1968 | 5,680 | 53.74% | 3,737 | 35.36% | 1,152 | 10.90% |
| 1964 | 4,420 | 40.94% | 6,360 | 58.92% | 15 | 0.14% |
| 1960 | 6,223 | 55.15% | 5,045 | 44.71% | 15 | 0.13% |
| 1956 | 6,836 | 64.95% | 3,632 | 34.51% | 57 | 0.54% |
| 1952 | 7,807 | 69.58% | 3,382 | 30.14% | 31 | 0.28% |
| 1948 | 4,865 | 52.61% | 4,269 | 46.17% | 113 | 1.22% |
| 1944 | 5,923 | 57.38% | 4,348 | 42.12% | 51 | 0.49% |
| 1940 | 6,238 | 53.88% | 5,273 | 45.55% | 66 | 0.57% |
| 1936 | 3,774 | 34.20% | 6,729 | 60.98% | 531 | 4.81% |
| 1932 | 2,915 | 30.80% | 6,440 | 68.04% | 110 | 1.16% |
| 1928 | 4,661 | 51.91% | 4,253 | 47.37% | 65 | 0.72% |
| 1924 | 2,562 | 33.12% | 602 | 7.78% | 4,571 | 59.10% |
| 1920 | 4,735 | 78.16% | 1,030 | 17.00% | 293 | 4.84% |
| 1916 | 2,570 | 56.21% | 1,892 | 41.38% | 110 | 2.41% |
| 1912 | 1,988 | 46.60% | 1,523 | 35.70% | 755 | 17.70% |
| 1908 | 3,020 | 64.77% | 1,453 | 31.16% | 190 | 4.07% |
| 1904 | 3,279 | 73.70% | 1,024 | 23.02% | 146 | 3.28% |
| 1900 | 2,754 | 69.72% | 1,117 | 28.28% | 79 | 2.00% |
| 1896 | 2,836 | 67.08% | 1,290 | 30.51% | 102 | 2.41% |
| 1892 | 1,275 | 43.31% | 1,499 | 50.92% | 170 | 5.77% |
In the latter half of the 20th century and the early 21st century, Oconto County was a bellwether in presidential elections, supporting the winning candidate in every election from 1964 to 2008. In 2012, however, the county voted for Republican Mitt Romney despite Romney losing the state of Wisconsin and the national election. In 2016, the county swung 27 percentage points to the right, giving Republican Donald Trump a margin of victory of more than 37 percentage points and a vote share of 66%. In 2020, Trump improved his performance, carrying Oconto by a margin of 41 percentage points and winning 69.9% of the vote to Democrat Joe Biden's 28.9%. This was the best result for any presidential nominee in Oconto County since 1920, when Warren Harding received 78.2% of the vote, and remains the third strongest performance of any candidate ever.
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