Outagamie County () is a county in the Fox Cities region of the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located in the northeast of the state. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 190,705. Its county seat is Appleton.
Outagamie County is included in the Appleton, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Appleton-Neenah-Oshkosh, WI Combined Statistical Area. It was named for the historic Meskwaki (Fox) Indians.
History
"Outagamie," a French transliteration of the Anishinaabe term for the Meskwaki (Fox) Indians, meant "dwellers of other shore" or "dwellers on the other side of the stream," referring to their historic habitation along the St. Lawrence River and south of the Great Lakes. They had occupied considerable territory in Wisconsin prior to colonization. Outagamie County was created in 1851 and organized in 1852. Prior to this it was under the jurisdiction of Brown County.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.1%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Shawano County - north
Brown County - east
Calumet County - southeast
Winnebago County - southwest
Waupaca County - west
Rivers
Wolf River - The Wolf River runs through the city of New London and the village of Shiocton along western half of the county. Fox River - The Fox River follows the south-eastern corner of the county, running through the cities of Appleton and Kaukauna Shioc River - This river runs merges with the Wolf River in the village of Shiocton. Embarrass River - The Embarrass River runs through the city of New London and merges with the Wolf River there.
Lakes
Black Otter Lake - Located in Hortonville, it receives much recreational use by anglers for being the only lake within the county.
Government
Outagamie County's government consists of an elected County Board of Supervisors, a County Executive, and 36 county agencies and departments.
County Executive
The county executive serves as its chief executive officer, participating in the legislative process with the County Board of Supervisors and exercising administrative authority and control over the county's operations, departments, offices, boards, programs, and communications.
Department heads are appointed by the county executive, subject to the approval of the board of supervisors. The county executive also appoints members to the county's boards and commissions. The county executive sets the annual budget in consultation with and subject to the approval of the board of supervisors.
County Executive Tom Nelson was first elected in 2011.
Transportation
Major highways
Interstate 41
U.S. Highway 41
U.S. Highway 45
Wisconsin Highway 15
Wisconsin Highway 29
Wisconsin Highway 32
Wisconsin Highway 47
Wisconsin Highway 54
Wisconsin Highway 55
Wisconsin Highway 76
Wisconsin Highway 96
Wisconsin Highway 125
Wisconsin Highway 187
Wisconsin Highway 441
County Highways
County A
County AA
County B
County BB
County C
County CA
County CB
County CC
County CE
County D
County DD
County E
County EE
County F
County FF
County G
County GG
County GV
County H
County HH
County I
County J
County JJ
County K
County KK
County M
County MM
County N
County NC
County O
County OO
County P
County PP
County Q
County S
County T
County TT
County U
County UU
County VV
County W
County WW
County X
County XX
County Y
County Z
County ZZ
Railroads
Canadian National
Watco
Buses
Valley Transit (Wisconsin) List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin
Airports
Appleton International Airport (KATW) serves the county and surrounding communities. It is the third busiest airport in Wisconsin and is served by 4 airlines to 16 destinations. Shiocton Airport (W34) is a grass strip airport located in Shiocton, Wisconsin