Oconto County, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia : O : OC : OCO : Oconto County, Wisconsin
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,976 km² (1,149 mi²). 2,585 km² (998 mi²) of it is land and 391 km² (151 mi²) of it (13.15%) is water.Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 35,634 people, 13,979 households, and 10,050 families residing in the county. The population density was 14/km² (36/mi²). There were 19,812 housing units at an average density of 8/km² (20/mi²). 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.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.
Oconto County is perennially among the poorest counties in Wisconsin. Stagnant growth turned to negative growth in the early years of the 21st century as employers left the region. Oconto County had an unemployment rate of over 10% in 2004.
History
First visited by French explorers in the 16th 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, Wisconsin. Among the first settlers was Joseph Tourtilott, who explored much of the Oconto River Watershed. Many of Tourtilott's descendants continue to inhabit Oconto County, which has the highest percentage of people of French descent in Wisconsin.Cities and towns
- Abrams
- Bagley
- Brazeau
- Breed
- Chase
- Doty
- Gillett (town)
- Gillett
- How
- Lakewood
- Lena (town)
- Lena
- Little River
- Little Suamico
- Maple Valley
- Morgan
- Mountain
- Oconto Falls (town)
- Oconto Falls
- Oconto (town)
- Oconto
- Pensaukee
- Pulaski (partial)
- Riverview
- Spruce
- Stiles
- Suring
- Townsend
- Underhill
External links
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