Juneau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, the population was 26,664. Its county seat is Mauston.
History
right|thumb|Thunderbird petroglyph at Twin Bluff
Before white settlement, before loggers and explorers, the area that is now Juneau County was the home of Native Americans who left behind artifacts like the thunderbirds etched on the wall at Twin Bluffs and the Gee's Slough mounds outside New Lisbon.
Juneau County was established in 1857 when the State of Wisconsin passed legislation separating lands west of the Wisconsin River from what was then Adams County. After a contest with neighboring New Lisbon, the county seat was established in Maugh's Town, which is known today as Mauston. The county was named after Solomon Juneau, a founder of Milwaukee.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (4.6%) is water.
Major highways
Airports
Necedah Airport (KDAF), serves the county and surrounding communities.
Mauston–New Lisbon Union Airport (82C) enhances county service.
Adjacent counties
Wood County - north
Adams County - east
Columbia County - southeast
Sauk County - south
Vernon County - southwest
Monroe County - west
Jackson County - northwest
National protected area
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
United States Military Posts
Volk Field Air National Guard Base
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,316 people, 9,696 households, and 6,699 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12/km2). There were 12,370 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.61% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.2% were of German, 9.9% Irish, 8.8% Norwegian, 6.5% Polish and 5.8% English ancestry.
There were 9,696 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.
In 2017, there were 282 births, giving a general fertility rate of 72.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 12th highest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Of these, only 2 of the births occurred at home. Additionally, there were 16 reported induced abortions performed on women of Juneau County residence in 2017, a figure higher than the records for the preceding four years.
Communities
right|thumb|10 sided barn south of Mauston
Cities
Elroy
Mauston (county seat)
New Lisbon
Wisconsin Dells (mostly in Columbia County, Adams County, and Sauk County)
Villages
Camp Douglas
Hustler
Lyndon Station
Necedah
Union Center
Wonewoc
Towns
Armenia
Clearfield
Cutler
Finley
Fountain
Germantown
Kildare
Kingston
Lemonweir
Lindina
Lisbon
Lyndon
Marion
Necedah
Orange
Plymouth
Seven Mile Creek
Summit
Wonewoc
Unincorporated communities
Cloverdale
Cutler
Finley
Indian Heights
Kelly
Lemonweir
Lindina
Lone Rock
Mather
Meadow Valley
New Miner
Orange Mill
Sprague
Politics
Juneau County can be considered a bellwether in presidential elections. From 1964 through 2016, the winning candidate has carried the county in every presidential election.
