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Shawano County, Wisconsin

Coordinates: 44°47′N 88°46′W / 44.79°N 88.76°W / 44.79; -88.76
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Shawano County
County
Shawano County Courthouse, built mid-1950s
Shawano County Courthouse, built mid-1950s
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Shawano County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°47′N 88°46′W / 44.79°N 88.76°W / 44.79; -88.76
Country United States
State Wisconsin
FoundedFebruary 16, 1853
SeatShawano
Largest cityShawano
Area
 • Total
909 sq mi (2,350 km2)
 • Land893 sq mi (2,310 km2)
 • Water16 sq mi (40 km2)  1.8%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
40,881
 • Estimate 
(2023)
41,109 Increase
 • Density45.8/sq mi (17.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.co.shawano.wi.us

Shawano County (/ˈʃɔːnoʊ/ ⓘ SHAW-noh;[2] originally Shawanaw County) is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,881.[1] Its county seat is Shawano.[3]

Shawano County is included in the Shawano, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Green Bay–Shawano, WI Combined Statistical Area.

History

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Its name is from a modified Ojibwa term meaning "southern";[4][5] it was the southern boundary of the Ojibwa nation.[6] A Menominee chief named Sawanoh led a band that lived in the area.[7] Many citizens of Shawano believe the lake, county, and city (Town of Shawanaw founded 1853 and changed to Shawano in 1856), were named after Chief Sawanoh. A historical marker placed in 1958 near the lake along Highway 22 states the lake was named as the southern boundary of Chippewa (Ojibwe) territory.

Various historical recordings of the spelling of Shawano include Sawanoh, Shawanaw, Sharuno, Shabin, Savannah, and Savanah. This shows the influence of French, German, and English translation (v's, w's, and b's sounding very similar and thus being recorded incorrectly at times). Similar differences in spelling have been seen in the Mahican/Mahikan/Maikens tribe or Mohecan/Morhican/Mohican tribe, all referring to the same Algonquian-speaking people.

The federally recognized Stockbridge-Munsee Community (made up of Algonquian-speaking Mahican and Lenape), whose ancestors traditionally lived in the East along the Hudson River Valley, is located in Shawano County. Their reservation encompasses the towns of Bartelme and Red Springs.

It was created as a separate county in 1853 under the name Shawanaw County. The county, unlike the city, retained the old spelling until 1864.[8]

From the mid-nineteenth century on, the county was settled by European Americans, including many German, and later, Polish immigrants. They developed the county for agriculture. Before that, French-Canadian and British fur traders traveled widely through the area, trading with the Chippewa and other Native American peoples of the region.

The first non-Indian credited with exploring the region where Shawano is now located is Samuel Farnsworth. He paddled up the Wolf River in 1843 with a few men to scout the area for logging the vast forests. A small Menominee village was located along the Shawano lake Channel when their party arrived, and the Indians were friendly and cooperative. Charles Wescott and the Farnsworth group then set up a sawmill where the Channel meets the Wolf River.

Captain William Powell, an officer of the Black Hawk War, established a trading post on the Wolf River about two miles from the village in 1844. He had been an interpreter for the government when the treaties were signed allowing white people to settle this area of Wisconsin.

E. F. Sawyer platted a village near Powell's trading post in 1854 but public favor clung to the region adjacent to the old mill property and it was decided by popular vote to locate the county seat at Shawanaw, which was the name of the newly formed county.

The county, which was organized in 1853, was formed from areas of Oconto and Outagamie Counties. Forty-seven votes were cast and Elias Murray, Charles D Wescott and Elisha Alexander were elected supervisors. At that time there were 254 registered inhabitants, but only the men were allowed to vote.

When the county was first organized the name was spelled Shawanaw, taken from the Indian Sha-wa-Nah-Pay-Sa which meant “lake to the south” in Menominee and Chippewa. The spelling was changed in 1864 to its present Shawano, with three townships: Richmond, Waukechon and Shawano. Later others were added, making 25 townships.

In 1860 the first school house was erected in the county and Orlin Andrews was employed as its teacher. In 1898 there were 108 public schools in the county with 124 teachers.

A courthouse was erected on Main Street in 1857 and was replaced in 1879–80 at a cost of $17,000.00. The County Board authorized a new courthouse and jail in June 1953.

The earliest settlers who came to Shawano County consisted mostly of people from the New England States, Canada, and a few from British Columbia. A large influx of Bohemians settled in the Leopolis area and near Powell's Trading Post in the area about two miles from the city on Highway K. Norwegians settled in the area around Wittenberg, Lessor, Lunds and Navarino. Germans have been very predominate in the entire county, with 4,524 of the 27,475 inhabitants in 1900 born in Germany.[9]

Geography

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Shawano County Fairgrounds

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 909 square miles (2,350 km2), of which 893 square miles (2,310 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (1.8%) is water.[10]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Railroads

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Buses

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Airport

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The city and county jointly operate the Shawano Municipal Airport (KEZS), which is located on Shawano Lake.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860829—
18703,166281.9%
188010,371227.6%
189019,23685.5%
190027,47542.8%
191031,88416.0%
192033,9756.6%
193033,516−1.4%
194035,3785.6%
195035,249−0.4%
196034,351−2.5%
197032,650−5.0%
198035,92810.0%
199037,1573.4%
200040,6649.4%
201041,9493.2%
202040,881−2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010[15] 2020[1]
2000 Census age pyramid for Shawano County

2020 census

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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 can be of any race. [16][17]

Shawano County racial composition[18][19]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 36,951 34,404 88.09% 84.16%
Black or African American (NH) 131 117 0.31% 0.29%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 3,025 3,309 7.21% 8.09%
Asian (NH) 180 165 0.43% 0.4%
Pacific Islander (NH) 12 6 0.03% 0.01%
Some other race (NH) 8 59 0.02% 0.14%
Mixed/multi-racial (NH) 737 1,645 1.76% 4.02%
Hispanic or Latino 905 1,176 2.16% 2.88%
Total 41,949 40,881

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 40,881 people, 17,153 households, and 11,265 families residing in the county. The population density was 45.8 people per square mile (17.7 people/km2). There were 20,354 housing units at an average density of 22.8 units per square mile (8.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.8% White, 8.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% Black or African American, 1.2% from other races, and 4.8% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

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As of the census[20] of 2000, there were 40,664 people, 15,815 households, and 11,149 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile (18 people/km2). There were 18,317 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.61% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 6.26% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 1.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 54.9% were of German and 8.1% Polish ancestry.

There were 15,815 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males.

In 2017, there were 465 births, giving a general fertility rate of 69.8 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 18th highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[21] Additionally, there were 16 reported induced abortions performed on women of Shawano County residence in 2017.[22]

Communities

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Shawano Lake, from the east shore in Cecil looking west
Rural Shawano County buildings
Fairgrounds sign
Sign for Shawano County on CTH D

Cities

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Villages

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Politics

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In presidential elections, Shawano County is strongly Republican, and has voted Democratic on three occasions since 1940, each time by margins of less than four percent.

United States presidential election results for Shawano County, Wisconsin[23][24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 15,850 67.57% 7,336 31.27% 272 1.16%
2020 15,173 67.09% 7,131 31.53% 311 1.38%
2016 12,769 64.46% 6,068 30.63% 973 4.91%
2012 11,022 54.35% 9,000 44.38% 257 1.27%
2008 9,538 47.48% 10,259 51.07% 292 1.45%
2004 12,150 57.86% 8,657 41.23% 192 0.91%
2000 9,548 54.24% 7,335 41.67% 720 4.09%
1996 6,396 41.26% 6,850 44.19% 2,254 14.54%
1992 7,253 40.40% 6,062 33.77% 4,637 25.83%
1988 8,362 55.57% 6,587 43.78% 98 0.65%
1984 10,635 65.55% 5,469 33.71% 121 0.75%
1980 9,922 60.96% 5,410 33.24% 944 5.80%
1976 8,505 54.64% 6,751 43.37% 310 1.99%
1972 8,807 67.01% 3,940 29.98% 395 3.01%
1968 8,444 63.75% 3,602 27.20% 1,199 9.05%
1964 6,519 49.74% 6,560 50.06% 26 0.20%
1960 9,734 67.18% 4,734 32.67% 21 0.14%
1956 9,388 71.54% 3,675 28.01% 59 0.45%
1952 11,131 76.76% 3,334 22.99% 36 0.25%
1948 6,286 58.97% 4,192 39.33% 181 1.70%
1944 8,732 68.16% 4,015 31.34% 64 0.50%
1940 6,377 54.16% 5,241 44.51% 156 1.32%
1936 3,679 28.46% 8,865 68.59% 381 2.95%
1932 2,450 23.63% 7,593 73.24% 324 3.13%
1928 5,198 57.34% 3,779 41.69% 88 0.97%
1924 2,063 23.01% 471 5.25% 6,431 71.73%
1920 5,836 73.64% 525 6.62% 1,564 19.74%
1916 3,415 68.71% 1,367 27.51% 188 3.78%
1912 1,535 33.94% 1,661 36.72% 1,327 29.34%
1908 3,349 63.90% 1,750 33.39% 142 2.71%
1904 3,684 72.56% 1,239 24.40% 154 3.03%
1900 3,243 67.30% 1,504 31.21% 72 1.49%
1896 3,035 64.16% 1,594 33.70% 101 2.14%
1892 1,323 35.90% 2,040 55.36% 322 8.74%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census: Shawano County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  2. ^ MissPronouncer.com: A HALFWAY DECENT AUDIO PRONUNCIATION GUIDE FOR WISCONSIN
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Shawano county [origin of place name] Archived August 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Shawano's Modern History Began in 1844 with Logging and Later Farming]
  6. ^ "Here's How Iron Got Its Name". The Rhinelander Daily News. June 16, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ History. Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce.
  8. ^ "The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin". 1903. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ Shawano County Sesquicentennial, 2003
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  13. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  15. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  16. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  17. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  18. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  19. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  20. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  21. ^ "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  22. ^ Reported Induced Abortions in Wisconsin, Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013-2017, Table 18, pages 17-18
  23. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  24. ^ https://www.co.shawano.wi.us/i/f/files/NOV2024%20-%20OFFICIAL%20Summary%20Tabular%20Statement.pdf

Further reading

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44°47′N 88°46′W / 44.79°N 88.76°W / 44.79; -88.76

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