Door County, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Door County is a county
in the U.S. state of Wisconsin
. As of 2000, the population was 27,961. Its county seat
is Sturgeon Bay
. Door County is a popular vacation and tourist destination, especially for residents of Wisconsin and Illinois.
The county is named after the strait
between the Door Peninsula
and Washington Island
. The dangerous passage, which is now scattered with shipwreck
s, was known to early French explorers and local Native Americans
. Because of the natural hazards of the strait, where the waters of Green Bay meet the open body of Lake Michigan, they gave it the French appellation Porte des Morts Passage
, which in English means the "Door to the Way to Death," or simply, "Death's Door."
, on Long Island
(980 miles) and Barnstable County, Massachusetts
, which includes Cape Cod
(550 miles), Chippewa County, Michigan
(456 miles), and Keweenaw County, Michigan
(424 miles) have more. This is one of the reasons that locals and tourists alike refer to the area as the Cape Cod of the Midwest. The county covers the majority of the Door Peninsula
. With the completion of the Sturgeon Bay Shipping Canal in 1881, the northern half of the peninsula, in actuality, became an island.
Limestone outcroppings of the Niagara Escarpment
are visible on both shores of the peninsula, but are larger and more prominent on the Green Bay side as seen at the Bayshore Blufflands. Progressions of dune
s have created much of the rest of the shoreline, especially on the easterly side. Flora along the shore provides clear evidence of plant succession
. The middle of the peninsula is mostly flat or rolling cultivated land. Soils overlaying the dolomite
bedrock are very thin in the northern half of the county; 39% of the County is mapped as having less than three feet to bedrock. Beyond the northern tip of the peninsula, the partially submerged ridge forms a number of islands that stretch to the Garden Peninsula
in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
. The largest of these islands is Washington Island
. Most of these islands form the Town of Washington
.
The 18th and 19th centuries saw the immigration and settlement of pioneers, mariners, fishermen and farmers, with the first white settler being Increase Claflin. Economic sustenance came from lumbering and tourism.
During the 18th century, Door County was actually referred to as "Death's Door territory" by the French, the water strait between what is now the Door Peninsula
and Washington Island
is very hazardous for navigating ships. This led to (and continues to cause) many vessels being damaged and shipwrecks, hence the name.
During the 19th century, various groups of Native Americans
occupied the area that would become Door County and its islands. Beginning in mid-century, these Indians, mostly Potawatomi
, were removed from the peninsula by the federal government under the Indian Removal Act
of 1830. Later in the 19th century there was a fairly large-scale immigration of Belgian Walloons
, who populated a small region in the county.
A Civilian Conservation Corps
camp was established at Peninsula State Park
during the Great Depression
. In the summer of 1945, Fish Creek
was the site of a German
POW camp
, under an affiliation with a base camp at Fort Sheridan, Illinois
. The prisoners engaged in construction projects, cut wood, and picked cherries in Peninsula State Park and the surrounding area. Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
was constructed in Peninsula State Park
in 1868 on orders from President Andrew Johnson
, at a cost of $12,000. It was restored by the Door County Historical Society in 1964, and opened to the public.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 27,961 people, 11,828 households, and 7,995 families residing in the county. The population density
was 58 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 19,587 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.84% White
, 0.19% Black
or African American
, 0.65% Native American
, 0.29% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.33% from other races
, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 39.4% were of German and 10.3% Belgian ancestry according to Census 2000. A small pocket of Walloon
speakers is the only Walloon-language region outside of Wallonia and its immediate neighborhood.
There were 11,828 households out of which 26.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples
living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the county, the population was spread out with 22.10% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.
and Labor Day
, as the Lake Michigan
spring gives way to a beautiful three month summer. Most businesses are specifically targeted to visitors, and close during the "off season." Throughout the summer, the population of Door County can reach as high as 250,000. The majority of tourists and summer residents come from the metropolitan areas of Milwaukee, Chicago, Madison
, and the Twin Cities. The area is known as "the Cape Cod of the Midwest".
Door County is home to five of Wisconsin's state parks: Newport State Park
, northeast of Ellison Bay
; Peninsula State Park
, along more than six miles (10 km) of the Green Bay shoreline; Potawatomi State Park
, along Sturgeon Bay
; Rock Island State Park
, off the tip of the Door Peninsula; and Whitefish Dunes State Park
, along Lake Michigan. These five parks are known as "five jewels in the crown." They offer visitors recreational opportunities that include sightseeing, hiking, camping, swimming, fishing, and snowmobiling. Many small businesses surrounding these parks offer moped or bicycle rentals.
Door County has 12 lighthouses. Most were built during the 19th century and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places
: Baileys Harbor Range Lights
, Cana Island Lighthouse
, Chambers Island Lighthouse
, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
, Pilot Island Lighthouse
, Plum Island Range Lights
, Pottawatomie Lighthouse, and Sturgeon Bay Canal Lighthouse
. The other lighthouses in the county are: Baileys Harbor Lighthouse
, Boyer Bluff Light, Sherwood Point Lighthouse
, and the Sturgeon Bay Canal North Pierhead Light
.
Fish boil
s, offered at many Door County restaurants, are a popular meal for tourists. Potatoes, onions and whitefish
from the local waters are cooked in a large kettle over a wood fire. At the end of the cooking, the cook throws fuel oil or kerosene on the fire. This "flame up" causes the water to boil over. The fish and vegetables are served with melted butter. This meal is traditionally followed by cherry pie, a traditional dessert in the area.
Door County prides itself on its cherry
orchards, and a history of cherry growing that dates back to the 19th century. Soil and weather conditions - warm days and cool nights - influenced by Lake Michigan
and Green Bay have created an ideal environment for growing these fruits. Many of the cherry orchards offer "pick your own cherries" along with more traditional pre-picked containers. Today with around 2200 acres (8.9 km²) of cherry orchards and another 1000 acres (4 km²) of apple orchards, Door County is filled with blossoms in the spring and richly decorated with the fruits in the late summer and fall. Montmorency cherries
are usually picked from mid-July to early- to mid-August. Early varieties of apples, such as Paula Reds, are harvested as early as late August. Golden Delicious
are harvested through mid-October. Cherry and apple stands can be found along many of Door County's country roads when in season. A variety of cherry products can be found in retail outlets in the county. Door County has five wineries
and one microbrewery
.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
in the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. As of 2000, the population was 27,961. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Sturgeon Bay is a city in and the county seat of Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,437 at the 2000 census. It is located at the natural end of Sturgeon Bay, although the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was built across the remainder of the Door Peninsula.-Geography:Sturgeon Bay is...
. Door County is a popular vacation and tourist destination, especially for residents of Wisconsin and Illinois.
The county is named after the strait
Strait
A strait or straits is a narrow, typically navigable channel of water that connects two larger, navigable bodies of water. It most commonly refers to a channel of water that lies between two land masses, but it may also refer to a navigable channel through a body of water that is otherwise not...
between the Door Peninsula
Door Peninsula
The Door Peninsula is a peninsula in eastern Wisconsin, separating the southern part of the Green Bay from Lake Michigan. The peninsula begins in northern Brown and Kewaunee counties and proceeds northeast to include all of Door County. It is the western portion of the Niagara Escarpment. Well...
and Washington Island
Washington Island (Wisconsin)
Washington Island is located about 7 miles northeast of the tip of Door Peninsula in Door County, Wisconsin. The island has a year-round population of 660 people . It has a land area of 60.89 km² and comprises over 92 percent of the land area of the town of Washington, as well as all of its...
. The dangerous passage, which is now scattered with shipwreck
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
s, was known to early French explorers and local Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
. Because of the natural hazards of the strait, where the waters of Green Bay meet the open body of Lake Michigan, they gave it the French appellation Porte des Morts Passage
Porte des Morts
Porte des Morts, also known as Porte des Mortes, the Door of Death, and Death's Door is a strait linking Lake Michigan and Green Bay between the northern tip of the peninsula of Door County, Wisconsin and a group of islands historically known as the Potawatomi Islands and dominated by Washington...
, which in English means the "Door to the Way to Death," or simply, "Death's Door."
Geography
The county has a total area of 2,370 square miles, the largest county in Wisconsin, of which 483 square miles of it is land and 1,887 square miles of it (79.63%) is water. The county also has 298 miles of shoreline. Suffolk County, New YorkSuffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
, on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
(980 miles) and Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Barnstable County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, consisting of Cape Cod and associated islands. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,902...
, which includes Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
(550 miles), Chippewa County, Michigan
Chippewa County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge* Hiawatha National Forest * Whitefish Point Unit of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
(456 miles), and Keweenaw County, Michigan
Keweenaw County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,301 people, 998 households, and 604 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 2,327 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
(424 miles) have more. This is one of the reasons that locals and tourists alike refer to the area as the Cape Cod of the Midwest. The county covers the majority of the Door Peninsula
Door Peninsula
The Door Peninsula is a peninsula in eastern Wisconsin, separating the southern part of the Green Bay from Lake Michigan. The peninsula begins in northern Brown and Kewaunee counties and proceeds northeast to include all of Door County. It is the western portion of the Niagara Escarpment. Well...
. With the completion of the Sturgeon Bay Shipping Canal in 1881, the northern half of the peninsula, in actuality, became an island.
Limestone outcroppings of the Niagara Escarpment
Niagara Escarpment
The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment, or cuesta, in the United States and Canada that runs westward from New York State, through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois...
are visible on both shores of the peninsula, but are larger and more prominent on the Green Bay side as seen at the Bayshore Blufflands. Progressions of dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
s have created much of the rest of the shoreline, especially on the easterly side. Flora along the shore provides clear evidence of plant succession
Ecological succession
Ecological succession, is the phenomenon or process by which a community progressively transforms itself until a stable community is formed. It is a fundamental concept in ecology, and refers to more or less predictable and orderly changes in the composition or structure of an ecological community...
. The middle of the peninsula is mostly flat or rolling cultivated land. Soils overlaying the dolomite
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
bedrock are very thin in the northern half of the county; 39% of the County is mapped as having less than three feet to bedrock. Beyond the northern tip of the peninsula, the partially submerged ridge forms a number of islands that stretch to the Garden Peninsula
Garden Peninsula
The Garden Peninsula is a peninsula of in length that extends southwestward into Lake Michigan from the mainland of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The peninsula is bordered by Lake Michigan on the east, and by Big Bay de Noc on the west. The base of the peninsula is served by U.S. Highway 2, and...
in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
. The largest of these islands is Washington Island
Washington Island (Wisconsin)
Washington Island is located about 7 miles northeast of the tip of Door Peninsula in Door County, Wisconsin. The island has a year-round population of 660 people . It has a land area of 60.89 km² and comprises over 92 percent of the land area of the town of Washington, as well as all of its...
. Most of these islands form the Town of Washington
Washington, Door County, Wisconsin
Washington is a town in northern Door County, Wisconsin, United States, with a population of 660 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Detroit Harbor and Washington are located in the town....
.
Major highways
Adjacent County
- Kewaunee CountyKewaunee County, WisconsinKewaunee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 20,187. Its county seat is Kewaunee. Kewaunee County is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
- South - Oconto CountyOconto County, WisconsinOconto County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 35,634. Its county seat is Oconto.Oconto County is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was established in 1851.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
- West, water boundary only, across Green Bay - Marinette CountyMarinette County, WisconsinMarinette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 43,384. Its county seat is Marinette.Marinette County is part of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
- North-West, water boundary only, across Green Bay - Menominee CountyMenominee County, Michigan-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 25,326 people, 10,529 households, and 7,001 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 13,639 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
- North-West, water boundary only, across Green Bay - Delta CountyDelta County, Michigan-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,520 people, 15,836 households, and 10,689 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile . There were 19,223 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
- North, water boundary only, across Green Bay
National protected areas
- Gravel Island National Wildlife RefugeGravel Island National Wildlife RefugeGravel Island National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located off the Door Peninsula in Wisconsin. Founded in 1913 the refuge consists of two Lake Michigan islands, that act as nesting grounds for native bird species. The refuge is part of the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area, and...
- Green Bay National Wildlife RefugeGreen Bay National Wildlife RefugeGreen Bay National Wildlife Refuge consists of Hog Island , Plum Island , and Pilot Island . The islands are located in Lake Michigan, near Washington Island, off the tip of Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula. An Executive Order in 1913 declared Hog Island a protected breeding ground for native birds....
History
The Door County peninsula has been inhabited for about 11,000 years. Artifacts from an ancient village site at Nicolet Bay Beach have been dated to about 400 BC. This site was occupied by various cultures until about 1300 AD.The 18th and 19th centuries saw the immigration and settlement of pioneers, mariners, fishermen and farmers, with the first white settler being Increase Claflin. Economic sustenance came from lumbering and tourism.
During the 18th century, Door County was actually referred to as "Death's Door territory" by the French, the water strait between what is now the Door Peninsula
Door Peninsula
The Door Peninsula is a peninsula in eastern Wisconsin, separating the southern part of the Green Bay from Lake Michigan. The peninsula begins in northern Brown and Kewaunee counties and proceeds northeast to include all of Door County. It is the western portion of the Niagara Escarpment. Well...
and Washington Island
Washington Island (Wisconsin)
Washington Island is located about 7 miles northeast of the tip of Door Peninsula in Door County, Wisconsin. The island has a year-round population of 660 people . It has a land area of 60.89 km² and comprises over 92 percent of the land area of the town of Washington, as well as all of its...
is very hazardous for navigating ships. This led to (and continues to cause) many vessels being damaged and shipwrecks, hence the name.
During the 19th century, various groups of Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
occupied the area that would become Door County and its islands. Beginning in mid-century, these Indians, mostly Potawatomi
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
, were removed from the peninsula by the federal government under the Indian Removal Act
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830.The Removal Act was strongly supported in the South, where states were eager to gain access to lands inhabited by the Five Civilized Tribes. In particular, Georgia, the largest state at that time, was involved in...
of 1830. Later in the 19th century there was a fairly large-scale immigration of Belgian Walloons
Walloons
Walloons are a French-speaking people who live in Belgium, principally in Wallonia. Walloons are a distinctive community within Belgium, important historical and anthropological criteria bind Walloons to the French people. More generally, the term also refers to the inhabitants of the Walloon...
, who populated a small region in the county.
A Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
camp was established at Peninsula State Park
Peninsula State Park
Peninsula State Park is a Wisconsin state park with eight miles of Green Bay shoreline in Door County. Peninsula is the third largest state park in Wisconsin, and is visited by an estimated 1 million visitors annually.-Points of interest:...
during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. In the summer of 1945, Fish Creek
Fish Creek, Wisconsin
Fish Creek is an unincorporated community located in Door County, Wisconsin, United States, within the town of Gibraltar and is located on Highway 42 along Green Bay.-History:...
was the site of a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
POW camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
, under an affiliation with a base camp at Fort Sheridan, Illinois
Fort Sheridan, Illinois
Fort Sheridan is a residential neighborhood spread among Lake Forest, Highwood, and Highland Park in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It was originally established as a United States Army Post named after Civil War Cavalry General Philip Sheridan, to honor his services to Chicago...
. The prisoners engaged in construction projects, cut wood, and picked cherries in Peninsula State Park and the surrounding area. Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
The Eagle Bluff Light, also known as Eagle Bluff lighthouse, is a lighthouse located near Ephraim in Peninsula State Park in Door County, Wisconsin. Construction was authorized in 1866, but the lighthouse was not actually built until 1868 at a cost of $12,000. It was automated in 1926...
was constructed in Peninsula State Park
Peninsula State Park
Peninsula State Park is a Wisconsin state park with eight miles of Green Bay shoreline in Door County. Peninsula is the third largest state park in Wisconsin, and is visited by an estimated 1 million visitors annually.-Points of interest:...
in 1868 on orders from President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
, at a cost of $12,000. It was restored by the Door County Historical Society in 1964, and opened to the public.
Demographics
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 27,961 people, 11,828 households, and 7,995 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 58 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 19,587 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.84% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.19% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.65% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.29% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.33% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 39.4% were of German and 10.3% Belgian ancestry according to Census 2000. A small pocket of Walloon
Walloon language
Walloon is a Romance language which was spoken as a primary language in large portions of the Walloon Region of Belgium and some villages of Northern France until the middle of the 20th century. It belongs to the langue d'oïl language family, whose most prominent member is the French language...
speakers is the only Walloon-language region outside of Wallonia and its immediate neighborhood.
There were 11,828 households out of which 26.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the county, the population was spread out with 22.10% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.
Tourism
Although Door County has a year-round population of about 28,000, it experiences a tourist explosion each summer between Memorial DayMemorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
and Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
, as the Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
spring gives way to a beautiful three month summer. Most businesses are specifically targeted to visitors, and close during the "off season." Throughout the summer, the population of Door County can reach as high as 250,000. The majority of tourists and summer residents come from the metropolitan areas of Milwaukee, Chicago, Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, and the Twin Cities. The area is known as "the Cape Cod of the Midwest".
Door County is home to five of Wisconsin's state parks: Newport State Park
Newport State Park
Newport State Park is a Wisconsin state park at the tip of Door Peninsula near Ellison Bay, Wisconsin. Protecting of shoreline on Lake Michigan, Newport is Wisconsin's only wilderness-designated state park.-External links:*...
, northeast of Ellison Bay
Ellison Bay, Wisconsin
Ellison Bay is an unincorporated census-designated place in northern Door County, Wisconsin, United States, within the town of Liberty Grove and is located on Highway 42 along the Green Bay. As of the 2010 census, its population is 165.-History:...
; Peninsula State Park
Peninsula State Park
Peninsula State Park is a Wisconsin state park with eight miles of Green Bay shoreline in Door County. Peninsula is the third largest state park in Wisconsin, and is visited by an estimated 1 million visitors annually.-Points of interest:...
, along more than six miles (10 km) of the Green Bay shoreline; Potawatomi State Park
Potawatomi State Park
Potawatomi State Park is a Wisconsin state park northwest of the city of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. It is located on Sturgeon Bay, a bay of the Bay of Green Bay in Door County. Potawatomi State Park was established in 1928.-External links:*...
, along Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay is an arm of Green Bay extending southeastward approximately 10 miles into the Door Peninsula at the city of Sturgeon Bay, located approximately halfway up the Door Peninsula. The bay is connected to Lake Michigan by the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal. Three bridges cross the bay, including...
; Rock Island State Park
Rock Island State Park (Wisconsin)
Rock Island State Park is a Wisconsin state park located on Rock Island, off the tip of the Door Peninsula in Lake Michigan. The only public transportation to the island is by the passenger ferry "Karfi" from Washington Island. However, there is mooring/dock space for people with their own...
, off the tip of the Door Peninsula; and Whitefish Dunes State Park
Whitefish Dunes State Park
Whitefish Dunes State Park is a Wisconsin state park on the eastern shore of the Door Peninsula. This day-use park preserves the most substantial sand dunes on the western shore of Lake Michigan...
, along Lake Michigan. These five parks are known as "five jewels in the crown." They offer visitors recreational opportunities that include sightseeing, hiking, camping, swimming, fishing, and snowmobiling. Many small businesses surrounding these parks offer moped or bicycle rentals.
Door County has 12 lighthouses. Most were built during the 19th century and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
: Baileys Harbor Range Lights
Baileys Harbor Range Lights
The Baileys Harbor Range Lights are a pair of lighthouses arranged in a range light configuration, located near Baileys Harbor in Door County, Wisconsin.-History:...
, Cana Island Lighthouse
Cana Island Lighthouse
The Cana Island lighthouse is a lighthouse located just north of Baileys Harbor in Door County, Wisconsin.Currently used as an active navigational aid under the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard and a museum, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, as reference...
, Chambers Island Lighthouse
Chambers Island Lighthouse
The Chambers Island lighthouse is a lighthouse located on Chambers Island in Door County, Wisconsin.It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as reference #75000063...
, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
The Eagle Bluff Light, also known as Eagle Bluff lighthouse, is a lighthouse located near Ephraim in Peninsula State Park in Door County, Wisconsin. Construction was authorized in 1866, but the lighthouse was not actually built until 1868 at a cost of $12,000. It was automated in 1926...
, Pilot Island Lighthouse
Pilot Island Lighthouse
The Pilot Island lighthouse is a lighthouse located near Gills Rock, on Pilot Island, in Door County, Wisconsin.The building's plant is similar to Pottawatomie Light, but this is brick instead of stone. Until 1910 it called Port des Morts Island Light...
, Plum Island Range Lights
Plum Island Range Lights
The Plum Island Range Lights are a pair of range lights located on Plum Island in Door County, Wisconsin. They were part of the Plum Island United States Life-Saving Station. Plum Island was transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 2007 and became part of the Green Bay...
, Pottawatomie Lighthouse, and Sturgeon Bay Canal Lighthouse
Sturgeon Bay Canal Lighthouse
The Sturgeon Bay Canal lighthouse is a lighthouse located at the Coast Guard station near Sturgeon Bay in Door County, Wisconsin.Situated on the east side of the south entrance to the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, as the Sherwood Point...
. The other lighthouses in the county are: Baileys Harbor Lighthouse
Baileys Harbor Lighthouse
The Baileys Harbor lighthouse is a lighthouse located near Baileys Harbor in Door County, Wisconsin.Replaced by the Baileys Harbor Range Lights and the Cana Island Lighthouse in 1869...
, Boyer Bluff Light, Sherwood Point Lighthouse
Sherwood Point Lighthouse
The Sherwood Point lighthouse is a lighthouse located near Idlewild in Door County, Wisconsin.Situated on the west side of the north entrance to Sturgeon Bay, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, as the Sherwood Point Light Station, reference #84003663.-Specialized...
, and the Sturgeon Bay Canal North Pierhead Light
Sturgeon Bay Canal North Pierhead Light
The Sturgeon Bay Canal North Pierhead Light is a lighthouse located near Sturgeon Bay in Door County, Wisconsin.Painted red, the light is situated on the north pier of the southern entrance to the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal....
.
Fish boil
Fish boil
A fish boil is a Great Lakes culinary tradition in areas of Wisconsin and along the coastal Upper Great Lakes, with large Scandinavian populations. Fish boils enjoy a particularly strong presence in Door County, Port Wing and Port Washington, Wisconsin...
s, offered at many Door County restaurants, are a popular meal for tourists. Potatoes, onions and whitefish
Whitefish (fisheries term)
Whitefish or white fish is a fisheries term referring to several species of demersal fish with fins, particularly cod , whiting , and haddock , but also hake , pollock , or others...
from the local waters are cooked in a large kettle over a wood fire. At the end of the cooking, the cook throws fuel oil or kerosene on the fire. This "flame up" causes the water to boil over. The fish and vegetables are served with melted butter. This meal is traditionally followed by cherry pie, a traditional dessert in the area.
Door County prides itself on its cherry
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
orchards, and a history of cherry growing that dates back to the 19th century. Soil and weather conditions - warm days and cool nights - influenced by Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
and Green Bay have created an ideal environment for growing these fruits. Many of the cherry orchards offer "pick your own cherries" along with more traditional pre-picked containers. Today with around 2200 acres (8.9 km²) of cherry orchards and another 1000 acres (4 km²) of apple orchards, Door County is filled with blossoms in the spring and richly decorated with the fruits in the late summer and fall. Montmorency cherries
Montmorency cherry
The Montmorency cherry is a variety of sour cherry grown in the United States, Canada and France, particularly in Michigan and in Door County, Wisconsin...
are usually picked from mid-July to early- to mid-August. Early varieties of apples, such as Paula Reds, are harvested as early as late August. Golden Delicious
Golden Delicious
The Golden Delicious is a cultivar of apple with a yellow color. It is not closely related to the Red Delicious apple.- Appearance and flavor :...
are harvested through mid-October. Cherry and apple stands can be found along many of Door County's country roads when in season. A variety of cherry products can be found in retail outlets in the county. Door County has five wineries
Winery
A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of...
and one microbrewery
Microbrewery
A microbrewery or craft brewer is a brewery which produces a limited amount of beer, and is associated by consumers with innovation and uniqueness....
.
Airports
- Door County Cherryland AirportDoor County Cherryland AirportDoor County Cherryland Airport is a public airport located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, 2 miles west of the city. It has two runways and is used for corporate and general aviation.- Facilities :...
(KSUE), located west of Sturgeon Bay, WisconsinSturgeon Bay, WisconsinSturgeon Bay is a city in and the county seat of Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,437 at the 2000 census. It is located at the natural end of Sturgeon Bay, although the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was built across the remainder of the Door Peninsula.-Geography:Sturgeon Bay is... - Ephraim-Fish Creek Airport (3D2), located southwest of Ephraim, WisconsinEphraim, Wisconsin-Events:The city's main festival is Fyr Bal, a Scandinavian celebration held near the solstice in mid-June to drive out the wicked winter witch. Bonfires burn along the shoreline as residents and visitors gather to celebrate the beginning of summer....
City, villages, and towns
- Baileys HarborBaileys Harbor, WisconsinBaileys Harbor is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,003 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Peninsula Center is located in the town...
- BrusselsBrussels, WisconsinBrussels is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,112 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Brussels and Kolberg are located in the town...
- Clay BanksClay Banks, WisconsinClay Banks is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 410 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Salona, and Vignes are located in the town.-Geography:...
- Egg Harbor (town)Egg Harbor (town), WisconsinEgg Harbor is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,194 at the 2000 census. The Village of Egg Harbor is located within the town...
- Egg HarborEgg Harbor, WisconsinEgg Harbor is a village in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 250 at the 2000 census. The village was incorporated in 1964, and is adjacent to the Town of Egg Harbor.-Geography:Egg Harbor is located at ....
- EphraimEphraim, Wisconsin-Events:The city's main festival is Fyr Bal, a Scandinavian celebration held near the solstice in mid-June to drive out the wicked winter witch. Bonfires burn along the shoreline as residents and visitors gather to celebrate the beginning of summer....
- Forestville (town)Forestville (town), WisconsinForestville is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,086 at the 2000 census. The Village of Forestville is located within the town...
- ForestvilleForestville, WisconsinForestville is a village in Door County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Ahnapee River. The population was 429 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Forestville.-Geography:Forestville is located at ....
- GardnerGardner, WisconsinGardner is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,197 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Little Sturgeon is located in the town.-Geography:...
- GibraltarGibraltar, WisconsinGibraltar is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,063 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Fish Creek and Juddville are located in the town,-Geography:...
- JacksonportJacksonport, WisconsinJacksonport is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 738 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Jacksonport and West Jacksonport are located in the town.-Geography:...
- Liberty GroveLiberty Grove, WisconsinLiberty Grove is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,858 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Ellison Bay, Gills Rock, North Bay, Northport, and Rowleys Bay are in Liberty Grove.-Geography:...
- NasewaupeeNasewaupee, WisconsinNasewaupee is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,873 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Idlewild is located in the town.-Geography:...
- SevastopolSevastopol, WisconsinSevastopol is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,667 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Institute, Valmy, and Whitefish Bay are located within the town.-Geography:...
- Sister BaySister Bay, WisconsinSister Bay is a village in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 886 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sister Bay is located at ....
- Sturgeon Bay
- UnionUnion, Door County, WisconsinUnion is a town in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 880 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Shoemaker Point is located in the town.-Geography:...
- WashingtonWashington, Door County, WisconsinWashington is a town in northern Door County, Wisconsin, United States, with a population of 660 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Detroit Harbor and Washington are located in the town....
Unincorporated communities
- Baileys HarborBaileys Harbor (community), WisconsinBaileys Harbor is an unincorporated census-designated place in Door County, within the Town of Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, United States. The community is located on Wisconsin Highway 57 northeast of Jacksonport...
- BrusselsBrussels (community), WisconsinBrussels is an unincorporated community located, in the town of Brussels, in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. Brussels is southwest of Sturgeon Bay....
- CarlsvilleCarlsville, WisconsinCarlsville is an unincorporated community in Door County, within the Town of Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, United States. The community is located on Wisconsin Highway 42 between Sturgeon Bay and Egg Harbor.-History:...
- CarnotCarnot, WisconsinCarnot is an unincorporated community located, in the town of Forestville, in southern Door County, Wisconsin. The community is relatively small and contains a church, cemetery and some scattered residences....
- Detroit HarborDetroit Harbor, WisconsinDetroit Harbor is an unincorporated community located in the town of Washington on Washington Island in Door County, Wisconsin. The Washington Island Ferry runs scheduled passenger service to Northport from Detroit Harbor. Detroit Harbor is also home to a United States Post Office and Coast Guard...
- Ellison BayEllison Bay, WisconsinEllison Bay is an unincorporated census-designated place in northern Door County, Wisconsin, United States, within the town of Liberty Grove and is located on Highway 42 along the Green Bay. As of the 2010 census, its population is 165.-History:...
- Fish CreekFish Creek, WisconsinFish Creek is an unincorporated community located in Door County, Wisconsin, United States, within the town of Gibraltar and is located on Highway 42 along Green Bay.-History:...
- Gills RockGills Rock, WisconsinGills Rock is an unincorporated community located on Highway 42 at the northern tip of the Door Peninsula in Door County, Wisconsin, United States...
- IdlewildIdlewild, WisconsinIdlewild is an unincorporated community located in the town of Nasewaupee, Door County, Wisconsin, United States....
- InstituteInstitute, WisconsinInstitute is an unincorporated community located on Highway 57 in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. It is within the town of Sevastopol.The elevation is 686 feet. Institute appears on the Institute U.S. Geological Survey Map...
- JacksonportJacksonport (community), WisconsinJacksonport is an unincorporated community located in the town of Jacksonport, Door County, Wisconsin, United States. Jacksonport is located on Wisconsin Highway 57 northeast of Sturgeon Bay....
- KolbergKolberg, WisconsinKolberg is an unincorporated community located, in the town of Brussels, in southern Door County, Wisconsin. County Road D connects the community to Forestville and to Brussels....
- Little SturgeonLittle Sturgeon, WisconsinLittle Sturgeon is an unincorporated census-designated place located on the Little Sturgeon Bay, in the town of Gardner, in Door County, Wisconsin. As of the 2010 census, its population was 136...
- MaplewoodMaplewood, WisconsinMaplewood is an unincorporated community in Door County, in the town of Forestville, Wisconsin, United States. The nearest city to Maplewood is Sturgeon Bay. Maplewood is located along Wisconsin Highway 42 approximately 3 miles south of its junction with Wisconsin Highway 57....
- NamurNamur, WisconsinNamur, Wisconsin is an unincorporated community in the Town of Union in Door County, Wisconsin. The community is located on Wisconsin Highway 57 at its intersection with County Road N. It is located approximately 5 miles west of the unincorporated community of Brussels, Wisconsin...
- North BayNorth Bay, Door County, WisconsinNorth Bay is a small unincorporated community located on Lake Michigan in the town of Liberty Grove in northern Door County, Wisconsin. The North Bay State Natural Area along with a few resorts are located within the vicinity of the community....
- Northport
- Peninsula CenterPeninsula Center, WisconsinPeninsula Center is an unincorporated community in the town of Baileys Harbor in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. Peninsula Center is located at the junction of County Highway A and County Highway E east of Egg Harbor....
- RosiereRosiere, WisconsinRosière is an unincorporated community located on the border of Kewaunee County and Door County in Wisconsin, in the towns of Lincoln, and Brussels.-Economy:...
(partial) - Rowleys BayRowleys Bay, WisconsinRowleys Bay is an unincorporated community located on Lake Michigan in northern Door County, Wisconsin, in the town of Liberty Grove. The community is named after Peter Rowley who settled in the area in 1835....
- SalonaSalona, WisconsinSalona is an unincorporated community located 5 miles south of the city of Sturgeon Bay in the town of Clay Banks, in southern Door County, Wisconsin. County Highway U connects the community to Sturgeon Bay going northbound and Algoma going southbound....
- Shoemaker PointShoemaker Point, WisconsinShoemaker Point is an unincorporated community located in the town of Union, Door County, Wisconsin, United States. Shoemaker Point is located on Green Bay west-southwest of Sturgeon Bay....
- ValmyValmy, WisconsinValmy is a small unincorporated community located, in the town of Sevastopol, where WIS 57 splits with County Highway T in Door County, Wisconsin. The community serves as a gateway to the nearby Whitefish Dunes State Park as well as Cave Point County Park....
- VignesVignes, WisconsinVignes is an unincorporated area located in the town of Clay Banks in Door County, Wisconsin. County Highway OO is the main highway to Vignes and connects to County Highway U....
- WashingtonWashington (community), WisconsinWashington is an unincorporated community located in the town of Washington, Door County, Wisconsin, United States. Washington is located on the north side of Washington Island along County Highway W; it is the northernmost community in Door County....
- West JacksonportWest Jacksonport, WisconsinWest Jacksonport is a small unincorporated community located in Door County, Wisconsin. The community is located at the intersection of County Highway V and County Highway T, in the center of the Door Peninsula, in the town of Jacksonport....
- Whitefish BayWhitefish Bay, Door County, WisconsinWhitefish Bay is an unincorporated community located on the shoreline of Lake Michigan in the town of Sevastopol, Door County, Wisconsin. Native Americans, likely the Menominee, referred to Whitefish Bay as "Ah-Quas-He-Ma-Ganing" ....
External links
- Door County official government website
- Door County Finder
- Door County Visitor Bureau
- Northeast Wisconsin Historical County Plat Maps & Atlases University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center
- History of Door County, Wisconsin (1881)
- History of Door County, Wisconsin, The County Beautiful (1917)
- Peninsula Pulse independent newspaper