- Wisconsin's coat of arms dates from 1851, with modifications to the seal made in 1881. The central …
Several times during a period known as the Ice Age, giant glaciers covered the land that is now Wisconsin. The ice began melting about 40,000 years ago, leaving behind thousands of lakes and streams in the area. The water in and around Wisconsin greatly influenced its development. The state's name is believed to have come from a Ojibwa (Chippewa) Indian word said to mean either “gathering of waters” or “the place where we live.” Wisconsin is nicknamed the Badger State. Wisconsin lead miners were called badgers because they dug into the side of hills and went underground, much like the animals known as badgers do when making burrows. The capital of Wisconsin is Madison. GeographyWisconsin is located in the north-central region of the United States. It has an area of 65,499 square miles (169,643 square kilometers), including water. In the north Wisconsin borders Lake Superior and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Lake Michigan lies to the east, and Illinois is to the south. The Mississippi and St. Croix rivers form most of Wisconsin's western border with Iowa and Minnesota. The northernmost part of Wisconsin, along Lake Superior, is a narrow plain. Most of the northern part of the state, however, is a highland region with many lakes. In this area is the state's highest point, Timms Hill, which rises 1,951 feet (595 meters). To the south is a plain that stretches across the center of the state. The southwest is the only part of Wisconsin that was not covered by glaciers. It is an upland region of ridges and valleys. Southeastern Wisconsin is a lowland plains area. The state's main river is the Wisconsin. Wisconsin has long, cold winters and warm but relatively short summers. Both summer and winter temperatures are more moderate along the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Plants and animalsForests once covered most of Wisconsin, but most of the trees were cut down for lumber and to make room for farming. In many areas, however, efforts have been made to plant trees to build up the forests again. Hardwoods such as aspen, oak, maple, basswood, ash, and birch are the most common trees in the state. Animals in northern Wisconsin include black bears, coyotes, beavers, and otters. Geese from Canada stop in Wisconsin on their way to and from the southern United States each year. Rabbits, skunks, foxes, squirrels, and white-tailed deer are common throughout the state. Many hunters come to the state in the fall. People and cultureThe first European explorers and fur traders to arrive in the area that became Wisconsin found a number of Native American tribes living there. Among them were the Ojibwa (Chippewa), Menominee, Potawatomi, Sauk, Fox, Illinois, and Winnebago. At the beginning of the 21st century Native Americans made up less than 1 percent of the state's population. The earliest non-Indian settlers in the area came from other parts of the United States in the early 19th century. In later years immigrants came from Germany, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Great Britain, and other European countries. The majority of Wisconsin's people are ancestors of these settlers. African Americans are the largest minority group, making up almost 6 percent of the population. CitiesThe largest city in Wisconsin is Milwaukee. Its location on the shores of Lake Michigan helped to make it a great manufacturing center and port. The state's second-largest city is Madison, the capital. Located in the south-central part of the state, it is an educational and government center. Green Bay is a lake port at the mouth of the Fox River. Wisconsin's other major cities include Kenosha, Racine, and Appleton. Small towns with less than 1,000 residents can be found throughout the state. RecreationOutdoor activities are popular throughout the year in Wisconsin. The state's many bodies of water are good for swimming, boating, and fishing. Winter activities include snowmobiling, sledding, skiing, and ice fishing. Vacationers contribute greatly to Wisconsin's economy. A favorite site for tourists is the Wisconsin Dells. The dells are rocky canyons that were formed by the Wisconsin River. Restaurants and amusement-park attractions have been built in the area. Another popular vacation spot is the Door County peninsula in eastern Wisconsin. It has miles of rocky shoreline, sandy beaches, and five state parks. Wisconsin's professional sports teams include the Milwaukee Brewers (baseball), the Milwaukee Bucks (basketball), and the Green Bay Packers (football). Other attractions in the state include the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Circus World Museum in Baraboo. EducationThe first schools in Wisconsin were small private schools that charged tuition. The state's public school system began in the 1840s. Wisconsin became the first state to have a kindergarten when one opened in Watertown in 1856. The main campus of the state-supported University of Wisconsin is located in Madison. Branch campuses exist throughout the state. The major private institutions of higher education include Marquette University, in Milwaukee; Lawrence University, in Appleton; Beloit College, in Beloit; and Ripon College, in Ripon. EconomyAgriculture, fishing, and miningWisconsin is known as America's Dairyland because the state has long been a leading producer of milk, cheese, and butter. The number of dairy farms in the state dropped rapidly in the second half of the 20th century, however. Wisconsin's second-largest source of farm income is livestock such as cattle, pigs, and poultry. Oats and hay are grown mainly to feed the livestock. Other important crops include corn, soybeans, potatoes, wheat, apples, and cranberries. Wisconsin's nearness to the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River is the basis of its fishing industry. Trout, salmon, and whitefish are among the fish found in the waters of the Great Lakes. Catches from the Mississippi River include catfish and bullheads. Crushed stone, sand, and gravel are the state's most valuable minerals. Major copper and zinc deposits were discovered in the 1970s but have not been mined because of concerns about the environment. IndustryManufacturing and services are Wisconsin's major sources of income. Many of the state's factories are involved in manufacturing industrial machinery. Others produce metal products, transportation equipment, electronics, and a variety of other goods. Mills create products such as paper and pulp. Food processing and the brewing of beer are also major industries. Service-related industries such as tourism, health care, and real estate were the fastest-growing part of the state's economy in the late 20th century. HistoryNative Americans arrived in what is now Wisconsin in prehistoric times. The first Europeans to visit the region arrived in the 17th century. The French explorer Jean Nicolet landed on the shores of Green Bay in 1634. Other French explorers, fur traders, and missionaries followed. Control of the Wisconsin region passed from France to Britain at the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. The area was part of the territory that Britain turned over to the United States after losing the American Revolution (1775–81). The last British soldiers finally left the region in 1796. StatehoodSettlement of the area was slow until immigrants began arriving from Northern Europe in the 1830s. The United States Congress created the Wisconsin Territory in 1836. Twelve years later Wisconsin was admitted to the Union as the 30th state. Wisconsin sometimes is said to be the birthplace of the Republican Party. Most people in the area were against slavery at the time when Wisconsin became a state. In 1854 the Republican Party was organized in the city of Ripon as a united group opposed to the extension of slavery. Economic and political developmentIn the second half of the 1800s wheat farming, lumbering, and dairying were Wisconsin's main economic activities. Wheat farming reached its peak in the 1870s. From 1890 to 1910 lumbering was the state's leading industry. Afterward Wisconsin became the nation's leading dairy state. Manufacturing and services later grew in importance. Wisconsin has been a leader in passing social legislation. Among the bills was the first state income tax law, passed in 1911. In 2001 United States President George W. Bush appointed Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson to be secretary of health and human services. As governor, Thompson had received national attention in the 1990s for reforming Wisconsin's welfare program and for introducing other social measures. Population (2000 census), 5,363,675. |