Census Data for Germantown
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Germantown a population of 20,152 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Germantown a population of 19,749 people.
The village of Germantown is located in Washington County. The 2010 Census gave Washington County; a population of 131,887 people. This means that Germantown had 14.97% of the county's total population, making it Washington's 2nd most populous community.
At the same time, Wisconsin had a population of 5,686,986 people, meaning that Germantown had 0.35% of the total population of Wisconsin - making it the state's 39th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Germantown has a total area of 34.44 square miles [89.2 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0.03 square miles [0.1 km²]).
Washington County has a land area of 430.7 square miles [1,115.5 km²]. At 34.42 square miles [89.1 km²], Germantown has 7.99% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a village like Germantown, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the village.
- Things like population, area and housing for Germantown reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Germantown might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 43° 14' 4" (or 43.23°)
- Lon: -88° 7' 29" (or -88.12°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Germantown had 8,092 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 19,749 people, this averages 2.44 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Germantown had a land area of 34.42 square miles [89.1 km²]. This translates to 234.9 Housing Units per square mile [90.7 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Germantown had 7,075 Housing Units, a population of 18,260 people and a land area of 34.42 square miles [89.2 km²]. This gives a density of 2.58 people per Housing Unit and 205.3 Housing Units per square mile [79.3 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Germantown and you need to be careful when comparing numbers between the censuses. More information about these differences can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Washington County ...
The community of Germantown is located in Washington County<4>.
The county had a population of 131,887 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 19,749 people, Germantown represented 14.97% of the county's total.
In addition, where the village of Germantown has a population density of 573 people per square mile [221.4 people/km²], Washington County averages 306.2 people per square mile [118.2 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Washington County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Germantown, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Germantown. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Germantown or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Germantown, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Germantown.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 43.234527° (or 43°14'4" N)
- Lon: -88.124999° (or -88°7'29" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 43.223206° (or 43°13'23" N)
- Lon: -88.120433° (or -88°7'13" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 4,301 feet to the north<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#1583269) to Germantown. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Germantown. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 43.236117° (or 43°14'10" N)
- Lon: -88.120369° (or -88°7'13" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 1,359 feet to the southwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Germantown. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Germantown.
Miscellaneous Information for Germantown ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Washington County or the village of Germantown:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 55 (Wisconsin)
- County Code: 131 (Washington County)
- Place Code: 28875 (Germantown)
- State & County Code: 55/131 (Wisconsin / Washington County)
- State & Place Code: 55/28875 (Wisconsin / Germantown)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Germantown is located in Census Region #2 (the Midwest Region) and Division #3 (the East North-Central Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Germantown.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Germantown: www.village.germantown.wi.us/
The official website for Washington County: www.co.washington.wi.us/
The official website for State of Wisconsin: https://www.wisconsin.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Wisconsin's counties, including Washington, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 16 degrees and a distance of 4,301 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 115 degrees and a distance of 1,359 feet. |