Door County is a county in northeastern Wisconsin, occupying a narrow peninsula that extends between Green Bay and Lake Michigan and ends at the tip of the Door Peninsula. Established in 1851 and long associated with Great Lakes shipping and fishing, it developed as a distinct regional area shaped by its coastal geography and maritime connections. The county is small in population, with about 30,000 residents, and is characterized by a largely rural settlement pattern with small towns and shoreline communities. Its landscape includes extensive waterfront, limestone bluffs in places, forests, and agricultural land, including notable orchards. The local economy combines tourism and seasonal services with agriculture, commercial fishing, and small businesses. Culturally, Door County reflects a mix of Upper Midwest and Great Lakes influences, with a strong emphasis on outdoor recreation and local arts and heritage institutions. The county seat is Sturgeon Bay.

Door County Local Demographic Profile

Door County is a peninsula county in northeastern Wisconsin on Lake Michigan and Green Bay, forming the eastern edge of the Green Bay metropolitan region. It is known for a large seasonal population and a relatively older year-round age profile compared with many Wisconsin counties.

Population Size

Age & Gender

Age distribution (selected indicators)

Gender ratio

Racial & Ethnic Composition

From the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (race categories shown are “alone,” not including multiracial unless specified by the Census table):

  • White alone: 94.5%
  • Black or African American alone: 0.8%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 0.4%
  • Asian alone: 0.9%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: 0.1%
  • Two or more races: 3.3%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 2.7%

Household & Housing Data

From the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts:

  • Households (2019–2023): 13,743
  • Persons per household (2019–2023): 2.10
  • Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2019–2023): 76.5%
  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units (2019–2023): $330,600
  • Median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage (2019–2023): $1,540
  • Median gross rent (2019–2023): $961

For local government and planning resources, visit the Door County official website.

Email Usage

Door County’s peninsula geography, extensive shoreline, and low population density outside Sturgeon Bay can increase the cost and complexity of last‑mile networks, shaping how residents access email and other online services.

Direct county-level email usage statistics are not routinely published; broadband and device adoption from the American Community Survey are standard proxies for likely email access. The U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) “Computer and Internet Use” tables provide Door County indicators for broadband subscription and computer/desktop/laptop access, which closely track the ability to use webmail and email apps.

Age structure also affects email adoption. Door County has an older population profile than many Wisconsin counties, and older age groups are more likely to rely on email for formal communications (healthcare portals, government notices) while sometimes showing lower rates of new app adoption. County and state demographic profiles are available via Door County’s Census profile.

Gender distribution is generally near parity and is not a primary driver in published connectivity measures; demographic breakdowns appear in ACS profiles.

Connectivity constraints are reflected in FCC broadband availability mapping and rural service gaps documented in FCC National Broadband Map data.

Mobile Phone Usage

Door County is a peninsula county in northeastern Wisconsin between Green Bay and Lake Michigan. It is predominantly rural, with small cities and villages separated by agricultural land, forests, shoreline, and extensive parkland. These physical characteristics—long shorelines, heavily wooded areas, and distance between population centers—tend to produce more variable cellular coverage than in urban counties, with stronger service along main corridors and community centers and weaker service in interior wooded areas and some shoreline stretches. For baseline geography and population context, see Census.gov QuickFacts for Door County and the Door County government website.

Key distinction: network availability vs. adoption

  • Network availability refers to where mobile providers report service and/or where broadband maps show coverage (e.g., 4G LTE, 5G).
  • Adoption refers to whether residents actually subscribe to mobile service and use smartphones/mobile broadband at home.

County-level cellular availability is typically mapped by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and commercial mapping tools, while county-level adoption is more commonly available through U.S. Census survey data (often at county level for some indicators, and more reliably at state/metro or tract level for others).

Mobile penetration / access indicators (adoption)

Household internet access measures that include cellular data plans

The most standardized public indicator that aligns with “mobile access” at the household level is the share of households reporting an internet subscription via cellular data plan (alone or in combination), as collected by the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey).

Limitation: The ACS “cellular data plan” measure reflects household internet subscription types, not overall “mobile phone ownership,” and it does not directly distinguish smartphone ownership from basic phones. It also does not indicate the on-the-ground signal quality.

Mobile phone ownership (device possession)

Public, county-specific estimates of mobile phone ownership (smartphone vs. non-smartphone) are not consistently available from federal sources at the county level. Many device-ownership metrics are produced by private survey vendors and are not universally public.

  • Limitation: Door County–specific smartphone ownership rates generally require proprietary consumer survey datasets; public sources typically support state-level or national-level smartphone ownership.

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G / 5G) and network availability

FCC availability mapping (reported coverage)

The most authoritative public source for reported mobile broadband availability is the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) maps.

How this applies to Door County (availability framing, not adoption):

  • 4G LTE coverage is generally reported as widespread across populated areas and major road corridors in Wisconsin counties, including rural regions.
  • 5G availability tends to be more concentrated near population centers and along higher-traffic corridors, with reduced reach in low-density or heavily wooded areas.
  • Limitation: FCC mobile maps are based on provider-reported modeled coverage and may overstate real-world performance in complex terrain, forested areas, and along irregular shorelines. They indicate where service is claimed to be available, not that every location receives consistent indoor coverage or high speeds.

Speed/technology experience (usage/performance)

Public performance datasets can indicate typical speeds and latency but are not always easily summarized at the county level without analysis of raw measurements.

Limitation: Without a published county-level synthesis, observed speed patterns for Door County require custom analysis of raw test data and are not provided as a ready-made official county statistic.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

Publicly accessible, county-level breakdowns of smartphones vs. basic/feature phones are not standard in federal statistical releases.

What can be stated using public indicators:

  • The ACS provides household measures of computing devices (desktop/laptop/tablet) and internet subscription type, including cellular plans, but it does not directly enumerate “smartphone ownership” as a standalone county metric.
  • The most defensible proxy for “mobile-centric access” in Door County from public data is the household share with a cellular data plan (ACS), combined with broader national/state evidence that most mobile subscribers use smartphones (national figures are available from non-federal sources but are not county-specific).

Relevant public sources:

Limitation: County-level statements such as “X% of residents use smartphones” are not supported by a universally public dataset for Door County.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Door County

Rurality and population density

  • Door County’s low-to-moderate population density and dispersed settlement pattern typically increase the cost per user of building dense cellular infrastructure, affecting availability (especially for newer 5G deployments) and in-building reliability outside towns and villages.
  • Baseline demographic profiles (age structure, seasonal population dynamics) are available through:

Terrain, land cover, and shoreline effects

  • Extensive forest cover, uneven terrain, and shoreline geometry can attenuate radio signals and create coverage variability. These factors can influence the difference between mapped availability and experienced service quality, especially indoors or away from towers.

Seasonal population and tourism

  • Door County experiences substantial seasonal visitation, which can increase peak demand on mobile networks in tourism corridors and shoreline communities. Publicly documented tourism volumes are typically available through regional tourism entities and state reporting rather than FCC adoption metrics.
  • Limitation: Public, county-level datasets that quantify how seasonal demand changes mobile performance are limited; most congestion analytics are proprietary to carriers.

Age distribution and connectivity choices (adoption)

  • Rural counties with higher median age profiles can show different adoption patterns for certain technologies (for example, reliance on traditional voice services or preference for fixed broadband where available). County-level age distribution is available via the Census; however, direct county-level links between age and “mobile-only” adoption require microdata analysis rather than published summary tables.

Summary of what is measurable from public sources (Door County–specific)

  • Network availability (4G/5G): Publicly mapped via the FCC National Broadband Map (provider-reported).
  • Household adoption of cellular data plans: Publicly available via data.census.gov (ACS “Types of Internet Subscriptions,” including cellular data plan).
  • Smartphone vs. basic phone share: Not consistently available from public, county-level federal sources; typically requires proprietary survey data.
  • Explanatory demographics and geography: County characteristics (population, density proxies, age distribution) are available from Census.gov QuickFacts; these describe context but do not by themselves quantify mobile adoption or performance.

Primary external references

Social Media Trends

Door County is a peninsula county in northeastern Wisconsin between Green Bay and Lake Michigan, with tourism-oriented communities such as Sturgeon Bay, Egg Harbor, and Sister Bay. Its economy and culture are strongly shaped by seasonal visitation, hospitality, outdoor recreation, and a well-known arts and dining scene, factors that typically increase the importance of visual platforms, local discovery, and review-driven behavior.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

  • County-specific social media penetration is not published in standard public datasets (major sources such as the U.S. Census and Pew Research Center report at national/state levels rather than by county).
  • Useful benchmarks for Door County (Wisconsin-aligned)

Age group trends

National survey findings consistently show social media use is highest among younger adults and declines with age:

  • 18–29: ~84% use social media
  • 30–49: ~81%
  • 50–64: ~73%
  • 65+: ~45%
    Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
    Implication for Door County: A tourism-heavy area tends to see strong social content creation and consumption in peak seasons driven by visitors and younger working-age residents, while older resident age profiles often correlate with higher relative use of Facebook versus newer youth-skewing platforms.

Gender breakdown

Pew reports modest overall gender differences in social media use at the national level, with larger gaps by platform:

  • Overall social media use: men and women report broadly similar adoption levels (differences vary by survey year and are generally small). Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
  • Platform-level patterns (national):
    • Pinterest usage skews female.
    • Reddit usage skews male.
    • Instagram and Facebook are closer to parity.
      Source: Pew Research Center.

Most-used platforms (percent using each, U.S. adults)

Pew’s platform penetration estimates among U.S. adults:

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Visual discovery and trip-planning behaviors: In travel-oriented regions, high engagement commonly concentrates around short-form video and photo content (scenic locations, events, restaurants), aligning with national strength of YouTube and strong adoption of Instagram and TikTok. National platform reach benchmarks: Pew Research Center.
  • Community information and local updates: Facebook remains a primary platform nationally for broad adult reach and tends to be heavily used for local groups, event promotion, and community announcements, particularly among older age brackets. Source: Pew Research Center.
  • Seasonality effects: Door County’s seasonal population surge typically corresponds with spikes in posting frequency, location tagging, and review activity during late spring through fall, reflecting visitor-driven content cycles rather than only resident behavior.
  • Search-adjacent social use: YouTube functions as both social and search media; national penetration (~83%) supports its role for “things to do,” itinerary videos, and how-to content relevant to outdoor recreation and local attractions. Source: Pew Research Center.

Family & Associates Records

Door County maintains vital records through the Door County Register of Deeds, including birth and death certificates and marriage records. These records are created and filed locally, with certified copies issued by the Register of Deeds and by the State of Wisconsin. Adoption records are generally handled through Wisconsin courts and state vital records processes and are not treated as open public records. Official office information and procedures are provided on the Door County Register of Deeds page.

Public database access for family and associate-related records is limited for vital records. Property and recorded documents (often used to research family connections and associates) are searchable through the county’s Land Records resources. Court-related associate records such as civil, family, probate, and criminal case registers are available through the Wisconsin Court System’s CCAP Case Search (statewide).

Residents access records online via the linked portals where available, and in person by requesting certified copies from the Register of Deeds or viewing records at the courthouse or relevant county office during business hours.

Privacy restrictions apply under Wisconsin law: birth records are restricted for a statutory period; death records are restricted for a shorter period; and adoption records are generally confidential. Identification, fees, and eligible-requester limits may apply to certified copies.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage license / marriage certificate (vital record)
    Marriage licenses are issued at the county level and, after the ceremony is returned and registered, a marriage record (often requested as a certified marriage certificate) becomes part of Wisconsin vital records.

  • Divorce judgment/decree (court record)
    Divorces are handled as civil actions in the circuit court. The final outcome is recorded as a Judgment of Divorce (often referred to as a divorce decree), along with the case file and docket.

  • Annulment judgment (court record) and related vital record
    Annulments are adjudicated in circuit court and result in a Judgment of Annulment (or similar final order). Wisconsin also maintains a vital record index/record of the event at the state level.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Door County Register of Deeds (marriage records)

    • Filed/maintained: Marriage licenses and recorded marriage documents are maintained by the Door County Register of Deeds as the county vital records custodian for marriages.
    • Access: Requests are typically made through the Register of Deeds for certified copies (and, where offered, uncertified copies). Identification and fees apply under Wisconsin vital records rules.

  • Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office (state-level marriage and divorce/annulment vital records)

    • Filed/maintained: Wisconsin maintains statewide vital records, including marriage records and divorce/annulment vital records (distinct from full court case files).
    • Access: Certified copies are available under state vital records procedures, subject to eligibility rules and identification requirements.
      Reference: Wisconsin DHS Vital Records

  • Door County Circuit Court / Clerk of Circuit Court (divorce and annulment court files)

    • Filed/maintained: Divorce and annulment actions are filed in the Door County Circuit Court, and records are maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court.
    • Access: Many case dockets and some documents are viewable through Wisconsin’s consolidated court access system, while complete files and certified copies are obtained through the Clerk of Circuit Court, subject to court access rules.
      References:
      Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA)
      Wisconsin court records access information

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage license / marriage certificate records (vital records) commonly include:

    • Full legal names of spouses (including maiden name where recorded)
    • Date and place of marriage (municipality/county; venue)
    • Date of registration/recording
    • Officiant information and officiant’s title
    • Witness information where recorded
    • Ages or dates of birth (depending on format and era), residence addresses at time of application, and other application details (varies by year and form)

  • Divorce court records (case file and judgment) commonly include:

    • Names of the parties and case caption
    • Case number, filing date, county/branch, and docket entries
    • Final judgment date and terms of the judgment (legal status, property division, maintenance, custody/placement, child support), where applicable
    • Related orders, motions, affidavits, financial disclosures, and findings of fact/conclusions of law (contents vary by case)

  • Annulment court records (case file and judgment) commonly include:

    • Names of parties, case number, filing date, and docket
    • Final judgment/order and legal basis findings (as reflected in the court’s orders)
    • Any related orders and filings similar in structure to other family actions

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Vital records restrictions (marriage; and state-level divorce/annulment records):

    • Wisconsin restricts access to certified vital records. Requestors generally must meet statutory eligibility requirements, provide acceptable identification, and pay required fees.
    • Some informational (non-certified) releases may be limited by law and agency practice.
      Reference: Wisconsin vital records request requirements

  • Court record restrictions (divorce/annulment case files):

    • Wisconsin courts treat most case information as public, but specific documents and data elements can be sealed or confidential by statute or court order. Common confidential categories include certain juvenile-related information, protected identifiers, and other sealed materials.
    • Online court access may display docket-level information while restricting images of documents or specific entries, depending on record type and confidentiality rules.
      Reference: Wisconsin court records access and confidentiality

Education, Employment and Housing

Door County is a peninsula county in northeastern Wisconsin between Green Bay and Lake Michigan, with a strongly tourism-oriented economy and a large seasonal population swing. The year-round population is older than the U.S. average, and settlement is characterized by small villages, unincorporated communities, and rural shoreline areas. (General background and geography are summarized by U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Door County and the Door County government site.)

Education Indicators

Public school districts and schools (countywide)

Door County’s K–12 public education is primarily delivered through three districts:

  • Gibraltar Area School District (Fish Creek area)
  • Sevastopol School District (Sturgeon Bay area)
  • Southern Door County School District (Brussels/Gardner area)

School names and grade configurations vary by district and can change with consolidation or programming; the authoritative, current directory is maintained through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) district/school listings. (A single countywide “number of public schools” figure is not consistently published as a standalone statistic across sources; DPI rosters are the standard reference.)

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratio (proxy): Countywide ratios are most consistently available at the district level rather than as one countywide statistic. Door County’s districts are small and typically report ratios in the mid‑teens, consistent with many rural Wisconsin districts. For district-level ratios, staffing, and enrollment, DPI “School and District Report Cards” and district profiles are the standard sources: Wisconsin DPI Report Cards.
  • Graduation rates: Wisconsin public-school graduation rates are published in DPI report cards and are typically high in Door County’s small districts relative to statewide averages, but the most recent district-specific percentages should be taken directly from the latest DPI report card release (district-by-district): DPI School and District Report Cards.

Adult educational attainment

From the most recent American Community Survey (ACS) profiles summarized by the Census Bureau:

  • High school graduate or higher (age 25+): Door County is above the U.S. average.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): Door County is around or above statewide levels, with variation by community and age cohort.

County-level attainment percentages are published in Census QuickFacts (Door County, Wisconsin), which reflects the latest ACS 5‑year estimates.

Notable academic and career programs (common countywide offerings)

Program availability is district-specific, but Door County public schools commonly reflect statewide patterns for small/rural districts:

  • Advanced Placement (AP) / dual-credit coursework: Often offered through high-school scheduling and/or partnerships (availability varies by district and year).
  • Career and Technical Education (CTE): Wisconsin districts typically provide vocational pathways (manufacturing, construction, business/marketing, family and consumer sciences), frequently coordinated with regional technical colleges. Regional postsecondary/CTE alignment is commonly associated with Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC).
  • STEM: Science and technology course sequences are standard; specialized STEM academies are less common in very small districts but project-based and lab-based coursework is typical.

The most authoritative program catalogs are district course handbooks and DPI district profiles; no single countywide compilation is consistently maintained.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Wisconsin public schools generally operate under:

  • Required emergency operations planning, safety drills, and coordination with local law enforcement/emergency management (state and district policy frameworks are reflected through DPI guidance and district board policies).
  • Student services staffing such as school counselors and social work/psychological services, though staffing levels vary by district size. District report cards and district staffing reports provide the most consistent public documentation: DPI Report Cards.

Specific building-level security features (controlled entry, SRO presence, visitor management systems) are typically documented in district policies/board minutes rather than as standardized countywide metrics.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

  • Door County’s unemployment rate is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program, with the most recent annual and monthly values available through BLS LAUS.
  • Door County’s labor market exhibits strong seasonality, with unemployment typically higher in winter months and lower during the peak visitor season.

(A single “most recent year” value changes annually; BLS LAUS is the standard reference and should be used for the latest finalized annual average.)

Major industries and employment sectors

Door County’s economy is shaped by tourism and local services, with additional roles for healthcare and construction:

  • Accommodation and food services (tourism-driven)
  • Retail trade
  • Arts, entertainment, and recreation
  • Healthcare and social assistance (driven by older population profile and regional service delivery)
  • Construction (including seasonal and second-home related activity)
  • Public administration and education (county, municipal, and school district employment)
  • Manufacturing and marine-related services exist but are smaller than in the Green Bay metro area

Industry distributions and workforce characteristics are available through the Census Bureau’s data.census.gov (ACS tables for industry by occupation).

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Door County’s occupational mix typically shows higher shares in:

  • Service occupations (food preparation/serving, building and grounds, personal care)
  • Sales and office occupations
  • Healthcare support and practitioner roles
  • Construction and extraction (seasonal peaks)
  • Management and professional roles in education, healthcare, and business services

For county-level occupation shares, ACS occupation tables via data.census.gov are the standard source.

Commuting patterns and mean commute times

  • Mean travel time to work is published in ACS and typically reflects short-to-moderate commutes inside the county, with a meaningful share commuting to the Green Bay area for higher-density employment. Mean commute time and mode split (drive alone, carpool, remote work, etc.) are available through ACS commuting tables and summarized in Census QuickFacts.
  • Door County has a notable share of seasonal and self-employed workers in hospitality, trades, and small businesses, which also affects commuting and work-location patterns.

Local employment vs. out-of-county work

  • Net commuting patterns (inflow/outflow) are most consistently measured through the Census Bureau’s LEHD/OnTheMap origin–destination employment data.
  • Door County commonly functions as a residence and tourism employment center with out-commuting to Brown County (Green Bay) for healthcare, manufacturing, and corporate roles, while also drawing in-commuters during peak seasons for hospitality and construction.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and rental share

  • Door County has a high homeownership rate and a large share of seasonal/vacation housing, reflecting second homes and short-term visitor demand.
  • Homeownership, renter share, and vacancy/seasonal unit indicators are published in ACS and summarized in Census QuickFacts (owner-occupied rate, housing unit counts, and related metrics).

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median owner-occupied home value (ACS) is available via QuickFacts and ACS tables; Door County values are influenced by shoreline properties and second-home demand.
  • Trend proxy (when market-sale medians are needed): Realtor/MLS-based sale price series can differ from ACS home value estimates. Where ACS lags rapid price changes, regional housing reports (e.g., Wisconsin REALTORS® Association) are often used as supplemental context; however, ACS remains the standard consistent county series for “median value” reporting.

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent is published in ACS and summarized in Census QuickFacts.
  • Door County rents can be constrained by the small long-term rental inventory and seasonal conversion to visitor accommodations; this often elevates rents relative to what the year-round population alone would predict (this is a structural characteristic rather than a single standardized statistic).

Housing types and development pattern

Door County housing stock is dominated by:

  • Single-family detached homes (including seasonal shoreline homes)
  • Cabins/cottages and rural lots in unincorporated areas
  • Small multifamily buildings and apartments primarily in and around Sturgeon Bay and village centers
  • Condominiums/townhomes in some waterfront and near-town developments

Housing-unit type distributions (single-unit vs. multifamily vs. mobile homes) are available in ACS housing tables via data.census.gov.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools and amenities)

  • The most walkable, amenity-adjacent neighborhoods are generally found in Sturgeon Bay (county’s largest population center) and village downtowns (Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Sister Bay), where proximity to schools, clinics, and retail is more common.
  • Rural areas offer larger lots and proximity to natural amenities (shoreline, parks) with longer travel distances to schools and services.

Property tax overview (rate and typical homeowner cost)

  • Wisconsin property taxes are administered locally with school districts, municipalities, the county, and special districts contributing to the total levy. Door County effective property tax burden varies substantially by municipality and property classification.
  • The most consistent public reference for countywide property tax collections and rates is the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR), which publishes local tax and equalized value statistics: Wisconsin DOR property tax statistics.
  • A single “average rate” for the county is a proxy because mill rates differ by taxing jurisdiction; typical homeowner tax bills are more accurately represented by municipality-specific tax rates applied to assessed value (DOR and local treasurer reports provide the authoritative figures).

Table of Contents

Other Counties in Wisconsin