Fond du Lac County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 104,154. Its county seat is Fond du Lac. The county was created in the Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and later organized in 1844. Fond du Lac is French for "bottom of the lake", given so because of the county's location at the southern shore of Lake Winnebago. Fond du Lac County comprises the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Holyland region is in northeastern Fond du Lac County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 766 sqmi, of which 720 sqmi is land and 46 sqmi (6.0%) is water.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Transportation

Major highways

Railroads

Buses

Airport

Fond du Lac County Airport serves the county and surrounding communities.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 104,154. The population density was 144.7 PD/sqmi. There were 45,740 housing units at an average density of 63.6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 88.0% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 3.0% from other races, and 5.0% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 6.4% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 97,296 people, 36,931 households, and 25,482 families residing in the county. The population density was 135 /mi2. There were 39,271 housing units at an average density of 54 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 96.16% White, 0.90% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 2.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 57.7% were of German, 6.1% Irish and 5.3% American ancestry. 95.5% spoke English, 2.1% Spanish and 1.3% German as their first language. There were 36,931 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% 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 3.04. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males. In 2017, there were 1,066 births, giving a general fertility rate of 57.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 20th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Additionally, there were 74 reported induced abortions performed on women of Fond du Lac County residence in 2017.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

Public High Schools

Politics

Fond du Lac has been a historically Republican county, as the party was founded in the town of Ripon, located within the county. It has only voted Democratic in the national landslides of 1964, 1936, and 1932, as well as from 1872 to 1892.