Contact: Bill Rubin/Jacki Bradham, St. Croix EDC, 715-381-4383
St. Croix County Remains Fastest-Growing; 5 Communities Among State’s Fastest-Growing
The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) has released January 1, 2009 population estimates for towns, villages, cities, and counties. With a 26.5% population gain since the 2000 Census, St. Croix remains the state’s fastest-growing county by percentage increase. St. Croix’s preliminary estimate for January 1, 2009 is 79,905, compared to the 2000 Census estimate of 63, 155 (+16,750). Calumet County is ranked as the second fastest-growing county at 14.8% (+6,011). Chippewa County is ranked fourth on the list, but DOA indicates its growth is influenced by large institutional population change (i.e. a prison, etc.). Polk is ranked fifth with an 11.9% increase (+4,912).
DOA reported that the fast growth in many metropolitan and “metro edge” counties, particularly those adjoining the Twin Cities and Chicago regions, slowed considerably.
The City of Hudson was noted on a table that reflected housing unit change for large and fastest-growing municipalities. Hudson’s average housing unit change from 2000 to 2007 was estimated at 220. Hudson’s net housing unit change for 2008 was estimated at 60. Madison led the way on this table with an average housing unit change from 2000 to 2007 estimated at 1,858, and net change in 2008 was estimated at 622. St. Croix County’s average housing unit change from 2000 to 2007 was estimated at 1,159 and net change in 2008 was estimated at 258 units.
Several St. Croix County communities were found on DOA’s list of fastest-growing municipalities since the 2000 Census (with a population of 1,500 or more at 2009), including the Town of Richmond, third-fastest (+84.4% and numeric change of 1,313); Village of Roberts, 9th, (+59.4% and numeric change of 576); Village of Somerset, 10th, (+48.7% and numeric change of 757); and Village of Hammond, 14th, (+42.8% and numeric change of 493).
Wisconsin’s preliminary population for 2009 is estimated at 5,688,000 which is an increase of 12,850 (+0.2%) from 2008 and 324,285 (+6.0%) from the 2000 Census.
In the 10-county region of west central and northwest Wisconsin, the preliminary 2009 estimates include Barron 48,200 (+7.2%; numeric change of 3,237); Chippewa 62,286 (+12.8%; +7,091); Clark 34,900 (+$.0%; +1,343); Dunn 43,683 (+9.6%; +3,825); Eau Claire 99,019 (+6.3%; +5,877); Pepin 7,777 (+7.8%; +564); Pierce 40,704 (+10.6%; +3,900); Polk 46,231 (+11.9%; 4,912); Rusk 15,697 (+2.3%; +350); and St. Croix 79,905 (+26.5%; +16,750).
DOA’s Demographic Services Center annually produces population estimates for Wisconsin counties and municipalities. The estimates are based on the prior census and analysis of contemporary data including housing units, dormitory and institutional populations, automobile registrations, residential electric meters and others.
