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Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Kenosha County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

Etymology - Origin of County Name

Kenosha County - named for its principal town, which was first known as Southport. As this settlement was situated upon Pike Creek, a change was made to the Indian word for that fish - Wis. Hist. Colls., iii, p. 414. See also Handbook, i, p. 673, where "Kenozhe," signifying pickerel, is given to a Chippewa gens [clan].

[Source: Kellogg, Louise Phelps. "Derivation of County Names" in Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for 1909, pages 219-231.]

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

History

Kenosha County is a county located along the West Shore of Lake Michigan in the far southeastern corner U.S. state of Wisconsin. Its county seat is Kenosha. As of 2006, the population of Kenosha County was 162,001, and according to the U.S. Census Bureau, between July 1, 2006 and July 1, 2007 the county was tied in fifth place for growth among Wisconsin's 72 counties with a one-percent population gain, approximately twice the statewide growth average of 0.5%. Kenosha County has traditionally attracted newcomers from suburban Chicago and in March 2008 the demographers of the Wisconsin Department of Administration report that Kenosha County's improvements in roads, businesses' need for personnel and quality-of-life factors have contributed to the decades-long influx of Illinois transplants. For 2006-2007, Kenosha County had a net gain of 424 new residents. Kenosha County is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and simultaneously the southernmost part of the Milwaukee area.

Kenosha County is a county located along the West Shore of Lake Michigan in the far southeastern corner U.S. state of Wisconsin. Its county seat is Kenosha. As of 2006, the population of Kenosha County was 162,001, and according to the U.S. Census Bureau, between July 1, 2006 and July 1, 2007 the county was tied in fifth place for growth among Wisconsin's 72 counties with a one-percent population gain, approximately twice the statewide growth average of 0.5%. Kenosha County has traditionally attracted newcomers from suburban Chicago and in March 2008 the demographers of the Wisconsin Department of Administration report that Kenosha County's improvements in roads, businesses' need for personnel and quality-of-life factors have contributed to the decades-long influx of Illinois transplants. For 2006-2007, Kenosha County had a net gain of 424 new residents. Kenosha County is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and simultaneously the southernmost part of the Milwaukee area.

Description from John W. Hunt's 1853 Wisconsin Gazetteer: "KENOSHA, County, is bounded on the north by Racine, east by Lake Michigan, south by the State of Illinois, and west by Walworth and a portion of Racine. The county seat is at Kenosha, formerly known as Southport, on the lake shore, about midway between the northern and southern extremity of the county. It was set off from Racine and fully organized, 30th January, 1850. The eastern portion of the county is mostly prairie, with occasional groves of timber. In the northeast part is a large tract of heavy timber. The western portion is mostly openings. The soil is productive in the highest degree, and well adapted to the growing of all the crops of the climate, and the raising of stock. It has the best of market facilities, Kenosha close at hand, and Milwaukee and Chlicago easy of access. It has a healthy climate, and is settled by an intelligent and enterprizing class of farmers. The principal streams are the Fox, (Pishtaka,) the Aux Raines and Pike creeks. Population 10,734; 927 farms, and 1,812 dwellings."

KENOSHA.--Population 12,373.
From: Handbook of Wisconsin by S. Silas, 1855
pg. 78

This is one of the oldest and smallest Counties in the State, occupying the south-east corner on Lake Michigan. The County is mostly prairie, under excellent cultivation, and is but a sample of what Wisconsin will be in its manhood, wealthy and prosperous. There are of course no public lands to be obtained.

The Lake Shore Rail Road passes along the Lake, and the Kenosha and Janesville Rail Road is building.

Kenosha, the County Seat, is a prosperous place, and is noted for the enterprise and intelligence of its inhabitants. A large produce export business is done at this port, for which see the table of exports under its appropriate head.--Population 3,879.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 754 square miles (1,954 km²), of which, 273 square miles (707 km²) of it is land and 481 square miles (1,247 km²) of it (63.83%) is water.

Neighboring Counties:

• Racine County (north)
• Lake Michigan (east)
• Lake County, Illinois (southeast)
• McHenry County, Illinois (southwest)
• Walworth County (west)

Cities and Towns:

County Resources:

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