| County: | Marathon County |
| Ex Image: | Marathon County Courthouse, Wisconsin.jpg |
| Ex Image Cap: | Marathon County Courthouse in Wausau |
| State: | Wisconsin |
| Founded Year: | 1850 |
| Seat Wl: | Wausau |
| Largest City Wl: | Wausau |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1576 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1545 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 31 |
| Area Percentage: | 2.0% |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 138013 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Population Est: | 138612 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 89.3 |
| Web: | www.co.marathon.wi.us |
| Time Zone: | Central |
| District: | 7th |
Marathon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 138,013. Its county seat is Wausau.[1] It was founded in 1850,[1] created from a portion of Portage County. At that time the county stretched to the northern border with the upper Michigan peninsula. It is named after the battlefield at Marathon, Greece.[2]
Marathon County comprises the Wausau, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Wausau–Stevens Point–Wisconsin Rapids, WI Combined Statistical Area.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (2.0%) is water.[3] It is the largest county in Wisconsin by land area and fourth-largest by total area.
The Marathon County Park Commission has posted a geographical marker[4] that identifies the spot (45°N, 90°W) of the exact center of the northern half of the Western Hemisphere, meaning that it is a quarter of the way around the world from the Prime Meridian and halfway from the Equator to the North Pole.
As of the census of 2020,[5] the population was 138,013. The population density was 89.3/mi2. There were 59,828 housing units at an average density of 38.7/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 86.9% White, 6.2% Asian, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.3% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 125,834 people, 47,702 households, and 33,868 families residing in the county. The population density was 81/mi2. There were 50,360 housing units at an average density of 33/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 93.84% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 4.54% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.6% were of German and 13.6% Polish ancestry. 92.9% spoke English, 3.4% Hmong, 1.1% German and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.
There were 47,702 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.50% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.
The Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) has its headquarters in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin. Eight branch libraries have been established in the cities of Athens, Edgar, Hatley, Marathon City, Mosinee, Rothschild, Spencer, and Stratford.
There are over 884 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in Marathon County maintained by 29 area snowmobile clubs.[7]
