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Facts
Famous Natives
Flag
Gov
History
Land
Landforms
Lat/Long
Symbols
Time
Travel Info
Weather
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Description
During the Ice Age, North America was sculpted for millions of years by glaciers, and the subsequent craters formed by melting ice.
In that process the Great Lakes were born and the rugged land we call Wisconsin took shape.
American Indians were the initial inhabitants, then in 1634, while looking for a passage to China, the French explorer Jean Nicolet arrived. France held the area for decades, but lost possession to Great Britain during the French and Indian Wars.
After the Revolutionary War ended, American settlers and entrepreneurs from the East reached the area in significant numbers by the early 19th century.
Many worked in the booming lead mining industry. In fact, many of the miners burrowed into the hillsides (like badgers), thus giving Wisconsin its "Badger State" nickname.
Renowned for its natural beauty, clear lakes, rivers and endless green forests, Wisconsin is also famous for its cultural attractions, cheese and the largest dairy industry in the U.S., (more dairy cows here than in any other state). And of course, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and the incredible Green Bay Packer legends.
Learn more about Wisconsin here!
Facts and Figures
Statehood May 29, 1848 (30th state)
Capital Madison
Currency U.S. Dollar
(conversion rates) here
Wisconsin Quarter (new) here
Language English (official)
Largest Cities (by population) Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton (all cities here)
Lat/Long 43º 08' N, 89º 39' W
Origin of Name From an Indian word, that the French spelled Ouisconsin. It means, "Gathering of the waters."
Population 5,441,196
(20th)
Population Details (and more)
here
Statewide Business (facts & figures)
here
Flag and Symbols Animal Badger
Animal (domesticated) Dairy Cow
Bird Robin
Flag here
Flower Wood Violet
Fish Muskellunge (Muskie)
Motto "Forward"
Nickname "Badger State"
Rock Red Granite
Song "On Wisconsin"
State Seal here
Tree Sugar Maple
Wisconsin Official Symbols here
Land Statistics Area 65,503 sq miles
(25th)
(Land) 54,314 sq. miles (Water) 11,190 sq. miles Bordering States (4) Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Iowa
Number of Counties (72) map here Largest County (by population) Milwaukee, 948,000
Highest Point Timms Hill, 1,915 ft.
Lowest Point Lake Michigan, 581 ft.
Length/Width 310 miles/260 miles
Coastline 0
Shoreline (Great Lakes) 950 miles
Mean Elevation 1,050 ft.
Geographic Center 9 miles SE of Marshfield LANDFORMS
Rolling green hills extend through the Western Uplands, ending at the sandstone bluffs that ridge the Mississippi River.
The Northern Highlands, a forested, hilly area includes Timms Hill, the highest point in the state at 1,915 ft. Pronounced river cliffs edge the St. Croix River.
Forested lands cover most of the north, while fertile farmlands are common central and south. Uncountable lakes (mostly small in size) dot the entire landscape of Wisconsin. Lake Winnebago is the largest inland lake.
The Apostle Islands, on the edge of Lake Superior, are known for pristine birch forests and rugged sea-cliffs.
Significant rivers include the Mississippi, and the Fox, Menominee, St. Croix, Wisconsin and Wolf.
For detailed information on the physical geography of Wisconsin, we strongly recommend this site.
For an interesting look at the Mississippi River and Wisconsin River valleys, as well as the overall topography of Wisconsin, view this map.
Landforms of America here
Landforms of North America here
Rivers of North America here
Wisconsin Rivers Map here
Wisconsin State Parks here
Government Info U.S. President George W. Bush
Wisconsin Government web site
Wisconsin Legislature web site
Famous Natives People listed are almost always native to the state. We do, on occasion, include those that have lived within a state for most of their adult life. "A mostly random selection" Don Ameche actor William DeFoe actor Jeanne Dixon physic Zona Gale author Hamlin Garland author King Camp Gillette industrialist Eric Heiden olympic athletic, speed skater Vinnie Hoxie sculptor Robert La Follette political leader Liberace entertainer, pianist Alfred Lunt actor John Oscar Moen III cartographer Oscar Moen industrialist Georgia O'Keefe artist William Rehnquist supreme court justice Spencer Tracy actor Orson Welles actor, director, producer Thornton Wilder novelist, playwright Frank Lloyd Wright architect Is someone missing?
Submit your famous person here!
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Maps
Wisconsin County Map
here
Wisconsin Outline Map here
Wisconsin Maps Univ. of Texas here
Wisconsin Highway Map here
Wisconsin Historic Map here
Wisconsin Historic Maps here
Wisconsin Precipitation Map here
Wisconsin Satellite Map here
Wisconsin Topographic Relief Map here
Wisconsin Vegetation Map here
U.S. States & Capitol Cities (a test) here
U.S. MAPS (large selection) here
USA MAP Clip Art (FREE) here
CUSTOM USA MAPS created here
Recommended Links 
Apostle Islands, an NPS photo Wisconsin Ancestry/Genealogy web site
Wisconsin Cheesemakers here
Wisconsin Colleges & Universities here
Wisconsin Historical Society web site
NEWSPAPERS
Appleton Post-Crescent (newspaper) web site
Madison Times (newspaper) web site
Milw. Journal-Sentinel (newspaper) web site
State of Wisconsin web site
U.S. National Park Service web site
Time, Weather and more Area Codes here
Time in Wisconsin
here
Climate
Weather in Wisconsin varies, but generally, spring, summer and fall are pleasant throughout the state, with manageable humidty. Conditions along Lake Michigan and Lake Superior can, and do, change quickly.
Statewide average high temperatures in June and July exceed 75 degrees, while conditions in the south can he much hotter and quite humid.
Winter snow (often heavy) is very common November through March, with average highs temperatures in January near 15 degrees. Extreme cold conditions are possible, and over-night low temperatures below zero are normal.
Average rain fall is near 30 inches annually. For a look at Wisconsin precipitation, view this map
Current Weather Conditions in:
Timeline of History (1634) French explorer Jean Nicolet arrives in the Green Bay area (1650s) Fur trading industry begins (1673) Explorers Louis Jolliet and Fr. Jacques Marquette discover the upper Mississippi River (1763) Control of the Wisconsin area is transferred to England after the French and Indian War (1776) Green Bay settlement established by Augustin Monet de Langlade (1783) With the Treaty of Paris the overall area is given to the U.S., but the British continue to claim it until after the War of 1812 (1822) Lead mining begins in southwestern Wisconsin (1836) Madison selected as territorial capital (1848) Wisconsin becomes 30th U.S. State (1854) Republican Party is founded in Ripon (1871) Severe forest fire devastates Peshtigo area, over 1,200 die (1901) Robert LaFollette becomes the first native governor (1932) Wisconsin passes the first unemployment compensation legislation (1953) Baseball Braves move to Milwaukee, win World Series in 1957 (1959) St Lawrence Seaway opens, provided access to the world for shipping ports on the Great Lakes (1967) Green Bay Packers win first Super Bowl. Win again in 1968 (1980) Eric Heiden of Madison wins five Olympic Gold Medals in ice skating competition (1998) Tammy Baldwin becomes the first women from Wisconsin elected to the U.S. Congress (2001) Governor Tommy Thompson assumes the office of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in the George W. Bush Administration Traveler Information Attractions (a few major) Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Cheese manufacturers (there are hundreds) throughout the state, Circus World Museum, Door County Peninsula, fishing in any lake (just pick one), House on the Rock, Kohler, St. Croix River Valley, University of Wisconsin Madison campus, Wisconsin Dells, and much, much more.
Electricity 110/120V, 60Hz
Times to Travel Wisconsin offers a fabulous family vacation destinations, be it spring, summer, fall or winter. Cold, snowy conditions are common in winter, however those months bring exceptional hunting, ice fishing, skating, skiing and snow mobile conditions to many areas of the state.
Wisconsin Accommodations
For hotels all around the State of Wisconsin here!
Apostle Islands web site
Circle World Museum web site
Door County web site
Green Bay Tourism web site
House on the Rock web site
Milwaukee Tourism web site
Roadside America An online guide to offbeat attractions, and more here
Wisconsin Dells web site
Wisconsin DNR photo Wisconsin Fishing web site
Wisconsin State Parks web site
Wisconsin Tourism web site
Wisconsin Tourism 800.432.8747
U.S. National Park Service web site Visas United States entry requirements are the same in all states, with most foreign travelers requiring a visa.
There are exceptions as Canadian citizens only need proof of that citizenship. Travelers coming to the U.S. for tourism or business for 90 days or less from qualified countries may be eligible to visit the U.S. without a visa.
Currently, 26 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Pilot Program: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Visitors entering on the Visa Waiver Pilot Program cannot work or study while in the U.S. and cannot stay longer than 90 days or change their status to another category.
For the latest information, including required documentation, any interested party should apply at the American Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence.
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