The Associated Press
New census figures show the population fell in nearly half of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.
The population estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau show 35 counties lost people from 2013 to 2014. It continues a trend of dropping populations in rural counties that’s due mainly to residents moving out.
Menominee County, one of the counties with population growth, showed the fastest growth rate — 3.2 percent — from 2013 to 2014. Its population increased 140, from 4,382 in 2013 to 4,522 in 2014.
Population in Shawano County declined by 15, from 41,594 in 2013 to 41,579 in 2014.
Manitowoc County lost 463 people during in the time measured, the largest decline among counties. Next was Wood County with a decline of 336 people, followed by Adams County’s loss of 289 people.
Overall, the population in 37 counties grew slightly. The Journal Sentinel reported Wisconsin as a whole gained approximately 14,600 people from 2013 to 2014 for a total population of about 5.76 million. Since 2010, the state’s population has risen 1.2 percent.
Dane County, home to Madison, had the widest margin of growth from 2013 to 2014, gaining about 6,200 people. It has grown by 5.6 percent since 2010.
Milwaukee County’s population rose by just 20 people in that timeframe, a slowdown from recent years. Counties neighboring Milwaukee saw somewhat more population growth.
The Milwaukee metropolitan area’s population grew by roughly 2,100 people from 2013 to 2014, and it ranked 39th among all U.S. metro areas. It was 45th out of 53 metro areas in terms of growth, behind St. Louis, Cincinnati and Kansas City, but ahead of Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland.