Elkhorn, Wisconsin Explained

Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Official Name:City of Elkhorn
Settlement Type:City
Motto:“Living in Harmony”[1]
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Wisconsin
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Walworth
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:21.00
Area Land Km2:20.88
Area Water Km2:0.11
Area Total Sq Mi:8.11
Area Land Sq Mi:8.06
Area Water Sq Mi:0.04
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:10247
Population Density Km2:479.78
Population Density Sq Mi:1242.59
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Footnotes:[3]
Elevation M:314
Elevation Ft:1030
Coordinates:42.6728°N -88.5403°W
Postal Code Type:Zip Code
Postal Code:53121
Area Code:262
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:55-23300[4]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1564532
Website:www.cityofelkhorn.org
Pop Est Footnotes:[5]

Elkhorn is a city and the county seat of Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located 40miles southwest of Milwaukee. As of the 2020 census, it was home to 10,247 people, up from 10,084 at the 2010 census.[6]

Geography

Elkhorn is located at 42.6728°N -88.5403°W (42.672900, −88.540342).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.81sqmi, of which 7.76sqmi is land and 0.05sqmi is water.[8]

History

In 1836, Colonel Samuel Phoenix spotted a rack of elk antlers in a tree and proclaimed the area as "Elk Horn."[9]

The area's beauty and fertile soil led Daniel Bradley, his brother Milo, and LeGrand Rockwell to create a community in the area.[10] Its growth to a population of 539 led to the first town meeting in 1846. Elkhorn was designated county seat that same year because of its location in Walworth County.

In 1851, Elkhorn became the location of the Walworth County Fair, which is now hosted annually at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. The Walworth County Fair is the largest county fair in Wisconsin.[11]

In the 1870s, saline water from springs located in Elkhorn was believed to cure rheumatism.[12]

Because the city places Christmas decorations around its center, Elkhorn has been called the "Christmas Card Town" since before World War II. This tradition is celebrated every year by an annual oil painting by local artist Jan Castle Reed. These watercolor paintings are turned into Christmas cards.[13]

Elkhorn is also known for the folklore of the Beast of Bray Road, a supposed werewolf type creature that has become the focus of books, documentaries, and other media including 2005 movie, The Beast of Bray Road.[14]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[15] of 2010, there were 10,084 people, 3,801 households, and 2,514 families living in the city. The population density was 1299.5PD/sqmi. There were 4,043 housing units at an average density of 521/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 91.4% White, 1.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 4.8% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.0% of the population.

There were 3,801 households, of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.9% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.11.

The median age in the city was 34.3 years. 27.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.1% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,305 people, 2,919 households, and 1,903 families living in the city. The population density was 1,005.2 people per square mile (388.0/km2). There were 3,014 housing units at an average density of 414.7 per square mile (160.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.81% White, 0.47% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.83% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.13% of the population.

There were 2,919 households, out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,395, and the median income for a family was $47,475. Males had a median income of $34,867 versus $22,253 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,003. About 7.4% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Elkhorn was a stop on the Racine & Southwestern branch line of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, better known as the Milwaukee Road. In its 1980 bankruptcy, the Milwaukee Road disposed of the Southwestern Line. The Wisconsin & Southern continues to service Elkhorn from a connection at Bardwell to the west.[16]

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History . cityofelkhorn.org . 24 February 2021.
  2. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. August 7, 2020.
  3. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. 2008-01-31. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
  4. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 .
  5. Web site: Population and Housing Unit Estimates. May 24, 2020. United States Census Bureau. May 27, 2020.
  6. Web site: Find a County . 2011-06-07 . National Association of Counties . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . 2011-05-31 .
  7. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  8. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . 2012-11-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . 2012-01-25 .
  9. Book: The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States . Govt. Print. Off. . Henry Gannett . 1905 . 117.
  10. Web site: History. City of Elkhorn. 15 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170616205246/http://www.cityofelkhorn.org/Community/History.asp. 16 June 2017. dead.
  11. News: Brands . Rachel . August 24, 2023 . Walworth County Fair returns for 174th end-of-summer celebration . . registration . November 24, 2023 . NewsBank.
  12. Editor (4 Sep 1874) “Remarkable Cure.” Brainerd Tribune, Vol 3 No 30. Page 1. (Retrieved November 13, 2019).
  13. Web site: History, City of Elkhorn, Wisconsin (WI) . 2009-03-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081202112654/http://www.cityofelkhorn.org/Community/History.htm . 2008-12-02 . dead .
  14. Book: Godfrey . Linda S. . The Beast of Bray Road: Tailing Wisconsin's Werewolf . 2003 . Prairie Oak Press . Black Earth, Wisconsin . 9781879483910 . en . 53090741.
  15. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2012-11-18.
  16. Web site: Elkhorn Railroad History and Photos. glenviewcreek.com. 19 April 2018.
  17. Wisconsin Blue Book 1973, p. 50