Wisconsin

Wisconsin

(In Detail) (Full size)
State nickname: Badger State State motto: "Forward"
Other U.S. States
Capital	Madison
Largest City	Milwaukee
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water  - % water	Ranked 23rd 169,790 km² 140,787 km² 28,006 km² 17%
Population  - Total (2002)  - Density	Ranked 18th 5,453,896 31.6/km²
Admittance into Union  - Order  - Date	30th May 29, 1848
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Latitude Longitude	42°30'N to 47°3'N 86°49'W to 92°54'W
Width Length Elevation   -Highest   -Mean   -Lowest	420 km 500 km   595 meters 320 meters 177 meters
ISO 3166-2:	US-WI

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. 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 beer, cheese, 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.

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. In 1848, Wisconsin was admitted as the 30th state.

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

Geography

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.

Important Cities and Towns

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 "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
• Stevens Point, pop. 24,539, home of the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame, commemorating Aldo Leopold, John Muir, and others
• Stockholm, pop. 81
• Superior, pop. 27,389
• Wausau, pop. 38,469
• Wisconsin Dells, pop. 2418 (approx. 4000 including Lake Delton) Popular resort area, home of Tommy Bartlett's thrill shows

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

Education

Colleges and Universities

• Alverno College
• Beloit College
• Cardinal Stritch College
• Carroll College
• Carthage College
• Concordia University Wisconsin
• Edgewood College
• Lakeland College
• Lawrence University
• Maranatha Baptist Bible College
• Marian College of Fond du Lac
• Marquette University
• Medical College of Wisconsin
• Milwaukee School of Engineering
• Mount Mary College
• Mount Senario College
• Northland College
• Ripon College
• St. Norbert College
• Silver Lake College
• University of Wisconsin System
  • University of Wisconsin, Baraboo/Sauk County
  • University of Wisconsin, Barron County
  • University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
  • University of Wisconsin, Fond du Lac
  • University of Wisconsin, Fox Valley
  • University of Wisconsin, Green Bay
  • University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
  • University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • University of Wisconsin, Manitowoc
  • University of Wisconsin, Marathon County
  • University of Wisconsin, Marinette County
  • University of Wisconsin, Marshfield/Wood County
  • University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
  • University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh
  • University of Wisconsin, Parkside
  • University of Wisconsin, Platteville
  • University of Wisconsin, Richland
  • University of Wisconsin, River Falls
  • University of Wisconsin, Rock County
  • University of Wisconsin, Sheboygan
  • University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
  • University of Wisconsin, Stout
  • University of Wisconsin, Superior
  • University of Wisconsin, Washington County
  • University of Wisconsin, Waukesha
  • University of Wisconsin, Whitewater
• Viterbo College
• Wisconsin Lutheran College
• Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology

Professional Sports Teams

• Milwaukee Brewers, Major League Baseball
• Milwaukee Bucks, National Basketball Association
• Green Bay Packers, National Football League
• Minor League Baseball Teams
  • Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
  • Beloit Snappers
• A-League Soccer
  • Milwaukee Wave United

External Links

• http://www.wisconsin.gov/

Referenced By