Door County, Wisconsin

Native Americans and French Door County's name came from Porte des Morts ("Death's Door"), the passage between the tip of Door Peninsula and Washington Island. The name "Death's Door" came from Native American tales, heard by early French explorers and published in greatly embellished form by Hjalmar Holand, which described a failed raid by the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) tribe to capture Washington Island from the rival Potawatomi tribe in the early 1600s. It has become associated with shipwrecks within the passage. The earliest known written reference to the legend is from , who termed the peninsula "Cap a la Mort" in 1728. Development The 19th and 20th centuries saw the immigration and settlement of pioneers, mariners, fishermen, loggers, and farmers. The first white settler was Increase Claflin. In 1851, Door County was separated from what had been Brown County. Also in 1854 the first post office in the county opened, on Washington Island. In the 19th century, a fairly large-scale immigration of Belgian Walloons populated a small region in the southern portion of the county, including the area designated as the Namur Historic District. They built small roadside votive chapels, some still in use today, and brought other traditions over from Europe such as the Kermiss harvest festival. Shortly after the 1831 Treaty of Washington, the federal government surveyed what is now Door County to determine the value of the timber and to divide up parcels for eventual sale. Following the treaty, land in what is now the county was sold or granted to private citizens. At the time the Homestead Act of 1862 was passed, most of the county's nearly 2,000 farmers were squatters earning most of their revenue from lumber and wood products. The remaining portion of the population consisted of about 1,000 fishermen and their families. Out of the total population of 2,948 people, 170 fought in the Civil War. When the 1871 Peshtigo fire burned the town of Williamsonville, fifty-nine people were killed. The area of this disaster is now Tornado Memorial County Park, named for a fire whirl which occurred there. Altogether, 128 people in the county perished in the Peshtigo fire. In 1885 or 1886, what is now the Coast Guard Station was established at Sturgeon Bay. The small, seasonally open station on Washington Island was established in 1902. Tourism reads, "Cedar Glen, one of the many free tourists' camp sites in Peninsula State Park, Door County Wisconsin." Even after the Ahnapee and Western extended service to Sturgeon Bay in 1894, many tourists continued taking the railroad to Menominee, Michigan to embark on steamships bound for communities in Door County. This route over Green Bay bypassed poor road conditions in the northern part of the county, which persisted until the early 1920s. Only after crushed stone highways were built did motor and horse-drawn coaches become popular for transportation between Sturgeon Bay and the northern part of the peninsula. a figure which grew to about 125,000 in 1920, 1 million in 1969, 1.25 million in 1978, and 1.9 million in 1995. In 1913, The Old Rugged Cross was first sung at the Friends Church in Sturgeon Bay as a duet by two traveling preachers. In 2004, the county began a sister cities relationship with Jingdezhen in southeastern China. ==Geography==

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (80%) is water. It is the largest county in Wisconsin by total area. The county has of shoreline. 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 became an artificial island. This canal is believed to have somehow "caused a wonderful increase in the quantity of fish" in nearby waters and also caused a reduction in the sturgeon population in the bay due to changes in the aquatic habitat. The 45th parallel north bisects the "island", and this is commemorated by Meridian County Park. Climate The county has a humid continental climate (classified as Dfb in Köppen) with warm summers and cold snowy winters. Data from the Peninsular Agricultural Research Station north of the city of Sturgeon Bay gives average monthly temperatures ranging from in the summer down to in the winter. The moderating effects of nearby bodies of water reduce the likelihood of damaging late spring freezes. Late spring freezes are less likely to occur than in nearby areas, and when they do occur, they tend not to be as severe. ==Demographics==

Racial and ethnic composition 2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 30,066. The median age was 54.5 years. 15.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 31.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.1 males age 18 and over. The racial makeup of the county was 92.3% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.6% from some other race, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.8% of the population. There were 13,989 households in the county, of which 18.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.9% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. there were 27,961 people, 11,828 households, and 7,995 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 19,587 housing units at an average density of . 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. A small pocket of Walloon speakers forms the only Walloon-language region outside of Wallonia and its immediate neighbors. Out of a total of 11,828 households, 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. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males. 22.10% of the population was under the age of 18, a decrease from 25.9% being under the age of 18 in the 1990 census.) Additionally, 6.10% were aged from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, and 27.70% from 45 to 64. Crime In 2020, there were 208 felony cases prosecuted by the county, up from 195 cases in 2019 and 171 in 2018. No trials were held concerning any of the felony cases in 2020. The county has been a focus of sex-trafficking enforcement efforts. From 2015 to 2020 there were no reports of sex-trafficking in the county. In 2014, the voluntary intoxication defense in Wisconsin was repealed due to outcry following its use during a trial in Door County. Initially the trial ended with a hung jury but a retrial resulted in a conviction. ==Economy==

Door County's economy is considered a "forestry-related tourism"-based economy. In 2020, the total gross domestic product (GDP) of the county was $1.39 billion, with the $274 million manufacturing industry overtaking real estate and rental and leasing that year to become the leading industry in the county at 19.7% of the overall GDP. In Sturgeon Bay, industrial tourism includes tours of the Bay Shipbuilding Company, CenterPointe Yacht Services and other manufacturers. ==Arts and culture==

Most tourists and summer residents in Door County come from the metropolitan areas of Chicago, Madison, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul. Illinois residents are the dominant group in Door County and farther south along Lake Michigan. Parks and recreation Door County is home to six state parks: Newport State Park, Peninsula State Park, Potawatomi State Park, Whitefish Dunes State Park, Rock Island State Park, and Grand Traverse Island State Park. There are four State Wildlife and Fishery Areas and also State Natural Areas that allow free public access. Additionally, Plum Island and Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge are seasonally open for public recreation. Besides Lake Michigan and Green Bay, there are 26 lakes, ponds, or marshes and 37 rivers, creeks, streams, and springs in the county. The two deepest lakes, Mackaysee Lake at and Krause Lake at are on Chambers Island. Flora and fauna Living plant collections include the orchid project at The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor and the U.S. Potato Genebank and a public garden in Sevastopol. Tamias striatus doorsiensis, a subspecies of eastern chipmunk, is only found in Door, Kewaunee, Northeastern Brown, and possibly Manitowoc counties. In 1999, the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory listed 24 aquatic and 21 terrestrial animals in Door County as "rare." , 166 species of birds have been confirmed to live in Door County, excluding birds seen which lack the habitat to nest and must only be passing through. Kangaroo Lake State Natural Area has the largest breeding population of the endangered Hine's Emerald Dragonfly in the world. The Lake Huron locust lives on dunes in the county and is not found anywhere else in the state. Lighthouses and historic sites and altarpiece inside the stave church on Washington Island Including both Lake Michigan and Green Bay shorelines, there are 50 total lights and lighthouses, besides lighted buoys. Out of these, there are 10 historically significant lighthouse structures and sets of lights still serving as navigational lights. Most of them 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. Other functioning historic lighthouses in the county include the Sherwood Point Lighthouse and the Sturgeon Bay Canal North Pierhead Light. The Boyer Bluff Light is mounted on an 80-foot skeletal tower. In addition, the Baileys Harbor Light is a non-functioning 19th century lighthouse. in addition to nine roadside historical markers. In Sturgeon Bay, the tugboat John Purves is operated as a museum ship. Including lighthouses, the county has 72 properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are 214 known confirmed and unconfirmed shipwrecks listed for the county, including the SS Australasia, Christina Nilsson, Fleetwing, SS ''Frank O'Connor, Grape Shot, Green Bay, Hanover, Iris, SS Joys, SS Lakeland, Meridian, Ocean Wave, and Success. The SS Louisiana'' sank during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913. Some shipwrecks are used for wreck diving. Scandinavian heritage-related attractions include The Clearing Folk School, two stave churches, structures in Rock Island State Park furnished with rune-inscribed furniture, and Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant, which features goats on its grassy roof. In Ephraim, the Village Hall, the Moravian and Lutheran churches, and the Peter Peterson House are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, as is the L. A. Larson & Co. Store building in Sturgeon Bay. Although fish boils have been attributed to Scandinavian tradition, several ethnicities present on the peninsula have traditions of boiling fish. The method common in the county is similar to that of Native Americans. Radio stations ==Politics==

The county has gained a reputation as a political bellwether, as it voted for the winning candidate in every presidential election from 1996 to 2020. Until 2024, Bill Clinton was the last candidate to win nationally without carrying Door County, in the 1992 presidential election. Donald Trump in the 2024 election also failed to win Door County, while winning statewide and nationally. In 2024, Kamala Harris became the first Democratic presidential nominee to win the county while losing the presidential election. Door County was one of only four counties in the state to swing towards Democrats in 2024, and voted for a Democrat who lost statewide for the first time. ==Transportation==

Land According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), in 2021 Door County had of roadways. The combined WIS 42/WIS 57 separates again at a junction in Sevastapol. Following this separation, WIS 42 continues along the western side of the peninsula and sees more traffic than WIS 57, which continues along the eastern side. The two highways combine again at a junction in Liberty Grove. • Wisconsin Highway 42 (WIS 42) • Wisconsin Highway 57 (WIS 57) • Door County Coastal Byway (WIS 42 and WIS 57) north of Sturgeon Bay to Northport is classified as a Wisconsin Scenic Byway and National Scenic Byway. There are five rustic roads in the county. In addition to state-recognized rustic roads, Liberty Grove manages a heritage roads program. there were 12 heritage roads in the town. There are which are opened as trails are groomed. Non-motorized • The Ahnapee State Trail connects Sturgeon Bay to Kewaunee, winter snowmobile access is dependent on weather and trail grooming. Although the Ice Age Trail coincides with most of the Ahnapee State Trail, the Ice Age Trail forks away in the City of Sturgeon Bay and reaches its northern terminus at Potawatomi State Park. Mountain bike trails are located in three of the state parks. • WIS 42 and WIS 57 are part of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. • Egg Harbor operates a free public bicycle-sharing system, limited to daylight hours within the village during the tourist season. Bridges across Sturgeon Bay • Sturgeon Bay Bridge (also called Michigan Street Bridge), truss structure, Scherzer-type, double-leaf, rolling-lift bascule with overhead counter-weights • Oregon Street Bridge (reinforced concrete slab, rolling lift bascule girder with mechanical driven center locks) • Bayview Bridge (monolithic concrete placed on structural deck with steel girder superstructure, open grating on deck, bascule) Ground transportation A daily private shuttle service operates between Green Bay–Austin Straubel International Airport and Sturgeon Bay. The nearest intercity bus stop with regular service is in Green Bay. There are multiple private and public ground transportation services within the county, but none with regularly scheduled stops for the general public. Air There are eleven airports in the county, including private or semi-public airports. • Door County Cherryland Airport (KSUE), medium general aviation, public use • Ephraim–Gibraltar Airport (3D2), small general aviation, • Door County Memorial Hospital Heliport, allows for air ambulance service to the hospital from remote areas of the county and for flying patients to Green Bay. • Chambers Island Airport, private • Five other small airports Water Ferries • Washington Island is served by two ferry routes operating between the Door Peninsula and Detroit Harbor. One route is a 30-minute ride on a freight, automobile, and passenger ferry that departs from the Northport Pier at the northern terminus of WIS 42. This ferry makes approximately 225,000 trips per year. • Rock Island State Park is reachable by the passenger ferry Karfi from Washington Island. During winter Rock Island is potentially accessible via snowmobile and foot traffic. • Although Chambers Island has no regularly scheduled ferry, there are boat operators which transport people to the island on call from Fish Creek. Boat ramps and marinas • There are 30 public boat access sites in the county. The Lake Michigan State Water Trail follows most county shorelines. ==Communities==

City • Sturgeon Bay (county seat) Villages • Egg Harbor • Ephraim • Forestville • Sister Bay Towns • Baileys Harbor • Brussels • Clay Banks • Egg Harbor • Forestville • Gardner • Gibraltar • Jacksonport • Liberty Grove • Nasewaupee • Sevastopol • Sturgeon Bay • Union • Washington Island Census-designated places • Baileys Harbor • Ellison Bay • Little Sturgeon Unincorporated communities • Brussels • Carlsville • Carnot • Detroit Harbor • Fish Creek • Gills Rock • Idlewild • Institute • Juddville • Kolberg • Maplewood • Namur • North Bay • Northport • Peninsula Center • Rosiere (partially in Kewaunee County) • Rowleys Bay • Salona • Shoemaker Point • Valmy • Vignes • Washington • West Jacksonport • Whitefish Bay Former communities Absorbed into Sturgeon Bay • Sawyer • Stevens Hill Sites used as parks • Rock Island (settlement on island), now Rock Island State Park • Newport (community), now Newport State Park • Williamsonville, now Tornado Memorial County Park ==Adjacent counties==

By land • Kewaunee County - south In Green Bay • Brown County - southwest • Oconto County - west • Marinette County - northwest • Menominee County, Michigan - northwest Along the Rock Island Passage • Delta County, Michigan - north; Eastern Time Zone In Lake Michigan • Leelanau County, Michigan - northeast and east; Eastern Time Zone • Benzie County, Michigan - southeast; Eastern Time Zone ==Notable people==

• Robert C. Bassett (1911–2000), U.S. presidential advisor • Jule Berndt (1924–1997), pastor • Norbert Blei (1935–2013), writer • Gene Brabender (1941–1996), baseball player • Jessie Kalmbach Chase (1879–1970), painter • Hans Christian (born 1960), musician • Eddie Cochems (1877–1953), "father of the forward pass" • Erik Cordier (born 1986), baseball player • Katherine Whitney Curtis (1897–1980), originator of synchronized swimming • A. J. Dillon (born 1998), Green Bay Packers running back, has the key to the county • Mary Maples Dunn (1931–2017), historian • Phoebe Erickson (1907–2006), children's book author and illustrator • John Fetzer (1840–1900), mill owner, Wisconsin State Senator • Jim Flanigan (born 1971), football player • Lou Goss (born 1987), racecar driver • Chris Greisen (born 1976), Milwaukee Iron quarterback (AFL) • Nick Greisen (born 1979), Denver Broncos linebacker (NFL) • Stuart Hagmann (born 1942), film and television director • Bernard Hahn (1860–1931), Wisconsin State Representative, hotel and opera house owner, arsonist • Arthur G. Hansen (1925–2010), engineer, university president and chancellor • Hjalmar Holand (1872–1963), historian • Jens Jensen (1860–1951), landscape architect • M. J. Jischke (born 1885), butcher, postmaster • Al Johnson (born 1979), football player • Ben Johnson (born 1980), football player • Bill Jorgenson (1930 – 2007), bluegrass musician • Al C. Kalmbach (1910–1981), publisher • Henry Killilea (1863–1929), helped found American League • Curly Lambeau (1898–1965), football player and coach • James Larsin (b. 1855), saved seven people from drowning • Doug Larson (1926–2017), newspaper writer • Lester Leitl (1899–1980), football player and coach • Pat MacDonald (born 1952), once part of Timbuk 3, runs Steel Bridge Songfest • Amy McKenzie (born 1959), producer/director • Alex Meunier (1897–1983), teacher, orchardist, Wisconsin State Senator • Thomas J. Minar (born 1963), sex offender • Edward S. Minor (1840–1924), U.S. Representative • Alexander Noble (1829–1905), town official in Fish Creek • Conrad P. Olson (1882–1952), Oregon Supreme Court justice • Sigurd F. Olson (1899–1982), wilderness guide • Charles L. Peterson (1927–2022), painter • Casey Rabach (born 1977), Washington Redskins center (NFL) • David M. Raup (1933–2015), paleontologist • Hugh M. Raup (1901–1995), ecologist • Dennis A. Reed (born 1822), Wisconsin State Representative, Civil War lieutenant • Charles Reynolds (1839–1914), Wisconsin State Representative, Civil War captain • Thomas Reynolds (1840–1919), Wisconsin State Representative, patriarch of Wisconsin political dynasty • Jack Ritchie (1922–1983), writer of detective fiction • Hallie H. Rowe (1896–1992), sheriff, Wisconsin State Assemblyman • Paul J. Schlise (born 1966), U.S. Navy admiral • John Shinners (born 1947), football player • Paul Sills (1927–2008), director, improvisation teacher • Allen Thiele (1940–2017), Coast Guard officer • Chester Thordarson (1867–1945), inventor, erected buildings on Rock Island • Emma Toft (1891–1982), resort owner • Madeline Tourtelot (1915–2002), artist, founder of the Peninsula School of Art • James Valcq (born 1963), writer of musicals • Thorstein Veblen (1857–1929), economist • Richard Warch (1939–2013), president of Lawrence University • Lloyd Wasserbach (1921–1949), football player • Charles Mitchell Whiteside (1854–1924), helped merge Sawyer and Sturgeon Bay • Randy Wright (born 1961), Green Bay Packers quarterback (NFL) • Albert Zahn (1894–1953), folk artist known as the Birdman ==Gallery==