Kenosha, Wisconsin
From Freepedia
Kenosha is a city located in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 90,352. As of a 2002 census estimate, its population is 92,513. It is the county seat of Kenosha County6, the southeasternmost county in Wisconsin. Kenosha is an anchor city of the Chicagoland area.
The current mayor of Kenosha is John M. Antaramian.
Located on the western shores of Lake Michigan, Kenosha is the 4th largest city in Wisconsin. Only Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay have more people. Kenosha also has the only Metra station in Wisconsin, though not all Union Pacific/North trains (schedule) go to Kenosha; most conclude at Waukegan, Illinois.
The first European settlements in the area of Kenosha occurred in the 1830s, forming a village was called Pike Creek. Later, the growing town was officially named Southport, which was changed to Kenosha in 1850. Kenosha is the Potawatomi word for pike.
Kenosha has an operating streetcar system in its downtown, making it a destination for "traction" rail fans. Shoppers visit the outlet malls on the western side of town.
The street system in Kenosha is somewhat unusual. While numbered streets run east-west and numbered avenues run north-south like in many American cities, the street numbering does not begin in the center of the city but rather at Kenosha County's northern border. As such, the downtown area is in the area between 50th and 60th streets. Avenue numbers increase as one heads west from the lakefront. This numbering system continues through all of Kenosha County ending with 402nd Ave. Edmonton, Alberta has a similar numbering system.
American Motors had an assembly plant in the city until it was merged into the- then Chrysler Corporation in 1987. An engine plant for DaimlerChrysler remains in town, but the old American Motors main assembly plant has been torn down, and the brown field site was repatriated into Harbor Park. The Kenosha Public Museum has a new building on this lake-shore site, as does the Southport Marina and a condominium development.
Kenosha has four sister cities around the world (date partnership was signed): Cosenza, Italy (1979); Douai, France (1981); Quezon City, Philippines (1986); Wolfenbüttel, Germany (1970).
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Geography
Kenosha is located at 42°34'56" North, 87°50'44" West (42.582220, -87.845624)1.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 62.1 km² (24.0 mi²). 61.7 km² (23.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.63% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 90,352 people, 34,411 households, and 22,539 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,465.1/km² (3,795.1/mi²). There are 36,004 housing units at an average density of 583.8/km² (1,512.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 83.64% White, 7.68% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.83% from other races, and 2.38% from two or more races. 9.96% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 34,411 households out of which 34.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% are married couples living together, 13.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% are non-families. 28.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.54 and the average family size is 3.13.
In the city the population is spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $41,902, and the median income for a family is $51,016. Males have a median income of $38,217 versus $26,678 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,578. 9.5% of the population and 7.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.9% of those under the age of 18 and 7.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Local companies
- DaimlerChrysler- Kenosha Engine Plant
- Jelly Belly Warehousing
- Jockey International, Inc.- World Headquarters
- Ocean Spray
- Snap-on Tools- World Headquarters
Notable people from Kenosha
- Don Ameche, actor
- Jeff Cesario, comedian, TV writer
- Daniel Hartung, doctor of physic
- Nick James, writer, director
- Tony Landa, dancer
- Mike Mertz, graphic designer
- Al Molinaro, actor
- Thom Racina, TV writer
- Mark Ruffalo, actor
- John Stephenson, voice actor
- Concetta Tomei, actress
- Daniel J. Travanti, actor
- Nick Van Exel, point guard for the Portland Trail Blazers
- Orson Welles, actor, writer, director
Police controversy
In recent months, the Kenosha Police Department has come under fire for excessive use of force. Most recently, a man attempting to escape from police was Tasered after already having been pepper-sprayed, setting the pepper spray alight and causing severe burns to the man's face and chest. Another incident involved the police shooting of a naked man in the middle of a street nine times, while the man was holding a knife to his own childs' throat. Several months before that, a 21 year old man, Michael Bell, was fatally shot by several police officers after resisting arrest and allegedly trying to reach one of the officer's guns. The man was told to not get out of his car and was first hit with a taser, but continued to resist. After the incident, Bell's father (and most notably his father, also Michael), began a campaign to influence public opinion and to try and change Kenosha police policies. Advertising spaces have been taken by the Bell family in Kenosha, Chicago, and New York newspapers, as well as others, and most recently on local TV news stations.
| Kenosha, Wisconsin | Image:Wisconsin state flag.png |
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| Kenosha County |
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Metropolitan area of Chicagoland |
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External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Local or Yahoo! Maps
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Satellite image from Google Local or Microsoft Virtual Earth
