Wisconsin Details, Meaning Wisconsin Article and Explanation Guide

Wisconsin is the 23rd largest state of the United States, (54,314 square miles) and 18th greatest population (5,453,896 as of 2002). The state's name is an English version of a French adaptation of an Indian name said to mean "the place where we live."

Wisconsin's natural beauty has made the state a favorite playground of the nation. Vacationers enjoy the state's clean lakes, rolling hills, quiet valleys, deep forests and cool, pine-scented breezes. So many Chicago residents own summer homes in upper-central Wisconsin (mainly between Wisconsin Dells and Adams-Friendship) that local residents nickname the area "Little Chicago". More affluent Chicago residents own lake-side summer homes on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin.

The winters are ideal for skating, skiing, snowmobiling and tobogganing. Many communities stage curling matches during the winter and others hold snowmobile derbies. Many annual events celebrate the state's rich ethnic heritage and diversity.

Known as "The Dairy State", Wisconsin is also known for cheese (Wisconsinites humorously nickname themselves "Cheeseheads" and commonly wear orange foam hats that look like wedges of an orange Swiss cheese to sports events, concerts, and other public gatherings), beer, bratwurst, cranberries and many festivals, such as Summerfest and the EAA Oshkosh Airshow.

USS Wisconsin was named in honor of this state.

Wisconsin's political history encompasses, on the one hand, Fighting Bob La Follette and the Progressive movement; and on the other, Joe McCarthy, the anti-communist "witch-hunter" of the 1950s. The first Socialist mayor of a large city in the United States was Emil Seidel, elected mayor of Milwaukee in 1910; another Socialist, Daniel Hoan, was mayor of Milwaukee from 1916 to 1940.

Table of contents

1 History
2 Law and Government
3 Geography
4 Demographics
5 Important cities and villages
6 Education

6.1 Colleges and universities

7 Professional sports teams
8 Miscellaneous information
9 External links

History

Main Article: History of Wisconsin

In 1634, Frenchman Jean Nicolet became Wisconsin's first European explorer. The French controlled the area until 1763, when it was ceded to the British.

After the American Revolutionary War, Wisconsin was a part of the U.S Northwest Territory. It was then governed as part of Indiana Territory, Illinois Territory, and Michigan Territory. Wisconsin Territory was organized on July 3, 1836 and became the 30th state on May 29, 1848.

Law and Government

The capital is Madison and the largest city is Milwaukee.

Governors of Wisconsin
Wisconsin State Legislature
- Wisconsin State Senate
- Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin Congressional Delegation
- List of U.S. Senators from Wisconsin

Geography

See: List of Wisconsin counties, List of cities in Wisconsin, List of villages in Wisconsin, List of towns in Wisconsin

It 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. Part of the state's boundaries includes the Mississippi River and St. Croix River.

Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2003, Wisconsin's population was estimated at 5,472,299 people.

The racial makeup of the state is:

87.3% White
5.7% Black
3.6% Hispanic
1.7% Asian
0.9% American Indian
1.2% are mixed race

The 5 largest ancestry groups in Wisconsin are German (42.6%), Irish (10.9%), Polish (9.3%), Norwegian (8.5%), English (6.5%)

The 5 largest religious denominations in Wisconsin are Roman Catholic (30%), Lutheran (24%), Methodist (7%), Baptist (6%), "Christian" (5%). 15% of the population is nonreligious.

6.4% of Wisconsin's population were reported as under 5, 25.5% under 18, and 13.1% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.6% of the population.

Important cities and villages

Cities and villages are incorporated urban areas in Wisconsin. Towns are unincorporated minor civil divisions of counties.

Cities in Wisconsin with population of 50,000 or more as of 2000 include:

Milwaukee, pop. 596,125 (1,500,741 in metropolitan area)
Madison - pop. 208,856, state capital, flagship campus of University of Wisconsin
Green Bay, pop. 102,263, home of Green Bay Packers football team
Kenosha, pop. 90,625, considered part of the greater "Chicagoland" area
Racine, pop. 81,703
Appleton, pop. 70,232
Waukesha, pop. 65,092
Oshkosh, pop. 63,325
Eau Claire, pop. 61,792
Janesville, pop. 60,294
West Allis, pop. 60,254
La Crosse, pop. 51,907

Other cities include:

Antigo, pop. 8,560
Baraboo, pop. 10,717, home of Circus World Museum
Beloit, pop. 35,821, home of Beloit College
Portage, pop. 9,728, birthplace of Frederick Jackson Turner, Zona Gale
Ripon birthplace of the Republican Party, 1854
Stevens Point, pop. 24,539, home of the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame, commemorating Aldo Leopold, John Muir, and others
Superior, pop. 27,389
Waterloo, pop. 3,259, home to the headquarters of one of the world's largest bicycle manufacturers, Trek Bicycle Corporation
Watertown site of the first kindergarten in the United States
Wausau, pop. 38,469
Wisconsin Dells, pop. 2,418 (approx. 4,000 including Lake Delton) popular resort area, home of Tommy Bartlett's thrill shows and numerous hotels and themeparks.

Badger State
State Animal:	badger
State Domesticated Animal:	Dairy Cow
State Beverage:	Milk
State Bird:	Robin
State Capital:	Madison
State Fish:	Muskellunge
State Flower:	Wood Violet
State Insect:	Honeybee
State Motto:	Forward
State Song:	"On Wisconsin"
State Tree:	Sugar Maple
State Mineral:	Galena (Lead sulphide)
State Rock:	Red Granite
State Soil:	Antigo Silt Loam
State Dance:	Polka