Dane County, Wisconsin

Dane County
County
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°04′N 89°25′W
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Founded	1839
Seat	Madison
Largest city	Madison
Area
• Total	1,238 sq mi (3,210 km2)
• Land	1,202 sq mi (3,110 km2)
• Water	36 sq mi (90 km2)  2.94%
Population  (2005)
• Total	458,106
• Density	350/sq mi (137/km2)
Website	co.dane.wi.us

Dane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 426,526. Its county seat is Madison. The United States Census Bureau's Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Dane County (as well as neighboring Iowa and Columbia counties). Dane County is made up of more than 60 cities, towns, and villages.

Dane County is one of the fastest growing counties in the country and adds around 60,000 people per decade. It is the second largest county in Wisconsin behind Milwaukee County. The governing body of Dane County is the Dane County Board of Supervisors.

History

Dane County was formed in 1836 as a territorial county. It was named after Nathan Dane, a Massachusetts delegate to the Congress of the Confederation who helped carve Wisconsin out of the Northwest Territory.

Demographics

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Dane County.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	69,435		—
1910	77,435		11.5%
1920	89,432		15.5%
1930	112,737		26.1%
1940	130,660		15.9%
1950	169,357		29.6%
1960	222,095		31.1%
1970	290,272		30.7%
1980	323,545		11.5%
1990	367,085		13.5%
2000	426,526		16.2%
WI Counties 1900-1990

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile (137/km²). There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile (58/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.96% White, 4.00% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 3.45% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.43% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. 3.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.4% were of German, 11.5% Norwegian, 8.9% Irish and 6.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 173,484 households out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.10% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.90% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.60% under the age of 18, 14.30% from 18 to 24, 32.50% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 9.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,238 square miles (3,207 km²), of which, 1,202 square miles (3,113 km²) of it is land and 36 square miles (94 km²) of it (2.94%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Columbia County - north
• Dodge County - northeast
• Jefferson County - east
• Rock County - southeast
• Green County - south
• Iowa County - west
• Sauk County - northwest

Political map of Dane County

Cities, villages and towns

Dane County Cities

2

Dane County Villages

3

Dane County Towns

3

Census-designated places

• Windsor (CDP)

Unincorporated communities

Wisconsin State Capitol in Dane County

2

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dane County, Wisconsin

External links

• Dane County web site
• A history of Madison, the capital of Wisconsin; including the Four lake country
• Madison, Dane County and surrounding towns