Elkhorn is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is located southwest of Milwaukee. As of the 2020 census, it was home to 10,247 people, up from 10,084 at the 2010 census.

History

In 1836, Colonel Samuel Phoenix spotted a rack of elk antlers in a tree and proclaimed the area as "Elk Horn."

The area's beauty and fertile soil led Daniel Bradley, his brother Milo, and LeGrand Rockwell to create a community in the area. Its growth to a population of 539 led to the first town meeting in 1846. Elkhorn was designated county seat that same year because of its location in Walworth County.

In 1851, Elkhorn became the location of the Walworth County Fair, which is now hosted annually at the Walworth County Fairgrounds which lasts for six days having Labor Day as the last. The Walworth County Fair is the largest county fair in Wisconsin.

In the 1870s, saline water from springs located in Elkhorn was believed to cure rheumatism.

Because the city places Christmas decorations around its center, Elkhorn has been called the "Christmas Card Town" since before World War II. This tradition is celebrated every year by an annual oil painting by local artist Jan Castle Reed. These watercolor paintings are turned into Christmas cards.

Elkhorn is also known for the folklore of the Beast of Bray Road, a supposed werewolf type creature that has become the focus of books, documentaries, and other media including 2005 movie, The Beast of Bray Road.

Geography

Elkhorn is located at (42.672900, −88.540342).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Elkhorn had a population of 10,247. The median age was 38.2 years. 25.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males age 18 and over.

There were 4,084 households in Elkhorn, of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.0% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 8,660 || 84.5%

|-

| Black or African American || 91 || 0.9%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 53 || 0.5%

|-

| Asian || 126 || 1.2%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0%

|-

| Some other race || 450 || 4.4%

|-

| Two or more races || 867 || 8.5%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 1,323 || 12.9%

|}

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 10,084 people, 3,801 households, and 2,514 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 4,043 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 91.4% White, 1.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 4.8% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.0% of the population.

There were 3,801 households, of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.9% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.11.

The median age in the city was 34.3 years. 27.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.1% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census

Notable people

  • Lucius Allen, Wisconsin State Assembly
  • Thomas Ryum Amlie, U.S. Representative
  • Tom Bigelow, racing driver
  • Charles Coleman, Wisconsin State Assembly
  • Ely B. Dewing, Wisconsin State Assembly
  • Charles Dunlap, Wisconsin State Assembly
  • Sidney Clayton Goff, Wisconsin State Assembly
  • John Harris, Wisconsin State Senator
  • William H. Hurlbut, Wisconsin State Assembly
  • Greg Kent, NFL Player
  • Jay G. Lamberson, Wisconsin State Assembly
  • Hollis Latham, Wisconsin State Assembly
  • Tallan Noble Latz, musician
  • John Raleigh, MLB player
  • Eldo T. Ridgway, Wisconsin State Senator, mayor of Elkhorn
  • Jim Roslof, fantasy artist
  • James D. Swan, Wisconsin State Senator
  • Patrick Smage, motorcycle racer
  • James Michael Ward III, game designer and fantasy author
  • Joseph Philbrick Webster, composer of In the Sweet By-and-By
  • Clarence J. Wilger, Wisconsin State Assembly

Images

<gallery widths=200px class="center">

File:Elkhorn Wisconsin Police Department and Municipal Court.jpg|Police department and Municipal Court

File:Elkhorn Wisconsin Town Square.jpg|Park in town square

File:Elkhorn Wisconsin Downtown Looking South WIS11 WIS67.jpg|Downtown looking south

File:Elkhorn Wisconsin Welcome Sign.jpg|Welcome sign

File:Elkhorn Wisconsin Medical Center.jpg|Mercy Elkhorn Medical Center

File:Elkhorn Wisconsin Downtown Looking East WIS11.jpg|Southern town square

</gallery>

References

  • City of Elkhorn, Wisconsin website
  • Elkhorn Chamber of Commerce website
  • Sanborn fire insurance maps: 1893 1898 1904 1911