Off the Editor’s Desk – 10-2-2024
Book of lists!
I recently received a copy of the Book called “2024 Book of Lists.” It contains facts and figures about the seventeen counties in western Wisconsin like population figures, income and other statistics. The Business News published this book and I would like to relate a few of the findings included in it.
As for population in this area, by 2040 St. Croix County will become the second largest county in the area with a projected population of 119,010. At present the county has an estimated population of 97,347. St. Croix will pass Eau Claire County in population before 2040. LaCrosse will be the most populated county in the area with 131,500 in sixteen years.
Dunn County with an estimated population now of 45,317 will grow to 48,485 by 2040. Three counties in this area will lose population and they are Buffalo, Rusk and Pepin. Polk County is expected to grow from its present population of 45,233 to 53,825 by 2040.
As for Per Capita Personal Income (PCPI), St. Croix County ranks first in Western Wisconsin and sixth in the state with an PCPI of $67,477, while Dunn County ranks 64th in the state with a PCPI of $49,234. Pierce County has a PCPI of $58,338 and Polk County is at $54,302.
The state average PCPI is $61,475 and the national average is $65,470.
The fastest growing public companies are Marten Transport of Mondovi and National Presto Industries in Eau Claire.
The largest school district is Eau Claire with 10,813 students as of the 2023 3rd Friday count. Hudson has 5,218, New Richmond with 3,537, Menomonie with 3,241, and St. Croix Central with 1,819, Baldwin-Woodville with 1,785 and Elk Mound with 1,197. They did not list any schools with less than 1,000 students.
The largest locally chartered banks include Citizens Community Federal of Altoona with $1.8 billion in assets. Hiawatha National Bank in third spot with $750 million in assets and in ninth is Citizens State Bank of Hudson with $433 million.
The largest Credit Union is Royal Credit Union in Eau Claire with $5.2 Billion and WESTconsin Credit Union of Menomonie with $1.9 Billion.
Home Sales in 2023 were down from 2022 in all counties except in Pepin County. St. Croix County had 757 sales with a median sale price of $367,988, which was the highest in the area. Dunn County had 475 sales with a median sale of $279,900; Polk County had 564 sales at $281,000.
The following are the number of building permits issued in municipalities for 2023 for one and two family dwellings. City of River Falls, 76; City of New Richmond, 61; Village of Roberts, 54; Village of Somerset, 48; Town of Hudson 40; Town of Menomonie, 27; City of Menomonie, 16; Town of Hammond, 76; Town of Red Cedar, 67; Town of Elk Mound, 22; Village of Baldwin. 18.
If all those figures have your head spinning, there are several other lists in that book and if you are interested in looking it over, stop by our Glenwood City office.
Overheard at the coffee shop as two guys were discussing the current economic state of affairs with one telling the other, “we can’t live on one income and that is why my wife has two jobs.”
Thanks for reading! ~Carlton