Wisconsin

Dane

561,504
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Dane

Dane, Wisconsin, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 314. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 561,504.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Wisconsin Heights (Illinois pursuit), Four Lakes / Madison Area Skirmishes (1832), Black Hawk War — Battle of Wisconsin Heights, and 268 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020561,504
2010488,073
2000426,526
1990367,085
1980323,545
1970290,272
1960222,095
1950169,357
1940130,660
1930112,737
192089,432
191077,435
190069,435
189059,578
188053,233
187053,096
186043,922
185016,639
1840314
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Dane

Military engagements that took place in Dane, Wisconsin.

Battle of Wisconsin Heights (Illinois pursuit)
1832
Four Lakes / Madison Area Skirmishes (1832)
1832
Black Hawk War — Battle of Wisconsin Heights
1832
Wisconsin — Civil War Mutiny — 14th Wisconsin Infantry
1862
Camp Randall — Prisoner Camp Incident
1862

Historic places in Dane

National Register of Historic Places listings in Dane, Wisconsin.

Bradley, Harold C., House
Madison
Camp Randall (Additional Documentation)
Madison
Marquette Bungalows Historic District
Madison
Dick, Christian, Block
Madison
Gilmore, Eugene A., House
Madison
Cardinal Hotel
Madison
Dahle, Onon B. and Betsy, House
Perry
Schumann, Frederick, Farmstead
Berry
Mills, Simeon, House
Madison
Ely, Richard T., House
Madison
Stoughton High School
Stoughton
Pierce, Carrie, House
Madison
Jensvold, Gulbrand and Bertha, House
Perry
Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison
Brittingham Park Boathouse
Madison
Lamp, Robert M., House
Madison
Agricultural Engineering Building
Madison
Fire Station No. 4
Madison
Lie, Aslak, Cabin
Mount Horeb
Baskerville Apartment Building
Madison
University Hill Farms Historic District
Madison
Bowen, James B., House
Madison
American Exchange Bank
Madison
Stoner, Joseph J., House
Madison
Browse all Wisconsinhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Wisconsin

Explore census history and historic records for more Wisconsin counties.

MarquetteMenomineeMilwaukeeMonroeOcontoOneidaOutagamieOzaukeePepinPiercePolkPortagePriceRacineRichlandRockRuskSaukSawyerShawano
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Everything a full report reveals about Dane County, Wisconsin

This page charts the census history of Dane County, Wisconsin. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Dane

When does Dane first appear in the US census?
Dane, Wisconsin first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 314.
What is the population of Dane?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Dane had a recorded population of 561,504.
Were any battles fought in Dane?
5 documented military engagements took place in Dane, including Battle of Wisconsin Heights (Illinois pursuit), Four Lakes / Madison Area Skirmishes (1832), Black Hawk War — Battle of Wisconsin Heights.
How many historic places are in Dane?
268 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Dane, Wisconsin.
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