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Pepin County, Wisconsin

Coordinates: 44°36′N 92°00′W / 44.60°N 92.00°W / 44.60; -92.00
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pepin County
County
Pepin County Building
Pepin County Building
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Pepin County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°36′N 92°00′W / 44.6°N 92°W / 44.6; -92
Country United States
State Wisconsin
FoundedFebruary 25, 1858
Named forLake Pepin
SeatDurand
Largest cityDurand
Area
 • Total
249 sq mi (640 km2)
 • Land232 sq mi (600 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  6.7%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
7,318
 • Estimate 
(2023)
7,441 Increase
 • Density31.5/sq mi (12.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.co.pepin.wi.us

Pepin County (/ˈpɛpɪn/ PEP-in)[2] is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,318,[1] making it the fourth-least populous county in Wisconsin; it is also the smallest county in Wisconsin by area. Its county seat is Durand.[3]

Pepin County is the birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the author of the Little House on the Prairie children's books.

History

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Historic Pepin County Courthouse and Jail in Durand, Wisconsin

Pepin County was formed in the year 1858 from portions of neighboring Dunn County. Both the town of Pepin (originally named North Pepin in 1856), and the village of Pepin were named after Lake Pepin, a broadening of the Mississippi River between Pepin County and the Counties of Goodhue and Wabasha in the state of Minnesota. The lake itself is likely named for one or more of the Pepin families from the French Canadian city of Trois-Rivières in Quebec, Canada. Several Pepins appear in the early records, including the senior figure Guillaume dit Tranchemontagne and his descendants Pierre and Jean Pepin du Chardonnets. One or both of the latter may have accompanied Daniel Greysolon, the Sieur du Lhut, from Montreal to what is now Duluth, Minnesota, in 1679. Exactly when the body of water was first named Pepin is not known, but the name has been used as early as 1700, making it by far one of the oldest recorded place names in Wisconsin. The name was well accepted by the mid-1760s when Jonathan Carver wrote in his journal, "Arrived at Lake Pepin called by some Lake St. Anthony."[4]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 249 square miles (640 km2), of which 232 square miles (600 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (6.7%) is water.[5] It is the smallest county in Wisconsin by land area.

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Railroads

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Buses

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18602,392—
18704,65994.8%
18806,22633.6%
18906,93211.3%
19007,90514.0%
19107,577−4.1%
19207,481−1.3%
19307,450−0.4%
19407,8976.0%
19507,462−5.5%
19607,332−1.7%
19707,319−0.2%
19807,4772.2%
19907,107−4.9%
20007,2131.5%
20107,4693.5%
20207,318−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2020[10]

2020 census

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As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 7,318. The population density was 31.5 people per square mile (12.2 people/km2). There were 3,573 housing units at an average density of 15.4 units per square mile (5.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.3% White, 0.5% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% Black or African American, 1.0% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Pepin County

2000 census

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As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 7,213 people, 2,759 households, and 1,934 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 3,036 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.90% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.6% were of German, 13.5% Norwegian, 9.9% Austrian and 6.8% Swedish ancestry. 95.2% spoke English and 3.4% German as their first language.

There were 2,759 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.20 males.

In 2017, there were 41 births, giving a general fertility rate of 79.6 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the fifth highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[12] Additionally, there were no reported induced abortions performed on women of Pepin County residence in 2017.[13]

Government and politics

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County Board of Supervisors

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Pepin County has a 12-member board of supervisors.[14]

Presidential elections

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Prior to the election of Donald Trump in 2016, the last time Pepin County voted for the Republican candidate was in 1972, when voters backed President Richard Nixon (R) over George McGovern (D).[15]

United States presidential election results for Pepin County, Wisconsin[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 2,798 64.26% 1,523 34.98% 33 0.76%
2020 2,584 62.36% 1,489 35.93% 71 1.71%
2016 2,206 59.06% 1,344 35.98% 185 4.95%
2012 1,794 48.50% 1,876 50.72% 29 0.78%
2008 1,616 42.85% 2,102 55.74% 53 1.41%
2004 1,853 45.57% 2,181 53.64% 32 0.79%
2000 1,631 44.51% 1,854 50.60% 179 4.89%
1996 1,007 32.56% 1,585 51.24% 501 16.20%
1992 1,098 30.74% 1,673 46.84% 801 22.42%
1988 1,311 40.36% 1,906 58.68% 31 0.95%
1984 1,555 48.56% 1,629 50.87% 18 0.56%
1980 1,541 44.40% 1,673 48.20% 257 7.40%
1976 1,312 39.35% 1,955 58.64% 67 2.01%
1972 1,458 49.26% 1,409 47.60% 93 3.14%
1968 1,493 49.98% 1,263 42.28% 231 7.73%
1964 1,069 33.11% 2,154 66.71% 6 0.19%
1960 1,612 47.69% 1,763 52.16% 5 0.15%
1956 1,975 65.51% 1,040 34.49% 0 0.00%
1952 2,348 72.14% 896 27.53% 11 0.34%
1948 1,333 48.23% 1,381 49.96% 50 1.81%
1944 1,902 64.28% 1,029 34.78% 28 0.95%
1940 2,272 64.51% 1,194 33.90% 56 1.59%
1936 1,466 42.54% 1,785 51.80% 195 5.66%
1932 1,152 36.86% 1,931 61.79% 42 1.34%
1928 1,839 58.57% 1,276 40.64% 25 0.80%
1924 1,226 55.88% 206 9.39% 762 34.73%
1920 1,817 84.91% 265 12.38% 58 2.71%
1916 766 53.23% 622 43.22% 51 3.54%
1912 528 40.00% 410 31.06% 382 28.94%
1908 1,010 67.42% 447 29.84% 41 2.74%
1904 1,033 73.21% 342 24.24% 36 2.55%
1900 1,099 68.35% 470 29.23% 39 2.43%
1896 1,301 72.48% 436 24.29% 58 3.23%
1892 865 57.78% 539 36.01% 93 6.21%

Communities

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City

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Villages

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

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  • Pepin County panorama, west of Durand
    Pepin County panorama, west of Durand

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census: Pepin County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  2. ^ MissPronouncer.com: A HALFWAY DECENT AUDIO PRONUNCIATION GUIDE FOR WISCONSIN
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Callary, Edward (2016). Place Names of Wisconsin. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 9780299309640.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  13. ^ Reported Induced Abortions in Wisconsin, Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013-2017, Table 18, pages 17-18
  14. ^ Pepin County Board of Supervisors Archived June 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  15. ^ Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

Further reading

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44°36′N 92°00′W / 44.60°N 92.00°W / 44.60; -92.00

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