Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Wisconsin

Written by:
April 15, 2021
Royalbroil // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Wisconsin

In certain corners of the U.S., the only way you’ll ever be considered a local is if you were born there. Elsewhere, particularly in major metropolitan centers, the constant influx of new businesses, college students, and families can transform neighborhoods every few years and certainly decade over decade.

Americans change their addresses at higher rates than most other countries, but that “move, move, move” mentality may be shifting. In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that only 11.2% of respondents had moved within the last year. Additionally, 72% of Americans reported living in or close to the city they grew up in. To learn more about where people are staying put, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Wisconsin using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state as of 2019.

Keep reading to discover which counties in your state have the most born-and-bred residents.

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TheCatalyst31 // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Portage County

- Population: 70,632
- Born in Wisconsin: 54,176 (76.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 13,391 (19.0% of population)
--- Midwest (12.1%), Northeast (1.4%), South (3.1%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 2,766 (3.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (2.0%), Europe (0.9%), Latin America (0.8%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Royalbroil // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Jackson County

- Population: 20,522
- Born in Wisconsin: 15,777 (76.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,233 (20.6% of population)
--- Midwest (13.8%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.7%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 453 (2.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.5%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources // Flickr

#28. Sheboygan County

- Population: 115,178
- Born in Wisconsin: 89,104 (77.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 18,943 (16.4% of population)
--- Midwest (9.5%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.7%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: 6,467 (5.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.3%), Asia (2.8%), Europe (0.9%), Latin America (1.5%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Scott Catron // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Jefferson County

- Population: 84,701
- Born in Wisconsin: 65,537 (77.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 15,980 (18.9% of population)
--- Midwest (11.9%), Northeast (1.4%), South (2.8%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 2,862 (3.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (2.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Jeff the quiet // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Clark County

- Population: 34,579
- Born in Wisconsin: 26,763 (77.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,758 (19.5% of population)
--- Midwest (10.6%), Northeast (5.4%), South (1.8%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 909 (2.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (1.8%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Downspec // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Columbia County

- Population: 57,133
- Born in Wisconsin: 44,261 (77.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 11,109 (19.4% of population)
--- Midwest (12.7%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.8%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 1,460 (2.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (1.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.1%)
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Royalbroil // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Green Lake County

- Population: 18,755
- Born in Wisconsin: 14,539 (77.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,555 (19.0% of population)
--- Midwest (13.4%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.2%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 548 (2.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (1.6%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Creative Commons

#23. Winnebago County

- Population: 170,411
- Born in Wisconsin: 132,557 (77.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 30,957 (18.2% of population)
--- Midwest (10.4%), Northeast (1.8%), South (3.1%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 5,973 (3.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (1.7%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (1.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.1%)
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I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Waushara County

- Population: 24,193
- Born in Wisconsin: 18,981 (78.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,432 (18.3% of population)
--- Midwest (11.3%), Northeast (1.0%), South (3.6%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 693 (2.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (1.9%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Royalbroil // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Vernon County

- Population: 30,633
- Born in Wisconsin: 24,085 (78.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,004 (19.6% of population)
--- Midwest (14.2%), Northeast (1.7%), South (1.5%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 382 (1.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Corey Coyle // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Richland County

- Population: 17,459
- Born in Wisconsin: 13,751 (78.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,226 (18.5% of population)
--- Midwest (13.2%), Northeast (1.3%), South (1.9%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 430 (2.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.7%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (1.1%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Marathon County

- Population: 135,396
- Born in Wisconsin: 106,892 (78.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 22,558 (16.7% of population)
--- Midwest (10.1%), Northeast (1.6%), South (2.6%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 5,370 (4.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (2.4%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Chippewa County

- Population: 63,892
- Born in Wisconsin: 50,762 (79.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 11,982 (18.8% of population)
--- Midwest (11.7%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.9%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 929 (1.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.7%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Royalbroil // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Outagamie County

- Population: 185,700
- Born in Wisconsin: 149,146 (80.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 29,081 (15.7% of population)
--- Midwest (9.4%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.4%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 6,727 (3.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (1.9%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.1%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Tgkrause // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Iowa County

- Population: 23,618
- Born in Wisconsin: 18,994 (80.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,143 (17.5% of population)
--- Midwest (11.5%), Northeast (2.1%), South (2.3%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 395 (1.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Royalbroil // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Lincoln County

- Population: 27,744
- Born in Wisconsin: 22,538 (81.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,882 (17.6% of population)
--- Midwest (11.7%), Northeast (1.4%), South (2.4%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 251 (0.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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TheCatalyst31 // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Wood County

- Population: 73,112
- Born in Wisconsin: 59,931 (82.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 11,230 (15.4% of population)
--- Midwest (10.5%), Northeast (1.0%), South (1.9%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 1,757 (2.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (1.1%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.8%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Doc Searls // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Dodge County

- Population: 87,715
- Born in Wisconsin: 72,257 (82.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 13,286 (15.1% of population)
--- Midwest (9.3%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.4%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 1,927 (2.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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self // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Waupaca County

- Population: 51,245
- Born in Wisconsin: 42,227 (82.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 7,772 (15.2% of population)
--- Midwest (9.1%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.7%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 1,071 (2.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Mjrichter // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Washington County

- Population: 134,925
- Born in Wisconsin: 111,245 (82.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 19,768 (14.7% of population)
--- Midwest (9.3%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.4%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 3,468 (2.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (1.0%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (0.7%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Royalbroil // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Fond du Lac County

- Population: 102,597
- Born in Wisconsin: 85,039 (82.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 13,816 (13.5% of population)
--- Midwest (8.0%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.2%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 3,466 (3.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (1.1%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.6%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Jeff the quiet // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Langlade County

- Population: 19,146
- Born in Wisconsin: 15,922 (83.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,747 (14.3% of population)
--- Midwest (8.8%), Northeast (0.9%), South (1.8%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 375 (2.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.7%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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self // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Calumet County

- Population: 49,928
- Born in Wisconsin: 41,611 (83.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,881 (13.8% of population)
--- Midwest (8.5%), Northeast (1.1%), South (2.3%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 1,279 (2.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (1.2%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (1.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Manitowoc County

- Population: 79,185
- Born in Wisconsin: 66,159 (83.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 10,501 (13.3% of population)
--- Midwest (7.4%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.4%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 2,265 (2.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (1.2%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (1.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Royalbroil // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Forest County

- Population: 8,995
- Born in Wisconsin: 7,521 (83.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,351 (15.0% of population)
--- Midwest (10.2%), Northeast (0.6%), South (2.4%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 97 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Jeff the quiet // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Taylor County

- Population: 20,325
- Born in Wisconsin: 17,013 (83.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,951 (14.5% of population)
--- Midwest (9.9%), Northeast (1.3%), South (1.5%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 288 (1.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.9%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Chris Rand // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Kewaunee County

- Population: 20,387
- Born in Wisconsin: 17,330 (85.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,535 (12.4% of population)
--- Midwest (7.6%), Northeast (1.6%), South (1.7%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 452 (2.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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TheCatalyst31 // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Oconto County

- Population: 37,646
- Born in Wisconsin: 32,281 (85.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,742 (12.6% of population)
--- Midwest (8.0%), Northeast (0.6%), South (1.8%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 496 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Royalbroil // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Shawano County

- Population: 40,904
- Born in Wisconsin: 35,304 (86.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,909 (12.0% of population)
--- Midwest (7.0%), Northeast (1.0%), South (1.8%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 501 (1.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.6%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Royalbroil // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Menominee County

- Population: 4,558
- Born in Wisconsin: 4,207 (92.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 339 (7.4% of population)
--- Midwest (4.7%), Northeast (0.1%), South (1.2%), West (1.4%)
- Born in another country: 8 (0.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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