Geography

Geography

Racine is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan approximately 25 miles south of Milwaukee and 65 miles north of Chicago. The city is bisected by the winding Root river from which the area derived its name. "Racine" is French for root--that's what early missionaries called the area after seeing exposed tree roots along the riverbanks. The city and its surrounding communities stretch inland nearly nine miles to Interstate 94, the area's main arterial highway.

County Seat:	Racine
Created:	1836
Population (2000):	188,831
Land Area (sq. miles):	333.1
Land Area (Acres):	213,204
Density (per sq. mile):	566.9
Highway Mileage:	1,251.55
Number of Lakes:	21
Lake Area (Acres):	3,919

Climate

Racine is a city of four seasons. Spring and fall are pleasant, while summer regularly has temperatures above 90 º F, and winter usually has several days below 0 º F. Lake Michigan impacts the climate for several miles inland, making it somewhat cooler in the summer months, and a few degrees warmer in winter.

Average Temperature:
January 19º
July 71º

Average Annual Precipitation: 30"

Climate Normals	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Ave Daily High (F°)	27.5	31.2	41.0	52.5	64.0	75.2	79.7	78.4	71.2	59.6	46.0	32.8
Ave Daily Low (F°)	11.2	15.2	26.1	36.2	45.7	55.4	62.2	61.3	54.2	42.9	31.0	18.0
Growing Degree Days	1	2	28	96	240	464	637	585	406	178	39	5
Heating Degree Days	1414	1170	973	618	329	87	7	14	102	430	795	1228
Cooling Degree Days	0	0	0	0	16	96	193	166	33	5	0	0
Ave Precipitation (")	1.61	1.35	2.65	3.66	2.99	3.61	3.87	3.66	3.80	2.35	2.62	2.20
Ave Snowfall (")	12.8	9.5	7.2	1.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	1.6	9.7

Median date of last frost in the spring: May 2.: (The last frost occurs on or after May 11 in 10 percent of the years.)
Median date of first frost in the fall: October 19.: (The first frost occurs on or before October 7 in 10 percent of the years.)
Median growing season: 173 days. Range: 157 to 185 days.

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Equal Employment Opportunity
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