Wisconsin

Jefferson

84,900
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Jefferson

Jefferson, Wisconsin, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 914. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 84,900.

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

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Aztalan Wisconsin Palisade Defense, Aztalan Fortification and Violence, Aztalan Fortified Village, and 63 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202084,900
201083,686
200074,021
199067,783
198066,152
197060,060
196050,094
195043,069
194038,868
193036,785
192035,022
191034,306
190034,789
189033,530
188032,156
187034,040
186030,438
185015,317
1840914
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Jefferson

Military engagements that took place in Jefferson, Wisconsin.

Aztalan Wisconsin Palisade Defense
1000
Aztalan Fortification and Violence
1050
Aztalan Fortified Village
1100
Aztalan Fortified Mississippian Town
1100
Aztalan Palisade Expansion
1150
Aztalan Phase II Conflict
1200
Black Hawk War – WI/IL 1832 (British Band Campaign)
1832
Skirmish at Lake Koshkonong
1832

Historic places in Jefferson

National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson, Wisconsin.

Jefferson Fire Station
Jefferson
Merchants Avenue Historic District
Fort Atkinson
First Kindergarten
Watertown
Palmyra Boy Scout Cabin
Palmyra
Curtis, David W. and Jane, House
Fort Atkinson
St. Wenceslaus Roman Catholic Church
Waterloo
Octagon House
Watertown
North Washington Street Historic District
Watertown
Saint Bernard's Chruch Complex
Watertwon
Chicago and Northwest Railroad Passenger Station
Watertown
Jefferson High School
Jefferson
Main Street Commercial Historic District
Jefferson
Hoard's Dairyman Farm
Fort Atkinson
City of Waterloo Carousel
Waterloo
Fuermann, August, Jr., and Eliza, House
Watertown
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Watertown
Smith, Richard C., House
Jefferson
Fort Atkinson Water Tower
Fort Atkinson
Shekey, Albert and Mary, House
Koshkonong
Aztalan
Lake Mills
Panther Intaglio Effigy Mound
Fort Atkinson
Jefferson Public Library
Jefferson
Fargo, L. D., Public Library
Lake Mills
Main Street Historic District
Fort Atkinson
Browse all Wisconsinhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Wisconsin

Explore census history and historic records for more Wisconsin counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Jefferson County, Wisconsin

This page charts the census history of Jefferson 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 Jefferson

When does Jefferson first appear in the US census?
Jefferson, Wisconsin first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 914.
What is the population of Jefferson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Jefferson had a recorded population of 84,900.
Were any battles fought in Jefferson?
8 documented military engagements took place in Jefferson, including Aztalan Wisconsin Palisade Defense, Aztalan Fortification and Violence, Aztalan Fortified Village.
How many historic places are in Jefferson?
63 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Jefferson, Wisconsin.
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