Wisconsin grows modestly and more diverse while Milwaukee plummets to 1930s levels, Census data show

MADISON - Wisconsin has grown more racially diverse over a decade of modest growth, with population gains concentrated around the state's capital city while its largest city, Milwaukee, fell to its smallest population in nearly a century, new U.S. Census data show. 

The state's population grew 3.6% since 2010 to 5.9 million — lagging the national growth of 7.4% and less than half the rate of its neighbor Minnesota. 

The new data also reveal a notable drop — 4% — in the number of children living in Wisconsin, forecasting consequences for the state's education systems and labor force. 

The state is becoming more racially diverse with Hispanic residents growing in population by 33% and now accounting for the largest racial minority group in the state, surpassing the state's Black population. 

More than one-third of Wisconsin's population growth over the last decade occurred in Dane County, in and around Madison. The county grew by 15% to add more than 73,000 people — the highest county-level increase in the state — with the city of Verona experiencing some of the fastest growth at 32%. 

Meanwhile, the state's largest city has hit its lowest population since 1930. Milwaukee's population fell to 577,222 — a drop of about 17,000 people since 2010. Milwaukee County also saw a tiny population decrease of less than a percentage point. 

Overall, population fell in about 30% of the state's counties, largely in rural areas of the state. 

The data released Thursday by the U.S. Census will be used to create new legislative and congressional maps. Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District will need to lose more than 50,000 people under the new map because the district, which includes Dane County, grew so much in the last 10 years. 

More:New census data offer first clues about how Wisconsin's congressional districts will change

Other population shifts will require the 8th Congressional District to shrink due to growth largely in the Green Bay area and the 4th District to grow because of population loss in Milwaukee.  

In the last 10 years, the voting-age population grew by about 6%, which included double- and triple-digit percentage increases among residents of color and a 0.4% drop among white residents.

Wisconsin is still predominantly white but its growth is concentrated among people of color. Overall, the state's white population dropped by 3.4% while its Hispanic and Black populations grew by 33.1% and 4.8%, respectively.

People who identify as two or more races grew by 244% to 359,534 people from 104,317 a decade ago. 

St. Croix County, on the border of Minnesota's Twin Cities, experienced the second-largest increase in county population at 10.9%. No other Wisconsin county increased by double digits.

Richland County in southwestern Wisconsin experienced the largest county population decrease at 4%. 

Wisconsin's growth ranks 34th out of 50 states and it continues to be the 20th most populous state in the country. 

Among its neighbors, Wisconsin's population growth was middle of the pack. Minnesota grew the most at a rate of 7.6% — faster than the national average — while Iowa and Michigan grew by 4.7% and 2%, respectively. Illinois was the only state surrounding Wisconsin to lose population by 0.1%.  

More on the 2020 Census:See a larger map and more information on the 2020 Census data here

Daphne Chen, Erin Caughey, Craig Gilbert and Bill Glauber of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report. 

Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck.