Crawford County, Wisconsin

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Crawford County, Wisconsin
Crawford County Courthouse
Location in the state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location in the U.S.
Founded	1818
Named for	William H. Crawford
Seat	Prairie du Chien
Largest city	Prairie du Chien
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	599 sq mi (1,551 km²) 571 sq mi (1,479 km²) 29 sq mi (75 km²), 4.8
Population  - (2020)  - Density	16,155
Congressional district	3rd
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.crawfordcountywi.org/

Crawford County is a county in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,155. 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 599 square miles (1,550 km²), of which 571 square miles (1,480 km²) is land and 29 square miles (75 km²) (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

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	1,502		—
1850	2,498		66.3%
1860	8,068		223.0%
1870	13,075		62.1%
1880	15,644		19.6%
1890	15,987		2.2%
1900	17,286		8.1%
1910	16,288		−5.8%
1920	16,772		3.0%
1930	16,781		0.1%
1940	18,328		9.2%
1950	17,652		−3.7%
1960	16,351		−7.4%
1970	15,252		−6.7%
1980	16,556		8.5%
1990	15,940		−3.7%
2000	17,243		8.2%
2010	16,644		−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Crawford County

2020 Census

As of the census of 2020, there were 16,155 people, 6,676 households, and 4,051 families residing in the county. The population density was 10.4/km² (26.9/sq mi). There were 8,999 housing units at an average density of 6/km² (15/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 95.17% White, 1.97% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.02% from other races, and 2.03% from two or more races. 1.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 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 Czechoslovakian.

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 was spread out, with 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 12/km² (30/sq mi). There were 8,480 housing units at an average density of 6/km² (15/sq mi). 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 was spread out, with 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

The sign for Crawford County on WIS60

• 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.

United States presidential election results for Crawford County, Wisconsin

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	4,620	53.13%	3,953	45.46%	122	1.40%
2016	3,836	49.64%	3,419	44.24%	473	6.12%
2012	3,067	39.24%	4,629	59.22%	121	1.55%
2008	2,830	35.46%	4,987	62.49%	164	2.05%
2004	3,680	43.50%	4,656	55.04%	123	1.45%
2000	3,024	40.90%	4,005	54.17%	365	4.94%
1996	2,149	30.44%	3,658	51.81%	1,253	17.75%
1992	2,390	30.59%	3,540	45.31%	1,882	24.09%
1988	3,238	46.98%	3,608	52.34%	47	0.68%
1984	4,412	55.87%	3,436	43.51%	49	0.62%
1980	3,934	50.08%	3,392	43.18%	530	6.75%
1976	3,393	47.11%	3,629	50.39%	180	2.50%
1972	3,705	58.67%	2,487	39.38%	123	1.95%
1968	3,316	54.09%	2,391	39.00%	423	6.90%
1964	2,726	40.91%	3,930	58.98%	7	0.11%
1960	3,719	52.60%	3,342	47.26%	10	0.14%
1956	4,123	61.71%	2,522	37.75%	36	0.54%
1952	5,323	70.15%	2,256	29.73%	9	0.12%
1948	3,465	48.23%	3,639	50.65%	81	1.13%
1944	4,199	57.12%	3,130	42.58%	22	0.30%
1940	4,667	56.28%	3,595	43.35%	31	0.37%
1936	2,857	35.91%	4,377	55.02%	722	9.07%
1932	1,943	28.71%	4,754	70.24%	71	1.05%
1928	3,452	51.18%	3,238	48.01%	55	0.82%
1924	1,687	29.82%	936	16.54%	3,035	53.64%
1920	3,600	74.29%	1,112	22.95%	134	2.77%
1916	1,883	50.63%	1,764	47.43%	72	1.94%
1912	1,407	41.66%	1,515	44.86%	455	13.47%
1908	2,041	54.25%	1,586	42.16%	135	3.59%
1904	2,279	61.08%	1,362	36.50%	90	2.41%
1900	2,333	62.53%	1,353	36.26%	45	1.21%
1896	2,323	59.61%	1,509	38.72%	65	1.67%
1892	1,727	49.91%	1,615	46.68%	118	3.41%

See also

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

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