Wisconsin

Basic Information

Wisconsin, located in the upper Midwest region of the United States, is known for its natural beauty, agricultural heritage, and friendly residents.

Capital

• Madison

Largest City

• Milwaukee

Area

• 65,498 sq mi

Population

• 5.9 million (2020)

Demographics

Wisconsin's population reflects its European immigrant heritage along with growing diversity in urban centers.

Ethnic Composition

• White:81.3%
• Hispanic:7.1%
• Black:6.7%
• Asian:3.0%

Languages

• English:91.5%
• Spanish:4.6%
• Hmong:0.9%
• German:0.6%

Age Distribution

• Under 18:21.8%
• 18-64:61.5%
• 65+:16.7%

Population Growth

• Annual Rate:0.3%
• Natural Increase:18,000
• Migration:5,000

Economy

Wisconsin's diverse economy includes strong manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and tourism sectors.

GDP

• $348 billion (2022)

Major Industries

• Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Healthcare
• Tourism

Employment Rate

• Employed:96.7%
• Unemployment:3.3%

Major Companies

• Kohl's
• Northwestern Mutual
• Harley-Davidson
• SC Johnson

Climate

Wisconsin has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons, including warm summers and cold, snowy winters.

Southern Regions

• Avg. Summer:80°F
• Avg. Winter:20°F
• Rainfall:32 inches/year

Northern Regions

• Avg. Summer:75°F
• Avg. Winter:15°F
• Rainfall:30 inches/year

Lake Michigan Effect

• Moderates temperatures near lake
• Increases snowfall in winter
• Cooler summers along shoreline

Seasonal Highlights

• Spring:Late Maple Syrup Season
• Fall:Vibrant Foliage
• Winter:40-50 inches of snow annually

Visiting Wisconsin

From pristine lakes and forests to vibrant cities and unique cultural experiences, Wisconsin offers diverse attractions for visitors.

Best Time to Visit

• Summer:June-August
• Fall:September-October
• Winter (for snow activities):December-February

Transportation

• Major Airports:8
• Train Routes:Amtrak Empire Builder
• Highway System:11,800 miles

Accommodation

• Hotels:1,500+
• Camping Sites:5,000+
• Average Hotel Rate:$110/night

Tourist Information

• Visitor Centers:15+
• Tourism Website:Travel Wisconsin
• Info Hotline:1-800-432-TRIP

Popular Attractions

Wisconsin offers a range of attractions from natural wonders to cultural and historical sites.

Natural Landmarks

• Wisconsin Dells
• Apostle Islands
• Door County Peninsula
• Devil's Lake State Park

Entertainment Venues

• Lambeau Field
• Milwaukee Art Museum
• Noah's Ark Waterpark
• House on the Rock

Cultural Sites

• Taliesin (Frank Lloyd Wright Estate)
• Old World Wisconsin
• EAA Aviation Museum
• National Railroad Museum

Popular Cities

• Milwaukee
• Madison
• Green Bay
• La Crosse

History

Wisconsin's history spans from Native American cultures through European settlement to its development as a center for progressive politics and industry.

Early History

• Native Peoples:Ho-Chunk, Menominee, others
• French Exploration:1600s
• British Control:1763-1783

19th Century

• U.S. Territory:1783-1848
• Lead Mining Boom:1820s-1830s
• Statehood:1848

20th Century

• Progressive Era:1900-1920
• Industrial Growth:1920s-1970s
• Agricultural Modernization:1940s+

Recent History

• Economic Diversification
• Tourism Development
• Political Importance as Swing State

State Symbols

Wisconsin has adopted various official state symbols that represent its natural resources, cultural heritage, and identity.

State Animals

• State Animal:

  American Badger
• State Wildlife Animal:

  White-tailed Deer
• State Bird:

  Robin
• State Fish:

  Muskellunge
• State Domestic Animal:

  Dairy Cow

State Plants

• State Flower:

  Wood Violet
• State Tree:

  Sugar Maple
• State Grain:

  Corn
• State Fruit:

  Cranberry
• State Plant:

  Ginseng

Cultural Symbols

• State Colors:

  Blue and Gold
• State Song:

  "On, Wisconsin!"
• State Dance:

  Polka
• State Beverage:

  Milk
• State Motto:

  "Forward"

Other Symbols

• State Mineral:

  Galena
• State Rock:

  Red Granite
• State Soil:

  Antigo Silt Loam
• State Fossil:

  Trilobite
• State Dog:

  American Water Spaniel

State Facts

Interesting and unique facts about Wisconsin that showcase its distinctive character and contributions.

Geographic Facts

• Highest Point:

  Timms Hill (1,951 ft)
• Lowest Point:

  Lake Michigan shoreline (579 ft)
• Longest River:

  Wisconsin River (430 miles)
• Largest Lake:

  Lake Winnebago (inland)
• Shoreline Length:

  820 miles (Great Lakes)

Records & Rankings

• Leading Dairy Producer in the US
• Leading Cranberry Producer in the World
• Over 15,000 Lakes
• Home to World's Largest Music Festival (Summerfest)
• First Kindergarten in the US (Watertown, 1856)

Notable Firsts

• First Typewriter (1868)
• First Ice Cream Sundae (1881)
• First Workers' Compensation Law (1911)
• First Social Security Payment (1940)
• First Successful Bone Marrow Transplant (1968)

Unique Features

• More Lakes than Minnesota (despite MN nickname)
• Home to the National Mustard Museum
• Birthplace of Les Paul (inventor of solid-body electric guitar)
• World's Largest Six-Pack (La Crosse)
• America's Dairyland (License Plate Slogan)

Government & Politics

Wisconsin has a competitive political landscape with a history of both progressive and conservative movements influencing state policies.

Governor

• Tony Evers (as of 2021)

Legislature

• Bicameral:State Senate and State Assembly

Political Trends

• Swing state with urban-rural divide

Key Political Issues

• Education Funding
• Agricultural Policy
• Manufacturing Support
• Environmental Protection

Time Zones

Wisconsin is entirely within the Central Time Zone, with daylight saving time observed.

Standard Time

• Central Standard Time (CST, UTC -6)

Daylight Saving

• Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC -5)

Notable Exceptions

• No areas with differing time zones
• Observes DST in accordance with federal law

Education

Wisconsin has a strong tradition of educational excellence, from its pioneering public school system to renowned research universities.

Major Public Systems

• University of Wisconsin System (13 universities)
• Wisconsin Technical College System (16 colleges)
• Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities

Notable Institutions

• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Marquette University
• Lawrence University
• Milwaukee School of Engineering

K-12 System

• Over 2,200 public schools serving 860,000+ students

Key Educational Initiatives

• School Choice Programs
• Technical Education Partnerships
• Wisconsin Idea (UW outreach mission)
• Early Childhood Education Expansion

Culture & Festivals

Wisconsin's cultural scene celebrates its diverse heritage through numerous festivals, events, and traditions throughout the year.

Major Festivals

• Summerfest (World's Largest Music Festival)
• Wisconsin State Fair
• EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
• Oktoberfest (La Crosse)

Cultural Celebrations

• German Fest (Milwaukee)
• Polish Fest (Milwaukee)
• Syttende Mai (Stoughton)
• Ho-Chunk Pow Wows

Regional Traditions

• Fish Boils (Door County)
• Cheese Days (Monroe)
• Cranberry Festival (Warrens)
• Ice Fishing Tournaments (Statewide)

Seasonal Events

• Winter Carnivals
• Maple Syrup Festivals (Spring)
• Summer County Fairs
• Fall Harvest Festivals

Sports & Teams

Wisconsin has a passionate sports culture centered around professional, collegiate, and recreational teams.

NFL Teams

• Green Bay Packers

NBA Teams

• Milwaukee Bucks

MLB Teams

• Milwaukee Brewers

NHL Affiliations

• Milwaukee Admirals (AHL affiliate of Nashville Predators)

College Sports

• Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten Conference)
• Marquette Golden Eagles (Big East Conference)
• UW-Green Bay Phoenix
• UW-Milwaukee Panthers

Notable Sporting Events

• Packers Games at Lambeau Field
• American Birkebeiner (North America's largest cross-country ski race)
• Wisconsin High School State Tournaments
• PGA Championships at Whistling Straits

Cuisine & Local Specialties

Wisconsin cuisine reflects its agricultural roots, European immigrant heritage, and innovative food culture.

Signature Dishes

• Cheese Curds (fresh and fried)
• Bratwurst
• Fish Fry (Friday tradition)
• Butter Burger

Dairy Products

• Award-winning Cheeses (over 600 varieties)
• Ice Cream
• Artisanal Butter
• Frozen Custard

Agricultural Products

• Cranberries (largest producer in the world)
• Cherries (Door County)
• Ginseng (largest US producer)
• Maple Syrup

Beverage Culture

• Craft Beer (200+ breweries)
• Brandy Old Fashioned (state cocktail)
• Spotted Cow (New Glarus beer, only sold in Wisconsin)
• Artisan Coffee Roasters

Infrastructure

Wisconsin's infrastructure includes extensive transportation networks, ports, and energy systems supporting its economy and quality of life.

Highway System

• Nearly 12,000 miles of state highways

Public Transportation

• Milwaukee County Transit System
• Madison Metro Transit
• Amtrak service (Empire Builder)
• Regional bus systems

Major Ports

• Port of Milwaukee
• Port of Green Bay
• Port of Superior
• Mississippi River ports

Energy & Water

• Mix of nuclear, coal, natural gas, and renewable energy
• Growing wind and solar capacity
• Great Lakes water resources
• Hydroelectric facilities on major rivers

Notable Historical Figures

Many influential individuals have emerged from Wisconsin, contributing to politics, arts, science, and business.

Political Leaders

• Robert M. La Follette (Progressive Era leader)
• Gaylord Nelson (Earth Day founder)
• William Proxmire (Senator)
• Russ Feingold (Senator)

Arts & Entertainment

• Frank Lloyd Wright (architect)
• Harry Houdini (magician)
• Orson Welles (filmmaker)
• Georgia O'Keeffe (artist)

Business Pioneers

• William Harley & Arthur Davidson (motorcycle manufacturers)
• Ole Evinrude (outboard motor inventor)
• Herbert Kohler (industrialist)
• John Deere (agricultural equipment)

Sports Legends

• Vince Lombardi (Packers coach)
• Hank Aaron (baseball player)
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (basketball player)
• Eric Heiden (speed skater)

State Government Services

Wisconsin offers a range of public services through various agencies and departments to support residents' needs.

Health Services

• BadgerCare (Medicaid program)
• SeniorCare (prescription drug assistance)
• Public Health Services
• Mental Health Resources

Social Services

• FoodShare (food assistance)
• Wisconsin Works (W-2) program
• Child care subsidies
• Energy assistance

Environmental Agencies

• Department of Natural Resources
• Wisconsin Conservation Congress
• Environmental Protection Division

Parks & Recreation

• 66 state parks
• Extensive state trail system
• State forests and wildlife areas
• Public hunting and fishing lands

Key Historical Documents & Landmarks

Historic documents and sites reflect Wisconsin's journey from territory to modern state.

State Constitution

• Original 1848 Constitution
• Current Constitution with amendments

Historic Sites

• First Capitol (Belmont)
• Old Wade House
• Villa Louis
• Pendarvis

Archival Repositories

• Wisconsin Historical Society (founded 1846)
• Area Research Centers across the state
• University Archives
• Wisconsin Veterans Museum

Native American Heritage Sites

• Effigy Mounds
• Tribal Cultural Centers
• Ancient Village Sites
• Aztalan State Park

Environmental Initiatives

Wisconsin has a strong conservation tradition and implements various programs to preserve its natural resources.

Conservation Programs

• Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
• County Forest System (largest in US)
• Sustainable Forestry Initiatives
• Urban Green Space Protection

Water Protection

• Great Lakes Compact
• Wisconsin River Water Quality Initiative
• Groundwater Protection Programs
• Invasive Species Management

Wildlife Management

• Deer Management Program
• Wolf Recovery Efforts
• Waterfowl Habitat Restoration
• Fish Stocking Programs

Renewable Energy

• Focus on Energy Program
• Wind Farm Development
• Solar Initiatives
• Biogas from Agricultural Waste

Major Events & Conferences

Wisconsin hosts numerous significant gatherings throughout the year for various industries and interests.

Agricultural Events

• World Dairy Expo (Madison)
• Wisconsin Farm Technology Days
• Organic Farming Conference
• Cheese Industry Conference

Industry Conferences

• Wisconsin Manufacturing & Technology Show
• BioForward Summit
• Wisconsin Healthcare Engineering Association Conference
• Wisconsin Governor's Conference on Tourism

Cultural Gatherings

• Wisconsin Book Festival
• Film Festivals (Milwaukee, Madison)
• Art Fair on the Square (Madison)
• Wisconsin Science Festival

Sporting Events

• Packers Home Games
• American Birkebeiner Ski Race
• PGA Golf Tournaments
• NCAA Tournaments (when hosted)