Oregon, Wisconsin

{{About|the village|the adjacent town|Oregon (town), Wisconsin}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Oregon, Wisconsin | settlement_type = [[Village]]

| government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Village President | leader_name = Phil Van Kampen<ref name="n235">{{cite web | title=Village Board | website=Village of Oregon, WI | url=https://www.oregonwi.gov/203/Village-Board | access-date=October 16, 2025}}</ref> | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | established_title = | established_date =  | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_55.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref> | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 11.63 | area_land_km2 = 11.63 | area_water_km2 = 0.00 | area_total_sq_mi = 4.49 | area_land_sq_mi = 4.49 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.00

| timezone = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]] | utc_offset = -6 | timezone_DST = CDT | utc_offset_DST = -5 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name="GR3-u">{{cite gnis|1570854|Oregon|2026-02-24}}</ref> | elevation_m = 321 | elevation_ft = 1053 | coordinates = {{coord|42|54|16|N|89|25|47|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]] | postal_code = 53575 | area_code = [[Area code 608|608]] | blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] | blank_info = 55-60200<ref>{{cite web |title=2010 ANSI Codes for Places, Wisconsin |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes/files/st55_wi_places.txt |website=census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 27, 2022}}</ref> | blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID | blank1_info = 1570854<ref name="GR3-u" /> | website = {{url|https://oregonwi.gov}} | footnotes = }}

'''Oregon''' is a village in [[Dane County, Wisconsin]], United States. The population was 11,179 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. A suburb south of [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], it is part of the [[Madison metropolitan area]]. The village is located mostly within the [[Oregon (town), Wisconsin|Town of Oregon]].

==History==

The history of Oregon, Wisconsin begins at a crossroad still present today, just south of the village at Rome Corners.

Rome Corners was settled in the fall of 1841 by John Bartlett "Bartley" Runey at the intersection of the Mineral Point-Milwaukee "Old Lead Road" and the Madison-Janesville mail route.

In 1843 Bartley completed his log cabin house and was joined by his wife Margaret and 10+ children. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oregonareahistoricalsociety.org/oregon_history.htm|title = History of Oregon from the Oregon Area Historical Society}}</ref>

Bartley opened his house, a log cabin, to the community and transformed it into Runey's Tavern and Inn, which was the site of the first marriage in Oregon, between David Anthony and Jane Runey (Barley's daughter), the first church services by Methodist missionary Rev. Hawks, the first lawsuit, and was a common gathering place as the settlement grew.

In 1847, Oregon was born through a proposal by Rosell Babbit to form a separate township.

Many of Oregon's historical buildings still stand in the downtown district, including the Netherwood Block on the south, the Badger Cycle Company building and [[Oregon Water Tower and Pump House|original water tower]] on the southeast on Janesville Street, and numerous business lining the west side of North and South Main Street. The [[Red Brick School (Oregon, Wisconsin)|Red Brick School]], one of the more distinguishable structures in the village, built in 1922 as the high school, stands north of downtown. It was recently restored and now serves as the business offices for the Gorman Company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oregonareahistoricalsociety.org/gorman_award-9-08.htm|title = Title: Oregon Area Historical Society, Oregon, WI}}</ref>

The main railroad line from Chicago to Minneapolis, the [[Chicago and North Western Transportation Company|Chicago and North Western Railroad]] came through the village in 1864.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oregonareahistoricalsociety.org/documents/articles/village_name.htm|title=Oregon Area Historical Society}}</ref>

From 1880 to 1950 the line was double tracked, but mostly abandoned between Evansville and Madison in 1996 when it was reactivated from Madison to Oregon, to serve the Lycon Concrete Plant in 2014.

==Geography== [[File:Oregon, Wisconsin.jpg|thumb|left|Suburban development in Oregon]]

Oregon is located at {{coord|42|55|26|N|89|22|56|W|type:city}} (42.923899, −89.382304).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the village has a total area of {{convert|4.49|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="gaz2020">{{cite web|title=2020 Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.2020.html |website=census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 27, 2022}}</ref>

Oregon is served primarily by [[U.S. Route 14 in Wisconsin|U.S. Highway 14]] (US 14) and [[Wisconsin Highway 138]] (WIS 138) and the two highways meet at the village's southeastern corner. US-14 previously ran through the village, traveling down North Main Street and then arcing along Janesville Street, but a bypass was constructed from 1976 to 1978 along the northern and eastern sides of the village. The previous route is now signed as County Trunk MM.

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1880= 527 |1890= 595 |1900= 697 |1910= 712 |1920= 871 |1930= 857 |1940= 1005 |1950= 1341 |1960= 1701 |1970= 2553 |1980= 3876 |1990= 4519 |2000= 7514 |2010= 9231 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref> |2020=11179 | align = right | align-fn = center }}

===2020 census=== As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Oregon had a population of 11,179.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A60200&in=state%3A55|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|2,490.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}.<ref name="2020-census-5560200">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Oregon village, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5560200&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 27, 2022}}</ref>

The median age was 38.6 years. 27.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.6 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 4,345 households in Oregon, of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 56.3% were married-couple households, 13.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 4,446 housing units at an average density of {{convert|990.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 2.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 1.6%.<ref name="2020-census-5560200"/><ref name="Census2020DP"/>

99.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.4% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A60200&in=state%3A55|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A60200&in=state%3A55|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | [[White Americans|White]] || 10,067 || 90.1% |- | [[African Americans|Black or African American]] || 168 || 1.5% |- | [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]] || 25 || 0.2% |- | [[Asian Americans|Asian]] || 132 || 1.2% |- | [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander|Other Pacific Islander]] || 1 || 0.0% |- | Some other race || 152 || 1.4% |- | [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]] || 634 || 5.7% |- | ''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race)'' || 443 || 4.0% |}

===2010 census=== As of the [[census]]<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 18, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 9,232 people, 3,589 households, and 2,527 families living in the village. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2088.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,775 housing units at an average density of {{convert|854.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the village was 95.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.8% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.8% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 3,589 households, of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.6% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the village was 37 years. 28.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.8% were from 45 to 64; and 9.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

===2000 census=== As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 7,514 people, 2,796 households, and 2,071 families living in the village. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2,451.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 2,895 housing units at an average density of {{convert|944.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the village was 97.71% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.56% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.19% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.67% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.19% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were [[Hispanic]] or [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] of any race.

There were 2,796 households, out of which 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 30.5% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $56,584, and the median income for a family was $65,518. Males had a median income of $43,015 versus $30,791 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $23,650. About 1.8% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over. ==Education== [[File:Oregon High School.jpg|thumb|[[Red Brick School (Oregon, Wisconsin)|Former Oregon High School]]]]

The [[Oregon School District]] serves the area. Schools in the district include Brooklyn Elementary, Netherwood Knoll Elementary, Prairie View Elementary, Forest Edge Elementary, Rome Corners Intermediate, Oregon Middle School and [[Oregon High School (Wisconsin)|Oregon High School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonsd.org/index.cfm|title=Oregon School District|publisher=Oregon School District|access-date=June 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215090709/http://www.oregonsd.org/index.cfm|archive-date=February 15, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

One private school serves Oregon: [https://sursumcordaclassical.com/ Sursum Corda Classical School]. Sursum Corda is a Christian school operated by Faith Lutheran Church.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sursumcordaclassical.com/about/ |website=Sursum Corda Classical School |access-date=February 5, 2024 |title=The Vision |date=November 17, 2017 }}</ref>

==Notable people== * [[Dave Ahrens]], former NFL linebacker for five teams * [[Micah Alberti]], actor and model * [[Kevin J. Anderson]], author * [[Lyman F. Anderson]], Wisconsin State Representative<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=2066&keyword=anderson |title=Lyman Anderson, Wisconsin Historical Society |access-date=August 18, 2012 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215334/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=2066&keyword=anderson |url-status=dead }}</ref> * [[Wallace W. Andrew]], Wisconsin State Representative<ref>'Wisconsin Blue Book 1905,' Biographical Sketch of Wallace W. Andrew, pg. 1096</ref> * [[Angela Drake]], 2005 murder victim featured in {{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5320370/?ref_=ttep_ep3 |title=Investigation Discovery’s ‘Ice Cold Killers: Season’s Grievings’}} * [[Jerry Frei]], former head coach of the [[Oregon Ducks football|Oregon Ducks]] and [[NFL]] assistant coach * [[Jeff Richgels]], former member of the Professional Bowlers Association * [[Christopher J. Rollis]], newspaper editor and Wisconsin State Representative * [[Jeffrey B. Skiles]], Miracle on the Hudson co-pilot * [[Emily E. Sloan]]; First woman elected to the office of county attorney in Montana * [[Shaka Smart]], head coach of [[Marquette University]]'s men's basketball team * [[Monte Smith]], former professional football guard for the NFL * [[Lisa Stone]], former UW–Madison basketball coach

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Oregon, Wisconsin}} * [https://www.oregonwi.com/ Oregon, Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce] * [https://www.oregonwi.gov Village of Oregon] * [https://www.oregonpubliclibrary.org/ Oregon Public Library] * [https://oregonareahistoricalsociety.org/ Oregon Area Historical Society] * Sanborn fire insurance maps: [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/8902 1894] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/8945 1899] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/8947 1910]

[[Category:Villages in Wisconsin]] [[Category:Villages in Dane County, Wisconsin]] [[Category:Madison metropolitan area]] [[Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1841]] [[Category:1841 establishments in Wisconsin Territory]]