Racine County, Wisconsin

This article is about the county. For the city, see Racine, Wisconsin.

Racine County (/rəˈsiːn, reɪ-/ ^ⓘ rə-SEEN, ray-) is a county in southeastern Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, its population was 197,727,^[1] making it Wisconsin's fifth-most populous county. Its county seat is Racine.^[2] The county was founded in 1836, then a part of the Wisconsin Territory. The Root River is the county's namesake.

Racine County
County
Racine County Courthouse
Flag
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42.78°N 87.76°W / 42.78; -87.76
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Founded	December 7, 1836
Seat	Racine
Largest city	Racine
Area
• Total	792 sq mi (2,050 km2)
• Land	333 sq mi (860 km2)
• Water	460 sq mi (1,200 km2)  58%
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	197,727
• Estimate  (2023)	196,613
• Density	594.4/sq mi (229.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.racinecounty.com

Racine County comprises the Racine metropolitan statistical area. This area is part of the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha combined statistical area.^[3] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 792 square miles (2,050 km²), of which 333 square miles (860 km²) is land and 460 square miles (1,200 km²) (58%) is water.^[4] The county's unemployment rate was 5.6% in June 2021.^[5]

History

The Potawatomi people occupied the area of Racine County until European settlement. The Wisconsin Territory legislature established Racine County in 1836, separating it from Milwaukee County. Racine County originally extended to Wisconsin's southern border and encompassed the land that is now Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Kenosha County was created as a separate entity in 1850.^[6]

Adjacent counties

• Milwaukee County (north)
• Ottawa County, Michigan (northeast across Lake Michigan)
• Allegan County, Michigan (southeast across Lake Michigan)
• Kenosha County (south)
• Walworth County (west)
• Waukesha County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	3,475		—
1850	14,973		330.9%
1860	21,360		42.7%
1870	26,740		25.2%
1880	30,922		15.6%
1890	36,268		17.3%
1900	45,644		25.9%
1910	57,424		25.8%
1920	78,961		37.5%
1930	90,217		14.3%
1940	94,047		4.2%
1950	109,585		16.5%
1960	141,781		29.4%
1970	170,838		20.5%
1980	173,132		1.3%
1990	175,034		1.1%
2000	188,831		7.9%
2010	195,408		3.5%
2020	197,727		1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[11] 2020 census[12]

Racine County, Wisconsin – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000[13]	Pop 2010[14]	Pop 2020[15]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	150,238	145,414	135,333	79.56%	74.42%	68.44%
Black or African American alone (NH)	19,441	21,212	22,531	10.30%	10.86%	11.40%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	541	614	538	0.29%	0.31%	0.27%
Asian alone (NH)	1,331	2,081	2,261	0.70%	1.06%	1.14%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	54	40	47	0.03%	0.02%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	156	228	792	0.08%	0.12%	0.40%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	2,080	3,273	8,314	1.10%	1.67%	4.20%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	14,990	22,546	27,911	7.94%	11.54%	14.12%
Total	188,831	195,408	197,727	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2020 census

As of the census of 2020,^[1] the population was 197,727. The population density was 594.4 people per square mile (229.5 people/km²). There were 84,490 housing units at an average density of 254.0 units per square mile (98.1 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 72.0% White, 11.8% Black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 5.4% from other races, and 9.0% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 14.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Racine County

2000 census

As of the census^[16] of 2000, there were 188,831 people, 70,819 households, and 49,856 families residing in the county. The population density was 567 people per square mile (219 people/km²). There were 74,718 housing units at an average density of 224 units per square mile (86 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.04% White, 10.47% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.69% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 7.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.9% were of German, 7.4% Polish and 5.5% Irish ancestry.

There were 70,819 households, of which 34.5% had children under 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

Transportation

Major highways

• I-41 / I-94 / US 41
• US 45
• WIS 11
• WIS 20
• WIS 31
• WIS 32
• WIS 36
• WIS 38
• WIS 75
• WIS 83
• WIS 142
• WIS 164
• WIS 311

Railroads

• Amtrak
• Canadian National
• Canadian Pacific
• Union Pacific
• Sturtevant station

Buses

• Ryde Racine

Airports

• John H. Batten Airport (KRAC) serves the county and surrounding communities.
• Burlington Municipal Airport (KBUU) enhances county service.
• Cindy Guntly Memorial Airport (62C) enhances county service.
• Fox River Airport (96C) enhances county service.
• Sylvania Airport (C89) enhances county service.

Communities

Map of Racine County, with municipal boundaries

Racine County sign on WIS 11

Cities

• Burlington (partly in Walworth County)
• Racine (county seat)

Villages

• Caledonia
• Elmwood Park
• Mount Pleasant
• North Bay
• Raymond
• Rochester
• Sturtevant
• Union Grove
• Waterford
• Wind Point
• Yorkville

Towns

• Burlington
• Dover
• Norway
• Waterford

Census-designated places

• Bohners Lake (Town of Burlington)
• Browns Lake (Town of Burlington)
• Eagle Lake (Town of Dover)
• Tichigan (Town of Waterford)
• Wind Lake (Town of Norway)

Unincorporated communities

• Beaumont
• Buena Park
• Caldwell
• Cedar Park
• Eagle Lake Manor
• Eagle Lake Terrace
• Franksville
• Honey Creek (partial)
• Honey Lake (partial)
• Husher
• Ives Grove
• Kansasville
• Kneeland
• North Cape
• Raymond
• Rosewood
• Sylvania
• Union Church
• Yorkville

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

• DeNoon
• Muskego Settlement
• Raymond Center

Government

1879 engraving of the Racine County courthouse

The County Board has 21 members, each elected from single-member districts.^[17] The county executive is elected in a countywide vote. The county executive is Jonathan Delagrave. The Circuit Court is made up of ten judges, elected in countywide elections to six-year terms.

Politics

Racine County has been a bellwether county, having voted for the winning presidential candidate in 28 of the last 33 elections since 1896 despite its solidly Democratic county seat, Racine, Wisconsin. The only exceptions to this were when it voted for Charles Evans Hughes in 1916, Gerald Ford in 1976, Michael Dukakis in 1988, and Donald Trump in 2020.

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	56,347	52.33%	49,721	46.17%	1,618	1.50%
2020	54,479	51.18%	50,159	47.12%	1,813	1.70%
2016	46,681	49.50%	42,641	45.22%	4,980	5.28%
2012	49,347	47.74%	53,008	51.28%	1,009	0.98%
2008	45,954	45.66%	53,408	53.07%	1,280	1.27%
2004	52,456	51.65%	48,229	47.48%	884	0.87%
2000	44,014	49.53%	41,563	46.77%	3,288	3.70%
1996	30,107	38.81%	38,567	49.72%	8,894	11.47%
1992	32,310	36.79%	34,875	39.71%	20,634	23.50%
1988	36,342	47.42%	39,631	51.72%	658	0.86%
1984	42,092	52.84%	36,955	46.39%	616	0.77%
1980	39,683	49.76%	33,565	42.09%	6,494	8.14%
1976	37,088	49.00%	36,740	48.54%	1,858	2.45%
1972	38,490	56.41%	27,778	40.71%	1,968	2.88%
1968	28,028	44.78%	27,045	43.21%	7,513	12.00%
1964	21,434	36.14%	37,785	63.71%	87	0.15%
1960	29,562	49.03%	30,596	50.74%	136	0.23%
1956	31,968	58.21%	22,646	41.24%	305	0.56%
1952	30,628	54.65%	25,241	45.03%	180	0.32%
1948	19,029	43.45%	23,266	53.12%	1,502	3.43%
1944	18,220	41.11%	25,697	57.97%	408	0.92%
1940	18,753	43.63%	23,532	54.75%	693	1.61%
1936	10,850	28.73%	24,474	64.80%	2,447	6.48%
1932	10,754	32.49%	19,960	60.31%	2,383	7.20%
1928	17,423	56.56%	13,021	42.27%	362	1.18%
1924	13,040	50.21%	1,463	5.63%	11,466	44.15%
1920	14,406	71.95%	3,650	18.23%	1,965	9.81%
1916	5,081	47.77%	4,495	42.26%	1,061	9.97%
1912	2,606	29.42%	3,909	44.13%	2,343	26.45%
1908	5,490	52.77%	3,688	35.45%	1,226	11.78%
1904	5,573	55.61%	2,584	25.79%	1,864	18.60%
1900	5,925	58.37%	3,855	37.98%	371	3.65%
1896	5,849	57.61%	3,975	39.15%	329	3.24%
1892	3,956	46.19%	3,750	43.79%	858	10.02%

See also

• Peggy Johnson, a young woman whose body was discovered in 1999 in Raymond
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Racine County, Wisconsin