Koshkonong, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Koshkonong is a town in Jefferson County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 3,395 at the 2000 census. The town entirely surrounds the city of Fort Atkinson
. The unincorporated communities of Blackhawk Island
, Koshkonong Mounds
, and Vinnie Ha Ha
are located in the town. The unincorporated community of Koshkonong
is also located partially in the town
The first Europeans to settle in the area were French traders from Canada. The first settlers arrived around 1836. In 1840, Norwegian families from Telemark
settled near Lake Muskego in Waukesha County. In 1841, what would become for a time the largest Norwegian-American community in America was founded at Koshkonong in eastern Dane and Western Jefferson Counties. It was started by settlers from the Jefferson Prairie Settlement
and the Fox River settlement. By 1850, over half of the Norwegian immigrants in Wisconsin lived in the Koshkonong settlement.
, the town has a total area of 43.0 square miles (111.4 km²), of which 42.1 square miles (108.9 km²) is land and 0.9 square mile (2.4 km²) (2.19%) is water.
The town borders on its west, Lake Koshkonong
.
US Route 12 crosses the town.
of 2000, there were 3,395 people, 1,249 households, and 965 families residing in the town. The population density
was 80.7 people per square mile (31.2/km²). There were 1,421 housing units at an average density of 33.8 per square mile (13.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.91% White, 0.03% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.53% from other races
, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population.
There were 1,249 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples
living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $60,000, and the median income for a family was $61,604. Males had a median income of $40,676 versus $26,909 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,100. About 2.0% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 74,021. Its county seat is Jefferson.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,395 at the 2000 census. The town entirely surrounds the city of Fort Atkinson
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Fort Atkinson is a city in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on the Rock River, a few miles upstream from Lake Koshkonong. In 1996, Money Magazine named Fort Atkinson "One of America's Hottest Little Boomtowns." The population was 11,621 at the 2000 census.- History :Fort...
. The unincorporated communities of Blackhawk Island
Blackhawk Island, Wisconsin
Blackhawk Island is an unincorporated community located in the town of Koshkonong, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States....
, Koshkonong Mounds
Koshkonong Mounds, Wisconsin
Koshkonong Mounds is an unincorporated community located in the town of Koshkonong, Jefferson, Wisconsin, United States....
, and Vinnie Ha Ha
Vinnie Ha Ha, Wisconsin
Vinnie Ha Ha is an unincorporated community located in the town of Koshkonong, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States....
are located in the town. The unincorporated community of Koshkonong
Koshkonong (community), Wisconsin
Koshkonong is an unincorporated community located in the towns of Koshkonong, Jefferson County and Milton, Rock County, Wisconsin, United States....
is also located partially in the town
History
The Sac, Fox, Potawatomi, and Winnebago tribes had members in the area when settlers arrived.The first Europeans to settle in the area were French traders from Canada. The first settlers arrived around 1836. In 1840, Norwegian families from Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
settled near Lake Muskego in Waukesha County. In 1841, what would become for a time the largest Norwegian-American community in America was founded at Koshkonong in eastern Dane and Western Jefferson Counties. It was started by settlers from the Jefferson Prairie Settlement
Jefferson Prairie Settlement
Jefferson Prairie Settlement was a pioneer colony of Norwegian-Americans located near the village of Clinton, in Rock County, Wisconsin. This site and the nearby Rock Prairie settlement outside Orfordville, Wisconsin served as a center for both Norwegian immigration and developments within the...
and the Fox River settlement. By 1850, over half of the Norwegian immigrants in Wisconsin lived in the Koshkonong settlement.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 43.0 square miles (111.4 km²), of which 42.1 square miles (108.9 km²) is land and 0.9 square mile (2.4 km²) (2.19%) is water.
The town borders on its west, Lake Koshkonong
Lake Koshkonong
Lake Koshkonong is a reservoir in southern Wisconsin. It lies along the Rock River, . down-river from Fort Atkinson, primarily in southwestern Jefferson County, although small portions of the lake extend into southeastern Dane and northern Rock counties....
.
US Route 12 crosses the town.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,395 people, 1,249 households, and 965 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 80.7 people per square mile (31.2/km²). There were 1,421 housing units at an average density of 33.8 per square mile (13.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.91% White, 0.03% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.53% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population.
There were 1,249 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $60,000, and the median income for a family was $61,604. Males had a median income of $40,676 versus $26,909 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $24,100. About 2.0% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.