Adams County, Wisconsin

Infobox U.S. County
county = Adams County
state = Wisconsin


founded year = 1848
founded date =
seat wl = Friendship
largest city wl = Adams
area_total_sq_mi = 689
area_total_km2 = 1783
area_land_sq_mi = 648
area_land_km2 = 1678
area_water_sq_mi = 41
area_water_km2 = 106
area percentage = 5.92%
census yr = 2000
pop = 18643
density_sq_mi = 29
density_km2 = 11
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset = -5
footnotes =
web = www.co.adams.wi.us
named for = Late president John Adams or John Quincy Adams

Adams County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Its name may be in honor of the second President of the United States, John Adams, or his son, the sixth President, John Quincy Adams (sources differ). As of 2000, the population was 18,643. Its county seat is FriendshipGR|6.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 689 square miles (1,783 km²), of which, 648 square miles (1,678 km²) of it is land and 41 square miles (106 km²) of it (5.92%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Wood County – northwest
*Portage County – northeast
*Waushara County – east
*Marquette County – east
*Columbia County – southeast
*Sauk County – southwest
*Juneau County – west

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900= 9141
1910= 8604
1920= 9287
1930= 8003
1940= 8449
1950= 7906
1960= 7566
1970= 9234
1980= 13457
1990= 15682
2000= 18643
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wi190090.txt WI Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 18,643 people, 7,900 households, and 5,466 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 14,123 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.63% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.3% were of German, 14.8% American, 9.2% Polish, 8.3% Norwegian, 8.0% Irish and 6.0% English ancestry. 96.1% spoke English, 1.8% Spanish and 1.1% German as their first language.

There were 7,900 households out of which 23.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the county, the population was spread out with 20.80% under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 28.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 102.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.30 males.

According to the 2005 Census, German was the most commonly reported ethnic group in Adams County. The leading ethnic groups were:
*German 35.1%
*Irish 10.7%
*Polish 9.1%
*Norwegian 8.1%
*English 7.1%

Within Wisconsin

There are 72 counties in Wisconsin:
*Adams County is the 51st most populous county in Wisconsin – 20,828 according to the 2005 Census population estimates
*Adams County is the 49th most densely populated county – 32.6 people per square mile according to 2004 population estimates
*Adams County has the 6th highest poverty rate – 11% according to 2003 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)
*Adams County has the lowest median per capita household income – $17,753 according to the 2003 SAIPE
*Adams County had the second lowest percentage of high school graduates – 76.7% according to the 2000 Census
*Adams county had the lowest percentage of college graduates – 6.5% according to the 2000 Census
*Adams County had the 28th highest percentage of African-American residents – .3% according to the 2000 Census
*Adams Counts had the 24th highest percentage of Hispanic residents – 1.4% according to the 2000 Census
*Adams is the 20th most Czech, 6th most Danish, 27th most Dutch, 35th most German, 6th most Hungarian, 15th most Irish, 18th most Italian, 30th most Norwegian, 18th most Polish, 6th most Portuguese, 6th most Scottish, 30th most Swedish, and 9th most Ukrainian.

History

The area covered by present-day Adams County has been part of several other counties throughout Wisconsin's history. In 1840, when Wisconsin was still a territory, Adams County was the south-western section of Brown County (A) (today, Brown County includes the area around the southern part of Green Bay). In 1836, Portage County (A) was created and included most of present day Columbia County, including the city of Portage, Wisconsin. In 1846, Portage County(A) was renamed Columbia County. The area from the northern boundary of Columbia County to Lake Superior was removed from Brown County(A) and was then called Portage County(B). In 1848, the southern part of Portage County(B) was renamed Adams County(A) and included all of current-day Adams County and the northern section of Juneau County. In 1858, The northwestern part of Adams County(A) was joined with the northern part of Sauk County to form present-day Juneau County. At this time, Adams County took its current shape.

Friendship was founded by settlers coming from Friendship, New York. Today, Adams is the largest community in Adams County, but this was not always so. In the 1880s, there were plans for a railroad that connected Chicago and St. Paul to pass through Friendship. It appears that once this was decided, local landowners increased their demands. Instead of paying more for the land in Friendship, the railroad placed the tracks two miles south of Friendship. To service workers, boxcars were stacked to form housing, and the town of Adams was created. This stretch of track would become the famous "400" route. Today, Adams has about 3 times as many people as Friendship.

Cities, villages and towns

Cities

*Adams
*Wisconsin Dells (partial)

Villages

*Friendship

Towns

Unincorporated communities

*Arkdale

References

External links

* [http://www.co.adams.wi.us/ Adams County official website]
* [http://www.visitadamscountywi.com/ Adams County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.wiroots.org/wiadams/ Adams County Genealogy and Family History]