Oconto County, Wisconsin

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Oconto County

General Information
Name
Native Name
Other Names
Settlement Type	U.S. county
Transliteration
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Location
Coordinates	{{{1}}}°{{{2}}} {{{3}}}°{{{4}}}
Map
Population
Total	37930
Density	per km²
Area
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Government
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Time Zone
Standard	UTC
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Oconto County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,930. Its county seat is Oconto. The county was created in 1851 and organized in 1854.

History

Oconto County was established in 1851 and was named after the Oconto River. The area was originally inhabited by the Menominee and other Native American tribes. European settlers began to arrive in the mid-19th century, primarily for the logging industry.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,149 square miles (2,975 km²), of which 998 square miles (2,585 km²) is land and 151 square miles (391 km²) (13%) is water. The county is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Adjacent counties

• Marinette County - northeast
• Forest County - north
• Langlade County - northwest
• Shawano County - west
• Brown County - south

Major highways

• U.S. Route 41
• U.S. Route 141
• Wisconsin Highway 22
• Wisconsin Highway 32
• Wisconsin Highway 64

National protected areas

• Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 37,930 people, 15,000 households, and 10,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was predominantly White, with small percentages of Native American, African American, Asian, and other races.

Communities

Cities

• Gillett
• Oconto
• Oconto Falls

Villages

• Lena
• Suring

Towns

• Abrams
• Bagley
• Brazeau
• Breed
• Chase
• Doty
• Gillett
• How
• Lakewood
• Lena
• Little River
• Little Suamico
• Maple Valley
• Morgan
• Mountain
• Oconto
• Oconto Falls
• Pensaukee
• Riverview
• Spruce
• Stiles
• Townsend
• Underhill

Census-designated places

• Lakewood
• Mountain
• Townsend

Unincorporated communities

• Breed
• Hayes
• Hickory Corners
• Kelly Brook
• Klondike
• Krakow
• Sobieski
• Stiles
• Stiles Junction
• Underhill

Government

Oconto County is governed by a county board of supervisors, which consists of representatives from various districts within the county. The board is responsible for setting policies and overseeing the administration of county services.

Education

The county is served by several school districts, including the Oconto Unified School District, Gillett School District, and Oconto Falls School District. Higher education opportunities are available at nearby institutions such as Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

Economy

The economy of Oconto County is diverse, with significant contributions from agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. The county's natural resources, including forests and waterways, support a variety of outdoor recreational activities.

See also

• List of counties in Wisconsin
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Oconto County, Wisconsin

External links

• Oconto County official website