Kenosha County - named for its principal town, which was first known as Southport. As this settlement was situated upon Pike Creek, a change was made to the Indian word for that fish - Wis. Hist. Colls., iii, p. 414. See also Handbook, i, p. 673, where "Kenozhe," signifying pickerel, is given to a Chippewa gens [clan].

Description from John W. Hunt's 1853 Wisconsin Gazetteer: "KENOSHA, County, is bounded on the north by Racine, east by Lake Michigan, south by the State of Illinois, and west by Walworth and a portion of Racine. The county seat is at Kenosha, formerly known as Southport, on the lake shore, about midway between the northern and southern extremity of the county. It was set off from Racine and fully organized, 30th January, 1850. The eastern portion of the county is mostly prairie, with occasional groves of timber. In the northeast part is a large tract of heavy timber. The western portion is mostly openings. The soil is productive in the highest degree, and well adapted to the growing of all the crops of the climate, and the raising of stock. It has the best of market facilities, Kenosha close at hand, and Milwaukee and Chlicago easy of access. It has a healthy climate, and is settled by an intelligent and enterprizing class of farmers. The principal streams are the Fox, (Pishtaka,) the Aux Raines and Pike creeks. Population 10,734; 927 farms, and 1,812 dwellings."

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Kenosha County, Wisconsin

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[Source: Kellogg, Louise Phelps. "Derivation of County Names" in Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin for 1909, pages 219-231.]