Healthy People Wood County is a partnership of residents, hospitals, nonprofits, businesses, public health officials, and schools all aligning our energy to fight complex health problems together.
Alone none of us can overcome the challenges our communities face. Together we can achieve progress.
Join our coalition
Our Home
We're focused on Wood County, Wisconsin, home to 74,469 people across 809 square miles at the exact geographic center of Wisconsin. Our county is more rural than the state overall: 37% live in rural areas and 63% in cities like our county seat of Wisconsin Rapids. Most of the nation's cranberries come from Wisconsin, and Wood County boasts the most acres.
Though 94% of our county is white, we are home to strong Hmong, Ho-Chunk, and Amish communities. Wood County is part of treaty land that has been claimed historically by multiple tribes including the Ho-Chunk, Ojibwe, and Menominee Nations. Much of the land was taken through federal government treaties.
Wood County residents have a lower income and education than the state average, with 11% of our residents living in poverty.
We're Making an Impact
ALCOHOL & DRUGS
10,545 lbs of loose prescription drugs secured
Passed a "social host" ordinance in Wisconsin Rapids
E-cigarettes added to smoke-free laws
FOOD & ACTIVITY
18,314 lbs of local produce sold in schools
520 bike share checkouts
50 healthy options served by 10 local restaurants
HEALTHY GROWTH
Youth survey completed across county
421 youth reached with peer education
1,512 oral health screening packets distributed
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING
3,310 local residents trained in suicide prevention
Employee mental health resolution passed
700 local residents attended conferences
