MADISON (AP) — Wisconsin’s population grew slightly last year, but since 2007 it’s up nearly 6 percent, according to new estimates released Friday.

The growth is concentrated mainly around Madison, the Fox River Valley in the northeast, parts of western Wisconsin near the Twin Cities and in the southeast.
Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, has seen a 1 percentage point loss in population since the 2000 census, according to the estimates done by the state’s Department of Administration.

Conversely, Madison has seen nearly 9 percent growth since 2000.

All cities with about 50,000 population have grown since 2000 except for Milwaukee, Racine, West Allis and Sheboygan.

Overall, the state’s population grew just 0.5 percent last year to 5.675 million, the report said. That’s an increase of 27,000 people.

State and local officials use the estimates for a variety of purposes, including the distribution of state funds, district attorney allocation and calculation of voter turnout.

State demographers who create the estimates rely on vehicle registrations, tax filings, school enrollment, changes in housing units, institutional enrollment, and birth and death records.

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