ANNUAL REPORT—INCREASE OF POPULATION. 
3 
In 1870, it had reached a population of 1,055,559, the ratio 
of increase haying been 36.06 per cent. Its present rank 
among the states is that of the fourteenth. 
The relative increase and the ratio of increase of population 
in several of the other northwestern states, between 1860 and 
1870, will be interesting, as showing the states toward which 
the tide of immigration has had the fullest flow. In making 
these comparisons, it should be borne in mind, however, that 
the ratio of increase is always much higher in the early history 
of every state than after a period of years. The actual in¬ 
crease will be a better test of development in the case of states 
widely apart, or even ten years apart, in the date of their or¬ 
ganization. 
Table showing increase of Population, and Pates of Increase, in eight of the 
Northwestern States. 
States. 
Population 
in 1800. 
Population 
in 1870. 
Actual 
increase. 
Rate of 
increase. 
Wisconsin. 
775,881 
.1,055,559 
279,578 
-36.04 
Missouri. 
1,182,012 
1,715,000 
532,988 
45.00 
Illinois. 
1,711,951 
2, 539, 638 
827, 687 
48.34 
Michigan. 
749,118 
1,184, 296 
435,183 
58.09 
Iowa. 
674,913 
1, 040, 819 
433, 906 
64.27 
Minnesota. 
177, 022 
440,076 
268, 045 
155.82 
Kansas. 
107, 206 
362, 872 
255,668 
238.48 
Nebraska. 
28,841 
123,300 
94,159 
326.47 
It is not surprising that there should have been so great a 
difference in the ratio of increase between Wisconsin and the 
states more recently organized. But the very considerable 
difference between our state and Iowa and Michigan, in both 
the actual increase and the increase per cent., which for some 
time have run nearly together, is a matter that should have 
our serious attention. 
During her early career and the period of her greatest 
growth, Wisconsin advanced with more rapid strides than 
any of the other states in corresponding periods, except Min¬ 
nesota, as will appear from the following comparisons: 
