Dane County

History

Dane County was formed in 1836 as a territorial county and organized in 1839. It was named after Nathan Dane, a Massachusetts delegate to the Congress of the Confederation who helped carve Wisconsin out of the Northwest Territory. Dane County was settled in the 1840s by settlers from New England.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,238 square miles (3,210 km2), of which 1,197 square miles (3,100 km2) is land and 41 square miles (110 km2) (3.3%) is water.

Railroads

Freight

Canadian Pacific

Wisconsin and Southern Railroad

Buses

Public Transit

Metro Transit

Intercity

Van Galder/Coach USA

Wisconsin Coach Lines/Coach USA

Greyhound Lines

Flixbus

Badger Bus

Jefferson Lines

Lamers Connect

Megabus

Airports

Commercial

Dane County Regional Airport (MSN)

General Aviation

Blackhawk Airfield (87Y)

Middleton Municipal Airport (C29)

Verona Airport (W19)

Waunakee Airport (6P3)

Adjacent counties

Columbia County (north)

Dodge County (northeast)

Green County (south)

Iowa County (west)

Jefferson County (east)

Rock County (southeast)

Sauk County (northwest)

Demographics

In 2017, there were 5,891 births, giving a general fertility rate of 51.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the eighth lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Of these, 73 of the births occurred at home, the fifth highest number of home births for Wisconsin counties. 428 of the births were to mothers who held doctorate or professional degrees, more than any other Wisconsin county. These accounted for 7.3% of total births for the county, a higher percent than any other Wisconsin county and more than Ozaukee County which had 5.8% of births to mothers who held doctorate or professional degrees and ranked second.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 561,504. The population density was 469.3 inhabitants per square mile (181.2/km2). There were 248,795 housing units at an average density of 207.9 units per square mile (80.3 units/km2).

There were 238,417 households in the county, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.2% were married-couple households, 21.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The median age was 35.7 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.9 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 77.6% White, 5.4% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 6.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.2% from some other race, and 6.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.5% of the population.

86.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 13.6% lived in rural areas. Among the 248,795 housing units, 4.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 56.3% were owner-occupied and 43.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.9%.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 488,073 people, 203,750 households, and 116,752 families living in the county. The population density was 394 people per square mile (152 people/km2). There were 216,022 housing units at an average density of 174 units per square mile (67 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.7% White, 5.2% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. 5.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 203,750 households 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 30.5% of households were one person and 7.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 21.7% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% 65 or older. The median age was 34.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families living in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile (137 people/km2). There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 units per square mile (58 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.96% White, 4.00% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 3.45% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.43% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. 3.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.4% were of German, 11.5% Norwegian, 8.9% Irish and 6.0% English ancestry.

Of the 173,484 households 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.10% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.90% were non-families. 29.40% of households were one person and 7.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 22.60% under the age of 18, 14.30% from 18 to 24, 32.50% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 9.30% 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

Religion

In 2010, the largest religious groups in Dane County by number of adherents were Catholic at 106,036 adherents, ELCA Lutheran at 48,620 adherents, United Methodist at 9,753 adherents, non-denominational Christian at 7,448 adherents, Evangelical Free at 6,075 adherents, United Church of Christ at 5,035 adherents, Wisconsin Synod Lutheran at 4,214 adherents, Missouri Synod Lutheran at 3,921 adherents, American Baptist at 3,755 adherents, and PC-USA Presbyterian at 3,664 adherents.

Government

Dane County is governed by a county executive and a county board of supervisors. The county executive is elected in a countywide vote. The county executive is Melissa Agard. The board of supervisors consists of 37 members, each elected from single member districts. As the policy-making body of the county government, the board of supervisors enacts county ordinances, levies taxes, and appropriates money for services.

Economy

Dane County's recent growth has been driven by new job opportunities in healthcare and technology fields.

Politics

Like most other counties anchored by an urban population center and a large public university, Dane County is solidly Democratic, with a long history in the progressive movement. It has backed the Democratic presidential nominee in every election since 1932 with the exception of the two nationwide landslide victories of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956, and even then, Eisenhower's margin of victory was under 3% both times. Since then, Republicans have only crossed the 35% mark six times. Within Wisconsin, only the predominantly Native American county of Menominee is more reliably Democratic.

In state elections, the county is no less Democratic. The last Republicans the county supported at state level were Governor Tommy Thompson and Treasurer Jack Voight in 1994. The last Republican Senator to carry the county was Alexander Wiley in 1956 by less than one percent, 10 years earlier the county was the only one in the state to not vote for Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy. In the three-party era of 1930s-1940s, the county backed Wisconsin Progressive Party - National Progressives candidates, such as the La Follette brothers, Orland Steen Loomis and Herman Ekern.

County executives

George Reinke, 1973–1981

Jonathan B. Barry, 1981–1988

Richard J. Phelps, 1988–1997

Kathleen Falk, April 21, 1997 – April 18, 2011

Joe Parisi, April 18, 2011 – May 3, 2024

Patrick Miles (acting), May 3, 2024 – May 17, 2024

Jamie Kuhn (interim), May 17, 2024 – November 13, 2024

Melissa Agard, November 13, 2024 – present

Recreation

Communities

Cities

Cities are incorporated, generally have a mayor (or a administrator/manager), an elected council, and generally provide more services than smaller administrative divisions.

Villages

Villages are incorporated, are governed by a Village President and Board of Trustees, and provide residential services.

Towns

Towns may have the same name as a city or village associated with it, but it is a separate municipality. Towns are not incorporated, are governed by a town board, and only provide limited services to residents.

Unincorporated communities

Unincorporated communities are smaller communities that are governed by the town they are located in and often exist as nomenclature in vital records.

Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods exist mostly for nomenclature purposes; some may have administrative associations with powers that are defined in the property deed covenants of the neighborhood. This is a partial list that primarily consists of former unincorporated communities that are now within the boundaries of an incorporated city or village.

Native American community

Ho-Chunk Indian Reservation

Education

School districts (all K-12) include: