The Town[3] of Westport is located in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States and a suburb of Madison. The population was 4,183 at the 2020 census. The town was named after Westport, County Mayo in Ireland because many of the early settlers were from there.[4] The village of Waunakee was carved out of the town in 1893, leaving the remainder of the town on both sides. Other portions have been annexed by the cities of Madison and Middleton. A portion of the Town of Madison on the northern shore of Lake Mendota was transferred to the Town of Westport (The remainder of the Town of Madison was later absorbed into the Cities of Madison and Fitchburg).
Town of Westport | |
|---|---|
 Town hall | |
 Location of the Town of Westport in Dane County and the state of Wisconsin. | |
| Coordinates: 43°9′33″N 89°25′33″W / 43.15917°N 89.42583°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Dane |
| Government | |
| • Town Board Chair | Kenneth Sipsma |
| Area | |
• Total | 27.2 sq mi (70.5 km2) |
| • Land | 22.2 sq mi (57.6 km2) |
| • Water | 5.0 sq mi (13.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 876 ft (267 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 4,183 |
| • Density | 161.3/sq mi (62.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 608, 353 |
| FIPS code | 55-86125[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1584415[1] |
Geography
edit
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.2 square miles (70.6 km2), of which, 22.2 square miles (57.6 km2) of it is land and 5.0 square miles (13.0 km2) of it (18.39%) is water.
Governor Nelson State Park is located in the town.
Demographics
editAt the 2000 census there were 3,586 people, 1,546 households, and 1,049 families living in the town. The population density was 161.3 people per square mile (62.3/km2). There were 1,752 housing units at an average density of 78.8 per square mile (30.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.69% White, 0.61% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78%.[2]
Of the 1,546 households 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were married couples living together, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 25.5% of households were one person and 7.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.80.
The age distribution was 20.8% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.
The median household income was $64,750 and the median family income was $75,357. Males had a median income of $51,671 versus $34,671 for females. The per capita income for the town was $40,268. About 0.7% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
edit- Edward E. Fitzgibbon, Wisconsin State Representative, farmer, and teacher lived in the town; Fitzgibbon served as Westport Town Clerk[5]
- John H. Tierney, Wisconsin State Representative and farmer, lived in the town; Tierney served as chairman of the Westport Town Board[6]
References
edit- ^ a b "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Towns" in Wisconsin perform most of the same functions as townships in many other states. see 'Wisconsin Blue Book 2022,' Town, pp 354-355
- ^ Gard, Ropbert E. (2015). The Romance of Wisconsin Place Names. Wisconsin Historical Society. pp. 733–734. ISBN 9780870207082.
- ^ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1885,' Biographical Sketch of Edward Edwin Fitz Gibbon, pg. 429
- ^ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1880,' Biographical Sketch of John H. Tierney, pg. 510