Wisconsin is a state in the Midwest region of the United States
of America. It is bordered by Lake Superior and Michigan's Upper
Peninsula to the north, Lake Huron to the east,
Illinois to the
south, and Iowa and
Minnesota to the west.
The
majority of Wisconsin's population lives in areas located along
the shores of Lake Michigan. The largest city, Milwaukee, forms
Wisconsin's largest metropolitan area, while Green Bay and
Kenosha are the third and fourth most populous cities in
Wisconsin, respectively. Madison, the state capital, is
currently the second most populous and fastest-growing city in
the state. Wisconsin is divided into 72 counties and had a
population of approximately 5.9 million as of the 2020 census.
Wisconsin's geography is diverse, with the exception of the
Driftless Area, which was heavily glaciated during the Ice Age.
In the western part of the state, the northern and western
highlands are located along with a portion of the central plain,
and the lowlands extend to the shores of Lake Michigan. It has
the third longest Great Lakes coastline after Ontario and
Michigan. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is located in
the northern part of the state. At the time of European contact,
the area was inhabited by the Algonquin and Siouan tribes; today
it is home to 11 federally recognized tribes. Most of them were
German and Scandinavian immigrants. Wisconsin remains a center
of German-American and Scandinavian-American culture, and is
especially known for its bratwurst and kringle. Wisconsin is
home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of two of the
most important buildings designed by Wisconsin-born architect
Frank Lloyd Wright, the Taliesen studio near Spring Green and
the Jacobs I house in Madison.
The Republican Party was
founded in Wisconsin in 1854. In recent years, Wisconsin has
been a battleground state, especially in the 2016 and 2020
presidential elections.
Wisconsin is one of the nation's
leading dairy-producing states and is known as "America's
Dairyland," especially for its cheese. The state is also famous
for beer, and Milwaukee in particular has historically been home
to the headquarters of Miller Brewing Company. Wisconsin is also
well known for its drinking culture, with the most permissive
alcohol laws in the nation. The economy is dominated by
manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, and
agriculture (especially dairy, cranberries, and ginseng).
Tourism is also a major contributor to the state's economy, with
a gross domestic product of $348 billion in 2020.
Southeastern Wisconsin
Southeastern Wisconsin is the most
populous region in the state. Located on the shores of Lake
Michigan, the region includes the major cities of Milwaukee
(Wisconsin's largest city), Kenosha, and Racine (an industrial
city separating the Milwaukee metropolitan area from Greater
Chicagoland), and many suburban towns such as Waukesha. The
region includes Lake Geneva, a popular summer getaway, and the
scenic forests, glacial deposits, and trails that are part of
Kettle Moraine State Forest Park.
Southwestern Wisconsin
Southwestern Wisconsin, also known as the "Driftless Area," is a
very diverse region in many respects. It includes the university
cities of La Crosse and Madison, which is also the state
capital. Located around the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers,
southwestern Wisconsin offers artistic towns, picturesque
scenery, and many parks, lakes, and trails.
Northeastern
Wisconsin
Located in Green Bay on Lake Michigan, northeastern
Wisconsin offers nature at its finest. The Fox Cities of
Appleton and Oshkosh are located around Lake Winnebago. The area
also extends into the summer retreat of Door County's tourist
cities and cherry orchards. The region also includes the
industrial city of Green Bay, home of the Packers, and many
forests in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
North Central
Wisconsin
This quiet region of northern Wisconsin consists
mostly of forested areas and has been nicknamed the "Gateway to
the North Woods. Including the university town of Stevens Point
and the metropolis of Wausau, North Central Wisconsin is
dominated by small towns and communities nestled between
numerous lakes and rivers that extend into Michigan's Upper
Peninsula.
Northwest Wisconsin
Northwest Wisconsin,
including the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, is full of
nature. The region is bordered by the St. Croix and Mississippi
Rivers from the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior through the
major cities of Eau Claire and Superior. The area is home to
many apple orchards, cheese factories, and ATV trails.
1 Madison - The capital city of Madison is notable for its location
between 3 lakes (and some smaller ones). Capitol Hill with the
symmetrical State Capitol is definitely worth seeing. Heading west from
Capitol Hill is a very busy shopping street. Also recommended are the
university and the ice cream at Michael's, a mix of soft serve and dairy
ice cream.
2 Appleton
3 Eau Claire
4 Green Bay
5 Kenosha
6 LaCrosse
7 Milwaukee With around 600,000 inhabitants, Milwaukee is
the largest city in Wisconsin.
8 New Glarus : About 40 kilometers
south of Madison is the community of New Glarus, founded by Swiss
immigrants.
Secluded beautiful Devil's Lake is situated in the Sauk County, Wisconsin. Despite its name it is a pristine lake that offers many activities.
Wisconsin River is the longest river in the state of Wisconsin, United States. Its total length is measured at 430 miles.
Beautiful pristine wilderness of the Wolf River in North Wisconsin offers both beauty and thrill to those who like white water rafting and kayaking.
Fans of American cult architect Frank Lloyd Wright can visit the master's residence ("Taliesin") and many other works in Spring Green. See also the Wisconsin/Frank Lloyd Wright special article for details.
Tourism is one of Wisconsin's largest industries, with parks and recreational facilities such as fishing and the Wisconsin Dells in the summer, a very popular hunting season in the fall, and ice fishing, ice sailing, ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and other activities in the winter that bring Illini tribe and others who depend on them.
The Wisconsin Dells, located in the Greater Madison area, is known throughout the Midwest as a major family tourist destination due to its numerous water resorts, including Noah's Ark, Great Wolf Lodge, and Kalahari. The Wisconsin Dells has many water parks, amusement parks, shopping, and shows. In addition, Tommy Bartlett's Watershow is one of the world's premier waterskiing shows. The Wisconsin Dells are also famous for their ducks, which are truck-like vehicles that can travel on land and sea, moving from lake to lake and along the river in the "Dells" to demonstrate sights and nature.
Wisconsin has sports teams to watch at any
level and on any occasion, including historic franchises,
exciting new teams, and fan-favorite staples. Green Bay is
home to one of the oldest teams in NFL history, the Green
Bay Packers. With countless Hall of Famers, MVPs, and 11
league championships, you can't go wrong watching a game at
Lambeau Field. If you're planning to watch a Packers game,
get there hours before the game starts. Tailgating is very
popular among Midwestern sports fans and allows them to
fully enjoy the game. Park your car in a parking lot around
the stadium and open the trunk. Many fans bring along a
small TV, a board or bag of cornhole (also known as a
"beanbag" in the area), footballs, plenty of brats, cheese,
and beer to watch the other games being played that day.
Tailgating is a great way to get to know the locals and
experience Wisconsin life to the fullest. Don't forget to
dress warmly.
Another place where many tailgaters
gather on summer afternoons is just outside of Milwaukee's
Miller Park. This largest city in the state is home to the
MLB's Milwaukee Brewers. After tailgating, head to American
Family Field for one of the league's best experiences. When
the Brewers hit a home run, be sure to catch Bernie Brewers
sliding down the slide. Another not to be missed is the
famous racing sausage.
But if you venture a little
further into downtown Milwaukee, you'll find another
professional sports team in a completely different setting:
the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. After threatening to relocate,
the city of Milwaukee agreed to build the team an entirely
new facility and surrounding neighborhood. A few years
later, the team and the city of Milwaukee got the most
state-of-the-art area in the NBA, the Deer District and
Fiserv.Forum. Take a stroll through this district before the
game. Grab a beer or a burger at one of the many restaurants
(but don't overdo it) or go shopping at some of the nicest
stores in the Milwaukee area.
As mentioned above,
Wisconsin is home to many small league and high-profile
teams:
Forward Madison FC: One of the fastest growing
fan bases on the Wisconsin sports scene is Forward Madison
FC of the newly launched USL League One (Division 3 of US
men's professional soccer). The Flamingos have created a
strong culture and atmosphere in just a few years in
Madison.
Wisconsin Herd Currently in Oshkosh, the
Wisconsin Herd can be seen playing at the Menominee Nation
Arena as the top minor team for the NBA Milwaukee Bucks.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers The Timber Rattlers, who play at
NeuroScience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand
Chute, are the High-A Level affiliate of the Milwaukee
Brewers minor league baseball team.
Beloit Snappers The
Snappers, who will move to ABC Supply Stadium in downtown
Beloit, are the High-A affiliate of the minor league Miami
Marlins.
Wisconsin has a number of teams that play in
the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is a summer
league and is located in Wisconsin, North Dakota, Iowa,
Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ontario.
College-eligible players can play in this league during the
summer to improve their game.
Some of the most popular sports teams in Wisconsin are
affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The
Wisconsin Badgers are members of Division I-A of the
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Badgers
have had great success in the late 2010s, advancing to the
NCAA Tournament in men's basketball, women's ice hockey,
women's volleyball, women's rowing lightweight, men's
rowing, and men's cross country. Madison has been repeatedly
named a top college town by Sports Illustrated over the past
several years. There are many traditions for Badger fans to
enjoy, including the playing of "Jump Around" by House of
Payne at Camp Randall Stadium. Union South is a building
between the Kohl Center and Camp Randall that serves as a
study space, tailgate center, restaurant, bowling alley, and
hotel.
UW-Milwaukee, UW-Green Bay, and Marquette
University also compete at various levels of NCAA Division
1. Many of the state's private and public universities also
compete in NCAA Divisions 2 and 3, NJCAA, NAIA, and WJCAA.
Hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing in the winter are
popular land-based activities. Wisconsin was one of the
first states to begin converting abandoned rail corridors
into bike paths. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail traverses
the entire state of Wisconsin, covering more than 1,600
kilometers, and is a testament to Wisconsin's recent natural
history. The most popular part of the trail is the Kettle
Moraine area, which is closest to the major cities.
Boating is a major activity during the spring and summer
months. In addition to Lake Michigan and Lake Superior,
Wisconsin is dotted with a variety of recreational lakes,
including Lake Geneva, Lake Winnebago, and Lake Mendota and
Lake Monona in the Greater Madison area. Many of these lakes
are busy with boaters and jet skiers. Boating, canoeing, and
kayaking are also prevalent on many streams and rivers.
Wisconsin's strong agricultural industry contributes to the strong growth of agritourism. Each year, thousands of people visit Door County and other areas to pick apples, berries, and most commonly, cherries. In the fall, corn mazes, farm stands, and apple picking dominate rural areas of the state.
Like other Midwestern states, Wisconsin has a strong county
and state fair tradition. Held annually from Memorial Day
through Labor Day, the festivities include shows, auctions,
agricultural competitions, concerts, rides, fair food (fried
and everything else), demolition derbies, and much more! The
festival is held in the county of Baker County, and in
neighboring counties. Neighboring counties often coordinate
their schedules with each other so that dates do not
overlap, so the fair is always held on a summer weekend.
The State Fair is held annually in early August at State
Fair Park in West Allis.
Wisconsin, and Milwaukee in particular, hosts many festivals. In fact, Milwaukee is known as the "City of Festivals. In the summer, the city hosts Scottish Fest, Polish Fest, Greek Fest, Bastille Days, Asian Fest, African Cultural Festival, Festa Italiana, Croatian Fest, Armenian Fest, German Fest, Puerto Rican Fest , Irish Fest, India Fest, Mexican Fest, and many other cultural festivals. Many festivals! If you are looking for one of the best music festivals in the country, you should definitely look into Summerfest. This festival is held annually at Milwaukee's Henry W. Meyer Festival Park and features many mainstream artists.
Depending on which part of Wisconsin you visit, you will
meet a wide variety of people. The majority of Wisconsin's
population is Caucasian of European descent, including
British, German, Norwegian, Irish, and Polish. 6.3% of the
state is African-American, with the remainder being
Hispanic, Asian, or Native American.
Wisconsinites
are 81% Christian (50% Protestant, 29% Roman Catholic, 0.5%
Mormon), 0.5% Jewish, 0.5% Muslim, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.5%
Hindu, and 15% have no religion.
The majority of
Wisconsinites are very friendly, especially in small towns,
where everyone knows everyone else in their community. If
you go to a small town that doesn't have many restaurant
reviews, don't be afraid to talk to someone on the sidewalk,
tell them you are visiting, and ask for food
recommendations! The people you meet will most likely help
you become familiar with the area you are visiting.
Wisconsinites speak with a distinctly Midwestern accent
(similar to that of Minnesotans) and tend to emphasize
vowels and elongate them with long enunciations. For
example, "bag" and "rag" (using the same vowel as "bagel"
and sounding like "bayg" or "rayg").
State residents
commonly refer to drinking fountains as "bubblers." Unlike
most of the Midwest, Wisconsinites in the eastern part of
the state (especially in the Milwaukee area) refer to soft
drinks as "soda" rather than "pop".
In some areas,
the "Uff da!" phrase is sometimes used as an exclamation.
In many parts of the state, ATMs are commonly referred
to as "TYME Machines" (named for the most common type of ATM
in many areas, meaning Take Your Money Everywhere).
Some people refer to traffic lights as "Stop 'n Go Lights."
You may also hear parking lots referred to as "parking
ramps."
In rural areas where agriculture is
prevalent, a midday meal may be called "dinner" and an
evening meal "supper".
You will also often hear the
phrase "Can you stop by da store, real quick?" or "Can ya
get me a beer, or a tree (or three)" with the ending "or
tree" meaning "Can you give me a couple of beers?
Many Wisconsinites, when asking where they are going, will
say the distance in hours, not miles or kilometers. Another
thing to remember is that when someone says they are "going"
to something, they are not necessarily going north. Someone
living in Green Bay might say they are going to a Brewer
game in Milwaukee. Likewise, someone in Milwaukee might say
they are "going" to a Badger game in Madison.
While
these phrases may be Midwest-specific, and especially
Wisconsin-specific, it is not that difficult to understand
what a local is saying if you use context.
Wisconsin is in the Central Time Zone (GMT-6 during the winter and GMT-5 during daylight saving time), as are all neighboring states except Michigan, which is in the Eastern Time Zone (also in the Central Time Zone, except for parts of the Upper Peninsula).
By Airplane.
For travel to southern Wisconsin, Milwaukee Mitchell
Airport in Milwaukee or Dane County Airport in Madison are good choices.
For travel to northern Wisconsin, Appleton International Airport in
Appleton is a good choice with fares that are competitive with larger
airports such as Milwaukee and Minneapolis. At these airports, Delta
Airlines offers frequent flights from Minneapolis, Detroit, and Atlanta.
United Airlines also operates frequent flights from Chicago O'Hare and
Denver. American Airlines operates many flights from Chicago O'Hare.
Other airlines such as Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and
Allegiant Airlines operate several daily flights from these airports.
In addition to the airports listed above, there are also airports in
Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Mosinee, and Rhinelander that are
served by commercial flights. However, these airports tend to have
higher fares than Milwaukee, Madison, and Appleton, so be careful when
choosing one.
If you want to enter Wisconsin by your own plane,
there are more than 120 GA airports where you can fly.
By boat.
These services are only available from late spring through early fall.
Lake Express A car ferry between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Muskegon,
Michigan, a 2.5-hour trip that takes about one hour to reach Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, and about one hour to reach Muskegon, Michigan, a trip that
takes about two hours.
S.S. Badger. Car ferry between Manitowoc,
Wisconsin, and Ludington, Michigan; 4-hour trip; 2.5-hour trip; includes
a trip from Ludington to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and a trip to Ludington,
Michigan.
Bus.
Greyhound and Megabus serve Milwaukee, Madison,
and other cities; check Van Galder and Jefferson Bus lines. See their
websites for availability, schedules, and fares.
By Train
Amtrak connects Chicago and Milwaukee on the Hiawatha. The Empire
Builder line stretches from Chicago to Seattle/Portland through
Wisconsin, stopping at six locations in the state (Milwaukee, Columbus,
Wisconsin Portage, Wisconsin Dells, Tomah, and La Crosse).
RTA's
Metra also extends its route to Kenosha.
Public Transportation.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation
publishes the Wisconsin Get Around Guide: Intercity Public
Transportation Information. For more information on transportation,
click here.
By Bus
Several bus companies operate within
Wisconsin.
Badger Coaches. Operates at least six round trips per
day between Milwaukee and Madison.
Greyhound Greyhound buses along
major cities and towns such as I-43, US 45, I-90, I-94, Appleton,
Brookfield, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Kenosha, La Crosse,
Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Racine, Stevens Point, Waukesha, Wisconsin Dells,
and other locations throughout the state. They also sell tickets for
other companies (often inexpensively).
Indian Trail Daily service
from Chicago to Michigan's Upper Peninsula via Milwaukee with stops in
Marinette, Green Bay, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan. Connections are
available. Buses have wifi and power outlets.
Jefferson Lines Daily
service to Milwaukee, Madison, and La Crosse, with stops throughout
Wisconsin. Jefferson prides itself on its new "eco-friendly" buses.
Connections available in Minneapolis.
Lamar's Coach. Daily service.
Milwaukee, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton, Waupaca, Stevens Point,
Wausau, Columbus.
Wisconsin Coach, toll-free: +1 877-324-7767,
wisconsincoach@coachusa.com. Wisconsin Coach offers multiple services to
and from Milwaukee and around southeastern Wisconsin. $26.
By
train.
Amtrak operates two lines. The Hiawatha makes seven round
trips a day between Milwaukee and Chicago, with stops in the suburb of
Racine and at Mitchell Field Airport. The Empire Builder makes one round
trip per day, effectively paralleling I-94 from Seattle all the way to
Chicago. The Milwaukee station has been renovated into a clean, modern
building downtown.
By car.
As in most parts of the U.S.,
driving is one of the most popular modes of transportation. The
following are major routes in Wisconsin:
Interstate 94 I-94, the
main east-west route, enters Wisconsin from Kenosha County and connects
Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, and Madison. After branching off at Tomah,
I-94 passes through Eau Claire before entering Minnesota and heading to
the Twin Cities.
Interstate 90 Another major east-west route, I-90
enters Wisconsin in southern Rock County and connects Beloit,
Janesville, and Madison. North of Madison, it joins I-94 through the
Wisconsin Dells. It splits off I-94 at Tomah and passes through La
Crosse before entering Minnesota.
Interstate 43 I-43, the main
north-south interstate highway, begins in Green Bay and travels south
along Lake Michigan between Cheboygan and Milwaukee before turning
southwest and ending at the junction with I-90 in Beloit.
Interstate
39 A north-south Interstate that runs concurrently with I-90 as it
enters the state in Rock County and splits just north of Madison to
connect Stevens Point and Wausau.
US 151 US 151, the main north-south
route, connects Manitowoc with Fond du Lac and Madison before turning
southwest into Iowa just northeast of Dubuque.
US 41, now also called
Interstate 41: a north-south route connecting most cities along Lake
Michigan, including Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee, before turning
northwest to connect Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton, and Green Bay.
US 53: A north-south route starting in La Crosse and connecting Eau
Claire and Superior to Duluth, Minnesota.
WI 29: An east-west route
in northern Wisconsin, connecting Green Bay, Warsaw, and Eau Claire.
WI 11: An east-west route in southern Wisconsin, starting in Racine,
connecting Janesville and Monroe, and ending on US 151 just northeast of
Dubuque, Iowa.
Unless otherwise marked, it is legal to turn right
after stopping at a red light. County Road Naming System
When
traveling in rural Wisconsin, foreigners may be confused when navigating
county roads. This is because Wisconsin is the only state in the U.S.
that uses the alphabet rather than numbers to designate county roads. In
Wisconsin, each county has its own roads. It is important to note that
County Road A in Dane County is a different road than County Road A in
Jefferson County. The two roads may be connected, or they may be
completely different roads. It is also important to understand that
county roads have more than one letter. Some roads have double letters,
such as County Road AA and County Road AAA, while others have a mixture
of different letters, such as County Road AB and County Road ABC.
As in other parts of the Midwestern United States, Wisconsin's
traditional cuisine is generally simple, hearty meat and potato dishes.
As a result of the large German immigration to Wisconsin, German
cuisine has become a part of the local diet. Bratwurst is commonly
eaten, and Sheboygan is the home of bratwurst. Bratwurst is a state
feast served at summer cookouts, preferably boiled in beer and then
grilled.
It is said that the modern hamburger was first offered
as a meatball-shaped product when its inventor realized that it was
easier to sandwich in a bun when flattened. It was first sold at a fair
in Seymour, Wisconsin.
Frozen custard is another Wisconsin
delicacy not often found outside of the Midwest. Frozen custard
resembles ice cream (but don't call it ice cream!). ). It is thicker and
creamier because it contains eggs. In fact, most frozen custards are
less healthy in that they contain fewer calories, less fat, less sugar,
and slightly more cholesterol than ice cream. Culver's is a fast food
chain from Wisconsin that has expanded throughout the Midwest and is
known for its frozen custard, cheese curds, and other Wisconsin
specialties, but while in Wisconsin, look for a few local places that
have not expanded outside their home state. Examples include Kopp's,
Leon's, and Gilles in the Milwaukee area, and Michael's in the Madison
area, and ask locals for recommendations.
Wisconsin and the
surrounding areas are famous for their dairy products, and there are a
variety of regional specialties that follow this theme. Fast food chains
in the region often offer fried cheese curds as a side choice in
addition to the more common French fries. Due to the history of
Swiss-German immigration to the region, Wisconsin is also famous for its
Swiss cheese (called Emmentaler in Switzerland), which is used
extensively in local cuisine.
Supper Club
Friday nights in
Wisconsin are all about supper clubs. While there is no clear definition
separating restaurants from supper clubs, most supper clubs focus on
nostalgia, an old-fashioned atmosphere, and specific dishes such as
prime rib or fish fries. In addition, diners are often served a side
dish. Because many of these clubs originated as speakeasies, there is a
very strong sense of tradition, and aside from the beer and wine list,
many of the original dishes and cocktails from when the club opened will
still be on the menu. A visit to a local supper club is highly
recommended.
The drinking age in Wisconsin is 21. However, persons under 21 and over 16 with a parent, legal guardian, or spouse (if the spouse is 21 or older) may sell alcoholic beverages and have them consumed at the discretion of the establishment.
Milwaukee is home to the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team and numerous
breweries; Milwaukee was the brewing capital of the nation until the
late 1990s, when Pabst closed its Milwaukee plant and began contracting
out production. Today, only one major brewer remains in Milwaukee,
Miller, but its brewing tradition is carried on by numerous
microbreweries and brewpubs. Notable "small" breweries in Wisconsin
include Point (in the college town of Stevens Point), City (formerly G
Heilmann), New Glarus, Berghoff, Leinenkugels (in Chippewa Falls),
Riverwest, and Speicher's (all in Milwaukee ) Many of the restaurants
and bars brew their own microbrews on the premises, and you can watch
the tanks while you eat.
Grays Brewing is also famous for its
sodas, which are made with real grain sugar (not the fine processed
sugar used almost everywhere in American food). Gray's makes mostly
fruit-flavored sodas and reuses (not recycles) bottles.
Point
Brewing currently offers a variety of sodas, including root beer, diet
root beer, and cream flavors. Tours of the brewery are said to be very
fun and fulfilling, and concerts are held in the summer (Rock the
Brewery).
Sprecher Brewing is also well known and gaining
national recognition for its unique labels for sodas, especially Root
Beer, Orange Dream, and Raven Red. A root beer or orange dream float
with vanilla frozen custard is a great drink. Tours are offered Fridays
and Saturdays throughout the year and daily during the peak summer
season. Tour prices are $4 for adults and $2 for those under 21.
However, the price is well worth it considering the tour includes
unlimited soda and beer tasting (up to four beers) and plenty of time
for socializing.
Wisconsin is best known for its beer, but it also has a small but growing wine industry. Wisconsin has three American Viticultural Areas (AVAs): Wisconsin Ledge (Door County and parts of southern Wisconsin), Wisconsin Lakes (parts of southeastern and southwestern Wisconsin), and Upper Mississippi Valley (which includes the entire Driftless region). Notable wineries include Wollersheim (near Baraboo) and Parallel 44 (near Kewaunee). Many farms are also beginning to produce local varieties.
Wisconsin does not have an official state cocktail, but ask any
Wisconsinite and most will say the Wisconsin Old Fashioned, a variation
on the traditional bourbon cocktail. The Wisconsin version is made with
brandy and served "sweet" (with lemon-lime soda) or "sour" (with sour
mix). Sour Old Fashioned's are sometimes garnished with olives for
saltiness. Traditionally, Korbel is used for the brandy, but applejack
is also popular.
Old World spirits such as aquavit (flavored with
caraway or dill) are more common than in other parts of the country due
to the large Scandinavian and German communities. Aquavit is most
commonly drunk on the rocks, but can also be mixed into cocktails. It
pairs well with herbal flavors such as Angostura bitters and Chartreuse.
Some bars have house cocktails made with aquavit.
Wisconsin has a number of large resort hotels, with the typical chain motels located just off the interstate. Bed and breakfasts are also popular, ranging from one-bedroom homes to large historic buildings and inns. Some areas, like Baraboo, specialize in casino hotels.
Wisconsinites have a strong rivalry with those from neighboring Minnesota, which is most evident in sports, especially in college football between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Wisconsin Badgers.
Wisconsin is bordered by the Montreal River, Lake Superior and Iowa
to the southwest, Lake Michigan to the east, Illinois to the south,
Michigan to the north, and Minnesota to the northwest. The border
dispute with Michigan was settled in two court cases, Wisconsin v.
Michigan, in 1934 and 1935. The state border is bordered by the
Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers to the west and the Menominee River to
the northeast.
Bounded by the Great Lakes and the Mississippi
River, Wisconsin has a wide variety of terrain. The state is divided
into five regions. To the north is the lowlands along the shores of Lake
Superior. Just to the south, the Northern Highlands include the 1.5
million acre (6,100 km2) Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, a mixed
hardwood-conifer forest, thousands of glacial lakes, and Tim's Hill, the
state's highest point. The central plains of the central part of the
state contain unique sandstone formations such as the Wisconsin River
Dells, in addition to rich farmland. The Eastern Ridges and Lowlands
region in the southeast is home to many of Wisconsin's largest cities.
The ridges include the Niagara Escarpment, Black River Escarpment, and
Magnesia Escarpment extending from New York.
The Western Uplands
in the southwestern part of the region is a rugged mix of forest and
farmland, with many bluffs along the Mississippi River. This area is
part of the Driftless Area, which includes parts of Iowa, Illinois, and
Minnesota. During the most recent glacial period, the Wisconsin Ice Age,
this area was not covered by glaciers. Overall, 46% of Wisconsin's land
area is forested. The soils of Langlade County are called Antigo silt
loams and are rarely found outside the county.
Wisconsin has
sister state relationships with Hesse, Germany; Jalisco, Mexico; Chiba,
Japan; Heilongjiang, China; and Nicaragua.
Wisconsin has a length of 500 km between latitudes 42° 30' N and 47° 3' N and a latitude of 420 km between latitudes 86° 49' W and 92° 54' W.
Wisconsin is bordered by Lake Superior and Michigan to the north, Lake Michigan to the east, Illinois to the south, and Iowa and Minnesota to the west.
Wisconsin has the most diverse climate in the United States. Like
almost everything else in the Badger State, the climate varies depending
on the area and time of year you visit. Winters can be very cold, with
average winter (Madison) temperatures ranging from 20°F to 10°F, and
wind chills can drop below 0°F. Snowfall is heavy during the winter
months, averaging nearly 40 inches of snow. However, some areas, such as
the Lake Superior Snow Belt, average more than 150 inches of snow each
year. This provides many opportunities for Wisconsin residents and
visitors to enjoy snowmobiling and ice fishing. Snow season usually
begins in late October or early November and lasts until mid-March, but
snow and cold weather can hit the state as early as September and as
late as May. If you want to avoid snow, late April through mid-October
is usually a safe bet, but check the forecast if you are visiting at the
end or beginning of the snow season.
However, Wisconsin's summer
climate varies widely. Highs on the hottest day in July (in Madison)
usually average 75°F to 85°F, but there are no guarantees for Wisconsin
weather. The average summer humidity in Madison can make an 80°F day
feel closer to 95°F. Just remember that humidity is not always this high
and varies by day and location in the state (near water or not).
However, temperatures can drop to 50-60°F most nights. Another thing to
watch out for is storms. Most of the time, severe weather can be
signaled by cell phone or local broadcasts. Severe storms in Wisconsin
can include very strong winds, torrential rains, and the occasional
hailstorm or tornado (most of which occur between May and July). But on
a mild summer day, the sun may be out at noon, only to be followed an
hour later by a 10-minute downpour. The moral of this story is to be
prepared for anything when it comes to weather. Check the weather
forecast when packing for your trip and dress appropriately for changing
weather conditions.
If you are traveling to Milwaukee, don't be
surprised if it is windy or the temperature is 10 degrees cooler than it
is in Madison (one hour west on the interstate). This is affectionately
known as the "lake effect" among Wisconsinites. You never know what kind
of weather wonders Lake Michigan will throw at you.
With its 5.8 million inhabitants (2020), known as Wisconsinites,
Wisconsin ranks 20th among the American states, has around 400,000 fewer
inhabitants than Hesse and, with 34 inhabitants per square kilometer, is
only half as densely populated as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania .
The population was composed of 87.0% White, 6.7% African American,
3.0% Asian, 1.2% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander. 2.0% were of
other origins. 2.0% of the population descended from two or more ethnic
groups. Regardless, 7.1% of the population was Hispanic or Hispanic.
21.8% of the population was under 18 years old, 60.7% between 18 and
64 and 17.5% 65 or older. 50.2% of the population was female.
Wisconsin is consistently ranked as the worst living state for African
Americans. Wisconsin has the highest black infant mortality rate in the
United States; in Milwaukee it is twice as high among black infants as
among white ones. The black population is far above average often below
the poverty line or in prison. 70% of the black people in the state live
in Milwaukee, where almost half of all African-American men between the
ages of 20 and 40 have already been sentenced to prison. During the 2010
US Census, 12.8% of all black men in Wisconsin were incarcerated, the
highest in the US. In addition, there are particularly strict penal laws
that disproportionately affect African Americans.
Historically,
there are close ties between Germany and Wisconsin. Almost half of the
inhabitants are descended from German immigrants. City names such as
Berlin, New Berlin, Kiel, New Holstein and Rhinelander indicate the
origin of the town's founders. Especially after the failed revolution of
1848, many disappointed and persecuted German democrats were drawn to
this part of the USA, which had only recently been opened for
settlement. The German revolutionary Carl Schurz was one such
forty-eight man and lived in Wisconsin for some time. In 1856, his wife
Margarethe Meyer founded the first kindergarten in the United States in
Watertown. In order to look after the immigrants religiously, e.g. B.
1860 Franciscan Minorites from Bremen to America. Among them was u. a.
Constantin Maria von Droste zu Hülshoff (1841–1901), who worked as a
missionary in Wisconsin for over 30 years.
The development of the
state's largest city, Milwaukee, was also heavily influenced by German
influences. According to Samuel Freeman's The Emigrant Handbook, in 1851
there were six German-language newspapers in the city nicknamed "German
Athens." Around 1880, 27 percent of the city's population were native
Germans. One legacy of the first generation of immigrants was the strong
community spirit of Milwaukee citizens. The city has always been
considered very progressive in social matters. In 1910, Emil Seidel
became the first Socialist mayor of a major city in the United States.
The German immigrants have also left their mark in the culinary
field. The big breweries Pabst, Blatz, Schlitz and Miller earned
Milwaukee the reputation of the American beer capital. Bratwurst and
sauerkraut are still very popular today. Even the fast food chain
McDonald's briefly offered sausages in Wisconsin, which are usually just
called brats. However, the First World War led to a severe reduction in
the emphasis on German traditions and the relationship to the old
homeland. Even the sauerkraut was temporarily renamed liberty cabbage;
This partly forced, partly voluntary assimilation came to a conclusion
during the Second World War. The Germanfest takes place in Milwaukee
every year. In 2000 about 1% of the population spoke German.
Christianity is the predominant religion in Wisconsin. As of 2000,
there were three major denominations: Catholics, mainline Protestants,
and Evangelicals. The Catholic Church has the largest number of
parishioners. Distribution of state population by religion:
Christians - 81%
Protestants - 50%
Lutheranism - 23%
Methodism
- 7%
Baptist - 5%
Presbyterianism - 2%
United Church of Christ
2%
Other Protestant churches - 15%
Roman Catholic Church - 29%
Other Christian churches - 2%
Other religions - 1%
Unaffiliated -
15%
According to 2012 FBI statistics, there were 173 intentional and negligent homicides, 1,219 rapes, 4,622 robberies, 10,050 aggravated assaults and 140,513 property crimes in Wisconsin. Per 100 thousand residents, the crime rate in the state is noticeably lower than in the United States as a whole; for example, murders are committed by more than a third less.
The state is named after the Wisconsin River. Although the exact
etymology of this name is unknown, it is believed that it came into
English through a French interpretation of a Native American name.
French explorer Jacques Marquette became the first European to reach the
Wisconsin River, visiting in 1673 and naming the river Meskousing in his
journal. The French most likely recorded Meskousing as a Miskasinsin
Algonquian word meaning "place of red stone." However, it is possible
that the name came from the Ojibwe language and means "gathering of
waters" or "large rock". The name was later corrupted by other French
explorers as Ouisconsin, under which name the river and its surrounding
area were marked on French maps, and in the early 19th century, newly
arrived English-speaking settlers anglicized it to its current form.
The current pronunciation was officially adopted by the Wisconsin
Territory Legislature in 1845. The name is usually abbreviated as WI,
Wis or Wisc.
Over the past 12,000 years, Wisconsin has seen a variety of cultures.
The first people appeared here around 10,000 BC., during the Wisconsin
Glaciation. These were Paleo-Indians who hunted now-extinct Ice Age
animals, as evidenced by the Boaz Mastodon, a mastodon skeleton
discovered with a hunting spear in southwestern Wisconsin. After the end
of the Ice Age around 8,000 BC. people of the subsequent Archaic period
lived by hunting, fishing and collecting wild plants. Agricultural
society gradually emerged during the Woodland period (ca. 1000 BC - 1000
AD). By the end of this period, Wisconsin was the center of a
mound-building culture that left behind thousands of figured mounds. The
number of mounds in Wisconsin exceeds the number in the rest of the
United States. Later, between 1000 and 1500, the Mississippian and
Oneotian cultures built fairly large settlements, including a fortified
village near Aztalan in the southeast of the state. The Oneota may be
the ancestors of the modern Iowans and Winnebagos, who shared the
Wisconsin region with the Menominee at the time of European contact.
Other American Indians who inhabited Wisconsin during European
colonization, including the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Sauk, Fox, and Kickapoo
tribes, migrated to Wisconsin from the east during the 16th and 17th
centuries.
In 1634, French explorer Jean Nicolet, attempting to
find the Northwest Passage, landed near Green Bay and became the first
European in what is now Wisconsin. Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Chouart de
Groselier visited the Green Bay area in 1654–1666 and Shequamegon Bay of
Lake Superior in 1659–1660, where they traded furs with local Indians.
In 1673, Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet first crossed Wisconsin by
canoe along the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, thus reaching the Mississippi.
The region belonged to France until 1763, but after the Seven Years' War
it became part of Great Britain.
After the American Revolution,
Wisconsin became part of the Northwest Territory of the United States,
but the British effectively continued to control the area until the
Anglo-American War of 1812–1815. As this territory split, Wisconsin
became part of the Indiana, Illinois and Michigan territories. The
Wisconsin Territory organized on July 3, 1836 and became the thirtieth
state on May 29, 1848.
Under U.S. control, Wisconsin's primary
economy shifted from the fur trade to mining. During the first half of
the 19th century, Wisconsin was an important source of lead. As treaties
and Indian Wars opened up the territory to white settlers, thousands of
miners flocked to southern Wisconsin, many of them immigrants from
Cornwall. At one time, Wisconsin produced more than half of America's
lead. During the lead boom, it even seemed that the metal-rich southwest
of the state would become the most populous, and the city of Belmont
briefly became its capital. However, by the late 1840s, readily
available reserves were largely depleted, and many miners were caught up
in the California gold rush. Wisconsin is still full of echoes of the
events of this period. Galena is the state's official mineral, and
Wisconsin is nicknamed the "Badger State" because many miners, who
arrived faster than housing could be built, lived with their families in
the mines, like badgers in dens. Place names like Mineral Point also
recall this period of Wisconsin history.
At the end of the 19th
and beginning of the 20th centuries, thousands of immigrants from
Germany and Scandinavian countries settled in Wisconsin.
In
1941-1943, the world's largest ammunition production plant, Badger Army
Ammunition Plant, was built in Wisconsin near the city of Baraboo on an
area of 30 km².
Two battleships were named in honor of the state:
USS Wisconsin (BB-9) and USS Wisconsin (BB-64).
The flag of Wisconsin is a blue flag with the Wisconsin Seal centered on it. In the middle, under the lettering 'Wisconsin' and above the year '1848', there is the state coat of arms from 1851, which shows a sailor and a miner as symbols of work on land and at sea as a shield holder.
Wisconsin will have ten voters in the Electoral College for the 2024
United States presidential election, as it has since 2004.
In
Germany, people temporarily became aware of Wisconsin in 2002 because
the then Prime Minister of Hesse, Roland Koch, also propagated the local
welfare model Welfare to Work (work instead of welfare). This model goes
back to the former governor and ex-US Secretary of Health Tommy
Thompson, who introduced the “Wisconsin Works” (W-2) program in 1997 and
was able to significantly reduce the number of welfare recipients.
Whether and how this concept can also be implemented in Germany is
controversial. In terms of its population and economic structure,
Wisconsin can hardly be compared to German conditions. Only in the south
(Madison, Milwaukee) are there larger cities where social problems are
tangible to a significant extent.
Wisconsin politicians,
regardless of party affiliation, have consistently been champions of
progressive politics and social reform. The most important political
figures in the history of the state include Robert M. La Follette Sr.,
1901-1906 governor and 1905-1925 Republican senator of Wisconsin and
later founder and presidential candidate of the Progressive Party,
Joseph McCarthy, a Republican in the 1950s hunted down actual or alleged
communists in social life, and Russ Feingold, a well-known former
senator who belonged to the progressive-liberal wing of the Democrats.
Wisconsin is one of the states that can currently be described as swing states in the USA. Its contrasts between rural-conservative and metropolitan-liberal regions ensure a balanced political balance between the major parties in the USA. As a result, the results of the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections in Wisconsin were very close. In 2004, John Kerry won the ten electoral votes with a lead of 0.4 percent; Al Gore's victory four years earlier was even closer. Originally, however, Wisconsin is one of the states where the Democrats have slight advantages over the Republicans. Between 1932 and 2004, the Democrats won eleven times and the Republicans only eight times. From 1988 to 2012 there were only Democratic victories in presidential elections. In 2016, Republican Donald Trump won with 47.2% of the vote (Hillary Clinton 46.5%). Trump, however, lost the 2020 election to his Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
In the Senate of the 117th Congress, Wisconsin is represented by Republican Ron Harold Johnson and Democrat Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin. The state's delegation in the House of Representatives consists of five Republicans and three Democrats.
In the spring of 2011, a power struggle raged in Wisconsin between Republican Governor Scott Walker and a large portion of public sector employees because Walker wanted to de facto abolish union bargaining power in order to impose drastic spending cuts. This led to chaotic conditions, such as the occupation of the State House in Madison by demonstrators. Democratic senators also left the state to block a vote on the bill. The opposition's planned recall of the governor failed, with Walker receiving 54% of the vote.
The current governor of Wisconsin is Democrat Anthony Steven Evers, his deputy (Lieutenant Governor) is Sara Rodriguez, who is also a Democrat.
The Wisconsin Legislature consists of two chambers, the Wisconsin State Assembly (House of Representatives) with currently 96 members (3 vacant, regular 99) and the Wisconsin Senate which currently has 33 members. Each 3 assembly districts (lower house constituencies) form a Senate constituency. Republicans held the majority in both chambers in July 2022.
The real gross domestic product per capita (per capita real GDP) was
USD 53,565 in 2016 (national average of the 50 US states: USD 57,118;
national ranking: 20). The unemployment rate was 3.2% in November 2017
(national average: 4.1%).
The main industry is still agriculture.
Because of its intensive dairy farming, the state is called “America’s
Dairyland.” The country's residents are also jokingly called
Cheeseheads, so fans of the famous Green Bay Packers football team like
to wear hats in the shape of a triangular Emmentaler. The heyday of
Wisconsin's dairy industry began in the 1880s with the introduction of
silage technology and the use of refrigerated cars on the railroad. Both
made it possible to produce dairy products of consistent quality and
export them outside of Wisconsin. As early as 1899, more than 90% of all
agricultural businesses specialized in dairy farming. Between 1915 and
1993, Wisconsin was the largest producer of dairy products in the United
States. The state was then replaced by California, where dairy farms
were often of “industrial size” compared to the family farms of
Wisconsin. However, in 2020, Wisconsin was still the largest producer of
cheese in the United States.
But Wisconsin also has a strong
industrial economic base. Milwaukee became “America’s toolbox” during
the New Deal and World War II eras. The Kohler plumbing factory is based
in Sheboygan, Harley-Davidson motorcycles as well as Briggs & Stratton
lawnmowers come from Milwaukee, and the bicycle manufacturer Trek has
its headquarters in Waterloo. The mail order company Lands' End, which
is also represented in Germany, has its headquarters in Dodgeville.
Wisconsin is often called "America's Dairy Farm" because the state is
famous for its cheese production. According to a common stereotype,
Wisconsin is a remote place with nothing but cows. Residents of the
state are sometimes jokingly called cheeseheads. Since Wisconsin, like
other states of the continental north, was populated primarily by
Germans at the beginning of the 20th century, large quantities of beer
are produced and consumed there.
Wisconsin's two main cities,
Milwaukee and the capital, Madison, are centers of cultural life in the
state. Madison is home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of
the top public universities in the United States, and the small town is
built largely around it. In contrast, Milwaukee is a large city and part
of the Chicago metropolis. The Milwaukee Art Museum is known for its
distinctive architecture.
The Green Bay Packers have played in the National Football League
since 1921 and hold the record for titles with 13. The Milwaukee Bucks
have played in the National Basketball Association since 1968, winning
two national championships and three conference titles.
The
Milwaukee Braves played Major League Baseball from 1953 to 1965, winning
one World Series and two National Leagues, after which they moved
states. The Milwaukee Brewers have competed since 1970. In 1982, they
won the American League to play in the World Series.
In college
sports, the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference have won three
Rose Bowls and 14 conference championships in football, as well as a
national championship in men's basketball. Meanwhile, the Marquette
Golden Eagles won a men's basketball national championship.
The
Milwaukee Mile Oval is the oldest active road course in the world,
opening in 1903. It is known for hosting the AAA National Championship,
AAA National Championship, CART and currently the IndyCar Series, as
well as the NASCAR Busch Series and the NASCAR Truck Series. For its
part, the CART, the IMSA GT Championship, the American Le Mans Series,
the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the CanAm and the Trans-Am have competed
at Road America.
Whistling Straits Golf Course has hosted the PGA
Championship and the US Veterans Open.