Oconto County is a county

County (United States)

In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...

  in the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of 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...

. As of 2000, the population was 35,634. Its county seat

County seat

A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....

 is Oconto

Oconto, Wisconsin

Oconto is a city in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,708 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is located partially within the town of Oconto.-History:...

.

Oconto County is part of the Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...

 Metropolitan Statistical Area

Green Bay metropolitan area

The Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in Wisconsin, anchored by the city of Green Bay...

. It was established in 1851.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau

United 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 county has a total area of 1149 square miles (2,975.9 km²), of which 998 square miles (2,584.8 km²) is land and 151 square miles (391.1 km²) (13.15%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Marinette County
  Marinette County, Wisconsin
  Marinette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 43,384. Its county seat is Marinette.Marinette County is part of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
  
   - northeast
• Brown County - south
• Shawano County
  Shawano County, Wisconsin
  Shawano County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 40,664. Its county seat is Shawano.-History:...
  
   - southwest
• Menominee County - west
• Langlade County
  Langlade County, Wisconsin
  Langlade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 20,740. Its county seat is Antigo.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water...
  
   - west
• Forest County
  Forest County, Wisconsin
  Forest County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,304. Its county seat is Crandon.-Indian Reservations:...
  
   - northwest

Major highways

U.S. Highway 41 U.S. Highway 141 Highway 22 (Wisconsin) Highway 22 (Wisconsin) State Trunk Highway 22 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The route's trajectory is mostly south to north, with the exception of the segment between Shawano and the northern terminus being east–west...

Highway 32 (Wisconsin) Highway 32 (Wisconsin) State Trunk Highway 32 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin that runs north–south in eastern Wisconsin. It runs from the Illinois border north to the Michigan border . It is named the 32nd Division Memorial Highway after the U.S... Highway 64 (Wisconsin) Highway 64 (Wisconsin) State Trunk Highway 64 is a Wisconsin state highway running east–west across central Wisconsin. It is in length. The western end of Highway 64 is located at the Minnesota state line on the Stillwater Bridge in Stillwater, Minnesota. The eastern end is located at U.S...

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 35,634 people, 13,979 households, and 10,050 families residing in the county. 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 36 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 19,812 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.76% White

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...

, 0.13% Black

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...

 or African American

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...

, 0.78% Native American

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...

, 0.20% Asian

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...

, 0.01% Pacific Islander

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...

, 0.24% 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 0.88% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic

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...

 or Latino

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...

 of any race. 42.9% were of German, 11.8% Polish, 6.0% French and 5.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 13,979 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.

Oconto County is perennially among the poorest counties in Wisconsin. Stagnant growth turned to negative growth in the early years of the 21st century as employers left the region. Oconto County had an unemployment rate of over 10% in 2004.

History

First visited by French explorers in the 17th century, Oconto County is among the oldest settlements in Wisconsin. Father Claude-Jean Allouez

Claude-Jean Allouez

Claude Jean Allouez was a Jesuit missionary and French explorer of North America.Allouez was born in Saint-Didier-en-Velay in the département of Haute-Loire in south-central France. In 1639, he graduated from the College of Le Puy, and became a Jesuit novice in Toulouse, France. In 1655, he was...

 of the Roman Catholic Jesuit order said the first Mass in Oconto. Among the first settlers was Joseph Tourtilott, who explored much of the Oconto River watershed. Many of Tourtilott's descendants continue to reside in Oconto County, which has the highest percentage of residents with French ancestry in Wisconsin.

Cities

• Gillett
  Gillett, Wisconsin
  Gillett is a city in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,256 according to the 2000 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area...
  
  
• Oconto Falls
  Oconto Falls, Wisconsin
  Oconto Falls is a city in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,843 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Oconto Falls is located at ....
  
  
• Oconto
  Oconto, Wisconsin
  Oconto is a city in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,708 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is located partially within the town of Oconto.-History:...
  
  

Villages

• Lena
  Lena, Wisconsin
  Lena is a village in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 510 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village is located within the Town of Lena.-History:...
  
  
• Pulaski
  Pulaski, Wisconsin
  Pulaski is a village in Brown, Oconto, and Shawano Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 3,060 at the 2000 census.The Brown and Oconto County portions of Pulaski are part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
  
   (partial)
• Suring
  Suring, Wisconsin
  Suring is a village in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 605 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Suring is located at ....
  
  

Towns

• Abrams
  Abrams, Wisconsin
  Abrams is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,757 at the 2000 Census. The census-designated place of Abrams is located in the town. Abrams in named after W. J...
  
  
• Bagley
  Bagley, Oconto County, Wisconsin
  Bagley is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 333 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.7 square miles , of which, 34.8 square miles of it is land and 0.9 square miles of it is...
  
  
• Brazeau
  Brazeau, Wisconsin
  Brazeau is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,408 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 71.6 square miles , of which, 68.5 square miles of it is land and 3.0 square miles of it ...
  
  
• Breed
  Breed, Wisconsin
  Breed is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 657 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Breed is located in the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Chase
  Chase, Wisconsin
  Chase is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,082 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Chase and South Chase are located in the town...
  
  
• Doty
  Doty, Wisconsin
  Doty is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 249 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 54.4 square miles , of which, 52.2 square miles of it is land and 2.2 square miles of it is...
  
  
• Gillett (town)
  Gillett (town), Wisconsin
  Gillett is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,085 at the 2000 census. The City of Gillett is located within the town...
  
  
• How
  How, Wisconsin
  How is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 563 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Hayes is located in the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Lakewood
  Lakewood, Wisconsin
  Lakewood is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 875. The census-designated place of Lakewood is located in the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Lena (town)
  Lena (town), Wisconsin
  Lena is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 769 at the 2000 census. The Village of Lena is located within the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Little River
  Little River, Wisconsin
  Little River is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,065 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of County Line is located in the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Little Suamico
  Little Suamico, Wisconsin
  Little Suamico is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,877 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Little Suamico, Sobieski, and Sobieski Corners are located with the town.-History:...
  
  
• Maple Valley
  Maple Valley, Wisconsin
  Maple Valley is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 670 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Frostville and Hickory Groves are located in the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Morgan
  Morgan, Wisconsin
  Morgan is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 882 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Morgan and Sampson are located in the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Mountain
  Mountain, Wisconsin
  Mountain is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 860 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Mountain is located within the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Oconto Falls (town)
  Oconto Falls (town), Wisconsin
  Oconto Falls is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,139 at the 2000 census. The City of Oconto Falls is located within the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Oconto (town)
  Oconto (town), Wisconsin
  Oconto is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,251 at the 2000 census. The City of Oconto is located partially within the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Pensaukee
  Pensaukee, Wisconsin
  Pensaukee is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,214 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Brookside, Oak Orchard, and Pensaukee are located in the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Riverview
  Riverview, Wisconsin
  Riverview is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 829 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 71.7 square miles , of which, 69.7 square miles of it is land and 2.0 square miles of it ...
  
  
• Spruce
  Spruce, Wisconsin
  Spruce is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 871 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Klondike and Spruce are located in the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Stiles
  Stiles, Wisconsin
  Stiles is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,465 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Stiles and Stiles Junction are located in the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Townsend
  Townsend, Wisconsin
  Townsend is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 963 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Townsend is located in the town.-Geography:...
  
  
• Underhill
  Underhill, Wisconsin
  Underhill is a town in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 846 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Hintz and Underhill are located in the town...
  
  

Unincorporated communities

• Abrams
• Breed
  Breed (community), Wisconsin
  Breed is an unincorporated community located in the town of Breed, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. Breed is located at the junction of Wisconsin Highway 32 and County Highway AA north-northwest of Suring....
  
  
• Brookside
  Brookside, Wisconsin
  Brookside is an unincorporated community located in the town of Pensaukee, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. Brookside is located on County Highway J near U.S. Route 41, southwest of Oconto....
  
  
• Chase
  Chase (community), Wisconsin
  Chase is an unincorporated community located in the town of Chase, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. Chase is located at the junction of County Highways C and S northeast of Pulaski....
  
  
• County Line
  County Line, Wisconsin
  County Line is an unincorporated community located on the border of Marinette and Oconto Counties, Wisconsin, United States. The Marinette County portion of the community is located in the town of Grover, while the Oconto County portion is located in the town of Little River. County Line is located...
  
   (partial)
• Frostville
  Frostville, Wisconsin
  Frostville is an unincorporated community located in the town of Maple Valley, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States....
  
  
• Hayes
  Hayes, Wisconsin
  Hayes is an unincorporated community located in the town of How, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States....
  
  
• Hickory Corners
  Hickory Corners, Wisconsin
  Hickory Corners is an unincorporated community located in the town of Maple Valley, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States....
  
  
• Hintz
  Hintz, Wisconsin
  Hintz is an unincorporated community located in the town of Underhill, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. Hintz is located on the Oconto River and County Highway H west-northwest of Gillett....
  
  
• Klondike
  Klondike, Oconto County, Wisconsin
  Klondike is an unincorporated community in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The community is located at the intersection of Oconto County Highways ZZ, B, and Z, in the town of Spruce. It is located at latitude 45.068 and longitude -88.16 and elevation 791 feet .-Notes:...
  
  
• Krakow
  Krakow, Wisconsin
  Krakow is an unincorporated census-designated place located primarily in Shawano County, Wisconsin, United States with a small portion in Oconto County. Krakow is located on Wisconsin Highway 32 north of Pulaski, in the towns of Chase, and Angelica. Krakow has a post office with ZIP code 54137. As...
  
   (partial)
• Lakewood
• Little Suamico
  Little Suamico (community), Wisconsin
  Little Suamico is an unincorporated community located in the town of Little Suamico, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. Little Suamico is north-northeast of Suamico. Little Suamico has a post office with ZIP code 54141....
  
  
• Morgan
  Morgan, Oconto County, Wisconsin
  Morgan is an unincorporated community located in the town of Morgan, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States....
  
  
• Mosling
  Mosling, Wisconsin
  Mosling is an unincorporated community located in the towns of Gillett and Underhill, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. Mosling is located on County Highway P west-southwest of Gillett....
  
  
• Mountain
  Mountain (community), Wisconsin
  Mountain is an unincorporated census-designated place in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The community is located at the intersection of Wisconsin Highway 32 and Wisconsin Highway 64, in the town of Mountain. It is located at latitude 45.185 and longitude -88.474 and elevation 971 feet ....
  
  
• Oak Orchard
  Oak Orchard, Wisconsin
  Oak Orchard is an unincorporated community located in the town of Pensaukee, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States....
  
  
• Pensaukee
  Pensaukee (community), Wisconsin
  Pensaukee is an unincorporated community located in the town of Pensaukee, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States....
  
  
• Sampson
  Sampson, Oconto County, Wisconsin
  Sampson is an unincorporated community in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The community is located at the intersection of Oconto County Highways C and D, in the town of Morgan. It is located at latitude 44.765 and longitude -88.186 and elevation 787 feet .-Notes:...
  
  
• Sobieski
  Sobieski, Wisconsin
  Sobieski, Wisconsin is an unincorporated census-designated place in Oconto County in northeastern Wisconsin. It is located within the town of Little Suamico. As of the 2010 census, its population is 259. Sobieski is home to six taverns, a daycare center, and a landfill of a Catholic church. It is...
  
  
• Sobieski Corners
  Sobieski Corners, Wisconsin
  Sobieski Corners is an unincorporated community located in the town of Little Suamico, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States....
  
  
• South Chase
  South Chase, Wisconsin
  South Chase is an unincorporated community located in the town of Chase, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. South Chase is located on County Highway C east-northeast of Pulaski....
  
  
• Spruce
  Spruce (community), Wisconsin
  Spruce is an unincorporated community located in the town of Spruce, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States....
  
  
• Stiles
  Stiles (community), Wisconsin
  Stiles is an unincorporated community in the town of Stiles in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on U.S. Route 141 at its intersections with County I, Wisconsin Highway 22 and the Oconto River....
  
  
• Stiles Junction
  Stiles Junction, Wisconsin
  Stiles Junction is an unincorporated community located in the town of Stiles, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States....
  
  
• Townsend
• Underhill
  Underhill (community), Wisconsin
  Underhill is an unincorporated community located in the town of Underhill, Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. Underhill is located on the Oconto River west-southwest of Gillett....
  
  

External links

• Oconto County
• Oconto County Tourism & Development