Brown County, Wisconsin


Brown County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 268,740, making it the fourth-most populous county in Wisconsin. The county seat is Green Bay. Brown County is part of the Green Bay metropolitan area.
WWW co.brown.wi.us

History

Brown County is one of Wisconsin's two original counties, along with Crawford County. It originally spanned the entire eastern half of the state when formed by the Michigan Territorial legislature in 1818. It was named for Major General Jacob Brown, a military leader during the War of 1812.
Several towns along the Fox River vied for the position of county seat in Brown County's early years. The first county seat was located at Menomoneeville in 1824. In 1837, a public referendum relocated the county seat to De Pere. The location was put up for the popular vote again in 1854, resulting in the establishment of the present county seat at Green Bay.
The oldest known tree in Wisconsin, a 1,300-year-old cedar growing on the Niagara Escarpment, was found in Brown County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Major highways

Railroads

Buses

Demographics

Birth related statistics

In 2017, there were 3,324 births, giving a general fertility rate of 65.6 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, which is above the Wisconsin average of 60.1. Additionally, there were 168 reported induced abortions performed on women of Brown County residence, with a rate of 3.3 abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44, which is below the Wisconsin average rate of 5.2.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 268,740, the median age was 37.9 years, 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18, and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.7 males age 18 and over.
The population density was. There were 112,908 housing units at an average density of.
The racial makeup of the county was 79.2% White, 3.1% Black or African American, 2.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.4% from other races, and 7.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.8% of the population.
There were 108,156 households in the county, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.8% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
Of the 112,908 housing units, 4.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.3% were owner-occupied and 35.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%.
83.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 16.6% lived in rural areas.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 248,007 people, 98,383 households, and 63,721 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 104,371 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 86.5% White, 2.2% Black or African American, 2.7% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.0004% Pacific Islander, 3.7% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 7.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 98,383 households 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 27.7% of households were one person and 8.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.
The age distribution was 24.1% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% 65 or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 226,778 people, 87,295 households, and 57,527 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 90,199 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 91.14% White, 1.16% Black or African American, 2.29% Native American, 2.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 3.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.8% were of German, 8.9% Polish, 7.8% Belgian and 6.8% Irish ancestry. 93.2% spoke only English at home, 3.8% spoke Spanish and 1.2% Hmong.
Of the 87,295 households 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.20% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 26.50% of households were one person and 8.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.08.
The age distribution was 26.10% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 31.90% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.

Government

The legislative branch of Brown County is the 26-member Board of Supervisors. Each member represents a single district and serves a two-year term, with elections held in the spring of even-numbered years. The Board of Supervisors elects a chairman and Vice Chairman from its membership.
The executive branch of Brown County is the County Executive, who is elected in the spring of every other odd-numbered year. The executive appoints department heads with the approval of the County Board. The current county executive is Troy Streckenbach.
Brown County has several other elected officials that are established under the Wisconsin State constitution and are referred to as the "constitutional officers". Constitutional officers are the only partisan elected officials within Brown County government, as the Executive and County Board are non-partisan positions.
The current constitutional officers are:
  • County Executive: Troy Streckenbach
  • Clerk: Sandy Juno
  • Clerk of Circuit Courts: John Vander Leest
  • District Attorney: David L. Lasee
  • Register of Deeds: Cheryl Berken
  • Sheriff: Todd Delain
  • Treasurer: Paul Zeller
In July 2002, the county declared English its official language, voting 17–8 to do so and to increase spending to promote fluency in English.
NameTerm startTerm endElected
Don Holloway197119871971, 1975, 1979, 1983
Thomas Cuene198719951987, 1991, 1995
Guy Zima 19951995Succeeded upon Cuene's resignation and served until Holloway's appointment as interim County Executive was confirmed by the County Board.
Don Holloway 19951995Appointed as interim County Executive by Zima
Nancy Nusbaum199520031995 (special), 1999
Carol Kelso200320072003
Tom Hinz200720112007
Troy Streckenbach2011incumbent2015, 2019, 2023

Communities

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Native American communities

Ghost towns/Neighborhoods

Adjacent counties

Green Bay, center, is the seat of Brown County. The city of Oconto is the county seat of Oconto County. Slightly above and much further right of Oconto is Oconto Falls, also in Oconto County. The somewhat larger city above Oconto Falls is Pulaski, which is in Brown County at the very border with Shawano County. Shawano County extends between Pulaski and past the edge of the photograph.
The large city in the top right is Appleton, the county seat of Outagamie County. To the left of Appleton and across the northern edge of Lake Winnebago is Brillion in Calumet County.
The village directly to the left of Green Bay and its immediate suburbs is Denmark, in Brown County. The smaller communities above and slightly to the left of Denmark are in Manitowoc County.
Luxembourg and Casco are in Kewaunee County.

Politics

Brown County is rather conservative for an urban county. Since 1968, Brown County has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in all but two elections, 1996 and 2008. Democratic strength is concentrated in the city of Green Bay, while the suburban and rural areas typically vote Republican.

Education

School districts include: