This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Most socially connected counties in Wisconsin
In today's digital age, social media platforms enable people to bridge geographic distances and connect with their friends, family, and community, no matter where they are. According to a 2022 Gallup and Meta study, at least 1 in 3 people across seven countries, including the U.S., said they used social media to interact with others at least once a day in the past week.
While social media has its drawbacks—such as pulling attention away from other tasks or fostering a problematic comparison culture—it remains a vital tool for helping people stay connected.
A majority of students in grades 3 to 12 said social media helped them develop relationships, learn social skills, and make a positive impact in their community, according to a 2024 report from The Social Institute.
Spokeo compiled a ranking of the most socially connected counties in Wisconsin using 2021 data from Facebook, based on a national analysis. County pairs were ranked by their social connectedness index, which measures the relative probability that two individuals across two locations are friends with each other on Facebook. The social connectedness index is a scaled value up to a billion. Larger indexes indicate a greater share of Facebook friends between county pairs.
#20. Lincoln County and Marathon County
- Lincoln County population: 28,405
- Marathon County population: 138,612
- Social connectedness index: 1,880,019
#19. Barron County and Rusk County
- Barron County population: 46,833
- Rusk County population: 14,143
- Social connectedness index: 2,091,041
#18. Pierce County and St. Croix County
- Pierce County population: 43,026
- St. Croix County population: 96,763
- Social connectedness index: 2,259,947
#17. Juneau County and Monroe County
- Juneau County population: 26,594
- Monroe County population: 46,151
- Social connectedness index: 2,516,508
#16. Adams County and Marquette County
- Adams County population: 21,449
- Marquette County population: 15,838
- Social connectedness index: 2,654,831
#15. Eau Claire County and Chippewa County
- Eau Claire County population: 107,903
- Chippewa County population: 66,970
- Social connectedness index: 2,712,377
#14. Langlade County and Forest County
- Langlade County population: 19,404
- Forest County population: 9,325
- Social connectedness index: 3,036,764
#13. Richland County and Vernon County
- Richland County population: 17,197
- Vernon County population: 31,170
- Social connectedness index: 3,202,290
#12. Green Lake County and Waushara County
- Green Lake County population: 19,344
- Waushara County population: 24,934
- Social connectedness index: 3,220,536
#11. Polk County and Burnett County
- Polk County population: 45,762
- Burnett County population: 17,092
- Social connectedness index: 3,224,172
#10. Oneida County and Vilas County
- Oneida County population: 38,226
- Vilas County population: 23,885
- Social connectedness index: 3,326,062
#9. Door County and Kewaunee County
- Door County population: 30,562
- Kewaunee County population: 20,690
- Social connectedness index: 3,652,611
#8. Clark County and Taylor County
- Clark County population: 34,774
- Taylor County population: 20,058
- Social connectedness index: 3,838,341
#7. Crawford County and Grant County
- Crawford County population: 15,944
- Grant County population: 51,409
- Social connectedness index: 3,893,623
#6. Jackson County and Trempealeau County
- Jackson County population: 20,855
- Trempealeau County population: 30,899
- Social connectedness index: 3,907,200
#5. Sawyer County and Washburn County
- Sawyer County population: 18,552
- Washburn County population: 16,930
- Social connectedness index: 4,020,784
#4. Lafayette County and Iowa County
- Lafayette County population: 16,945
- Iowa County population: 23,956
- Social connectedness index: 5,901,414
#3. Shawano County and Menominee County
- Shawano County population: 41,109
- Menominee County population: 4,226
- Social connectedness index: 11,789,954
#2. Bayfield County and Ashland County
- Bayfield County population: 16,769
- Ashland County population: 16,079
- Social connectedness index: 11,888,369
#1. Buffalo County and Pepin County
- Buffalo County population: 13,419
- Pepin County population: 7,441
- Social connectedness index: 11,956,333
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kayla Zhu, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 46 states.