Introduction

What makes Wisconsin unique and sets us apart from the other 49 states? What factors have been most influential in defining our collective identity? Once these factors are identified, what conclusions may we draw regarding how these characteristics have influenced our history, traditions, and culture and shaped present day Wisconsin? The 2003-2004 Wisconsin Blue Book, the 86th volume in a series that began in 1853, provides the data to be applied in considering these questions. Although each edition of the Blue Book provides a vast amount of information about our state, the latest edition places added emphasis on describing, quantifying, categorizing, and comparing data to provide a basis for making some judgments about our people and our state.

The feature article, “Wisconsin’s People: A Portrait of Wisconsin’s Population on the Threshold of the 21st Century”, is a treasure trove of information about what the 2000 Census of Population reveals about the people and communities of Wisconsin. It was researched and written by several demographers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Rural Sociology’s Applied Population Laboratory (APL). Professor Paul Voss is a national authority on the census and demographic trends; Dan Veroff, Director of the APL, has extensive experience in analyzing demographic data; and David Long, associate researcher at the APL, contributed the graphics that illustrate the statistical data. The authors explore such variables as population growth and distribution, ancestry, household formation, age and income, and changes in racial and ethnic makeup. They have included a generous number of maps, charts, and graphics to supplement the text and add a vital visual component to the changes that they describe. The Reference Bureau’s Blue Book staff expresses their appreciation to the authors and their APL colleagues for their valuable contribution to the 2003-2004 Blue Book.

Another noteworthy feature that distinguishes this edition are the photographs that introduce each of the 12 major sections of the book. They reflect the feature article's theme by depicting the energy, vitality, and diversity of our citizens, truly a portrait of our state. In addition, we have increased the number of photographs throughout the Blue Book to illustrate what Wisconsin's citizens do and what state government does to enhance the well being of our citizens.

This edition is also significant for the number and variety of maps presented. Beginning with the front cover which displays a view of Wisconsin photographed by a NASA satellite orbiting the earth and ending with the back cover which uses a three-dimensional map to represent Wisconsin's population density, maps have a prominent place in the 2003-2004 Blue Book. Each of Wisconsin's 8 congressional districts, 33 senate districts, and 99 assembly districts are represented by newly designed 3-color maps which offer more detail and contrast than the maps appearing in previous editions. Assembly boundaries dividing larger municipalities are also shown on a series of detail maps. Tony Van Der Wielen and Dana Wolff, geographic information specialists with the Legislative Technology Services Bureau, deserve special recognition for their efforts in crafting the new maps. In addition, a special fold out map insert is included in the Blue Book. Designed by David Long of the APL, the 11 x 17 inch map supplements the data in the feature article and illustrates Wisconsin's population growth and density and highlights selected areas in the state that have experienced significant growth over the past decade.

We hope that these additions to the 2003-2004 Blue Book meet with your approval. As always, our goal has been to produce the most accurate and useful resource possible. We welcome your feedback on how well we have met our objective.

What makes Wisconsin unique? The information contained in the 2003-2004 Wisconsin Blue Book will help provide an answer. However, we leave it our readers to make the final determination.

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