The population of the Chippewa Valley is growing faster than the state’s as a whole, with Eau Claire County as a particular standout, according to new figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau. While the number of people in Wisconsin grew by just 1.5 percent between 2010 and 2015, the population of Eau Claire County went up 3.3 percent to an estimated 102,105 people. That’s the sixth-highest growth rate among the state’s 72 counties. Chippewa County grew 1.6 percent (to 63,531 residents) during the five-year period, while Dunn County grew 1.5 percent (to 44,497 people). The fact all three counties grew was an anomaly: The Census Bureau estimated that 39 – or more than one-half – of Wisconsin’s counties lost population between 2010 and 2015. The biggest decline came in Rusk County, where the population shrank 4.3 percent. Overall, the Census Bureau estimates there are 5.77 million people in Wisconsin. That’s a lot of badgers!