Crawford County, Wisconsin

Crawford County is a county in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,113. Its county seat is Prairie du Chien.

History

Along with Brown County, Crawford County is one of Wisconsin's original counties, established by the Michigan Territorial legislature in 1818, and named after William H. Crawford, James Monroe's Treasurer at the time. It originally covered the western half of Wisconsin's present area. In 1836, it was transferred to the newly formed Wisconsin Territory as Michigan prepared for statehood and has gradually been subdivided into its present area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (4.8%) is water. The county's highest point is near St. James Church in Rising Sun.

Three rivers run through the county: The Kickapoo River, nicknamed "the crookedest river in Wisconsin" was carved out by glacial run-off. It is considered one of the best Class 1 paddling rivers in the Midwest.
* The Wisconsin River borders the county's southern edge. Although it is the state's busiest river, its run within the county is tranquil, with high bluff escarpments and sandy islands.
* The Mississippi River, serves as the county's western border. The steep limestone cliffs are interspersed with bluffs and prairies.

Adjacent counties

* Vernon County - north
* Richland County - east
* Grant County - south
* Clayton County, Iowa - southwest
* Allamakee County, Iowa - west

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 16,113. The population density was . There were 8,658 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.8% White, 1.7% Black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.6% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2020 American Community Survey Estimates

According to the most recent American Community Survey estimates available in 2020, the five largest ancestries, whether partially claimed or claimed in full, were: 36.37% were of German; 19.15% Irish; 13.87% Norwegian; 7.57% English; and 4.77% Czech or Czechoslovak.

There were 6,676 households, out of which 20.78% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.30% were married couples living together, 23.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.99% were non-families. 17.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.93. Of all households in the county, 74.4% of households were owner-occupied, and 25.6% were renter-occupied households.

In the county, the population age distribution is 21.90% under the age of 20, 15.86% from 20 to 34, 10.54% from 35 to 44, 28.38% from 45 to 64, and 23.38% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 108 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.9 males. In total, 52% of the population was male, and 48% of the population was female.

2010 Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 16,644 people, 6,677 households, and 4,613 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 8,480 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.61% White, 1.78% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 0.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.6% were of German, 16.0% Norwegian, 11.4% Irish, 7.2% Czech, 7.2% English and 6.4% United States or American ancestry.

There were 6,677 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population age distribution is 24.25% under the age of 20, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 20 to 44, 31.16% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.30 males.

Transportation

Major highways

* U.S. Highway 18
* U.S. Highway 61
* Highway 27 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 35 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 60 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 82 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 131 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 171 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 179 (Wisconsin)

Railroads

* BNSF
*Wisconsin and Southern Railroad

Buses

*Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit

Airport

Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport (KPDC) serves Crawford County and the surrounding communities.

Communities

Cities

* Prairie du Chien (county seat)

Villages

* Bell Center
* De Soto (Mostly in Vernon County)
* Eastman
* Ferryville
* Gays Mills
* Lynxville
* Mount Sterling
* Soldiers Grove
* Steuben
* Wauzeka

Towns

* Bridgeport
* Clayton
* Eastman
* Freeman
* Haney
* Marietta
* Prairie du Chien
* Scott
* Seneca
* Utica
* Wauzeka

Unincorporated communities

* Barnum
* Boydtown
* Bridgeport
* Charme
* Easter Rock
* Fairview
* Harmony Hill
* Montgomeryville
* Mount Zion
* North Clayton
* Petersburg
* Pine Knob
* Plugtown
* Reed
* Rising Sun
* Rolling Ground
* Seneca
* Towerville
* White Corners
* Yankeetown

Politics

When the county was founded, Crawford County was a Republican stronghold, Having voted for the Republican presidential candidate every year from 1892 to 1908, and having only voted Democrat once from 1892 to 1920. The county leaned Republican for many years, until 1988 when Michael Dukakis won it by a margin of 5.3 percentage points. The county voted for the Democratic presidential candidate every year from 1988 to 2012. In 2016, Donald Trump won Crawford County by 5.4 percentage points. Trump would win it again in 2020 by a larger margin of 7.8 percentage points, marking the first time the county voted for a Republican back to back election cycles since 1984 when Ronald Reagan carried Crawford County. Trump won Crawford County for a third time in 2024, once again increasing his margin of victory, this time to 13.8 percentage points, the best Republican performance in the county since the 1972 landslide reelection of Richard Nixon.

Education

School districts include:
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* Boscobel Area School District
* De Soto Area School District
* Kickapoo Area School District
* North Crawford School District
* Prairie du Chien Area School District
* Riverdale School District
* Seneca School District
* Wauzeka-Steuben School District

See also

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Crawford County, Wisconsin
* Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

References

Further reading

*
History of Crawford and Richland Counties, Wisconsin
'. Springfield, Ill.: Union Publishing Company, 1884.

External links

Official Crawford County website
*

Crawford County map
at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Crawford County Health and Demographic Data

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1818 establishments in Michigan Territory
Populated places established in 1818
Wisconsin counties on the Mississippi River