Wisconsin Education

The Wisconsin region was first explored for France by Jean Nicolet, who landed at Green Bay in 1634. In 1660 a French trading post and Roman Catholic mission were established near present-day Ashland.

Great Britain obtained the region in settlement of the French and Indian Wars in 1763; the U.S. acquired it in 1783 after the Revolutionary War. However, Great Britain retained actual control until after the War of 1812. The region was successively governed as part of the territories of Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan between 1800 and 1836, when it became a separate territory.

Wisconsin is a leading state in milk and cheese production. In 1998 the state ranked second in the number of milk cows (1,370,000) and produced 29% of the nation's total output of cheese. Other important farm products are peas, beans, beets, corn, potatoes, oats, hay, and cranberries.

The chief industrial products of the state are automobiles, machinery, furniture, paper, beer, and processed foods. Wisconsin ranks second among the 47 paper-producing states.

Wisconsin is a pioneer in social legislation, providing pensions for the blind (1907), aid to dependent children (1913), and old-age assistance (1925). In labor legislation, the state was the first to enact an unemployment compensation law (1932) and the first in which a workman's compensation law actually took effect. In 1984, Wisconsin became the first state to adopt the Uniform Marital Property Act.

The state has over 14,000 lakes, of which Winnebago is the largest. Water sports, ice-boating, and fishing are popular, as are skiing and hunting. Public parks and forests take up one-seventh of the land, with 45 state parks, 9 state forests, 14 state trails, 3 recreational areas, and 2 national forests.

Among the many points of interest are the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore; Ice Age National Scientific Reserve; the Circus World Museum at Baraboo; the Wolf, St. Croix, and Lower St. Croix national scenic riverways; and the Wisconsin Dells.

Nickname: Badger State

Origin of name: French corruption of an Indian word whose meaning is disputed

10 largest cities (2000): Milwaukee, 596,974; Madison, 208,054; Green Bay, 102,313; Kenosha, 90,352; Racine, 81,855; Appleton, 70,087; Waukesha, 64,825; Oshkosh, 62,916; Eau Claire, 61,704; West Allis, 61,254

Land area: 54,310 sq mi. (140,673 sq km)

Geographic center: In Wood Co., 9 mi. SE of Marshfield

Number of counties: 72

Largest county by population and area: Milwaukee, 932,012 (2001); Marathon, 1,545 sq mi.

State forests: 12 (493,975 ac.)

State parks & scenic trails: 43 parks, 14 trails (68,355 ac.)

Residents: Wisconsinite

2002 resident population est.: 5,441,196

2000 resident census population (rank): 5,363,675 (18). Male: 2,649,041 (49.4%); Female: 2,714,634 (50.6%). White: 4,769,857 (88.9%); Black: 304,460 (5.7%); American Indian: 47,228 (0.9%); Asian: 88,763 (1.7%); Other race: 84,842 (1.6%); Two or more races: 66,895 (1.2%); Hispanic/Latino: 192,921 (3.6%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.5; 65 and over: 13.1; median age: 36.0.

Capital: Madison

Governor: Jim Doyle, D (to Jan. 2007)

Lieut. Governor: Barbara Lawton, D (to Jan. 2007)

Senators: Russell D. Feingold, D (to Jan. 2005); Herbert Kohl, D (to Jan. 2007)

Secy. of State: Douglas J. La Follette, D (to Jan. 2007)

State Treasurer: Jack C. Voight, R (to Jan. 2007)

Atty. General: Peg Lautenschlager, D (to Jan. 2007)

Organized as territory: July 4, 1836

Entered Union (rank): May 29, 1848 (30)

Superintendent of Public Instruction: Elizabeth Burmaster, Nonpartisan (to July 2005)

Present constitution adopted: 1848

Motto: Forward

State Symbols:

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