As the urban center of the region, Dane County is home to the state’s capital in the City of Madison, the University of Wisconsin flagship campus, the world-class Overture Center for the Arts, and an abundance of parks, lakes, and unique neighborhoods. Home to the fastest growing population of any county in Wisconsin, Dane County boasts a highly educated workforce to power its diverse and innovative industries. With assets in information technology, life sciences, and agriculture, Madison and Dane County consistently rank among the top communities for work and play.
Population
2010 Population: 488,073
2015 Population Estimate: 523,643
Labor Force
Labor Force Profile of Dane County
Major Employers
Top private-sector employers in Dane County include Epic Systems Corp, American Family Insurance, Covance Laboratories, CUNA Mutual, and Sub-Zero Inc.
Colleges & Universities
Edgewood College
Herzing University – Madison
Madison College
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Large Communities
- Madison (county seat): 242,216
- Sun Prairie: 31,810
- Fitchburg: 26,321
- Middleton: 18,810
- Stoughton: 12,698
- Waunakee: 12,901
- Verona: 11,871
- Oregon: 9,575
- DeForest: 9,223
- McFarland: 7,946
Economic Development Contact
Dane County Planning and Development Department
Carrie Springer
608-266-4576 | Email Carrie
Sources: U.S. Census; Wisconsin’s WORKnet; Municipality Population Estimates, Wisconsin Department of Administration, Demographic Services Center; Applied Geographic Solutions via LocateInWisconsin.
