This paper examines the demographic composition of North Central Wisconsin, covering counties such as Clark, Iron, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Price, Taylor, Vilas, and Wood. Drawing on U.S. Census data and Wisconsin Department of Administration projections, it traces population growth, aging trends, birth rate declines, and workforce concerns from 1900 to the early 2000s. The paper compares regional figures to state and national benchmarks, highlighting the rapid aging of the population, the loss of young people, projected increases in the senior population, and the resulting challenges for employment and healthcare in the region.
Baby Boomers must love North Central Wisconsin, because most of this state's regional population consists of that generation. Another notable fact is that Wisconsin has one of the highest female labor force participation rates in the United States. There are many demographic facts about North Central Wisconsin that may concern residents when they compare their region with national census figures. Some of the counties in this area include Clark, Iron, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Price, Taylor, Vilas, and Wood. The demographics of North Central Wisconsin compared to the United States as a whole show that this area is rapidly aging, driven in large part by the Baby Boomer generation.
There are approximately 430,000 people living in North Central Wisconsin, compared to 5,401,906 people in the state of Wisconsin and 284,796,887 people nationwide. In the last 100 years — from 1900 to 2000 — this area of the state increased its population by 129%, growing from 199,000 to 448,000 people. The state of Wisconsin grew at a rate of 159% over the same period. The United States as a whole grew from 179,323,175 in 1960 to 284,796,887 in 2001. Notably, North Central Wisconsin actually grew faster than the state beginning in 1960, recording a rate of 39% compared to the state's 35.7% increase.
Despite this growth, the region is aging rapidly. In 1990, the average age in North Central Wisconsin was 36.2, while the state average was 35.5. By 2000, the North Central area's average age had risen to 37.8, and the state's average age stood at 36.8. According to projections from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the Wisconsin Department of Administration, by 2020 the average age of a person in the state of Wisconsin is expected to be 39.9. However, in many counties of North Central Wisconsin, the average age is projected to reach 51.9. If the average age continues to rise without an influx of younger residents, the region faces a serious long-term population sustainability problem.
One of the primary drivers of this aging trend is a significant decline in births between 1951 and 1973. There were 7,281 births in North Central Wisconsin in 1951, compared to only 5,100 in 1973. While birth rates in the United States also dropped during this period — from 3,823,000 to 3,137,000 — the decline was particularly pronounced in North Central Wisconsin. Compounding the problem, the number of young people turning 18 has also dropped. Young people who attend college in the region frequently do not settle there afterward, a pattern that is especially evident in North Central Wisconsin. Youth outmigration continues to deprive the region of the workforce and population renewal it needs.
It is projected that the number of people aged sixty-five and older will rapidly increase from approximately 3,900 in 2002 to 6,300 by 2016. This demographic shift will open up approximately 5,500 jobs each year. The concern is that if workers are not trained to replace retiring seniors, businesses may relocate out of the region. A particularly serious challenge involves healthcare: trained healthcare workers are already leaving for other areas, creating a shortage that is likely to worsen as the elderly population grows. As one source notes, "It is even more alarming that we see the same thing occurring in northcentral Wisconsin despite the fact that we have several colleges in the area, including state universities as well as two-year university campuses." Even though the rate of employment has increased in North Central Wisconsin, the employment-to-population ratio remains lower than the national average. The racial composition of North Central Wisconsin is predominantly white, with only 5.7% African-American and 0.9% American Indian residents. The area also has more females than males, and the number of children has continued to decrease since 1950. More information on U.S. population trends is available through the Census Bureau.
"Falling births and young people leaving the region"
"Job vacancies and healthcare shortages from aging population"
"Northcentral Wisconsin." Available online at www.buildwi.org/buildwisconsin/regionalsessions/pdf/northcentral/North_Central_Data.pdf
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