Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Wisconsin
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.
#30. Portage County
- 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%)
#29. Jackson County
- 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%)
#28. Sheboygan County
- 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%)
#27. Jefferson County
- 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%)
#26. Clark County
- 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%)
#25. Columbia County
- 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%)
#24. Green Lake County
- 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%)
#23. Winnebago County
- 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%)
#22. Waushara County
- 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%)
#21. Vernon County
- 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%)
#20. Richland County
- 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%)
#19. Marathon County
- 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%)
#18. Chippewa County
- 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%)

#17. Outagamie County
- 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%)
#16. Iowa County
- 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%)
#15. Lincoln County
- 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%)
#14. Wood County
- 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%)
#13. Dodge County
- 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%)
#12. Waupaca County
- 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%)
#11. Washington County
- 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%)

#10. Fond du Lac County
- 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%)
#9. Langlade County
- 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%)
#8. Calumet County
- 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%)
#7. Manitowoc County
- 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%)
#6. Forest County
- 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%)
#5. Taylor County
- 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%)
#4. Kewaunee County
- 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%)
#3. Oconto County
- 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%)
#2. Shawano County
- 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%)
#1. Menominee County
- 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%)



