The area of Wisconsin was part of the original territory of the United States, being part of lands ceded by four states to the United States and designated in 1787 as the “Territory northwest of the River Ohio.” Wisconsin Territory was organized on July 3, 1836, from part of Michigan Territory; it included all of present-day Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, eastern North Dakota and South Dakota, and a small part of northeastern Nebraska. The territory was reduced in 1838 with the organization of Iowa Territory west of the Mississippi River and a line northward from the river’s source.

Although the territory had not yet been legally established, census data for Wisconsin are available beginning with the 1820 census. The 1840 census population is for the entire territory, including the portion of Minnesota northeast and east of the Mississippi River and a line northward from the river’s source. For an explanation of the revision to the 1820 and 1830 population of Wisconsin, see Richard L. Forstall, Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790- 1990, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1996, page 184.

Data for the legally established state of Wisconsin are available beginning with the 1850 census.

Key Stats

From Census.gov / Data:

Data Tools and Apps - Find information using interactive applications (including the five highlighted below) to get statistics from multiple surveys.

Data Tool: My Community Explorer - This tool combines select demographic, business, and resilience data to help users identify potentially underserved areas of their state, county, and community. Step 1: Select Wisconsin.

Data Tool: My Congressional District - Access selected statistics about your Congressional district collected through the American Community Survey (ACS) and County Business Patterns (CBP), Wisconsin selected. You can select a district.

Data Tool: My Tribal Area - Access selected statistics collected for the American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) population from the American Community Survey (ACS). Wisconsin selected. You can select a tribal area.

Data Tool: QuickFacts - QuickFacts provides frequently requested Census Bureau information at the national, state, county, and city level. Dashboard for Wisconsin is shown below. Click the tab “TABLE 6” to compare the United States; Wisconsin; Milwaukee city, Wisconsin; Madison city, Wisconsin; Green Bay city, Wisconsin; Kenosha city, Wisconsin.

Note: The dashboard above is cropped on the bottom. Click on the image for the full dashboard.

Experimental Data Product: Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS) - Insight into the state of the economy by providing timely data for key economic measures and business expectations about future conditions. For summary Wisconsin data, select the "STATE" tab, mouse over and click on Wisconsin on the map. For detailed state data, scroll down and select “WI” under “Filter All Charts Below by State.”

More Stats

From data.census.gov:

Profile, Wisconsin

Note: The profile above is cropped at the bottom. Click on the image for the full profile.

Source: Selected Monthly State Tax Collections.

Monthly Comparisons for Selected State Tax Collections, click on Wisconsin in map

Source: 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates.

Table DP05, ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates, United States and Wisconsin

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division (Annual Estimates of the Resident Population).

State Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2022

Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 (NST-EST2022-POP) find Wisconsin [<1.0 MB]

County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2022

Wisconsin Counties: 2020-2022 [<1.0 MB]

City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022

Wisconsin Incorporated Places 2020-2022 [<1.0 MB]

Source: 2018 - 2021 Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM).

Table AM1831BASIC01, Annual Survey of Manufactures: Summary Statistics for Industry Groups and Industries in the U.S.: 2018 - 2021, showing manufacturing in Wisconsin

Source: 2021 County Business Patterns (CBP).

Table CB2100CBP, All Sectors: County Business Patterns, including ZIP Code Business Patterns, by Legal Form of Organization and Employment Size Class for the U.S., States, and Selected Geographies: 2021, showing all two-digit NAICS codes for Wisconsin

Source: 2020 Annual Business Survey (ABS) Program.

Table AB2000CSA01, Annual Business Survey: Statistics for Employer Firms by Industry, Sex, Ethnicity, Race, and Veteran Status for the U.S., States, and Metro Areas: 2020, showing Wisconsin

Source: 1978-2020 Business Dynamics Statistics (BDS).

Table BDSEAGE, Business Dynamics Statistics: Establishment Age: 1978-2020, for Wisconsin

Source: 2019 Nonemployer Statistics (NES).

Table NS1900NONEMP, All Sectors: Nonemployer Statistics by Legal Form of Organization and Receipts Size Class for the U.S., States, and Selected Geographies: 2019, showing all two-digit NAICS codes for Wisconsin

Source: Business Formation Statistics (BFS).

Interactive visualization: Annual Business Applications by State and County (Scroll down, then hover and click on Wisconsin.)

Interactive visualizations: Business Formation Statistics (BFS), U.S. Total and By State (Select Wisconsin on Monthly Business Applications by State – shown below – and on Monthly Business Formations by State.)

Monthly Business Applications by State: Wisconsin

Note: Click on the image above to go to the Business Formation Statistics data page. For the Wisconsin graphic, scroll down to “Interactive Graphs.” Click on the icon for “Monthly Business Applications by State (BA)” and select “Wisconsin” in the upper-right drop-down area.

From Census Business Builder (CBB):

Dashboard: Wisconsin

Local Business Profile, Custom Industries - Wisconsin

From Business and Economy > International Trade Data:

State and Metropolitan Area Trade Data

USA Trade Online, the Official Source of Trade Statistics

Note: After you create an account, you can choose between State Export Data (Origin of Movement) or State Import Data (State of Destination) by Harmonized System (HS) or NAICS. More information is available in the Quick Start Guide.

Source: Monthly State Retail Sales.

Interactive visualization: Monthly State Retail Sales (Hover and click on Wisconsin.)

From the State Data Center (SDC) Program:

Wisconsin

From the Library > America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers:

STATE PROFILES: 2020 Census (State-by-State Visualizations of Key Demographic Trends From the 2020 Census)

STATE PROFILES: Wisconsin: 2020 Census

From the Statistics in Schools (SIS) program:

State Facts for Students, select Wisconsin

Note: The Wisconsin page is cropped on the bottom. Click on the image above to go to the “State Facts for Students” main page. Use the drop down to select “Wisconsin” or click “WI” on the map for the full page for Wisconsin.

Source: 2017 Economic Census.