Dane County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 1,201.9 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 396.7 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population grew by 46.9%. On the 2000 census form, 98.2% of the population reported only one race, with 4.0% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 3.4% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 2.37 persons compared to an average family size of 2.97 persons. In 2006 retail trade was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $23,496. Per capita income grew by 20.0% between 1996 and 2006 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2006) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2007)	476,785	135	Covered Employment	298,545	91
Growth (%) since 1990	29.9%	637	Avg wage per job	$41,004	223
Households (2000)	173,484	127	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	9.0%	1803
Labor Force (persons) (2007)	289,695	107	Avg wage per job	$48,685	450
Unemployment Rate (2007)	3.5	2464	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	2.6%	1303
Per Capita Personal Income (2006)	$41,179	161	Avg wage per job	$36,504	1594
Median Household Income (2005)	$53,737	245	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	10.1%	1142
Poverty Rate (2005)	11.1	2278	Avg wage per job	$40,473	269
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	92.2	44	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	7.4%	54
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	40.6	59	Avg wage per job	$55,705	219