By the numbers
The population of Wisconsin has grown by 1.5 million since 1970, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, at an average growth rate of 0.5 percent per year. The county-level data tell a more nuanced story, however.
Four of the state’s five largest counties have grown steadily. Dane County grew by more than 285,000 people, Waukesha County increased by more than 181,000, Brown County by more than 113,000, and Washington County by 74,000.
On the other hand, Milwaukee County, the state’s largest, lost 138,000 people on net over the past 53 years.
A total of nine counties saw net population decreases, including Manitowoc, Ashland and Lafayette counties.
Over the same period as Milwaukee County’s decline, the surrounding so-called “WOW” counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington added a gained total of about 295,000.
The Fox Valley region, encompassing Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago counties, grew by almost 229,000 people.
The Gateway counties of Racine, Kenosha and Walworth added a total of almost 118,000.
Some of the change in population levels can be attributed to economic factors: In a recent report, Scott Niederjohn, a Badger Institute visiting fellow, examined net migration in Wisconsin at the county level this spring, highlighting the flow of people from midwestern neighbors into the state.
Previous editions of the Badger Institute’s “By the Numbers” also tracked cities’ population growth relative to the state population and compared Milwaukee’s growth to its peers nationwide.
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