Washington County, Wisconsin


Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,887. Its county seat is West Bend. The county was created from Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and organized in 1845. It was named after President George Washington.
Washington County is part of the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the fifth-smallest county in Wisconsin by total area.

Major highways

and West Bend Municipal Airport serve the county and surrounding communities.

Adjacent counties

As of the census of 2000, there were 117,493 people, 43,842 households, and 32,749 families residing in the county. The population density was 273 people per square mile. There were 45,808 housing units at an average density of 106 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 97.69% White, 0.40% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 1.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 59.9% were of German, 6.3% Polish and 5.5% Irish ancestry. 95.5% spoke English, 2.0% German and 1.7% Spanish as their first language.
There were 43,842 households out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.70% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

Communities

Cities

The County Executive is Josh Schoemann, a Republican who is the 1st County Executive, with the office having been established in 2020.

Politics

Like most other suburban counties surrounding Milwaukee, Washington County is a Republican stronghold. Since 1940, the county has been won by the Republican presidential candidate in all but one election, as is the case in neighboring Ozaukee and Waukesha Counties.