Wisconsin Counties Magazine

WISCONSIN’S HISTORICAL GEMS
The July 2026 Wisconsin Counties highlights county-supported museums and historic sites that are connecting residents and visitors with our rich past and contributing to their local economies. It also includes articles on celebrating Juror Appreciation Month in September, citizens’ assemblies, levy limits and debt levies, and an intergenerational program in Sheboygan County.

See the July 2026 issue here. View the July 2026 issue as a PDF here.

BREAKING THROUGH THE NOISE: COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC IN TODAY’S WORLD
The June 2026 Wisconsin Counties focuses on how counties can use and adapt new channels to reach audiences with today’s changing technology and societal expectations. It also includes the 2026 WCA County Government History, Services and Funding brochure, and articles about June Dairy Month, the conservation legacy of Dr. Neil Payne, Milwaukee County’s beach transformation project, the state’s Fish and Wildlife Account, and conduit revenue bonds.

See the June 2026 issue here. View the June 2026 issue as a PDF here.

STOP THE SPREAD: JOINING FORCES AGAINST INVASIVE SPECIES
The May 2026 Wisconsin Counties showcases the coordinated efforts of counties, state agencies, and community partners to prevent and slow the spread of invasive plants, animals and pathogens that threaten ecosystems, infrastructure and local economies. It also includes highlights from the 2025-26 state legislative session, lessons learned from three southeastern counties after the devastating August 2025 floods, a discussion of the challenges facing Wisconsin agriculture, and a call to action for a task force to address the state’s high number of missing and murdered African American women and girls.

See the May 2026 issue here. View the May 2026 issue as a PDF here.

EXPANDING THE HOUSING LANDSCAPE 
Addressing the challenge of expanding housing supply and maintaining home values and affordability while navigating the state’s demographic changes will require state and local governments, developers, and local communities to collaborate. The April 2026 Wisconsin Counties looks at efforts being made statewide to take on that challenge.

It also features articles that provide insight into recent environmental health and civic engagement assessments in the state, highlights from the 2026 WCA Legislative Conference, a Research Room column on underemployment and a Legal Issues column on short-term rental regulation.

See the April 2026 issue here. View the April 2026 issue as a PDF here.

WISCONSIN AT WORK: SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURS
With the growing importance of entrepreneurship in today’s economy, the March issue explores what is happening at the state and local levels to support small businesses in counties across the state. The issue also includes stories on restoring northern pike habitat, the state’s federal BEAD program approval, and the Transportation Delivers campaign. The Uniquely Wisconsin column features Marathon and Washington counties. The Legal Issues column focuses on the role of corporation counsel.

See the March 2026 issue here. View the March 2026 issue as a PDF here.

THE WISCONSIN IDEA IN ACTION
With Wisconsin’s future depending on the strength of the institutions that generate new ideas, talent and solutions to complex challenges, the February 2026 issue of Wisconsin Counties turns its attention to the flagship of the state’s world-class university system. UW-Madison leaders were invited to share stories of recent groundbreaking initiatives and scientific advances that are improving lives, strengthening communities, and supporting economic growth across the state.

The issue also features Milwaukee County’s Wehr Nature Center, an analysis of how employment has rebounded from the pandemic, and an update on Innovation Grants.

See the February 2026 issue here. View the February 2026 issue as a PDF here.

THE FUTURE OF YOUTH JUSTICE: A BLUEPRINT OF STATEWIDE CARE
A new model for youth justice is emerging in Wisconsin. New and expanded state and county run facilities are opening in Racine, Milwaukee and Dane counties to provide better care for our youth, closer to home. In the January 2026 Wisconsin Counties, we walk through the status of these projects and the need for more funding.

The January issue also features a report on the need for county leadership in EMS systems, the interesting work of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, and several federal policy updates. The Uniquely Wisconsin column highlights Brown and Washington counties, while the legal update provides an overview of a new case before the U.S. Supreme Court on tax-foreclosed properties.

See the January 2026 issue here. View the January 2026 issue as a PDF here.