Kewaunee County Quality of Life

In the fourth quarter of 2012, the University of Wisconsin Extension released a Kewaunee County Quality of Life Report. The report measures factors including health, community, recreation and leisure, and safety.  Among the highlights:

  • We are healthy.  Overall, the report found, residents’ health today the highest in the region and tenth in the state (out of 72 counties).  Plus, drug and alcohol hospitalizations are among the lowest in the state.  Prenatal care is also above average.  “Currently, Kewaunee County ranks first in the region with 93.7 percent of births where mothers received first trimester prenatal care,” concludes the report.
  • We have excellent recreation and leisure resources.    We are rich in natural resources, enjoyed by residents and tourists.  Visitor spending increased 19% from 2010-2011,” explains Claire Thompson, community development educator, UW Cooperative Extension, Kewaunee County, and contributor to the study.  “This is the fifth largest increase in the State.  In addition our parks and trails amenities rate highly as well.”  According to the report, our water quality is above average (with the lowest number of “impaired waters” in the region), and our air quality has improved significantly in recent years.
  • We have strong community and schools.  According to the report findings, third grade reading proficiency is the highest in the region and above the state average; tenth grade math proficiency is second in the region and also above the state average.  With an average of 80 percent of tenth grade students proficient or advanced in math, Kewaunee County ranks second in the five-county surrounding region and remains above the region average of 77 percent and well above the state average of 70 percent.

View the Kewaunee County Quality of Life Report 2012 

By: John Ingrisano