Caitlin McKown/UW Applied Population Laboratory

Series: UW Applied Population Lab: Wisconsin's Demographics

WisContext collaborates with researchers at the University of Wisconsin Applied Population Lab to explain demographic patterns and change around the state. These reports explore how Wisconsin's population shifts over time, and how the places people live, work and go to school can influence the health, economy, education and politics of Wisconsin. Data about a variety of population measures are presented in maps, charts and interactive visualizations to illustrate these trends. Demographic change guides the outlook of both individual communities and the state as a whole, influencing the news as it unfolds day-by-day and history as it takes shape over decades.
 
Wisconsin's alcohol use is among the highest in the nation, particularly for binge drinking, but levels of drinking are not uniform across the state.
For many school children, the summer months mean a lack of adequate food, including a well-balanced school lunch on a daily basis.
Comparing population pyramids over time can explain a lot about what life is like in a place, as well as its economic and social challenges.
Wisconsin's population structure is dominated by the magnitude of the baby-boom generation, and their presence is strongest in rural areas.
Students entering their senior year of high school in the fall of 2019 appear to be among the largest classes in Wisconsin for the foreseeable future.