RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 72 SHOWN OF 72

Most sparsely populated, Wisconsin counties · 1990

Wisconsin counties with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 72 counties in Wisconsin that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Fastest shrinking Most densely populated Best broadband access Worst broadband access

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Iron County, WIWI6,1278−10%

02Forest County, WIWI9,5749−12%

03Florence County, WIWI4,7489−10%

04Bayfield County, WIWI16,7879−7%

05Menominee County, WIWI4,19911−15%

06Sawyer County, WIWI18,84611−12%

07Price County, WIWI13,98812−1%

08Ashland County, WIWI16,20316−3%

09Burnett County, WIWI17,22316−17%

10Rusk County, WIWI14,14617−2%

11Jackson County, WIWI20,99917−13%

12Washburn County, WIWI17,08717−14%

13Taylor County, WIWI20,11819−4%

14Buffalo County, WIWI13,31820−2%

15Vilas County, WIWI23,76121−16%

16Langlade County, WIWI19,53422−6%

17Adams County, WIWI21,75224−16%

18Lafayette County, WIWI17,47825−0%

19Clark County, WIWI35,05226−6%

20Iowa County, WIWI23,95126−12%

21Marquette County, WIWI15,92727−22%

22Crawford County, WIWI15,91028−8%

23Juneau County, WIWI26,64928−11%

24Oneida County, WIWI38,13128−14%

25Marinette County, WIWI42,57429−7%

26Richland County, WIWI17,03630−2%

27Oconto County, WIWI40,19530−15%

28Pepin County, WIWI7,51331−1%

29Lincoln County, WIWI28,40331−9%

30Waushara County, WIWI25,22331−16%

31Douglas County, WIWI43,99032−4%

32Vernon County, WIWI31,44332−9%

33Trempealeau County, WIWI31,17134−6%

34Polk County, WIWI45,80338−16%

35Monroe County, WIWI46,57241−10%

36Shawano County, WIWI41,56042−9%

37Dunn County, WIWI46,22342−10%

38Grant County, WIWI52,44643−1%

39Barron County, WIWI46,48447−9%

40Chippewa County, WIWI67,61452−5%

41Green County, WIWI37,22752−10%

42Door County, WIWI30,61653−8%

43Green Lake County, WIWI19,30553−2%

44Kewaunee County, WIWI20,75855−6%

45Sauk County, WIWI66,65256−15%

46Pierce County, WIWI43,51957−11%

47Columbia County, WIWI58,13259−14%

48Waupaca County, WIWI51,46162−11%

49St. Croix County, WIWI98,27670−20%

50Marathon County, WIWI139,43275−8%

51Portage County, WIWI71,94377−9%

52Dodge County, WIWI89,09787−11%

53Wood County, WIWI74,06093−3%

54Calumet County, WIWI53,982108−16%

55Jefferson County, WIWI86,505122−8%

56Fond du Lac County, WIWI104,669125−7%

57Eau Claire County, WIWI109,033134−9%

58Walworth County, WIWI106,127135−20%

59Manitowoc County, WIWI81,710136−3%

60Rock County, WIWI166,472194−8%

61Sheboygan County, WIWI118,047203−8%

62La Crosse County, WIWI121,339217−9%

63Outagamie County, WIWI195,894220−13%

64Washington County, WIWI139,238221−19%

65Dane County, WIWI590,375307−14%

66Ozaukee County, WIWI94,346313−12%

67Winnebago County, WIWI174,218323−10%

68Brown County, WIWI275,803367−14%

69Kenosha County, WIWI168,448472−14%

70Racine County, WIWI198,919526−7%

71Waukesha County, WIWI417,210554−16%

72Milwaukee County, WIWI924,2163,973+2%

SHOWING 1–72 OF 72

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES