Difference between revisions of "Wisconsin" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{US state |
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{{Infobox U.S. state
Name = Wisconsin|
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| Name = Wisconsin
Fullname = State of Wisconsin |
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| Fullname = State of Wisconsin
Flag = Flag of Wisconsin.svg |
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| Flag = Flag of Wisconsin.svg
Flaglink = [[Flag of Wisconsin]] |
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| Flaglink = [[Flag of Wisconsin|Flag]]
Seal = Wisconsinstateseal.jpg |
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| Seal = Wisconsinstateseal.jpg
Seallink = [[Seal of Wisconsin]]|
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| Seallink = [[Seal of Wisconsin|Seal]]
Map = Map_of_USA_WI.svg |
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| Map = Map_of_USA_WI.svg
Nickname = Badger State, America's Dairyland |
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| Nickname = Badger State; America's Dairyland
Motto = Forward |
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| Motto = Forward
Capital = [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]] |
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| Former = Wisconsin Territory
OfficialLang = None |
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| Capital = [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]]
LargestCity = [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]] |
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| BorderingStates = [[Illinois]], [[Iowa]], [[Michigan]], <br /> [[Minnesota]]
Governor = [[James Doyle, Jr.]] (D)|
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| OfficialLang = '''[[De jure]]''': None<br/>'''[[De facto]]''': [[English language|English]]
Senators = [[Herb Kohl]] (D)<br />[[Russ Feingold]] (D) |
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| Demonym = [[List of U.S. state residents names|Wisconsinite, Sconnie]]
AreaRank = 23<sup>rd</sup> |
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| LargestCity = [[Milwaukee]]
TotalArea = 169,790 |
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| LargestCounty = [[Marathon County, Wisconsin|Marathon County]]
TotalAreaUS = 65,498|
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| LargestMetro = Milwaukee <br>metropolitan area
LandArea = 140,787 |
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| Governor = [[Tony Evers]] (D)
LandAreaUS = 54,310|
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| Lieutenant Governor = [[Mandela Barnes]] (D)
WaterArea = 28,006 |
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| Legislature = [[Wisconsin Legislature]]
WaterAreaUS = 11,188|
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| Upperhouse = [[Wisconsin Senate|Senate]]
PCWater = 17 |
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| Lowerhouse = [[Wisconsin State Assembly|State Assembly]]
Latitude = 42°&#8202;30′ N to 47°&#8202;05′ N |
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| Senators = [[Ron Johnson (Wisconsin politician)|Ron Johnson]] (R)<br />[[Tammy Baldwin]] (D)
Longitude = 86°&#8202;46′ W to 92°&#8202;53′ W |
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|Representative=5 Republicans, 3 Democrats
PopRank = 20<sup>th</sup> |
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| AreaRank = 23<sup>rd</sup>
|population_as_of = 2006
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| TotalAreaUS = 65,497.82
|population_note = 5,363,675 |
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| TotalArea = 169,639
|population_total = 5,556,506 |
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| LandArea = 140,663
DensityRank = 24<sup>th</sup> |
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| PCWater = 17
2000Pop = 5,363,675 |
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| Latitude = 42° 37′ N to 47° 05′ N
2000Density = 38.13 |
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| Longitude = 86° 46′ W to 92° 53′ W
2000DensityUS = 98.8 <!--census.gov —> |
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| PopRank = 20<sup>th</sup>
MedianHouseholdIncome = $47,220 |
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| population_note =
  IncomeRank = 15<sup>th</sup> |
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| population_total = 5,686,986
AdmittanceOrder = 30<sup>th</sup> |
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| DensityRank = 23rd
AdmittanceDate = May 29, 1848 |
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| 2000Pop = 5,893,718<ref name=2020Census>[https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0400000US55 Wisconsin] ''United States Census Bureau''. Retrieved March 7, 2022.</ref>
TimeZone = [[Central Standard Time Zone|Central]]: [[UTC]]-6/[[Daylight saving time|-5]] |
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| 2000Density = 41
Width = 420 |
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| 2000DensityUS = 108.8
WidthUS =260 |
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| MedianHouseholdIncome = $64,168<ref name=2020Census/>
Length = 500 |
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| IncomeRank = 21st
LengthUS = 310 |
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| AdmittanceOrder = 30th
HighestPoint = [[Timms Hill]]<ref name="usgs2005">{{cite web|year=29 April 2005|url=http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest|title=Elevations and Distances in the United States|publisher=U.S Geological Survey|accessdate=2006-11-09}}</ref> |
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| AdmittanceDate = May 29, 1848
HighestElev = 595 |
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| TimeZone = [[Central Standard Time Zone|Central]]: [[UTC]]-6/[[Daylight saving time|-5]]
HighestElevUS = 1,951 |
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| Width = 420
MeanElev = 320 |
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| WidthUS =260
MeanElevUS = 1,050 |
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| Length = 500
LowestPoint = [[Lake Michigan]]<ref name="usgs2005"/> |
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| LengthUS = 310
LowestElev = 77 |
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| HighestPoint = [[Timms Hill]]<ref name=NAVD88>Elevation adjusted to [[North American Vertical Datum of 1988]].</ref>
LowestElevUS = 579 |
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| HighestElev = 595
ISOCode = US-WI |
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| HighestElevUS = 1,951
PostalAbbreviation = WI |
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| MeanElev = 320
TradAbbreviation = Wis.|
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| MeanElevUS = 1,050
Website = www.wisconsin.gov
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| LowestPoint = [[Lake Michigan]]<ref name=NAVD88/>
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| LowestElev = 176
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| LowestElevUS = 579
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| ISOCode = US-WI
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| PostalAbbreviation = WI
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| TradAbbreviation = Wis.
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| Website = www.wisconsin.gov
 
}}
 
}}
{{portal|Wisconsin}}
 
  
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'''Wisconsin''', one of the 50 United States of America, is located near the center of the [[North America|North American]] [[continent]] and touches two of the five [[Great Lakes]]; [[Lake Superior]] and [[Lake Michigan]]. Its capital city is Madison, and its largest city is Milwaukee.
  
'''Wisconsin''' is a [[state]] located near the center of the [[North America|North American]] [[continent]].  It touches two of the five [[Great Lakes]] and is one of the fifty [[U.S. state|states]] that constitute the [[United States of America]].  Wisconsin's [[capital]] is [[Madison]], and its largest city is [[Milwaukee]].
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Bordered by the states of [[Iowa]], [[Minnesota]], [[Michigan]] and [[Illinois]], Wisconsin has been part of [[United States]] territory since the end of the [[American Revolutionary War|American Revolution]]; the [[Wisconsin Territory]] (which included parts of other current states) was formed on July 3, 1836. Wisconsin ratified its constitution on March 13, 1848, and was admitted, with its current boundaries, to the Union on May 29, 1848, as the 30th state.  
  
Wisconsin, bordered by the states of [[Iowa]], [[Minnesota]], [[Michigan]] and [[Illinois]], as well as Lakes [[Lake Michigan|Michigan]] and [[Lake Superior|Superior]], has been part of United States territory since the end of the [[American Revolutionary War|American Revolution]]; the [[Wisconsin Territory]] (which included parts of other current states) was formed on July 3, 1836.  Wisconsin ratified its [[Wisconsin Constitution|constitution]] on March 13, 1848, and was admitted to the Union on May 29, 1848, as the 30th state.  The state's southern boundary line was originally drawn at the southern-most tip of Lake Michigan, but politics intervened during the debates of the [[Northwest Ordinance]], repositioning the line to its current location {{Fact|date=May 2007}}.
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The state's economy was originally based on [[farming]] (especially dairy), [[mining]], and [[lumbering]]. In the twentieth century, many people living on farms began commuting to jobs elsewhere. Large-scale industrialization began in the late nineteenth century in the southeast of the state, with the city of Milwaukee as its center.  
 
 
Wisconsin's economy was originally based on [[farming]] (especially dairy), [[mining]], and [[lumbering]]. In the 20th century, many people living on farms began commuting to jobs elsewhere. Large-scale industrialization began in the late 19th century in the southeast of the state, with the city of [[Milwaukee]] as its center. In recent decades, [[service industry|service industries]], especially medicine and education, have become dominant.  Wisconsin's landscape, largely shaped by the [[Wisconsin glaciation]] of the last [[Ice Age]], makes the state popular for both tourism and many forms of outdoor recreation.
 
 
 
Since its founding, Wisconsin has been ethnically heterogeneous, with settlers arriving from New York and New England. They dominated the state's heavy industry, finance, politics, and education. Large numbers of European [[immigrants]] followed them, including [[German people|Germans]], mostly between 1850 and 1900, [[Scandinavia]]ns (the largest group being Norwegian) and smaller groups of [[Belgium|Belgians]], [[Dutch (ethnic group)|Dutch]], [[Swiss (people)|Swiss]], [[Finland|Finns]], [[Irish people|Irish]] and others; in the 20th century, large numbers of [[Poles]] and [[Negro|descendants of slaves]] came, settling mainly in Milwaukee. 
 
 
 
Today, 42.6% of the population is of German ancestry, making Wisconsin one of the most [[German-American]] states in the [[United States]]. Numerous [[ethnic]] [[festival]]s are held throughout Wisconsin to celebrate its heritage.  Some are world renowned, including [[Festa Italiana]], Bastille Days, [[Syttende Mai]] (Norwegian Constitution Day), [[Summerfest]], African World Festival, Indian Summer, and [[Irish Fest]], among others.
 
 
 
During the period of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Wisconsin was a [[History of the United States Republican Party|Republican]] and Union stronghold.  Ethno-religious issues in the late 19th century caused a brief split in the Republican coalition.  Through the first half of the 20th century, Wisconsin's politics were dominated by [[Robert M. La Follette, Sr.|Robert La Follette]] and his sons, originally of the [[Republican Party of Wisconsin|Republican Party]], but later of their own [[Progressive Party (United States, 1924)|Progressive Party]].  Since 1945, the state has maintained a close balance between Republicans and [[Democratic Party of Wisconsin|Democrats]].  Republican Senator [[Joe McCarthy]] was a major national figure in the early 1950s.  
 
  
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Today, just under half of the population is of German ancestry, making Wisconsin one of the most German-American states in the United States. Numerous ethnic festivals are held throughout the state to celebrate its heritage. Its landscape, largely shaped by the [[Wisconsin glaciation]] of the last [[Ice age]], makes the state popular for both tourism and many forms of outdoor recreation.
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{{toc}}
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Wisconsin is well-respected for its excellent public school system, and well-known for its colorful political history, including the well-known Senator [[Joseph McCarthy|Joe McCarthy]], a controversial figure in 1950s America.
  
 
==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
It may come from the [[Ojibwe]] word ''Miskwasiniing'', meaning "Red-stone place," which was probably the name given to the [[Wisconsin River]], and was recorded as ''Ouisconsin'' by the French and changed to its current form by the English. The modern Ojibwe name, however, is ''Wiishkoonsing'' or ''Wazhashkoonsing'', meaning "muskrat-lodge place" or "little muskrat place." Other theories are that the name comes from words meaning "Gathering of the Waters" or "Great Rock." ''Wisconsin'' originally was applied to the Wisconsin River, and later to the area as a whole when Wisconsin became a territory.
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The name ''Wisconsin'' may come from the [[Ojibwe]] word ''Miskwasiniing,'' meaning "Red-stone place," which was probably the name given to the [[Wisconsin River]], and was recorded as ''Ouisconsin'' by the French and changed to its current form by the English. The modern Ojibwe name, however, is ''Wiishkoonsing'' or ''Wazhashkoonsing,'' meaning "muskrat-lodge place" or "little muskrat place." Other theories are that the name comes from words meaning "Gathering of the Waters" or "Great Rock." ''Wisconsin'' originally was applied to the Wisconsin River, and later to the area as a whole when Wisconsin became a territory.
  
 
==Geography==
 
==Geography==
Wisconsin is bordered by [[Lake Superior]] and [[Michigan]] to the north; by [[Lake Michigan]] to the east; by [[Illinois]] to the south; and by [[Iowa]] and [[Minnesota]] to the west. The state's boundaries include the [[Mississippi River]] and [[St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota)|St. Croix River]] in the west, and the [[Menominee River]] in the northeast. With its location between the [[Great Lakes]] and the Mississippi River, Wisconsin is home to a wide variety of geographical features. The state is divided into five distinct regions. In the north, the [[Lake Superior Lowland]] occupies a belt of land along Lake Superior. Just to the south, the [[Northern Highland]] has massive mixed hardwood and coniferous forests including the 1.5 million acre (6,070 km²) [[Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest]], as well as thousands of glacial lakes, and the state's highest point, [[Timms Hill]] at 1951 feet (595 meters). In the middle of the state, the [[Central Plain (Wisconsin)|Central Plain]] possesses some unique sandstone formations and gorges like the scenic [[Wisconsin Dells]] in addition to rich farmland. The [[Eastern Ridges and Lowlands]] region in the southeast is home to many of Wisconsin's largest cities. In the southwest, the [[Western Upland]] is a rugged landscape with a mix of forest and farmland, including many bluffs on the [[Mississippi River]].  This region is part of the [[Driftless Area]], which also includes portions of [[Iowa]], [[Illinois]], and [[Minnesota]].  This area was not covered by [[glacier]]s during the most recent ice age, the [[Wisconsin Glaciation]].[[Image:Bluff.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Driftless Area]] of southwestern Wisconsin is characterized by bluffs carved in [[sedimentary]] rock by water from melting [[Ice Age]] glaciers.]] Overall, 46% of Wisconsin's land area is covered by forest.
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[[Image:Bluff.jpg|thumb|400px|The Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin is characterized by bluffs carved in [[sedimentary]] rock by water from melting [[Ice Age]] glaciers.]]
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[[Image:Wisconsin Countryside.jpg|thumb|400px|Wisconsin Countryside]]
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[[Image:Wisconsin spring.jpg|thumb|400px|Begining of spring in Wisconsin.]]
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Wisconsin is bordered by [[Lake Superior]] and [[Michigan]] to the north; by [[Lake Michigan]] to the east; by [[Illinois]] to the south; and by [[Iowa]] and [[Minnesota]] to the west. The state's boundaries include the [[Mississippi River]] and [[St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota)|St. Croix River]] in the west, and the [[Menominee River]] in the northeast. With its location between the [[Great Lakes]] and the Mississippi River, Wisconsin is home to a wide variety of geographical features.  
  
The varied landscape of Wisconsin makes the state a popular vacation destination for outdoor recreation. Winter activities include skiing, ice fishing, and snowmobile derbies. Wisconsin has many lakes of varied size; in fact Wisconsin contains 11,188 [[square mile]]s (28,977&nbsp;[[square kilometer|km²]]) of water, more than all but three other states ([[Alaska]], [[Michigan]] & [[Florida]]). The distinctive [[Door Peninsula]], which extends off the eastern coast of the state, contains one of the state's most beautiful tourist destinations, [[Door County]]. The area draws thousands of visitors yearly to its quaint villages, seasonal cherry picking, and ever-popular [[fish boil]]s.
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The state is divided into five distinct regions. In the north, the [[Lake Superior Lowland]] occupies a belt of land along Lake Superior. Just to the south, the [[Northern Highland]] has massive mixed hardwood and [[conifer]]ous forests including the 1.5 million acre (6,070 km²) [[Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest]], as well as thousands of glacial lakes, and the state's highest point, [[Timms Hill]] at 1951 feet (595 meters). In the middle of the state, the [[Central Plain (Wisconsin)|Central Plain]] possesses some unique [[sandstone]] formations and gorges like the scenic [[Wisconsin Dells]], in addition to rich farmland. The [[Eastern Ridges and Lowlands]] region in the southeast is home to many of Wisconsin's largest cities. In the southwest, the [[Western Upland]] is a rugged landscape with a mix of forest and farmland, including many bluffs on the [[Mississippi River]]. This region is part of the [[Driftless Area]], which also includes portions of [[Iowa]], [[Illinois]], and [[Minnesota]]. This area was not covered by [[glacier]]s during the most recent ice age, the [[Wisconsin Glaciation]]. Overall, 46 percent of Wisconsin's land area is covered by [[forest]].
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The varied landscape of Wisconsin makes the state a popular vacation destination for outdoor recreation. Winter activities include skiing, ice fishing, and snowmobile derbies. Wisconsin has many lakes of varied size; in fact Wisconsin contains 11,188 square miles (28,977 sq km) of water, more than all but three other states ([[Alaska]], [[Michigan]] & [[Florida]]). The distinctive [[Door Peninsula]], which extends off the eastern coast of the state, contains one of the state's most beautiful tourist destinations, [[Door County]]. The area draws thousands of visitors yearly to its quaint villages, seasonal cherry picking, and ever-popular [[fish boil]]s.
  
 
Areas under the management of the [[National Park Service]] include the following:
 
Areas under the management of the [[National Park Service]] include the following:
Line 87: Line 93:
  
 
===Climate===
 
===Climate===
 
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Wisconsin's climate is great for growing crops, with a wet season falling in spring and summer, bringing with it almost two-thirds of yearly precipitation, averaging between 30 to 36 inches (760 - 914 mm) annually. It brings cold snowy [[winter]]s. The highest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin was 114°F (46 ºC) in the Wisconsin Dells, on July 13, 1936. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin, –55°F (-48 ºC), was in Couderay, on both February 2 and 4, 1996.
Wisconsin's climate is great for growing crops with a wet season falling in spring and summer, bringing with it almost two-thirds of yearly precipitation, averaging between 30 to 36 inches (760 - 914 mm) annually. It brings cold snowy [[winter]]s. The highest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin was 114°F (46 ºC) in the Wisconsin Dells, on July 13, 1936. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin, –55°F (-48 ºC), was in Couderay, on both February 2 and 4, 1996.<ref name="uwexclimate">{{cite web|url=http://www.uwex.edu/sco/stateclimate.html|title=Climate of Wisconsin|accessdate=2007-03-16||last=Benedetti|first=Michael|publisher=The University of Wisconsin-Extension}}</ref>
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
'''NOTE -'''  Please look at this site [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Wisconsin wiki Wisconsin] and see if you want to use any of it. Since it is wikipedia, it can be copied & pasted word for word, in sections or in whole.  
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[[Image:Jean Nicolet.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Painting of [[Jean Nicolet]]'s 1634 "discovery" of Wisconsin]]
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The first known inhabitants of what is now Wisconsin were the [[Paleo-Indians]], who first arrived in the region in about 10,000 B.C.E. They used primitive weapons to hunt animals such as [[mammoth]]s and [[mastodon]]s. The Boaz mastodon, and the [[Clovis culture|Clovis]] artifacts discovered in the city of Boaz, show that hunting was the primary occupation for these people. The [[Plano culture]] began to dominate Wisconsin around 7000 B.C.E., as the last [[glacier]]s retreated from the state. During the [[Archaic stage]], from 6,000 – 1,000 B.C.E., Wisconsin was inhabited by the Boreal Archaic and the Old Copper Indians. People during this time lived in small groups or bands, and continued to depend on hunting for their existence.
  
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In the 1600s, Wisconsin was inhabited by [[Algonquian]] tribes, the [[Menominee]] and others. They were joined by Siouan tribes, including the [[Winnebago]] and Iowa. Later groups included the [[Potawatomi]] and [[Chippewa]] ([[Ojibwa]]).
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[[Image:White Cloud1.jpg|thumb|300px|Wabokieshiek (White Cloud) Ho-Chunk prophet]]
  
[[Image:Jean Nicolet.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Painting of [[Jean Nicolet]]'s 1634 discovery of Wisconsin]]
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In 1634, Frenchman [[Jean Nicolet]] became Wisconsin's first [[Europe]]an explorer, landing at Red Banks, near modern-day [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] in search of a passage to the Orient. The French controlled the area until it was ceded to the British in 1763 as a result of the [[French and Indian War]].
The first known inhabitants of what is now Wisconsin were the [[Paleo-Indians]], who first arrived in the region in about 10,000 B.C.E. They used primitive weapons to hunt animals such as mammoths and mastodons. The Boaz [[mastodon]], and the [[Clovis culture|Clovis]] artifacts discovered in [[Boaz, Wisconsin]], show that hunting was the primary occupation for these people. The [[Plano culture]]  began to dominate Wisconsin around 7000 B.C.E., as the last glaciers retreated from the state. During the [[Archaic stage]], from 6,000 – 1,000 B.C.E., Wisconsin was inhabited by the Boreal Archaic and the Old Copper Indians. People during this time lived in small groups or bands, and continued to depend on hunting for their existence.
 
  
In the 1600s, Wisconsin was inhabited by Algonquian tribes, the Menominee and others. They were joined by Siouan tribes, including the Winnebago and Iowa. later groups included the Potatawatomie and chippewa/ojibewa
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===Indian removal===
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As white settlers became numerous in the area, a number of battles with the [[Native American|Native peoples]] occurred. The [[Winnebago|Winnebago War]] in the spring of 1826 and the Black Hawk War of 1832 are just two.
  
In 1634, Frenchman [[Jean Nicolet]] became Wisconsin's first European explorer, landing at Red Banks, near modern-day [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] in search of a passage to the Orient. The French controlled the area until it was ceded to the British in 1763 as a result of the French and Indian War.
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Yellow Thunder (Ho-chunk name ''Wahkanjahzeegah,'' born in 1774) was a chief of the Ho-Chunk Winnebago tribe. Historians state that he and his fellow chiefs were persuaded to sign their lands over to whites without realizing what they were doing. After signing over their lands, in what is now the area of Green Bay, the tribe was given eight months to leave. Yellow Thunder and other chiefs traveled to [[Washington, D.C.]] in 1837 to assert their claims, but President [[Andrew Jackson]] would not meet with them. Yellow Thunder and his people refused to move, and in 1840, troops arrived to force them to do so.  
  
Wisconsin was part of the [[Northwest Territory]] from 1788 to 1800. It was then governed as part of [[Indiana Territory]] (1800-1809), [[Illinois Territory]] (1809-1818), and [[Michigan Territory]] (1818-1836).<ref name="whscreation">{{cite web |url= http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-014/?action=more_essay|title=The Creation of Wisconsin Territory|accessdate=2007-03-16|publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society}}</ref> Settlement began when the first two public land offices opened in 1834.<ref name="whsgeneral">{{cite journal |last=Kmetz|first=Deborah|year=1995|title=U.S. General Land Office Survey Plat Maps|journal=Exchange|volume= 37|issue=3|url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/localhistory/articles/plat_maps.asp|accessdate= 2007-03-16}}</ref> [[Wisconsin Territory]] was organized on July 3, 1836, and it became the 30th state on May 29 1848.
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Through a series of moves imposed by the U.S. government in the nineteenth century, all Native tribes in Wisconsin were moved to reservations in Wisconsin, as well as to  [[Minnesota]], [[South Dakota]], [[Kansas]], and [[Nebraska]].
  
The state mineral is [[galena]], also known as lead sulfide, the foundation of Wisconsin's early mining history. Many town names, such as [[Mineral Point, Wisconsin|Mineral Point]], reflect the period from the 1820s to the 1840s, when Wisconsin was an important mining state. When treaties with native tribes opened up southwest Wisconsin to settlement, thousands of miners — many of them immigrants from [[Cornwall]], [[England]] — joined the "lead rush" to the area. At that time, Wisconsin produced more than half of the nation's lead; [[Belmont, Wisconsin|Belmont]], in the lead region, was briefly the state capital. By the 1840s, the easily accessible deposits were worked out, and experienced miners were drawn away to the [[California Gold Rush]]. This period of mining before and during the early years of statehood led to the state's nickname, the "Badger State." Many miners and their families lived in the mines in which they worked until adequate above-ground shelters were built, and were thus compared to [[badger]]s.<ref name="badgers">{{cite web|title=Badger Notables: Badger Nickname|publisher=UWBadgers.com - The Official Web Site of Badger Athletics|url=http://www.uwbadgers.com/traditions/notables_120.html|accessdate=2006-10-22}}</ref>
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===Mining===
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Wisconsin was part of the [[Northwest Territory]] from 1788 to 1800. It was then governed as part of [[Indiana Territory]] (1800-1809), [[Illinois Territory]] (1809-1818), and [[Michigan Territory]] (1818-1836). Settlement began when the first two public land offices opened in 1834. [[Wisconsin Territory]] was organized on July 3, 1836, and it became the 30th state on May 29, 1848.
  
[[Image:Wisconsinfarm.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Wisconsin farm]]
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The state mineral is [[galena]], also known as lead sulfide, the foundation of Wisconsin's early mining history. Many town names, such as [[Mineral Point, Wisconsin|Mineral Point]], reflect the period from the 1820s to the 1840s, when Wisconsin was an important mining state. When treaties with native tribes opened up southwest Wisconsin to settlement, thousands of miners—many of them immigrants from [[Cornwall]], [[England]]—joined the "lead rush" to the area. At that time, Wisconsin produced more than half of the nation's [[lead]]; [[Belmont, Wisconsin|Belmont]], in the lead region, was briefly the state capital. By the 1840s, the easily accessible deposits were worked out, and experienced miners were drawn away to the [[California Gold Rush]]. This period of mining before and during the early years of statehood led to the state's nickname, the "Badger State." Many miners and their families lived in the mines in which they worked until adequate above-ground shelters were built, and were thus compared to [[badger]]s.
In the 1830-60 period, large numbers of European Americans from New England and New York flocked to Wisconsin.  New York was the leading dairy state in the US at the time; emigrants from there brought with them the skills needed for dairy farming, and butter and cheese production.<ref name="whsrise">{{cite web|title=The Rise of Dairy Farming|publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society|url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-028/?action=more_essay|accessdate=2007-03-16}}</ref>
 
  
Other New Englanders and New Yorkers settled in towns or cities where they set up businesses, factories, mills, banks, schools, libraries, colleges, and voluntary societies. They founded many [[Congregational church|Congregational]], Presbyterian, and Methodist churches that still exist. The immigrants formed the Republican party in 1854&mdash;the first local meeting in the country was held in [[Ripon, Wisconsin|Ripon]]. They gave strong support to the Civil War effort, as well as to reforms such as abolition, women's suffrage, and especially, prohibition.
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===Further settlement===
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In the 1830-1860 period, large numbers of European Americans from [[New England]] and [[New York]] flocked to Wisconsin. New York was the leading dairy state in the US at the time; emigrants from there brought with them the skills needed for dairy farming, and butter and cheese production.
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[[Image:Wisconsinfarm.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Wisconsin farm]]
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Other New Englanders and New Yorkers settled in towns or cities where they set up businesses, factories, mills, banks, schools, libraries, colleges, and voluntary societies. They founded many [[Congregational church|Congregational]], Presbyterian, and Methodist churches that still exist. The immigrants formed the [[Republican Party]] in 1854—the first local meeting in the country was held in [[Ripon, Wisconsin|Ripon]]. They gave strong support to the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] effort, as well as to reforms such as [[abolitionism|abolition]], [[women's suffrage]], and especially, [[prohibition]].
  
Large numbers of Germans arrived leading, in a short time to the state becoming over one-third German. Most became farmers; others moved to Milwaukee and smaller cities, setting up breweries and becoming craftsmen, machinists, and skilled workers who were in high demand as the state industrialized. The Germans were split along religious lines. Most Germans were Catholic or Lutheran, with some Lutherans forming the [[Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod|Wisconsin Synod]] and others joining the [[Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod|Missouri Synod]]. The [[Catholics]] and [[Lutherans]] created their own network of parochial schools, through grade eight. Smaller numbers of Germans were Methodists, Jews, or Freethinkers (especially intellectual refugees). Politically they tended toward the Democratic party, but 30-40% voted Republican. Whenever the Republicans seemed to support prohibition, the immigrant vote shifted toward the Democrats. When nativist Republicans, led by Governor William Hoard, passed the [[Bennett Law]] in 1889 banning instruction in the German language, German-Americans revolted and helped elect the Democrats in 1890. In [[World War I]], German culture came under heavy attack in Wisconsin. Senator LaFollette became their protector and Germans strongly supported his wing of the Republican party after that.
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Large numbers of [[Germany|Germans]] arrived leading, in a short time, to the state becoming over one-third German. Most became farmers; others moved to Milwaukee and smaller cities, setting up breweries and becoming craftsmen, machinists, and skilled workers who were in high demand as the state industrialized. The Germans were split along [[religion|religious]] lines. Most Germans were Catholic or Lutheran, with some Lutherans forming the [[Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod|Wisconsin Synod]] and others joining the [[Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod|Missouri Synod]]. The [[Catholic]]s and [[Lutheranism|Lutherans]] created their own network of parochial schools, through grade eight. Smaller numbers of Germans were Methodists, [[Jew]]s, or Freethinkers (especially intellectual refugees). Politically they tended toward the Democratic party, but 30-40 percent voted Republican. Whenever the Republicans seemed to support [[Prohibition on alcohol (United States)|prohibition]], the immigrant vote shifted toward the Democrats. When nativist Republicans, led by Governor William Hoard, passed the [[Bennett Law]] in 1889 banning instruction in the German language, German-Americans revolted and helped elect the Democrats in 1890. In [[World War I]], German culture came under heavy attack in Wisconsin. Senator LaFollette became their protector and Germans strongly supported his wing of the Republican party after that.
  
Scandinavians comprise the third largest ethnic block, with Norwegians, Danes, Swedes, and Finns becoming farmers and lumberjacks in the western and northern districts. A large Danish settlement in Racine was the only large urban presence. The great majority were Lutheran, of various synods. The Scandinavians supported Prohibition and voted Republican; in the early 20th century they were the backbone of the LaFollette movement. Irish Catholics came to Milwaukee and Madison and smaller cities as railroad workers and quickly became prominent in local government and in the Democratic party. They wrestled with the German Catholics for control of the Catholic church in the state.
+
[[Scandinavia]]ns comprise the third largest ethnic block, with Norwegians, Danes, Swedes, and Finns becoming farmers and lumberjacks in the western and northern districts. A large Danish settlement in Racine was the only large urban presence. The great majority were Lutheran, of various synods. The Scandinavians supported Prohibition and voted Republican; in the early twentieth century they were the backbone of the LaFollette movement. Irish Catholics came to Milwaukee and Madison and smaller cities as railroad workers and quickly became prominent in local government and in the Democratic party. They wrestled with the German Catholics for control of the Catholic Church in the state.
  
==Demographics==
+
==Law and government==
[[Image:Wisconsin population map.png|thumb|right|200px|Wisconsin Population Density Map]]
+
[[Image:Capitol Madison, WI.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison.]]
 +
The state capital of Wisconsin is Madison, which was created in 1836 when former federal judge [[James Duane Doty]] purchased over a thousand acres (4 sq km) of swamp and forest land on the isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona. It is also the county seat of Dane County and the home to the [[University of Wisconsin&ndash;Madison]].
  
The state has always been ethnically [[heterogeneous]]. Large numbers of [[Germans]] arrived between 1850 and 1900, centering in [[Milwaukee]], but also settling in  many small cities and farm areas in the southeast. [[Norwegians]] settled in lumbering and farming areas in the northwest. Small colonies of [[Belgians]], [[Swiss]], [[Finns]] and other groups came to the state. Irish Catholics mostly came to the cities. After 1900, [[Poland|Polish]] immigrants came to Milwaukee, followed by [[African Americans]] from 1940 on.
+
Being named for the much-admired [[Founding Fathers of the United States|founding father]] [[James Madison]], who had just died, and having streets named for each of the 39 signers of the Constitution helped voters make the decision on its status as capital.
  
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2006, Wisconsin has an estimated population of 5,556,506, which is an increase of 28,862, or 0.5%, from the prior year and an increase of 192,791, or 3.6%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 144,051 people (that is 434,966 births minus 290,915 deaths) and an increase from net migration of 65,781 people into the state. [[Immigration to the United States|Immigration]] from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 56,557 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 9,224 people. The top 5 states with a net increase of migration into Wisconsin are 1) Illinois, 2) California, 3) Indiana 4) New York and 5) Pennsylvania.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}  The [[center of population]] of Wisconsin is located in [[Green Lake County, Wisconsin|Green Lake County]], in the city of [[Markesan, Wisconsin|Markesan]].<ref name="uscb2002">{{cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt|title=Population and Population Centers by State: 2000|accessdate=2007-03-16|date=2002-05-20|format=TXT|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
+
===Politics===
 
+
Much of the state's political history involves coalitions among different ethnic groups. The most famous controversy dealt with foreign language teaching in schools. This was fought out in the [[Bennett Law]] campaign of 1890, when the Germans switched to the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] because of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party's]] support of the Bennett Law, which led to a major victory for the Democrats.
As of 2004, there are 229,800 foreign-born residents in the state (4.2% of the state population), and an estimated 41,000 [[Illegal immigration to the United States|undocumented workers]] living in the state, accounting for 18% of the foreign-born population.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
 
{{US Demographics}}
 
The five largest ancestry groups in Wisconsin are: [[German-American|German]] (42.6%), [[Irish American|Irish]] (10.9%), [[Polish-American|Polish]] (9.3%), [[Norwegian-American|Norwegian]] (8.5%), [[English American|English]] (6.5%)
 
 
 
Wisconsin, with many cultural remnants of its heavy German settlement, is known as perhaps the most "[[German-American]]" state in the Union. People of Scandinavian descent, especially [[Norwegian-American|Norwegians]], are heavily concentrated in some western parts of the state. Wisconsin has the highest percentage of residents of Polish ancestry of any state. Menominee County is the only county in the eastern half of the United States with a Native American majority.
 
  
86% of Wisconsin's African American population lives in its five cities: [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]], [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]], [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], [[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]] and [[Beloit, Wisconsin|Beloit]]. Milwaukee is home to nearly three-fourths of the state's African Americans.  Milwaukee ranks in the top 10 major U.S. cities with the highest number of African Americans per capita.  In the [[Great Lakes]] region, only [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]] and [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]] have a higher percentage of African Americans.  
+
The cities of Wisconsin have been active in organizing themselves to provide for greater government transparency by increasing the availability of legislative information on the internet. Wisconsin cities began to make this a priority, following the lead of Milwaukee in 2001.  
  
33% of Wisconsin's Asian population is [[Hmong people|Hmong]], with significant communities in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]], [[Wausau, Wisconsin|Wausau]], [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]], [[Sheboygan, Wisconsin|Sheboygan]], [[Appleton, Wisconsin|Appleton]], [[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La Crosse]], [[Stevens Point, Wisconsin|Stevens Point]], [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], and [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]].
+
===Political history and leanings===
 +
[[Image:Birthplace of the US Republican Party 2.jpg|thumb|400px|right|The Little White Schoolhouse of Ripon]]
 +
Wisconsin has a rich political history encompassing, on one end of the spectrum, [[Robert M. La Follette, Sr.|"Fighting Bob" La Follette]] and the [[Progressive movement]]; and on the other, [[Joseph McCarthy|Joe McCarthy]], the disgraced Republican senator censured by the [[United States Senate|Senate]] during the 1950s.  
  
6.4% of Wisconsin's population was reported as under 5, 25.5% under 18, and 13.1% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.6% of the population.
+
In the early twentieth century, the [[Socialist Party of America]] had a base in Milwaukee (the phenomenon was referred to as [[sewer socialism]] because the socialists were more concerned with public works and reform than with revolution); it faded by the late 1950s, largely due to the [[Second Red Scare|red scare]] and racial tensions. <ref>Kevin D. Smith, "From Socialism to Racism: The Politics of Class and Identity in Postwar Milwaukee," ''Michigan Historical Review'' 29(1) (Spring 2003): 71-95</ref> The first [[Socialism|Socialist]] mayor of a major US city was [[Emil Seidel]], elected mayor of Milwaukee in 1910; another Socialist, [[Daniel Hoan]], was mayor of Milwaukee from 1916 to 1940; and a third, [[Frank P. Zeidler]], from 1948-1960. Socialist [[Journalism|newspaper editor]] [[Victor Berger]] was repeatedly elected as a U.S. Representative, although he was prevented from serving for some time due to his opposition to the [[First World War]].
  
===Religion===
+
[[William Proxmire]], a Democratic Senator (1957-1989), dominated the Democratic party for years; he was best known for attacking waste and [[fraud]] in federal spending. Democrat [[Russ Feingold]] was the only [[United States Senate|Senator]] to vote against the [[Patriot Act]] in 2001. Democrat [[Tammy Baldwin]] from Madison was the first openly [[lesbianism|lesbian]] U.S. Representative. In 2004, [[Gwen Moore]], a Democrat from [[Milwaukee]], became Wisconsin's first [[African-American]] U.S. Representative.
The largest denominations are Roman Catholic, [[Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod|Missouri Synod]], [[Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod|Wisconsin Synod]] and [[ELCA]] Lutherans. The religious affiliations of the people of Wisconsin are shown in the list below:<ref name="carroll2000">{{cite book|last=Carroll|first=Brett E.||title=The Routledge Historical Atlas of Religion in America|series=Routledge Atlases of American History|date=2000-12-28|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=0415921376}}</ref>
 
* [[Christianity|Christian]] – 85%
 
** [[Protestantism|Protestant]] – 55% ([[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]–23%, [[Methodism|Methodist]]–7%, [[Baptist]]–6%, [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]]–2%, [[United Church of Christ]]–2%, Other Protestant or general Protestant–15%)
 
** [[Roman Catholicism in the United States|Roman Catholic]] – 29%
 
** Other Christian – 1%
 
* Other Religions – 1%
 
* Non-Religious – 14%
 
  
 
==Economy==
 
==Economy==
[[Image:Milwaukee at night.jpg|thumb|280px|The [[U.S. Bank Center]] in [[Milwaukee]] is Wisconsin's tallest skyscraper.]]
 
[[Image:Wisconsin quarter, reverse side, 2004.jpg|50px|left]]
 
According to the 2004 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report, Wisconsin’s gross state product was $211.7 billion. The per capita personal income was $32,157 in 2004.
 
 
The economy of Wisconsin is driven by [[manufacturing]], [[agriculture]],  and [[health care]]. Although manufacturing accounts for a far greater part of the state's income than farming, Wisconsin is still seen as a farming state.  Wisconsin ranks second behind California in overall production of milk and butter, it ranks third in per-capita milk production, behind [[Idaho]] and [[Vermont]], and leads the nation in chese preoduction.<ref name="fmma2002">{{cite news|title=2001 Milk Production|url=http://www.fmmacentral.com/PDFdata/msb0202.pdf|format=PDF|work=Marketing Service Bulletin|publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]]|date=February 2002|accessdate=2007-03-16}}</ref> Based on poll results, Governor Jim Doyle chose for Wisconsin's [[50 State Quarters]] design a Holstein cow, an ear of corn, and a wheel of cheese.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=173693| title=Doyle flips decision, puts cow on quarter| last=Walters| first=Steven| work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel| accessdate=2007-03-30}}</ref>  Wisconsin ranks first in the production of [[Maize|corn]] for [[silage]], [[Cranberry|cranberries]], [[ginseng]], and [[green bean|snap beans]] for processing. Wisconsin is also a leading producer of [[oat]]s, [[potato]]es, [[carrot]]s, tart [[Cherry|cherries]], [[maple syrup]], and [[sweet corn]] for processing.
 
 
Given Wisconsin's strong agricultural tradition, it is not surprising that a large part of the state's manufacturing sector deals with food processing. Some well known food brands produced in Wisconsin include [[Oscar Mayer]], [[Tombstone (pizza)|Tombstone]]  frozen pizza, [[Johnsonville Foods|Johnsonville]] [[bratwurst|brats]], and [[Fred Usinger|Usinger's sausage]]. [[Kraft Foods]] alone employs over 5,000 people in the state. Milwaukee is a major producer of [[beer]] and the home of [[Miller Brewing Company]]'s world headquarters, the nation's second-largest brewer.  [[Schlitz]], [[Blatz]], and [[Pabst]] used to be cornerstone breweries within the city of [[Milwaukee]].  Today, Milwaukee's economy is more diverse with an emphasis on health care. In 2004, four of the city's ten largest employers (including the top two) were part of the health care industry.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=281548| title=Out of steam: Decline of railroad sidetracked hopes of many| last=Schmid| first=John| date=2004-12-06| accessdate=2007-05-18| work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}}</ref>
 
 
 
{| class="toccolours" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin:0 0 1em 1em; font-size: 95%; clear:right;"
 
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Wisconsin is also home to several transportation equipment and machinery manufacturers. Major Wisconsin companies in these categories include the [[Kohler Company]], [[Rockwell Automation]], [[Johnson Controls]], [[Briggs & Stratton]], [[Miller Electric]], [[Milwaukee Electric Tool Company]], [[Oshkosh Truck]], and [[Harley-Davidson]]. Wisconsin also ranks first nationwide in the production of [[paper]] products; the lower [[Fox River (Wisconsin)|Fox River]] from [[Lake Winnebago]] to the [[Bay of Green Bay]] has 24 paper mills along its 39-mile (63 km) stretch. The largest paper companies with operations in Wisconsin are [[Kimberly-Clark Corporation|Kimberly-Clark]] and [[Georgia-Pacific]], both of which rank among the state's top ten employers.
+
The economy of Wisconsin is driven by [[manufacturing]], [[agriculture]], and [[health care]]. Although manufacturing accounts for a far greater part of the state's income than farming, Wisconsin is still seen as a farming state. Wisconsin ranks second behind [[California]] in overall production of [[milk]] and [[butter]], it ranks third in per-capita milk production, behind [[Idaho]] and [[Vermont]], and leads the nation in [[cheese]] production.  
 +
[[Image:Wisconsin quarter, reverse side, 2004.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Wisconsin state quarter.]]
  
The development and manufacture of health care devices and software is a growing sector of the state's economy with key players such as [[GE Healthcare]], [[Epic Systems Corporation|Epic Systems]], and [[TomoTherapy]].
+
Based on poll results, Governor Jim Doyle chose for Wisconsin's [[50 State Quarters]] design a Holstein cow, an ear of corn, and a wheel of cheese. Wisconsin ranks first in the production of [[Maize|corn]] for [[silage]], [[Cranberry|cranberries]], [[ginseng]], and [[green bean|snap beans]] for processing. Wisconsin is also a leading producer of [[oat]]s, [[potato]]es, [[carrot]]s, tart [[Cherry|cherries]], [[maple syrup]], and [[sweet corn]] for processing.  
 
Tourism is also a major industry in Wisconsin — the state's third largest, according to the Department of Tourism.  This is largely attributed to the 90 attractions in the [[Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin|Wisconsin Dells]] family vacation destination area, which attracts nearly 3 million visitors per year. Tourist destinations such as the [[House on the Rock]] near [[Spring Green, Wisconsin|Spring Green]] and [[Circus World Museum]] in [[Baraboo, Wisconsin|Baraboo]] also draw thousands of visitors annually, and festivals such as [[Summerfest]] and the [[Oshkosh Airshow|EAA Oshkosh Airshow]] draw national attention along with hundreds of thousands of visitors.
 
  
Wisconsin collects personal [[income tax]] based on four income-level brackets, which range from 4.6% to 6.75%. The state [[sales tax|sales]] and [[use tax]] rate is 5%. Fifty-nine counties have an additional sales/use tax of 0.5%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.revenue.wi.gov/esd/cotax07.html|title=County Sales Tax Distribution-2007|accessdate=2007-03-24|date=2007-03-06|publisher=Wisconsin Department of Revenue}}</ref> The counties surrounding [[Milwaukee County]] have an additional 0.5% tax imposed upon them to fund the new [[baseball]] stadium, [[Miller Park]], which was constructed around the turn of the century.  Retailers who make sales subject to applicable county taxes must collect 5.5% tax on their retail sales.  
+
Given Wisconsin's strong agricultural tradition, it is not surprising that a large part of the state's manufacturing sector deals with food processing. Some well known food brands produced in Wisconsin include [[Oscar Mayer]], [[Tombstone (pizza)|Tombstone]] frozen pizza, [[Johnsonville Foods|Johnsonville]] [[bratwurst|brats]], and [[Fred Usinger|Usinger's sausage]]. [[Kraft Foods]] alone employs over 5,000 people in the state.  
  
The most common property tax assessed on Wisconsin residents is the real [[property tax]], or their residential property tax. Wisconsin does not impose a property tax on vehicles but does levy an annual registration fee. Property taxes are the most important tax revenue source for Wisconsin's local governments, as well as major methods of funding school districts, vocational technical colleges, special purpose districts and tax incremental finance districts. Equalized values are based on the full market value of all taxable property in the state, except for agricultural land. In order to provide property tax relief for farmers, the value of agricultural land is determined by its value for agricultural uses, rather than for its possible development value. Equalized values are used to distribute state aid payments to counties, municipalities, and technical colleges. Assessments prepared by local assessors are used to distribute the property tax burden within individual municipalities.
+
Milwaukee is a major producer of [[beer]] and the home of [[Miller Brewing Company]]'s world headquarters, the nation's second-largest brewer. [[Schlitz]], [[Blatz]], and [[Pabst]] used to be cornerstone breweries within the city of [[Milwaukee]]. Today, Milwaukee's economy is more diverse with an emphasis on health care.  
  
Wisconsin does not assess a tax on [[intangible property]]. Wisconsin does not collect [[inheritance tax]]es. Wisconsin's [[estate tax]] is decoupled from the federal estate tax laws; therefore the state imposes its own estate tax on certain large estates [http://www.revenue.wi.gov/faqs/ise/estate.html#ret3].
+
Wisconsin is also home to several transportation equipment and machinery manufacturers. Major Wisconsin companies in these categories include the [[Kohler Company]], [[Rockwell Automation]], [[Johnson Controls]], [[Briggs & Stratton]], [[Miller Electric]], [[Milwaukee Electric Tool Company]], [[Oshkosh Truck]], and [[Harley-Davidson]]. Wisconsin also ranks first nationwide in the production of [[paper]] products; the lower [[Fox River (Wisconsin)|Fox River]] from [[Lake Winnebago]] to the [[Bay of Green Bay]] has 24 paper mills along its 39-mile (63 km) stretch. The largest paper companies with operations in Wisconsin are [[Kimberly-Clark Corporation|Kimberly-Clark]] and [[Georgia-Pacific]], both of which rank among the state's top ten employers.
  
==Law and government==
+
The development and manufacture of health care devices and software is a growing sector of the state's economy with key players such as [[GE Healthcare]], [[Epic Systems Corporation|Epic Systems]], and [[TomoTherapy]].  
The capital is [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]].   
+
   
[[Image:Capitol Madison, WI.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The [[Wisconsin State Capitol]]]]
+
Tourism is also a major industry in Wisconsin—the state's third largest, according to the Department of Tourism. This is largely attributed to the 90 attractions in the [[Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin|Wisconsin Dells]] family vacation destination area, which attracts nearly 3 million visitors per year. Tourist destinations such as the [[House on the Rock]] near [[Spring Green, Wisconsin|Spring Green]] and [[Circus World Museum]] in [[Baraboo, Wisconsin|Baraboo]] also draw thousands of visitors annually, and festivals such as [[Summerfest]] and the [[Oshkosh Airshow|EAA Oshkosh Airshow]] draw national attention along with hundreds of thousands of visitors.
  
'''State Executive Officers'''
+
==Education==
*Governor: [[James Doyle, Jr.]]
+
Wisconsin has a proud tradition of progressive education and has been touted as one of the best places in the country to do business. According to ''Inc.'' Magazine, "The quality of the state's public education system" is at the top of the list of factors contributing to the state's success. <ref>Joel Kotkin, [http://www.inc.com/magazine/20050501/report-greenbay.html Everyone's a Knowledge Worker] ''Inc.com'', May 2005. Retrieved March 7, 2022.</ref>
*Lieutenant Governor: [[Barbara Lawton]]
 
*Attorney General: [[J.B. Van Hollen]]
 
*Secretary of State: [[Douglas LaFollette]]
 
*Treasurer: [[Dawn Marie Sass]]
 
* State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster
 
''See also:''
 
* [[Wisconsin Constitution]]
 
* [[Governors of Wisconsin]]
 
* [[Wisconsin State Legislature]]
 
** [[Wisconsin State Senate]]
 
** [[Wisconsin State Assembly]]
 
* [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]]
 
* [[U.S. Congressional Delegations from Wisconsin]]
 
** List of [[U.S. Senators from Wisconsin]]
 
  
===Politics===
+
Wisconsin's first public school opened its doors in 1845. Today, the state's education system is divided into approximately 426 public school districts, each governed by an elected board. These public schools serve nearly 880,000 students. Private elementary and secondary schools enroll about 148,000 students, and another 21,000 are home schooled.  
[[Image:Birthplace of the US Republican Party 2.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The Little White Schoolhouse of Ripon]]
 
Much of the state's political history involves coalitions among different ethnic groups. The most famous controversy dealt with foreign language teaching in schools. This was fought out in the [[Bennett Law]] campaign of 1890, when the Germans switched to the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] because of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party's]] support of the Bennett Law, which led to a major victory for the Democrats.
 
  
The cities of Wisconsin have been active in organizing themselves to provide for greater government transparency by increasing the availability of legislative information on the internet. Currently three out of the top five most populous cities in Wisconsin provide their constituents with internet based access of all public records directly from the cities’ databases. Wisconsin cities started to make this a priority after [[Milwaukee]] began doing so, [http://legistar.milwaukee.gov/mattersearch/ in 2001.  [[Madison]] has been named the [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/cnet/2006-12-01-wired-cities_x.htm Number 1 digital city by the Center for Digital Government] in consecutive years.  Nearly 18 percent of Wisconsin’s population has the ability to access information in this way.
+
Wisconsin considers the quality of primary education among its greatest attributes. Their schools account for five of the top 10 school districts in the nation and eight of the top 20. Education is clearly a priority, and is deemed instrumental in the success of its businesses.  
  
Wisconsin last supported a Republican presidential candidate in 1986. Both the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections were close in Wisconsin, long considered a swing state. Al Gore carried the presidential vote in 2000 by 5,700 votes, and John Kerry won the state in 2004 by 11,000 votes.  The City of [[Milwaukee]] itself heads the list of Wisconsin's Democratic strongholds which also includes [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]] and the state's [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] [[indian reservations|reservations]].  WIsconsin's largest Congressional district, the 7th Congressional district has been a strong Democratic hold since 1969, and has re-elected Congressman David Obey with 62% of the vote. Rep. Obey chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
+
===Colleges and universities===
 +
[[Image:Chapman Hall.jpg|thumb|300px|University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.]]
 +
Wisconsin, along with [[Michigan]] and [[Minnesota]], was among the Midwestern leaders in the emergent American state university movement following the US [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. By the turn of the century, [[education]] in the state advocated the "Wisconsin Idea," which emphasized service to the people and epitomized progressive movements within colleges and universities at the time.  
  
==Political history==
+
Today, public education in Wisconsin includes both
Wisconsin has a rich political history political history encompassing, on one end of the spectrum, [[Robert M. La Follette, Sr.|"Fighting Bob" La Follette]] and the [[Progressive movement]]; and on the other, [[Joseph McCarthy|Joe McCarthy]], the disgraced Republican senator censured by the [[United States Senate|Senate]] during the 1950s.  In the early 20th century, the [[Socialist Party of America]] had a base in Milwaukee (the phenomenon was referred to as [[sewer socialism]] because the socialists were more concerned with public works and reform than with revolution); it faded by the late 1950s, largely due to the [[Second Red Scare|red scare]] and racial tensions.<ref name="smith2003">{{cite journal|last=Smith|first=Kevin D.|date=Spring 2003|title=From Socialism to Racism: The Politics of Class and Identity in Postwar Milwaukee|journal=Michigan Historical Review|volume=29|issue=1|pages=71-95|}}</ref>  The first Socialist mayor of a major US city was [[Emil Seidel]], elected mayor of Milwaukee in 1910; another Socialist, [[Daniel Hoan]], was mayor of Milwaukee from 1916 to 1940; and a third, [[Frank P. Zeidler]], from 1948-1960. Socialist [[newspaper editor]] [[Victor Berger]] was repeatedly elected as a U.S. Representative, although he was prevented from serving for some time due to his opposition to the [[First World War]].
+
*the 26-campus [http://www.uwsa.edu/ University of Wisconsin System], headquartered in Madison, and  
 +
*the [http://www.wtcsystem.edu/colleges Wisconsin Technical College System] with 16 colleges and 49 campuses
  
[[William Proxmire]], a Democratic Senator  (1957-89) dominated the Democratic party for years; he was best known for attacking waste and fraud in federal spending. Democrat [[Russ Feingold]] was the only [[United States Senate|Senator]] to vote against the [[Patriot Act]] in 2001. Democrat [[Tammy Baldwin]] from Madison was the first, and is currently the only, openly lesbian U.S. Representative.<ref name="bull1999">{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Bull|title=Take a seat - openly lesbian Representative Tammy Baldwin|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_1999_Feb_16/ai_53877986|work=[[The Advocate]]|publisher=LPI Media|date=1999-02-16|accessdate=2007-03-16 }}</ref>  In 2004, [[Gwen Moore]], a Democrat from [[Milwaukee]], became Wisconsin's first, and currently only, African-American U.S. Representative.
+
Notable private colleges and universities include
The 2006  Democrats gained in a national sweep of opposition to the Bush administration, and the Iraq War.
+
*[http://www.marquette.edu/ Marquette University],  
 +
*[http://www.msoe.edu/ Milwaukee School of Engineering],
 +
*[http://www.mcw.edu/MCW Medical College of Wisconsin],  
 +
*[http://www.beloit.edu/ Beloit College], and
 +
*[http://www.lawrence.edu/ Lawrence University].
  
== Important cities and villages ==
+
==Demographics==
[[Image:Wisconsin-counties-map.gif|thumb|350px|right|Wisconsin counties]]
+
Wisconsin has always been ethnically [[heterogeneous]]. Large numbers of [[Germans]] arrived between 1850 and 1900, centering in [[Milwaukee]], but also settling in  many small cities and farm areas in the southeast. [[Norwegians]] settled in lumbering and farming areas in the northwest. Small colonies of [[Belgians]], [[Swiss]], [[Finns]] and other groups came to the state. Irish Catholics mostly came to the cities. After 1900, [[Poland|Polish]] immigrants came to Milwaukee, followed by [[African Americans]] from 1940 on.
Wisconsin's self-promotion as "America's Dairyland" sometimes leads to a mistaken impression that it is an exclusively rural state. However, Wisconsin contains cities and towns of all sizes, and over 68% of Wisconsin residents live in urban areas.<ref name="wi2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.doa.state.wi.us/docs_view2.asp?docid=418|title=Number and Percent of Total Population by Urban/Rural Categories for Wisconsin Counties: April 1, 2000|accessdate=2007-03-16|last=Naylor|format=PDF|publisher=State of Wisconsin, Department of Administration}}</ref> [[Milwaukee]] is slightly larger than [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]] and is the beginning of a largely developed string of cities that stretches down the western edge of Lake Michigan into greater Chicago and also into northwestern Indiana. Milwaukee is also the 22nd-largest city in the country,<ref name="daviscity">{{cite news|first=Chase|last=Davis|coauthors=Rick Romell|title=City drops out of top 20|url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=337561|work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|publisher=[[Journal Communications]]|accessdate=2007-03-16}}</ref> with around 580,000 inhabitants. This string of cities along the western edge of Lake Michigan is generally considered to be an example of a [[Megacity|megalopolis]]. Madison's dual identity as state capital and college town gives it a cultural richness unusual in a city its size. Madison is also a very fast-growing city, that has around 220,000 people. Medium-size cities dot the state and anchor a network of working farms surrounding them. [[Political subdivisions of Wisconsin#City|Cities]] and [[Political subdivisions of Wisconsin#Village|villages]] are incorporated urban areas in Wisconsin. [[Political subdivisions of Wisconsin#Town|Towns]] are unincorporated [[civil division]]s of [[Political subdivisions of Wisconsin#County|counties]].
 
  
Cities in Wisconsin with population of 50,000 or more (as of the 2005 census estimate) include:
+
The five largest ancestry groups in Wisconsin at the beginning of the twenty-first century are: [[German-American|German]], [[Irish American|Irish]], [[Polish-American|Polish]], [[Norwegian-American|Norwegian]], and [[English American|English]].
* [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]], population 578,887 (1,709,926 in [[Milwaukee metropolitan area|metropolitan area]]), largest city
+
[[Image:Milwaukee at night.jpg|thumb|400px|right|The U.S. Bank Center in Milwaukee is Wisconsin's tallest skyscraper.]]
* [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], population 221,551 (588,885 in metropolitan area), state capital
+
Wisconsin, with many cultural remnants of its heavy German settlement, is known as perhaps the most "German-American" state in the Union. People of [[Scandinavia]]n descent, especially [[Norwegian-American|Norwegians]], are heavily concentrated in some western parts of the state. Wisconsin has the highest percentage of residents of Polish ancestry of any state. Menominee County is the only county in the eastern half of the United States with a [[Native American]] majority.
* [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]], population 101,203 (295,473 in metropolitan area)
 
* [[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]], population 95,240, part of the [[Chicago metropolitan area]]
 
* [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]], population 85,855, part of the [[Milwaukee metropolitan area]]
 
* [[Appleton, Wisconsin|Appleton]], population 70,217 (213,102 in metropolitan area)
 
* [[Waukesha, Wisconsin|Waukesha]], population 67,658 part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area
 
* [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin|Oshkosh]], population 63,485 (159,008 in metropolitan area)
 
* [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]], population 62,570 (148,337 in metropolitan area)
 
* [[Janesville, Wisconsin|Janesville]], population 61,962 (154,794 in metropolitan area)
 
* [[West Allis, Wisconsin|West Allis]], population 58,798, part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area
 
* [[Sheboygan, Wisconsin|Sheboygan]], population 51,017
 
* [[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La Crosse]], population 50,287 (128,592 in metropolitan area)
 
  
{{see_also|List of municipalities in Wisconsin by population|Political subdivisions of Wisconsin}}
+
Milwaukee ranks in the top 10 major U.S. [[City|cities]] with the highest number of African Americans per capita. In the [[Great Lakes]] region, only [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]] and [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]] have a higher percentage of African Americans. Eighty-six percent of the state's African American population lives in its five cities: [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]], [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]], [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], [[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]] and [[Beloit, Wisconsin|Beloit]]. Milwaukee is home to nearly three-fourths of the state's African Americans.
  
==Education==
+
Wisconsin has a large [[Hmong people|Hmong]] population, with significant communities in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]], [[Wausau, Wisconsin|Wausau]], [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]], [[Sheboygan, Wisconsin|Sheboygan]], [[Appleton, Wisconsin|Appleton]], [[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La Crosse]], [[Stevens Point, Wisconsin|Stevens Point]], [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], and [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]].
[[Image:Chapman Hall.jpg|thumb|200px|[[University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee]]]]
 
===Colleges and universities===
 
  
Wisconsin, along with Michigan and Minnesota, was among the [[Midwestern]] leaders in the emergent American state university movement following the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] in the United States.  By the turn of the century, education in the state advocated the "[[Wisconsin Idea]]," which emphasized purpose for service to the people and epitomized progressive movements within colleges and universities at the time. <ref name=nye>{{cite book
+
===Religion===
  | last = Rudolph
+
The largest [[Religion|religious]] denominations are [[Roman Catholic]], [[Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod|Missouri Synod]], [[Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod|Wisconsin Synod]] and [[ELCA]] Lutherans.  
  | first = Frederick
 
  | authorlink =  
 
  | coauthors =  
 
  | title = The American College and University:  A History.
 
  | publisher = [[The University of Georgia Press, Athens and London]]
 
  | series =
 
  | year = 1990
 
  | doi =
 
  | isbn = }}</ref> Today, public education in Wisconsin includes both the 26-campus [[University of Wisconsin System]], headquartered in Madison, and the 16-campus [[Wisconsin Technical College System]] which coordinates with the University of Wisconsin.  Notable private colleges and universities include [[Marquette University]], [[Milwaukee School of Engineering]], [[Medical College of Wisconsin]], [[Beloit College]], and [[Lawrence University]], among others.  
 
 
 
*{{Seealso|List of colleges and universities in Wisconsin}}
 
*{{Seealso|List of high schools in Wisconsin}}
 
*{{Seealso|List of school districts in Wisconsin}}
 
  
== Sports ==
+
=== Important cities and villages ===
{{main|Sports in Wisconsin}}
+
Wisconsin's self-promotion as "America's Dairyland" sometimes leads to a mistaken impression that it is an exclusively rural state. However, over 68 percent of Wisconsin residents live in urban areas. Milwaukee is slightly larger than [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]] and is the first of a string of cities stretching down the western edge of [[Lake Michigan]] into greater Chicago and on into northwestern Indiana.
Wisconsin is represented by major league teams in the three most popular spectator sports in the United States: American football, baseball, and basketball. [[Lambeau Field]], located in [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]] is home to the [[National Football League]]'s [[Green Bay Packers]]. The Packers have been part of the NFL since the league's second season in 1921 and currently hold the record for the most NFL titles, earning the city of Green Bay the nickname "Titletown."  The Green Bay Packers are one of the most successful small-market professional sports franchises in the world.  The city fully supports their team, as evidenced by the 60,000 person waiting list for season tickets to Lambeau Field, which is referred to as the "frozen tundra" and is considered by many football enthusiasts to be "hallowed ground."  Such a strong fan following brings strong ratings during national [[Monday Night Football]]. The [[University of Wisconsin-Madison]] Badgers football program, playing at [[Camp Randall Stadium]], enjoys similar loyalty; both teams are known to sell out their entire schedules far in advance. The [[Milwaukee Brewers]], the state's only major league baseball team, are based out of [[Miller Park]] in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]. Before Miller Park was opened in the year 2001, the Brewers played their home games at [[County Stadium]]. In 1982, the Brewers won the American League Championship, marking their most successful season. The [[Milwaukee Bucks]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] play home games at the [[Bradley Center]]. The Bucks won the NBA Championship in 1971.
 
  
In addition to professional teams, Wisconsin is home to many successful college sports programs. The [[Wisconsin Badgers]], teams based out of the [[University of Wisconsin-Madison]], hold many [[NCAA]] division championship titles in their respective sports. This includes a historic dual-championship in 2006 when both the women's and men's hockey teams won national titles. The Wisconsin Football team has also seen much success after the hiring of [[Barry Alvarez]] as head coach. Alvarez lead the Badgers to three [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]] victories, including back to back victories in the years 1999 and 2000.
+
Madison's dual identity as state capital and college town gives it a cultural richness unusual in a city its size. It is also a very fast-growing city.  
  
The [[Marquette University|Marquette]] [[Marquette Golden Eagles|Golden Eagles]] of the [[Big East Conference]] are the state's other major collegiate program. They are known nationally for their Men's [[Basketball]] team which, led by [[Dwyane Wade]], appeared in the Final Four in 2003.
+
Medium-size cities dot the state and anchor a network of working farms surrounding them. Cities and villages are incorporated urban areas in Wisconsin. Towns are unincorporated civil divisions of counties.
  
 
==Miscellaneous topics==
 
==Miscellaneous topics==
[[USS Wisconsin|USS ''Wisconsin'']] was named in honor of this state.
+
{{readout||right|250px|Famous for its [[cheese]], Wisconsin is known as "America's Dairyland" and its residents are often called "cheeseheads"}}
 +
[[Image:BrettFavre.jpg|thumb|300px|Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers, 2006.]]
 +
[[Image:Milwaukee Art Museum.jpg|thumb|right|400px|The Milwaukee Art Museum.]]
 +
[[Image:Taliesin600.jpg|thumb|400px|[[Frank Lloyd Wright]]'s Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin.]]
 +
Known as "America's Dairyland," Wisconsin is also known for [[cheese]]. Citizens of Wisconsin are referred to as Wisconsinites, although a common nickname (sometimes used pejoratively) among non-residents is "[[Cheesehead]]s," because of the prevalence and quality of cheesemaking in the state. That insult was turned around show pride, particularly in their football team, the [[Green Bay Packers]], whose supporters often wear wedge-shaped foam cheesehead hats. The hats were first created in 1987 by Ralph Bruno who made the first hat from the foam in a cushion. They are now recognizable in the United States and around the world.<ref>Cassidy Armbruster, [https://en.as.com/en/2021/12/01/nfl/1638327465_196656.html Why are the Green Bay Packers called cheeseheads?] ''NFL'', November 30, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2022.</ref>
  
[[Image:Milwaukee Art Museum.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Milwaukee Art Museum]]
+
Lambeau Field, located in Green Bay, is home to the [[National Football League]]'s [[Green Bay Packers]]. The Packers have been part of the NFL since the league's second season in 1921 and currently hold the record for the most NFL titles, earning the city of Green Bay the nickname "Titletown." The Green Bay Packers are one of the most successful small-market professional sports franchises in the world. The city fully supports their team, as evidenced by the 60,000 person waiting list for season tickets to Lambeau Field, which is referred to as the "frozen tundra" and is considered by many football enthusiasts to be "hallowed ground."
  
Known as "America's Dairyland," Wisconsin is also known for [[cheese]]. Citizens of Wisconsin are referred to as Wisconsinites, although a common nickname (sometimes used pejoratively) among non-residents is "[[Cheesehead]]s," because of the prevalence and quality of cheesemaking in the state, and for the novelty hats made of yellow foam in the shape of a triangular block of cheese made popular by the fans of the state's professional football team. [[Cheese curds]] are an extremely popular treat, exported as gifts throughout the country.  The state is also known for its alcohol production and consumption, and it is historically home to a large number of breweries and bars per capita. A lesser known, but still significant nickname for Wisconsin is "The Copper State," referring to the copper mines in the northwestern part of the state.  
+
The state is also known for its alcohol production and consumption, and it is historically home to a large number of breweries and bars per capita. A lesser known, but still significant nickname for Wisconsin is "The Copper State," referring to the copper mines in the northwestern part of the state.  
  
Wisconsin is very popular for outdoor activities especially hunting and fishing. One of the most popular game animals is the [[Whitetail deer]]. In 2005, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reported the population of Wisconsin's deer herd to be about 1.4-1.5 million. It is common for over 600,000 deer hunting licenses to be sold each year.<ref name="wdnr2005">{{cite press release|title=A Chronology Of Wisconsin Deer Hunting From Closed Seasons To Antlerless Permits|publisher=Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources|date=2005-11-12|url=http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/news/rbnews/2005/111205scr4.htm|accessdate=2007-03-16}}</ref> Visitors to Wisconsin during the Thanksgiving holiday will see many hunters in rural areas wearing [[blaze orange]] gear for Wisconsin's gun-deer hunting season.
+
Outdoor activities are popular in Wisconsin, especially hunting and fishing. One of the most popular game animals is the [[Whitetail deer]]. In 2005, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reported the population of Wisconsin's deer herd to be about 1.4-1.5 million. It is common for over 600,000 deer hunting licenses to be sold each year.  
  
[[Image:Taliesin600.jpg|thumb|250px|Frank Lloyd Wright's [[Taliesin (studio)|Taliesin]] in Spring Green, Wisconsin]]
+
The Milwaukee Art Museum is known for its unique architecture.<ref>[https://mam.org/ Milwaukee Art Museum]. Retrieved March 7, 2022.</ref> The Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens cover over 200 acres (800,000 m²) of land on the far west side of the city.<ref>[http://www.milwaukeezoo.org/ Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens]. Retrieved March 7, 2022.</ref> Madison is home to the Henry Vilas Zoo which is free for all visitors,<ref>[http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Henry Vilas Zoo]. Retrieved  March 7, 2022.</ref> and the Olbrich Botanical Gardens conservatory,<ref>[http://www.olbrich.org/ Olbrich Botanical Gardens]. Retrieved March 7, 2022.</ref> as well as the hub of cultural activity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  
The [[Milwaukee Art Museum]] in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]] is known for its unique architecture. The [[Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens]] cover over 200 acres (800,000 m²) of land on the far west side of the city. Madison is home to the [[Henry Vilas Zoo|Vilas Zoo]] which is free for all visitors, and the [[Olbrich Gardens]] conservatory, as well as the hub of cultural activity at the [[University of Wisconsin-Madison]]. It is also known for [[Monona Terrace]], a convention center that was designed by Taliesin Architect Anthony Puttnam, based loosely on a 1930s design by [[Frank Lloyd Wright]], a world-renowned architect and Wisconsin native who was born in [[Richland Center, Wisconsin|Richland Center]].<ref>[http://www.purecontemporary.com/Interview/article/11 Pure Contemporary interview] with Anthony Puttnam</ref> Wright's home and studio in the 20th century was at [[Taliesin (studio)|Taliesin]], south of Spring Green. Decades after Wright's death, Taliesin remains an architectural office and school for his followers.
 
  
Wisconsin has sister-state relationships with the Germany's [[Hesse]], Japan's [[Chiba Prefecture]], Mexico's [[Jalisco]], China's [[Heilongjiang]], and [[Nicaragua]].<ref name="iw2006">{{cite web|url=http://international.wi.gov/SisterStates.html|title=Sister-States and Cities|accessdate=2007-03-16|date=2006-03-20||publisher=International Wisconsin}}</ref>
+
It is also known for Monona Terrace, a convention center that was originally designed in 1938 by [[Frank Lloyd Wright]], the world-renowned [[Architecture|architect]] born in [[Richland Center, Wisconsin|Richland Center]]. Wright reworked the design several times before his death in 1959, but the building was not completed until 1997. Wright's design was used for the exterior, while the interior Of Monoma Terrace was designed by former Wright apprentice Anthony Puttnam of Taliesin Associated Architects.<ref>[https://www.mononaterrace.com/about-us/ Monona Terrace]. Retrieved March 7, 2022.</ref> Wright's home and studio in the twentieth century was at [[Taliesin (studio)|Taliesin]], south of Spring Green. Decades after Wright's death, Taliesin remains an architectural office and school for his followers and a popular destination for fans of Wright's unique contribution to architecture.
  
 +
Wisconsin has sister-state relationships with the Germany's [[Hesse]], Japan's [[Chiba Prefecture]], Mexico's [[Jalisco]], China's [[Heilongjiang]], and [[Nicaragua]].
  
 +
==Notes==
 +
<references/>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
+
* Barone, Michael, and Richard E. Cohen. ''The Almanac of American politics, 2006 the senators, the representatives, and the governors: their records and election results, their states and districts.'' Washington, DC: National Journal, 2005. ISBN 0892341122
 +
* Carroll, Brett E. ''The Routledge Historical Atlas of Religion in America, Routledge Atlases of American History.'' Routledge, 2000. ISBN 0415921376
 +
* Current, Richard Nelson. ''Wisconsin: A Bicentennial History.'' New York: Norton, 1977. ISBN 0393056244
 +
* Holmes, Fred L. ''Wisconsin stability, progress, beauty.'' Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1946.
 +
* Janik, Erika. ''A Short History of Wisconsin.'' Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2010. ISBN 978-0870204401
 +
* Nesbit, Robert C. ''Wisconsin: A History.'' Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1973. ISBN 0299063704
 +
* Peirce, Neal R., and John Keefe. ''The Great Lakes States of America people, politics, and power in the five Great Lakes States.'' New York: Norton, 1980. ISBN 0393056198
 +
* Quaife, Milo Milton. ''Wisconsin: Its history and its people 1634-1924.'' Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1924.
 +
* Raney, William Francis. 1940. ''Wisconsin: A story of progress.'' New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1940.
 +
* Sisson, Richard, Christian K. Zacher, and Andrew R. L. Cayton. ''The American Midwest an interpretive encyclopedia.'' Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2007. ISBN 0253348862
 +
* Vogeler, Ingolf. ''Wisconsin: A geography.'' Geographies of the United States. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1986. ISBN 0865314926
  
==Bibliography==
+
==External links==
<div class="references-small">
+
All links retrieved May 17, 2023.
* Michael Barone and Richard E. Cohen. ''The Almanac of American Politics, 2006'' (2005)
+
* ''State of Wisconsin''. [http://www.wisconsin.gov/Pages/home.aspx America's Dairyland].
* Richard Current, ''Wisconsin: A History'' (2001)
+
* ''University of Wisconsin Digital Collections''. [http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI The State of Wisconsin Collection].  
* Larry Gara; ''A Short History of Wisconsin'' 1962
+
* ''Wisconsin Historical Society''. [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/ Wisconsin Historical Images].
* Holmes, Fred L. ''Wisconsin'' (5 vols., Chicago, 1946), detailed popular history and many biographies
 
* Robert C. Nesbit, ''Wisconsin: A History'' (rev. ed. 1989)
 
* Pearce, Neil. ''The Great Lakes States of America'' (1980)
 
* Quaife, Milo M. ''Wisconsin, Its History and Its People, 1634-1924'' (4 vols., 1924), detailed popular history & biographies
 
* Raney, William Francis. ''Wisconsin: A Story of Progress'' (1940)
 
* Arthur H. Robinson and J. B. Culver, ed., ''The Atlas of Wisconsin'' (1974)
 
* Richard Sisson ed. ''The American Midwest: An Interpretive Encyclopedia'' (2006)
 
* I. Vogeler, ''Wisconsin: A Geography'' (1986)
 
* WPA, ''Wisconsin: A Guide to the Badger State'' 1941; detailed guide to every town and city, and cultural history
 
''See additional books at [[History of Wisconsin]]''
 
</div>
 
  
==External links==
 
{{sisterlinks|Wisconsin}}
 
*[http://www.wisconsin.gov/ State of Wisconsin]
 
*[http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/core/wisconsin_state_symbols.html Wisconsin state symbols]
 
*[http://www.travelwisconsin.com Wisconsin Department of Tourism]
 
*[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55000.html U.S. Census Bureau]
 
*[http://www.wicourts.gov/ Wisconsin Court System]
 
*[http://www.legis.state.wi.us/ Wisconsin State Legislature]
 
*[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/ Wisconsin Historical Society]
 
*[http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI The State of Wisconsin Collection] from the [http://uwdc.library.wisc.edu/ UW Digital Collections Center]
 
*[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/topics/wisconsin-name/ Wisconsin's Name: Where It Came From and What It Means]
 
*[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/ Wisconsin Historical Images]
 
*[http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/WI.htm Wisconsin State Facts]
 
*[http://faculty.uwstout.edu/shiellt/freespeech1/ Wisconsin Free Speech Legacy]
 
*[http://www.revenue.wi.gov/ Wisconsin Department of Revenue]
 
*[http://www.worh.org/index.asp Wisconsin Office of Rural Health]
 
 
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Latest revision as of 23:16, 17 May 2023

State of Wisconsin
Flag of Wisconsin State seal of Wisconsin
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): Badger State; America's Dairyland
Motto(s): Forward
Map of the United States with Wisconsin highlighted
Official language(s) De jure: None
De facto: English
Capital Madison
Largest city Milwaukee
Largest metro area Milwaukee
metropolitan area
Area  Ranked 23rd
 - Total 65,497.82 sq mi
(169,639 km²)
 - Width 260 miles (420 km)
 - Length 310 miles (500 km)
 - % water 17
 - Latitude 42° 37′ N to 47° 05′ N
 - Longitude 86° 46′ W to 92° 53′ W
Population  Ranked 20th in the U.S.
 - Total 5,893,718[1]
- Density 108.8/sq mi  (41/km2)
Ranked 23rd in the U.S.


 - Median income  $64,168[1] (21st)
Elevation  
 - Highest point Timms Hill[2]
1,951 ft  (595 m)
 - Mean 1,050 ft  (320 m)
 - Lowest point Lake Michigan[2]
579 ft  (176 m)
Admission to Union  May 29, 1848 (30th)
Governor Tony Evers (D)
Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes (D)
U.S. Senators Ron Johnson (R)
Tammy Baldwin (D)
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Abbreviations WI Wis. US-WI
Web site www.wisconsin.gov

Wisconsin, one of the 50 United States of America, is located near the center of the North American continent and touches two of the five Great Lakes; Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Its capital city is Madison, and its largest city is Milwaukee.

Bordered by the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois, Wisconsin has been part of United States territory since the end of the American Revolution; the Wisconsin Territory (which included parts of other current states) was formed on July 3, 1836. Wisconsin ratified its constitution on March 13, 1848, and was admitted, with its current boundaries, to the Union on May 29, 1848, as the 30th state.

The state's economy was originally based on farming (especially dairy), mining, and lumbering. In the twentieth century, many people living on farms began commuting to jobs elsewhere. Large-scale industrialization began in the late nineteenth century in the southeast of the state, with the city of Milwaukee as its center.

Today, just under half of the population is of German ancestry, making Wisconsin one of the most German-American states in the United States. Numerous ethnic festivals are held throughout the state to celebrate its heritage. Its landscape, largely shaped by the Wisconsin glaciation of the last Ice age, makes the state popular for both tourism and many forms of outdoor recreation.

Wisconsin is well-respected for its excellent public school system, and well-known for its colorful political history, including the well-known Senator Joe McCarthy, a controversial figure in 1950s America.

Etymology

The name Wisconsin may come from the Ojibwe word Miskwasiniing, meaning "Red-stone place," which was probably the name given to the Wisconsin River, and was recorded as Ouisconsin by the French and changed to its current form by the English. The modern Ojibwe name, however, is Wiishkoonsing or Wazhashkoonsing, meaning "muskrat-lodge place" or "little muskrat place." Other theories are that the name comes from words meaning "Gathering of the Waters" or "Great Rock." Wisconsin originally was applied to the Wisconsin River, and later to the area as a whole when Wisconsin became a territory.

Geography

The Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin is characterized by bluffs carved in sedimentary rock by water from melting Ice Age glaciers.
Wisconsin Countryside
Begining of spring in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is bordered by Lake Superior and Michigan to the north; by Lake Michigan to the east; by Illinois to the south; and by Iowa and Minnesota to the west. The state's boundaries include the Mississippi River and St. Croix River in the west, and the Menominee River in the northeast. With its location between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, Wisconsin is home to a wide variety of geographical features.

The state is divided into five distinct regions. In the north, the Lake Superior Lowland occupies a belt of land along Lake Superior. Just to the south, the Northern Highland has massive mixed hardwood and coniferous forests including the 1.5 million acre (6,070 km²) Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, as well as thousands of glacial lakes, and the state's highest point, Timms Hill at 1951 feet (595 meters). In the middle of the state, the Central Plain possesses some unique sandstone formations and gorges like the scenic Wisconsin Dells, in addition to rich farmland. The Eastern Ridges and Lowlands region in the southeast is home to many of Wisconsin's largest cities. In the southwest, the Western Upland is a rugged landscape with a mix of forest and farmland, including many bluffs on the Mississippi River. This region is part of the Driftless Area, which also includes portions of Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota. This area was not covered by glaciers during the most recent ice age, the Wisconsin Glaciation. Overall, 46 percent of Wisconsin's land area is covered by forest.

The varied landscape of Wisconsin makes the state a popular vacation destination for outdoor recreation. Winter activities include skiing, ice fishing, and snowmobile derbies. Wisconsin has many lakes of varied size; in fact Wisconsin contains 11,188 square miles (28,977 sq km) of water, more than all but three other states (Alaska, Michigan & Florida). The distinctive Door Peninsula, which extends off the eastern coast of the state, contains one of the state's most beautiful tourist destinations, Door County. The area draws thousands of visitors yearly to its quaint villages, seasonal cherry picking, and ever-popular fish boils.

Areas under the management of the National Park Service include the following:

  • Apostle Islands National Lakeshore along Lake Superior
  • Ice Age National Scenic Trail
  • North Country National Scenic Trail
  • Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
  • Nicolet National Forest.

Climate

Wisconsin's climate is great for growing crops, with a wet season falling in spring and summer, bringing with it almost two-thirds of yearly precipitation, averaging between 30 to 36 inches (760 - 914 mm) annually. It brings cold snowy winters. The highest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin was 114°F (46 ºC) in the Wisconsin Dells, on July 13, 1936. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin, –55°F (-48 ºC), was in Couderay, on both February 2 and 4, 1996.

History

Painting of Jean Nicolet's 1634 "discovery" of Wisconsin

The first known inhabitants of what is now Wisconsin were the Paleo-Indians, who first arrived in the region in about 10,000 B.C.E. They used primitive weapons to hunt animals such as mammoths and mastodons. The Boaz mastodon, and the Clovis artifacts discovered in the city of Boaz, show that hunting was the primary occupation for these people. The Plano culture began to dominate Wisconsin around 7000 B.C.E., as the last glaciers retreated from the state. During the Archaic stage, from 6,000 – 1,000 B.C.E., Wisconsin was inhabited by the Boreal Archaic and the Old Copper Indians. People during this time lived in small groups or bands, and continued to depend on hunting for their existence.

In the 1600s, Wisconsin was inhabited by Algonquian tribes, the Menominee and others. They were joined by Siouan tribes, including the Winnebago and Iowa. Later groups included the Potawatomi and Chippewa (Ojibwa).

Wabokieshiek (White Cloud) Ho-Chunk prophet

In 1634, Frenchman Jean Nicolet became Wisconsin's first European explorer, landing at Red Banks, near modern-day Green Bay in search of a passage to the Orient. The French controlled the area until it was ceded to the British in 1763 as a result of the French and Indian War.

Indian removal

As white settlers became numerous in the area, a number of battles with the Native peoples occurred. The Winnebago War in the spring of 1826 and the Black Hawk War of 1832 are just two.

Yellow Thunder (Ho-chunk name Wahkanjahzeegah, born in 1774) was a chief of the Ho-Chunk Winnebago tribe. Historians state that he and his fellow chiefs were persuaded to sign their lands over to whites without realizing what they were doing. After signing over their lands, in what is now the area of Green Bay, the tribe was given eight months to leave. Yellow Thunder and other chiefs traveled to Washington, D.C. in 1837 to assert their claims, but President Andrew Jackson would not meet with them. Yellow Thunder and his people refused to move, and in 1840, troops arrived to force them to do so.

Through a series of moves imposed by the U.S. government in the nineteenth century, all Native tribes in Wisconsin were moved to reservations in Wisconsin, as well as to Minnesota, South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska.

Mining

Wisconsin was part of the Northwest Territory from 1788 to 1800. It was then governed as part of Indiana Territory (1800-1809), Illinois Territory (1809-1818), and Michigan Territory (1818-1836). Settlement began when the first two public land offices opened in 1834. Wisconsin Territory was organized on July 3, 1836, and it became the 30th state on May 29, 1848.

The state mineral is galena, also known as lead sulfide, the foundation of Wisconsin's early mining history. Many town names, such as Mineral Point, reflect the period from the 1820s to the 1840s, when Wisconsin was an important mining state. When treaties with native tribes opened up southwest Wisconsin to settlement, thousands of miners—many of them immigrants from Cornwall, England—joined the "lead rush" to the area. At that time, Wisconsin produced more than half of the nation's lead; Belmont, in the lead region, was briefly the state capital. By the 1840s, the easily accessible deposits were worked out, and experienced miners were drawn away to the California Gold Rush. This period of mining before and during the early years of statehood led to the state's nickname, the "Badger State." Many miners and their families lived in the mines in which they worked until adequate above-ground shelters were built, and were thus compared to badgers.

Further settlement

In the 1830-1860 period, large numbers of European Americans from New England and New York flocked to Wisconsin. New York was the leading dairy state in the US at the time; emigrants from there brought with them the skills needed for dairy farming, and butter and cheese production.

Wisconsin farm

Other New Englanders and New Yorkers settled in towns or cities where they set up businesses, factories, mills, banks, schools, libraries, colleges, and voluntary societies. They founded many Congregational, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches that still exist. The immigrants formed the Republican Party in 1854—the first local meeting in the country was held in Ripon. They gave strong support to the Civil War effort, as well as to reforms such as abolition, women's suffrage, and especially, prohibition.

Large numbers of Germans arrived leading, in a short time, to the state becoming over one-third German. Most became farmers; others moved to Milwaukee and smaller cities, setting up breweries and becoming craftsmen, machinists, and skilled workers who were in high demand as the state industrialized. The Germans were split along religious lines. Most Germans were Catholic or Lutheran, with some Lutherans forming the Wisconsin Synod and others joining the Missouri Synod. The Catholics and Lutherans created their own network of parochial schools, through grade eight. Smaller numbers of Germans were Methodists, Jews, or Freethinkers (especially intellectual refugees). Politically they tended toward the Democratic party, but 30-40 percent voted Republican. Whenever the Republicans seemed to support prohibition, the immigrant vote shifted toward the Democrats. When nativist Republicans, led by Governor William Hoard, passed the Bennett Law in 1889 banning instruction in the German language, German-Americans revolted and helped elect the Democrats in 1890. In World War I, German culture came under heavy attack in Wisconsin. Senator LaFollette became their protector and Germans strongly supported his wing of the Republican party after that.

Scandinavians comprise the third largest ethnic block, with Norwegians, Danes, Swedes, and Finns becoming farmers and lumberjacks in the western and northern districts. A large Danish settlement in Racine was the only large urban presence. The great majority were Lutheran, of various synods. The Scandinavians supported Prohibition and voted Republican; in the early twentieth century they were the backbone of the LaFollette movement. Irish Catholics came to Milwaukee and Madison and smaller cities as railroad workers and quickly became prominent in local government and in the Democratic party. They wrestled with the German Catholics for control of the Catholic Church in the state.

Law and government

The Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison.

The state capital of Wisconsin is Madison, which was created in 1836 when former federal judge James Duane Doty purchased over a thousand acres (4 sq km) of swamp and forest land on the isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona. It is also the county seat of Dane County and the home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Being named for the much-admired founding father James Madison, who had just died, and having streets named for each of the 39 signers of the Constitution helped voters make the decision on its status as capital.

Politics

Much of the state's political history involves coalitions among different ethnic groups. The most famous controversy dealt with foreign language teaching in schools. This was fought out in the Bennett Law campaign of 1890, when the Germans switched to the Democratic Party because of the Republican Party's support of the Bennett Law, which led to a major victory for the Democrats.

The cities of Wisconsin have been active in organizing themselves to provide for greater government transparency by increasing the availability of legislative information on the internet. Wisconsin cities began to make this a priority, following the lead of Milwaukee in 2001.

Political history and leanings

The Little White Schoolhouse of Ripon

Wisconsin has a rich political history encompassing, on one end of the spectrum, "Fighting Bob" La Follette and the Progressive movement; and on the other, Joe McCarthy, the disgraced Republican senator censured by the Senate during the 1950s.

In the early twentieth century, the Socialist Party of America had a base in Milwaukee (the phenomenon was referred to as sewer socialism because the socialists were more concerned with public works and reform than with revolution); it faded by the late 1950s, largely due to the red scare and racial tensions. [3] The first Socialist mayor of a major US city was Emil Seidel, elected mayor of Milwaukee in 1910; another Socialist, Daniel Hoan, was mayor of Milwaukee from 1916 to 1940; and a third, Frank P. Zeidler, from 1948-1960. Socialist newspaper editor Victor Berger was repeatedly elected as a U.S. Representative, although he was prevented from serving for some time due to his opposition to the First World War.

William Proxmire, a Democratic Senator (1957-1989), dominated the Democratic party for years; he was best known for attacking waste and fraud in federal spending. Democrat Russ Feingold was the only Senator to vote against the Patriot Act in 2001. Democrat Tammy Baldwin from Madison was the first openly lesbian U.S. Representative. In 2004, Gwen Moore, a Democrat from Milwaukee, became Wisconsin's first African-American U.S. Representative.

Economy

Badger State
State Animal: Badger
State Domesticated
Animal:
Dairy Cow
State Wild Animal: White-tailed Deer
State Beverage: Milk
State Fruit: Cranberry
State Bird: Robin
State Capital: Madison
State Dog: American Water Spaniel
State Fish: Muskellunge
State Flower: Wood Violet
State Fossil: Trilobite
State Grain: Corn
State Insect: European honey bee
State Motto: Forward
State Song: "On, Wisconsin!"
State Tree: Sugar Maple
State Mineral: Galena
(Lead sulfide)
State Rock: Red Granite
State Soil: Antigo Silt Loam
State Dance: Polka
State Symbol of
Peace:
Mourning Dove

The economy of Wisconsin is driven by manufacturing, agriculture, and health care. Although manufacturing accounts for a far greater part of the state's income than farming, Wisconsin is still seen as a farming state. Wisconsin ranks second behind California in overall production of milk and butter, it ranks third in per-capita milk production, behind Idaho and Vermont, and leads the nation in cheese production.

Wisconsin state quarter.

Based on poll results, Governor Jim Doyle chose for Wisconsin's 50 State Quarters design a Holstein cow, an ear of corn, and a wheel of cheese. Wisconsin ranks first in the production of corn for silage, cranberries, ginseng, and snap beans for processing. Wisconsin is also a leading producer of oats, potatoes, carrots, tart cherries, maple syrup, and sweet corn for processing.

Given Wisconsin's strong agricultural tradition, it is not surprising that a large part of the state's manufacturing sector deals with food processing. Some well known food brands produced in Wisconsin include Oscar Mayer, Tombstone frozen pizza, Johnsonville brats, and Usinger's sausage. Kraft Foods alone employs over 5,000 people in the state.

Milwaukee is a major producer of beer and the home of Miller Brewing Company's world headquarters, the nation's second-largest brewer. Schlitz, Blatz, and Pabst used to be cornerstone breweries within the city of Milwaukee. Today, Milwaukee's economy is more diverse with an emphasis on health care.

Wisconsin is also home to several transportation equipment and machinery manufacturers. Major Wisconsin companies in these categories include the Kohler Company, Rockwell Automation, Johnson Controls, Briggs & Stratton, Miller Electric, Milwaukee Electric Tool Company, Oshkosh Truck, and Harley-Davidson. Wisconsin also ranks first nationwide in the production of paper products; the lower Fox River from Lake Winnebago to the Bay of Green Bay has 24 paper mills along its 39-mile (63 km) stretch. The largest paper companies with operations in Wisconsin are Kimberly-Clark and Georgia-Pacific, both of which rank among the state's top ten employers.

The development and manufacture of health care devices and software is a growing sector of the state's economy with key players such as GE Healthcare, Epic Systems, and TomoTherapy.

Tourism is also a major industry in Wisconsin—the state's third largest, according to the Department of Tourism. This is largely attributed to the 90 attractions in the Wisconsin Dells family vacation destination area, which attracts nearly 3 million visitors per year. Tourist destinations such as the House on the Rock near Spring Green and Circus World Museum in Baraboo also draw thousands of visitors annually, and festivals such as Summerfest and the EAA Oshkosh Airshow draw national attention along with hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Education

Wisconsin has a proud tradition of progressive education and has been touted as one of the best places in the country to do business. According to Inc. Magazine, "The quality of the state's public education system" is at the top of the list of factors contributing to the state's success. [4]

Wisconsin's first public school opened its doors in 1845. Today, the state's education system is divided into approximately 426 public school districts, each governed by an elected board. These public schools serve nearly 880,000 students. Private elementary and secondary schools enroll about 148,000 students, and another 21,000 are home schooled.

Wisconsin considers the quality of primary education among its greatest attributes. Their schools account for five of the top 10 school districts in the nation and eight of the top 20. Education is clearly a priority, and is deemed instrumental in the success of its businesses.

Colleges and universities

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Wisconsin, along with Michigan and Minnesota, was among the Midwestern leaders in the emergent American state university movement following the US Civil War. By the turn of the century, education in the state advocated the "Wisconsin Idea," which emphasized service to the people and epitomized progressive movements within colleges and universities at the time.

Today, public education in Wisconsin includes both

Notable private colleges and universities include

Demographics

Wisconsin has always been ethnically heterogeneous. Large numbers of Germans arrived between 1850 and 1900, centering in Milwaukee, but also settling in many small cities and farm areas in the southeast. Norwegians settled in lumbering and farming areas in the northwest. Small colonies of Belgians, Swiss, Finns and other groups came to the state. Irish Catholics mostly came to the cities. After 1900, Polish immigrants came to Milwaukee, followed by African Americans from 1940 on.

The five largest ancestry groups in Wisconsin at the beginning of the twenty-first century are: German, Irish, Polish, Norwegian, and English.

The U.S. Bank Center in Milwaukee is Wisconsin's tallest skyscraper.

Wisconsin, with many cultural remnants of its heavy German settlement, is known as perhaps the most "German-American" state in the Union. People of Scandinavian descent, especially Norwegians, are heavily concentrated in some western parts of the state. Wisconsin has the highest percentage of residents of Polish ancestry of any state. Menominee County is the only county in the eastern half of the United States with a Native American majority.

Milwaukee ranks in the top 10 major U.S. cities with the highest number of African Americans per capita. In the Great Lakes region, only Detroit and Cleveland have a higher percentage of African Americans. Eighty-six percent of the state's African American population lives in its five cities: Milwaukee, Racine, Madison, Kenosha and Beloit. Milwaukee is home to nearly three-fourths of the state's African Americans.

Wisconsin has a large Hmong population, with significant communities in Milwaukee, Wausau, Green Bay, Sheboygan, Appleton, La Crosse, Stevens Point, Madison, and Eau Claire.

Religion

The largest religious denominations are Roman Catholic, Missouri Synod, Wisconsin Synod and ELCA Lutherans.

Important cities and villages

Wisconsin's self-promotion as "America's Dairyland" sometimes leads to a mistaken impression that it is an exclusively rural state. However, over 68 percent of Wisconsin residents live in urban areas. Milwaukee is slightly larger than Boston and is the first of a string of cities stretching down the western edge of Lake Michigan into greater Chicago and on into northwestern Indiana.

Madison's dual identity as state capital and college town gives it a cultural richness unusual in a city its size. It is also a very fast-growing city.

Medium-size cities dot the state and anchor a network of working farms surrounding them. Cities and villages are incorporated urban areas in Wisconsin. Towns are unincorporated civil divisions of counties.

Miscellaneous topics

Did you know?
Famous for its cheese, Wisconsin is known as "America's Dairyland" and its residents are often called "cheeseheads"
Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers, 2006.
The Milwaukee Art Museum.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

Known as "America's Dairyland," Wisconsin is also known for cheese. Citizens of Wisconsin are referred to as Wisconsinites, although a common nickname (sometimes used pejoratively) among non-residents is "Cheeseheads," because of the prevalence and quality of cheesemaking in the state. That insult was turned around show pride, particularly in their football team, the Green Bay Packers, whose supporters often wear wedge-shaped foam cheesehead hats. The hats were first created in 1987 by Ralph Bruno who made the first hat from the foam in a cushion. They are now recognizable in the United States and around the world.[5]

Lambeau Field, located in Green Bay, is home to the National Football League's Green Bay Packers. The Packers have been part of the NFL since the league's second season in 1921 and currently hold the record for the most NFL titles, earning the city of Green Bay the nickname "Titletown." The Green Bay Packers are one of the most successful small-market professional sports franchises in the world. The city fully supports their team, as evidenced by the 60,000 person waiting list for season tickets to Lambeau Field, which is referred to as the "frozen tundra" and is considered by many football enthusiasts to be "hallowed ground."

The state is also known for its alcohol production and consumption, and it is historically home to a large number of breweries and bars per capita. A lesser known, but still significant nickname for Wisconsin is "The Copper State," referring to the copper mines in the northwestern part of the state.

Outdoor activities are popular in Wisconsin, especially hunting and fishing. One of the most popular game animals is the Whitetail deer. In 2005, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reported the population of Wisconsin's deer herd to be about 1.4-1.5 million. It is common for over 600,000 deer hunting licenses to be sold each year.

The Milwaukee Art Museum is known for its unique architecture.[6] The Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens cover over 200 acres (800,000 m²) of land on the far west side of the city.[7] Madison is home to the Henry Vilas Zoo which is free for all visitors,[8] and the Olbrich Botanical Gardens conservatory,[9] as well as the hub of cultural activity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

It is also known for Monona Terrace, a convention center that was originally designed in 1938 by Frank Lloyd Wright, the world-renowned architect born in Richland Center. Wright reworked the design several times before his death in 1959, but the building was not completed until 1997. Wright's design was used for the exterior, while the interior Of Monoma Terrace was designed by former Wright apprentice Anthony Puttnam of Taliesin Associated Architects.[10] Wright's home and studio in the twentieth century was at Taliesin, south of Spring Green. Decades after Wright's death, Taliesin remains an architectural office and school for his followers and a popular destination for fans of Wright's unique contribution to architecture.

Wisconsin has sister-state relationships with the Germany's Hesse, Japan's Chiba Prefecture, Mexico's Jalisco, China's Heilongjiang, and Nicaragua.

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Wisconsin United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Elevation adjusted to North American Vertical Datum of 1988.
  3. Kevin D. Smith, "From Socialism to Racism: The Politics of Class and Identity in Postwar Milwaukee," Michigan Historical Review 29(1) (Spring 2003): 71-95
  4. Joel Kotkin, Everyone's a Knowledge Worker Inc.com, May 2005. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  5. Cassidy Armbruster, Why are the Green Bay Packers called cheeseheads? NFL, November 30, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  6. Milwaukee Art Museum. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  7. Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  8. Henry Vilas Zoo. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  9. Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  10. Monona Terrace. Retrieved March 7, 2022.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Barone, Michael, and Richard E. Cohen. The Almanac of American politics, 2006 the senators, the representatives, and the governors: their records and election results, their states and districts. Washington, DC: National Journal, 2005. ISBN 0892341122
  • Carroll, Brett E. The Routledge Historical Atlas of Religion in America, Routledge Atlases of American History. Routledge, 2000. ISBN 0415921376
  • Current, Richard Nelson. Wisconsin: A Bicentennial History. New York: Norton, 1977. ISBN 0393056244
  • Holmes, Fred L. Wisconsin stability, progress, beauty. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1946.
  • Janik, Erika. A Short History of Wisconsin. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2010. ISBN 978-0870204401
  • Nesbit, Robert C. Wisconsin: A History. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1973. ISBN 0299063704
  • Peirce, Neal R., and John Keefe. The Great Lakes States of America people, politics, and power in the five Great Lakes States. New York: Norton, 1980. ISBN 0393056198
  • Quaife, Milo Milton. Wisconsin: Its history and its people 1634-1924. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1924.
  • Raney, William Francis. 1940. Wisconsin: A story of progress. New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1940.
  • Sisson, Richard, Christian K. Zacher, and Andrew R. L. Cayton. The American Midwest an interpretive encyclopedia. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2007. ISBN 0253348862
  • Vogeler, Ingolf. Wisconsin: A geography. Geographies of the United States. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1986. ISBN 0865314926

External links

All links retrieved May 17, 2023.



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