Richfield is a village in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area and is located approximately northwest of Milwaukee. The village lies within the Kettle Moraine region of southeastern Wisconsin, an area formed by glacial deposits that includes rolling hills and kettle lakes. As of the 2020 census, Richfield had a population of 11,739.

The area was originally inhabited by Native American groups, including the Menominee and Potawatomi. White settlement began in the 1840s, and the area developed as an agricultural community. German and Irish immigrants made up a significant portion of early settlers. The local economy was initially centered on wheat farming before shifting toward dairy production, which remained dominant in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Beginning in the late 20th century, the village experienced increasing suburban development associated with the growth of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. Richfield was incorporated as a village in 2008 following a vote by residents.

History

The area that is now Richfield was originally inhabited by Native Americans, including the Menominee and Potawatomi. In the early 1830s, the Menominee ceded their land to the United States through the 1831 Treaty of Washington. The Potawatomi ceded their territory in the 1833 Treaty of Chicago, which called for their removal by 1838. Most Potawatomi were relocated west of the Mississippi River, but some remained in Wisconsin where they lived on ancestral lands by squatting in areas now occupied by white settlement.

White settlement in the Richfield area began in 1841 with the arrival of early land purchasers. On May 31 of that year, land speculator Samuel Spivey acquired 600 acres, followed weeks later by Jacob Snyder, who became the first permanent white settler after purchasing land on July 9, 1841.

By 1843, German immigrants, particularly from Hesse-Darmstadt, had begun establishing farms in the area, contributing to the development of a growing rural community. In 1845, German Catholic settlers built the first church in the area, dedicating it to Saint Hubertus. The surrounding region is now the unincorporated community of Hubertus.]]

The Town of Richfield was organized on January 21, 1846. By 1848, the majority of the town's land was held by Irish and German immigrant farmers. During this period, the local economy was primarily driven by wheat farming. This remained the dominant output until the 1880s, when a shift toward dairy farming occurred in Richfield and throughout Wisconsin.

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Richfield had a population of 11,739. The median age was 48.7 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.8 males age 18 and over.

3.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 97.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 4,492 households in Richfield, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 73.3% were married-couple households, 11.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 10.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. there were 11,300 people, 4,170 households, and 3,465 families living in the village. The population density was . There were 4,338 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 96.9% White, 0.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 4,170 households, of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.6% were married couples living together, 4.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 16.9% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 2.99.

The median age in the village was 45 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.3% were from 25 to 44; 37.5% were from 45 to 64; and 12.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, The Holy Hill Area School District includes Friess Lake Elementary School and Richfield Middle School and is part of the Hartford Union High School District. Amy Belle Elementary School, located in the southeast portion of the village, is part of the Germantown School District.

Notable residents

  • Josh Bilicki, racing driver
  • Alex Kister, creator of the Mandela Catalogue

References

  • Village of Richfield