View source for Wisconsin

{{short description|U.S. state}}
{{About|the U.S. state}}
{{redirect|Badger State|ships with the name|SS Badger State{{!}}SS ''Badger State''}}
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{{protection padlock|vandalism|small=yes|expiry=indef}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox U.S. state
| name = Wisconsin
| image_flag = Flag of Wisconsin.svg
| flag_link = Flag of Wisconsin
| image_seal = Seal of Wisconsin.svg
| seal_link = Seal of Wisconsin
| image_map = Wisconsin in United States.svg
| nicknames = Badger State, America's Dairyland<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=PRqCCp3svlwC&pg=PA5 |page= 5 |title= Wisconsin: It's my state! |first1= Margaret |last1= Dornfeld |first2= Richard |last2= Hantula |publisher= Marshall Cavendish |year= 2010 |isbn= 978-1-60870-062-2 |access-date= June 10, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150907174046/https://books.google.com/books?id=PRqCCp3svlwC&pg=PA5 |archive-date= September 7, 2015 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="Urdang">{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=E9bt2QhyFIsC |title= Names and Nicknames of Places and Things |publisher= Penguin Group USA |first= Laurence |last= Urdang |year= 1988 |isbn= 9780452009073 |page= 8 |quote= "America's Dairyland" A nickname of Wisconsin |access-date= May 25, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150906150036/https://books.google.com/books?id=E9bt2QhyFIsC |archive-date= September 6, 2015 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fVoYAAAAIAAJ |title= Nicknames and sobriquets of U.S. cities, States, and counties |first1= Joseph Nathan |last1= Kane |first2= Gerard L. |last2= Alexander |publisher= Scarecrow Press |year= 1979 |page= 412 |isbn= 9780810812550 |quote= Wisconsin—America's Dairyland, The Badger State{{nbsp}}...The Copper State|access-date= May 25, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150906161709/https://books.google.com/books?id=fVoYAAAAIAAJ |archive-date= September 6, 2015 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=iCEl1sqlZLQC&pg=PA10 |title= Wisconsin Encyclopedia, American Guide |first= Jennifer L. |last= Herman |publisher= North American Book Dist LLC |year= 2008 |page= 10 |isbn= 9781878592613 |quote= Nicknames Wisconsin is generally known as The Badger State, or America's Dairyland, although in the past it has been nicknamed The Copper State. |access-date= May 25, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150906165221/https://books.google.com/books?id=iCEl1sqlZLQC&pg=PA10 |archive-date= September 6, 2015 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>[https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2005_2006/975_symbols.pdf "Wisconsin State Symbols"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222160612/http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2005_2006/975_symbols.pdf |date=February 22, 2017 }} in ''Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006'', p. 966.</ref>
| motto = Forward
| anthem = "[[On, Wisconsin!]]"{{break}}{{center|[[File:On Wisconsin.ogg]]}}
| Former = Wisconsin Territory
| Capital = [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]]
| population_demonym = [[List of U.S. state residents names|Wisconsinite]], [[Cheesehead]] (colloquial)
| OfficialLang = None
| Languages = {{plainlist|
* English 90.7%
* Spanish 5.0%
* Other 4.3%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Wisconsin?g=040XX00US55|title=Wisconsin – Census Bureau Profile|website=US Census Bureau|date=2023|access-date=May 26, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211070737/https://data.census.gov/profile/Wisconsin?g=040XX00US55|archive-date=February 11, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
| LargestCity = [[Milwaukee]]
| LargestCounty = [[Milwaukee County]]
| LargestMetro = [[Milwaukee metropolitan area|Milwaukee]]
| Governor = [[Tony Evers]] ([[Democratic Party of Wisconsin|D]])
| Lieutenant Governor = [[Sara Rodriguez]] (D)
| Legislature = [[Wisconsin Legislature]]
| Upperhouse = [[Wisconsin Senate|Senate]]
| Lowerhouse = [[Wisconsin State Assembly|Assembly]]
| Judiciary = [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]]
| Senators = {{plainlist|
* [[Ron Johnson]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
* [[Tammy Baldwin]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])}}
| Representative = {{plainlist|
* 6 Republicans
* 2 Democrats}}
| area_rank = 23rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=State Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2010/geo/state-area.html |date=2010 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407014954/https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2010/geo/state-area.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi = 65,498.37
| area_total_km2 = 169,640
| area_land_sq_mi = 54,153.1
| area_land_km2 = 140,256
| area_water_percent = 17
| Latitude = 42° 30' N to 47° 05′ N
| Longitude = 86° 46′ W to 92° 54′ W
| population_rank = 21st
| population_as_of = 2025
| 2020Pop = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 5,972,787<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/WI/PST045224|accessdate=January 5, 2025|title= United States Census Quick Facts Wisconsin}}</ref>
| 2020DensityUS = 108.8
| 2020Density = 
| MedianHouseholdIncome = ${{round|74631|-2}} (2<span>0</span>23)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2024/demo/acsbr-023.pdf|title=Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2023|accessdate=January 12, 2025}}</ref>
| IncomeRank = [[List of U.S. states and territories by income#States and territories ranked by median household income|26th]]
| AdmittanceOrder = 30th
| AdmittanceDate = May 29, 1848
| timezone1 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central]]
| utc_offset1 = – 06:00
| timezone1_DST = [[Central Daylight Time|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = – 05:00
| width_km = 427
| width_mi = 260
| length_km = 507
| length_mi = 311
| elevation_max_point = [[Timms Hill]]<ref name=USGS>{{cite web|url=https://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |title=Elevations and Distances in the United States |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |year=2001 |access-date=October 24, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015012701/http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |archive-date=October 15, 2011 }}</ref><ref name=NAVD88>Elevation adjusted to [[North American Vertical Datum of 1988]].</ref>
| elevation_max_m = 595
| elevation_max_ft = 1,951
| elevation_m = 320
| elevation_ft = 1,050
| elevation_min_point = [[Lake Michigan]]<ref name=USGS /><ref name=NAVD88 />
| elevation_min_m = 176
| elevation_min_ft = 579
| iso_code = US-WI
| postal_code = WI
| TradAbbreviation = Wis., Wisc.
| website = {{URL|wisconsin.gov}}
| area_water_sq_mi = 11,345.27
| area_water_km2 = 29,384
| Representatives = 
}}

'''Wisconsin'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Wisconsin.ogg|w|ᵻ|ˈ|s|k|ɒ|n|s|ᵻ|n}} {{respell|wih|SKON|sin}})<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Wisconsin|accessdate=March 8, 2024}}</ref>}} is a [[U.S. state|state]] in the [[Upper Midwest]] and [[Great Lakes region]]s of the [[United States]]. It borders [[Minnesota]] to the west, [[Iowa]] to the southwest, [[Illinois]] to the south, [[Lake Michigan]] to the east, [[Michigan]] to the northeast, and [[Lake Superior]] to the north. With a population of about 6 million<ref name="ReferenceA" />, and an area of about {{Convert|65500|sqmi|km2}}, Wisconsin is the [[List of U.S. states and territories by population|21st-largest state by population]] and the [[List of U.S. states and territories by area|23rd-largest by area]]. Wisconsin has [[List of counties in Wisconsin|72 counties]]. The state's [[List of municipalities in Wisconsin by population|most populous city]] is [[Milwaukee]]. Its capital and second-most populous city is [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]]. Other urban areas include [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] and the [[Fox Cities]].

[[Geography of Wisconsin|Wisconsin's geography]] is diverse, with dense forests in the north (including [[Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest]]), rugged unglaciated hills in the western [[Driftless Area]], and wooded plains, lowlands, and farms stretching from the interior east to Lake Michigan. Wisconsin has the third-longest [[Great Lakes]] coastline, after [[Ontario]] and Michigan. At the time of European contact, the area was inhabited by [[Algonquian peoples|Algonquian]] and [[Siouan]] nations, and today it is home to [[List of federally recognized tribes by state#Wisconsin|eleven federally recognized tribes]].<ref>{{cite web |title=American Indians in Wisconsin – Overview |url=https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/minority-health/population/amind-pop.htm |website=[[Wisconsin Department of Health Services]] |date=August 12, 2014 |access-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817205053/https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/minority-health/population/amind-pop.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Wisconsin was originally part of the [[Northwest Territory]] and was [[Admission to the Union|admitted as a state]] in 1848. Many European settlers entered the state during the 19th and early 20th centuries, predominantly from [[Germany]] and [[Scandinavia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Germans in Wisconsin |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2041 |website=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]] |date=August 3, 2012 |access-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817205035/https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2041 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=Scott |title=How Scandinavians Transformed The Midwest, And The Midwest Transformed Them Too |url=https://www.wiscontext.org/how-scandinavians-transformed-midwest-and-midwest-transformed-them-too |website=[[PBS Wisconsin|WisContext]] |access-date=August 17, 2021 |date=November 4, 2016 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817205046/https://www.wiscontext.org/how-scandinavians-transformed-midwest-and-midwest-transformed-them-too |url-status=live }}</ref> Wisconsin remains a center of [[German American]] and [[Scandinavian American]] culture,<ref>{{cite web |title=German and Scandinavian Immigrants in the American Midwest |url=http://digitalexhibits.libraries.wsu.edu/exhibits/show/2016sphist417/immigration/germans-and-scandinavians |website=[[Washington State University]] |publisher=Washington State University |access-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-date=August 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812190315/http://digitalexhibits.libraries.wsu.edu/exhibits/show/2016sphist417/immigration/germans-and-scandinavians |url-status=live }}</ref> particularly in [[Cuisine of Wisconsin|its cuisine]], with foods such as [[bratwurst]] and [[kringle]].

Wisconsin is one of the nation's leading [[Dairy farming|dairy producers]] and is known as "America's Dairyland"; it is particularly famous for [[Wisconsin cheese|its cheese]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wisconsin.uk/ | title=wisconsin.uk | access-date=October 25, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025193722/https://wisconsin.uk/ | archive-date=October 25, 2019 | url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Our Fifty States}}</ref> The state is also recognized for [[List of breweries in Wisconsin|its breweries]], a longstanding [[beer in Milwaukee|beer industry centered in Milwaukee]], relatively permissive [[Alcohol laws of Wisconsin|alcohol laws]], and a prominent [[drinking culture]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Matthews|first=Christopher|title=The 3 Best and 3 Worst States in America for Drinking|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=https://business.time.com/2013/12/05/the-3-best-and-3-worst-states-in-america-for-drinking/|url-status=live|access-date=October 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901203759/http://business.time.com/2013/12/05/the-3-best-and-3-worst-states-in-america-for-drinking/|archive-date=September 1, 2019|issn=0040-781X}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Laurel |title=High Tolerance: How State's Drinking Culture Developed |url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2019/05/19/high-tolerance-how-states-drinking-culture-developed/ |website=urbanmilwaukee.com |publisher=[[Wisconsin Public Radio]] |access-date=December 8, 2021 |date=May 19, 2019 |archive-date=December 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208184253/https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2019/05/19/high-tolerance-how-states-drinking-culture-developed/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Its economy is dominated by manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, and agriculture—specifically dairy, [[cranberries]], and [[ginseng]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/ginseng-continues-rebound-in-central-wisconsin/article_5dd63657-78ac-5cfe-ac88-419af3e9bf09.html|title=Ginseng continues rebound in central Wisconsin|last=Adams|first=Barry |work=Wisconsin State Journal |access-date=August 11, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811195428/https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/ginseng-continues-rebound-in-central-wisconsin/article_5dd63657-78ac-5cfe-ac88-419af3e9bf09.html|archive-date=August 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Tourism is also a major contributor towards its economy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Evers announces $10M to promote tourism industry in Wisconsin |url=https://www.cbs58.com/news/evers-announces-10m-to-promote-tourism-industry-in-wisconsin |access-date=August 17, 2021 |agency=[[WDJT-TV]] |date=August 3, 2021 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817205037/https://www.cbs58.com/news/evers-announces-10m-to-promote-tourism-industry-in-wisconsin |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[List of states and territories of the United States by GDP|gross domestic product]] in 2020 was $348&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wisconsin |url=https://www.forbes.com/places/wi/?sh=9db899823a16 |work=[[Forbes]] |access-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817205041/https://www.forbes.com/places/wi/?sh=9db899823a16 |url-status=live }}</ref> Wisconsin is home to one UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]], comprising [[The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright|two of the most significant buildings]] designed by Wisconsin-born architect [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]: his studio at [[Taliesin (studio)|Taliesin]] and his [[Herbert and Katherine Jacobs First House|Jacobs I House]].<ref name="whs">{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1496 |title=The 20th-century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |access-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709141412/http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1496 |url-status=live }}</ref> Politically, it is considered a [[swing state]] in national and statewide elections; the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] was founded in Wisconsin in 1854.

==Etymology==
The word ''Wisconsin'' originates from the name given to the [[Wisconsin River]] by one of the [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian]]-speaking Native American groups living in the region at the time of [[European colonization of the Americas|European colonization]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/topics/wisconsin-name/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051028075712/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/topics/wisconsin-name/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 28, 2005 |title=Wisconsin's Name: Where it Came from and What it Means |access-date=July 24, 2008 |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society}}</ref> The French explorer [[Jacques Marquette]] was the first European to reach the Wisconsin River, arriving in 1673 and calling the river {{lang|fr|Meskousing}} (likely ᒣᔅᑯᐤᓯᣙ ''meskowsin'') in his journal.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Marquette | first = Jacques | author-link = Jacques Marquette | year = 1673 | contribution = The Mississippi Voyage of Jolliet and Marquette, 1673 | contribution-url = http://www.americanjourneys.org/aj-051/ | editor-last = Kellogg | editor-first = Louise P. | title = Early Narratives of the Northwest, 1634–1699 | place = New York | publisher = Charles Scribner's Sons | page = 235 | oclc = 31431651 | access-date = July 25, 2008 | archive-date = January 25, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210125212847/https://www.americanjourneys.org/aj-051/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Subsequent French writers changed the spelling from {{lang|fr|Meskousing}} to {{lang|fr|Ouisconsin}}, and over time this became the name for both the Wisconsin River and the surrounding lands. English speakers [[anglicized]] the spelling from {{lang|fr|Ouisconsin}} to ''Wisconsin'' when they began to arrive in large numbers during the early 19th century. The legislature of [[Wisconsin Territory]] made the current spelling official in 1845.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Smith | first = Alice E. | title = Stephen H. Long and the Naming of Wisconsin | journal = Wisconsin Magazine of History | volume = 26 | issue = 1 | pages = 67–71 | date = September 1942 | url = http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/u?/wmh,14413 | access-date = July 24, 2008 | archive-url = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170525200450/http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/14413 | archive-date = May 25, 2017 | url-status = dead |author-link=Alice E. Smith (historian)}}</ref>

The Algonquian word for Wisconsin and its original meaning have both grown obscure. While interpretations vary, most implicate the river and the red sandstone that lines its banks. One leading theory holds that the name originated from the [[Miami-Illinois language|Miami]] word {{lang|mia|Meskonsing}}, meaning {{gloss|it lies red}}, a reference to the setting of the Wisconsin River as it flows through the reddish sandstone of the [[Dells of the Wisconsin River|Wisconsin Dells]].<ref>McCafferty, Michael. 2003. ''[http://poj.peeters-leuven.be/content.php?url=article&id=2002552&journal_code=ONO On Wisconsin: The Derivation and Referent of an Old Puzzle in American Placenames] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911183554/http://poj.peeters-leuven.be/content.php?url=article&id=2002552&journal_code=ONO |date=September 11, 2017 }}''. Onoma 38: 39–56</ref> Other theories include claims that the name originated from one of a variety of [[Ojibwe language|Ojibwe]] words meaning {{gloss|red stone place}}, {{gloss|where the waters gather}}, or {{gloss|great rock}}.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Vogel | first = Virgil J. | title = Wisconsin's Name: A Linguistic Puzzle | journal = Wisconsin Magazine of History | volume = 48 | issue = 3 | pages = 181–186 | year = 1965 | url = http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/u?/wmh,23263 | access-date = July 24, 2008 | archive-url = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170525200457/http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/23263 | archive-date = May 25, 2017 | url-status = dead }}</ref> More recently, [[University of Wisconsin-Green Bay]] lecturer and [[Menominee]] elder Napos Turney suggested the origin of the name may be the [[Menominee language|Menominee]] word ''Wēskōhsaeh'', meaning "good place".<ref>{{cite web |last= McCoy |first= Kate |date= 2019-05-10 |title= How Did Wisconsin Get Its Name? Well, It's Complicated |url= https://www.wpr.org/culture/how-did-wisconsin-get-its-name-well-its-complicated/ |website= [[Wisconsin Public Radio]] |location= Madison, WI |publisher= |access-date= 2025-06-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Reid |first= Claire |date= 2023-08-31 |title= From Meskousing to Ouisconsin to Wisconsin: How the Badger State got its name |url= https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/wisconsin-family/2023/08/31/how-did-wisconsin-get-its-name/70726974007/ |website= [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |location= Milwaukee, WI |publisher= Andy Fisher |access-date= 2025-06-07}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Wisconsin}}

===Early history===
[[File:Ancient Aztalan Village DSC 0 121.jpg|thumb|left|[[Aztalan State Park]] marks the site of an ancient [[Mississippian culture]] settlement that flourished during the 10th to 13th centuries.]]

Wisconsin has been home to a wide variety of cultures over the past 14,000 years. The first people arrived around 10,000 BCE during the [[Wisconsin Glaciation]]. These early inhabitants, called [[Paleo-Indians]], hunted now-extinct [[Pleistocene#Fauna|ice age animals]] such as the [[Boaz mastodon]], a prehistoric [[mastodon]] skeleton unearthed along with spear points in southwest Wisconsin.<ref>{{Cite book | last1=Theler | first1=James | last2=Boszhardt | first2=Robert | title=Twelve Millennia: Archaeology of the Upper Mississippi River Valley | year=2003 |publisher=University of Iowa Press |location= Iowa City, Iowa |isbn=978-0-87745-847-0|page=59 }}</ref> After the ice age ended around 8000 BCE, people in the subsequent [[Archaic period in the Americas|Archaic period]] lived by hunting, fishing, and gathering food from wild plants. Agricultural societies emerged gradually over the [[Woodland period]] between 1000 BCE to 1000 CE. Toward the end of this period, Wisconsin was the heartland of the "[[Effigy Mound]] culture", which built thousands of animal-shaped mounds across the landscape.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Birmingham|first1=Robert|last2=Eisenberg|first2=Leslie|title=Indian Mounds of Wisconsin|year=2000 |publisher=University of Wisconsin Press|location=Madison, Wisconsin|isbn=978-0-299-16870-4|pages=100–110}}</ref>

Later, between 1000 and 1500 CE, the [[Mississippian culture|Mississippian]] and [[Oneota]] cultures built substantial settlements including the fortified village at [[Aztalan]] in southeast Wisconsin.<ref>Birmingham 2000, pp. 152–56</ref> The Oneota may be the ancestors of the modern [[Iowa people|Iowa]] and [[Ho-Chunk]] nations who shared the Wisconsin region with the [[Menominee]] at the time of European contact.<ref>Birmingham 2000, pp. 165–67</ref> Other Native American groups living in Wisconsin when Europeans first settled included the [[Ojibwe]], [[Sauk people|Sauk]], [[Meskwaki]], [[Kickapoo]], and [[Potawatomi]], who migrated to Wisconsin from the east between 1500 and 1700.<ref>{{cite book|last=Boatman|first=John|editor-first=Donald| editor-last=Fixico|title=An Anthology of Western Great Lakes Indian History|publisher=University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee|year=1987|chapter=Historical Overview of the Wisconsin Area: From Early Years to the French, British, and Americans|oclc=18188646}}</ref>

===European settlements===
{{Main|New France|Canada (New France)|French and Indian War|Treaty of Paris (1763)|Province of Quebec (1763–1791)|Indian Reserve (1763)}}
[[File:Jean Nicolet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2| [[Jean Nicolet]], depicted in a 1910 painting by Frank Rohrbeck, was probably the first European to explore Wisconsin. The mural is located in the [[Brown County Courthouse (Wisconsin)|Brown County Courthouse]] in Green Bay.]]
The first European to visit what became Wisconsin was probably the French explorer [[Jean Nicolet]]. He canoed west from [[Georgian Bay]] through the [[Great Lakes]] in 1634, and it is traditionally assumed that he came ashore near [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] at [[Red Banks, Brown County, Wisconsin|Red Banks]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jean Nicolet|url=http://www.uwgb.edu/wisfrench/library/articles/nicolet.htm|author=Rodesch, Gerrold C.|year=1984|publisher=[[University of Wisconsin–Green Bay]]|access-date=March 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117084337/http://www.uwgb.edu/wisfrench/library/articles/nicolet.htm|archive-date=January 17, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Pierre Radisson]] and [[Médard des Groseilliers]] visited Green Bay again in 1654–1666 and [[Chequamegon Bay]] in 1659–1660, where they traded for fur with local Native Americans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Turning Points in Wisconsin History: Arrival of the First Europeans|url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-006/?action=more_essay|publisher=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]|access-date=March 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319211019/https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-006/?action=more_essay|archive-date=March 19, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1673, Jacques Marquette and [[Louis Jolliet]] became the first to record a journey on the [[Fox-Wisconsin Waterway]] all the way to the [[Mississippi River]] near [[Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin|Prairie du Chien]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Jaenen|first=Cornelius|year=1973|title=French colonial attitudes and the exploration of Jolliet and Marquette|journal=Wisconsin Magazine of History|volume=56|issue=4|pages=300–310|url=http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/26553|access-date=January 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202080523/http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/26553|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Frenchmen]] like [[Nicholas Perrot]] continued to ply the [[fur trade]] across Wisconsin through the 17th and 18th centuries, but the French made no permanent settlements in Wisconsin before [[British Empire|Great Britain]] won control of the region following the [[French and Indian War]] in 1763. Even so, French traders continued to work in the region after the war, and some, beginning with [[Charles de Langlade]] in 1764, settled in Wisconsin permanently, rather than returning to British-controlled Canada.<ref name="Wisconsin Historical Society">{{cite web|title=Dictionary of Wisconsin History: Langlade, Charles Michel|url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=2266&search_term=Langlade%2C+Charles+Michel|publisher=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]|access-date=March 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204150014/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=2266&search_term=Langlade%2C+Charles+Michel|archive-date=December 4, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

The British gradually took over Wisconsin during the French and Indian War, taking control of Green Bay in 1761 and gaining control of all of Wisconsin in 1763. Like the French, the British were interested in little but the fur trade. One notable event in the fur trading industry in Wisconsin occurred in 1791, when two free African Americans set up a fur trading post among the Menominee at present-day [[Marinette, Wisconsin|Marinette]]. The first permanent settlers, mostly [[French Canadian]]s, some Anglo-[[New England]]ers and a few African American freedmen, arrived in Wisconsin while it was under British control. Charles de Langlade is generally recognized as the first settler, establishing a trading post at Green Bay in 1745, and moving there permanently in 1764.<ref name="Wisconsin Historical Society"/>

Settlement began at Prairie du Chien around 1781. French residents at the Green Bay trading post called it "La Baye" while British fur traders favored "Green Bay" for the green tints the water and shore took on each spring. The British name gradually stuck. The transition to British rule had little adverse effect on French residents, as each side needed the other's cooperation. The French had issued trading licenses sparingly, but the British, eager to maximize profits, extended them freely to both British and French traders. The fur trade reached its peak under British rule, and Wisconsin's first self-sustaining farms were established during this period. From 1763 to 1780, Green Bay was a prosperous community that grew its own food, built graceful cottages, and hosted dances and festivities.<ref>Wisconsin, a Guide to the Badger State page 188</ref>

Joseph Roi built the [[Tank Cottage]] in [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] in 1776. Located in [[Heritage Hill State Historical Park]], it is the [[List of the oldest buildings in Wisconsin|oldest standing building]] from Wisconsin's early years and is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="NRHP">{{cite news|last1=Anderson|first1=D. N.|title=Tank Cottage|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/70000028_text|access-date=March 21, 2020|work=[[NRHP]] Inventory-Nomination Form|publisher=National Park Service|date=March 23, 1970|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225163106/https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/70000028_text|url-status=live}}</ref>

===U.S. territory===
{{Main|American Revolutionary War|Treaty of Paris (1783)|Northwest Ordinance|Northwest Territory|Indiana Territory|Illinois Territory|Michigan Territory|Organic act#List of organic acts|Wisconsin Territory}}
[[File:Vertefeuille.JPG|thumb|The [[Francois Vertefeuille House]] in [[Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin|Prairie du Chien]] was built in the 1810s by fur traders.]]
Wisconsin became a territorial possession of the United States in 1783 after the [[American Revolutionary War]]. In 1787, it became part of the [[Northwest Territory]]. As territorial boundaries subsequently developed, it was then part of [[Indiana Territory]] from 1800 to 1809, [[Illinois Territory]] from 1809 to 1818, and [[Michigan Territory]] from 1818 to 1836. However, the British remained in control until after the [[War of 1812]], the outcome of which finally established an American presence in the area.<ref>{{cite book|title=Wisconsin: A History|last=Nesbit|first=Robert|year=1973|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press|location=Madison, WI|isbn=978-0-299-06370-2|pages=[https://archive.org/details/wisconsinhistory0000nesb/page/62 62–64]|url=https://archive.org/details/wisconsinhistory0000nesb/page/62}}</ref>

Under American control, the economy of the territory shifted from fur trading to lead mining. The prospect of easy mineral wealth drew immigrants from throughout the U.S. and Europe to the lead deposits at [[Mineral Point, Wisconsin|Mineral Point]], [[Dodgeville, Wisconsin|Dodgeville]], and nearby areas. Some miners found shelter in the holes they had dug, and earned the nickname "badgers", leading to Wisconsin's identity as the "Badger State".<ref>{{cite web|title=Badger Nickname|url=http://www.uwbadgers.com/trads/nickname.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323002815/http://www.uwbadgers.com/trads/nickname.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 23, 2011|publisher=University of Wisconsin|access-date=March 14, 2010}}</ref> The sudden influx of white miners prompted tension with the local Native American population. The [[Winnebago War]] of 1827 and the [[Black Hawk War]] of 1832 culminated in the forced [[Indian removal|removal of Native Americans]] from most parts of the state.<ref>{{cite book|last=Nesbit|year=1973|isbn=978-0-299-06370-2|pages=[https://archive.org/details/wisconsinhistory0000nesb/page/95 95–97]|title=Wisconsin: a history|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |url=https://archive.org/details/wisconsinhistory0000nesb/page/95}}</ref>

Following these conflicts, the [[Wisconsin Territory]] was created by an act of the [[United States Congress]] on April 20, 1836. By fall of that year, the best prairie groves of the counties surrounding what is now Milwaukee were occupied by farmers from the [[New England]] states.<ref>Wisconsin, a Guide to the Badger State page 197</ref>

===Statehood===
{{Main|Admission to the Union|List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union}}
[[File:3c Wisconsin Statehood Centennial, 1948 issue.jpg|thumb|On May 29, 1948, the U.S. Post Office issued a [[commemorative stamp]] celebrating the 100th anniversary of Wisconsin statehood, featuring the state capitol building and map of Wisconsin.]]
The Great Lakes, via the [[Erie Canal]], facilitated the travel of both [[Yankee]] settlers and European immigrants to Wisconsin Territory. Yankees from New England and [[upstate New York]] seized a dominant position in law and politics, enacting policies that marginalized the region's earlier Native American and French-Canadian residents.<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = Cambridge University Press| isbn = 9781107052864| last = Murphy| first = Lucy Eldersveld| title = Great Lakes Creoles: a French–Indian community on the northern borderlands, Prairie du Chien, 1750–1860| location = New York| date = 2014| pages=108–147}}</ref> Yankees also speculated in real estate, platted towns such as Racine, Beloit, Burlington, and Janesville, and established schools, civic institutions, and [[Congregationalist]] churches.<ref>The Expansion of New England: The Spread of New England Settlement and Institutions to the Mississippi River, 1620–1865 by Lois Kimball Mathews page 244</ref><ref>New England in the Life of the World: A Record of Adventure and Achievement By Howard Allen Bridgman page 77</ref><ref>"When is Daddy Coming Home?": An American Family During World War II By Richard Carlton Haney page 8</ref> At the same time, many [[Germans]], Irish, [[Norwegians]], and other immigrants also settled in towns and farms across the territory, establishing [[Catholic]] and [[Lutheran]] institutions.

The growing population allowed Wisconsin to gain statehood on May 29, 1848, as the 30th state. Between 1840 and 1850, Wisconsin's non-Indian population had swollen from 31,000 to 305,000. More than a third of residents (110,500) were foreign born, including 38,000 Germans, 28,000 British immigrants from England, Scotland, and Wales, and 21,000 Irish. Another third (103,000) were Yankees from New England and western New York state. Only about 63,000 residents in 1850 had been born in Wisconsin.<ref>Robert C. Nesbit. ''Wisconsin: A History''. 2nd ed. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1989, p. 151.</ref>

[[Nelson Dewey]], the first [[governor of Wisconsin]], was a [[History of the Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]. Dewey oversaw the transition from the territorial to the new state government.<ref name="1960bio">{{cite book |last=Toepel |first=M. G. |editor-first=Hazel L. |editor-last=Kuehn |title=The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1960 |year=1960 |url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=header&id=WI.WIBlueBk1960&isize=M |chapter=Wisconsin's Former Governors, 1848–1959 |chapter-url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=turn&entity=WI.WIBlueBk1960.p0087&isize=M |publisher=Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library |access-date=September 17, 2008 |pages=71–74 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604152221/http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=header&id=WI.WIBlueBk1960&isize=M |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He encouraged the development of the state's infrastructure, particularly the construction of new roads, railroads, canals, and harbors, as well as the improvement of the [[Fox River (Illinois River tributary)|Fox]] and [[Wisconsin River]]s.<ref name="1960bio"/> During his administration, the [[Wisconsin Board of Public Works|State Board of Public Works]] was organized.<ref name="1960bio"/> Dewey, an [[abolitionist]], was the first of many Wisconsin governors to advocate against the spread of [[slavery in the United States|slavery]] into new states and territories.<ref name="1960bio"/>
{{Further|Pioneer Women in Wisconsin}}

===Civil War era and economic growth===
{{Main|Wisconsin in the American Civil War}}
[[File:LittleWhiteSchoolhouse.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Little White Schoolhouse]] in [[Ripon, Wisconsin|Ripon]] held the nation's first meeting of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].]]
Politics in early Wisconsin were defined by the greater national debate over slavery. A free state from its foundation, Wisconsin became a center of northern [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionism]]. The debate became especially intense in 1854 after [[Joshua Glover]], a runaway slave from [[Missouri]], was captured in [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]]. Glover was taken into custody under the Federal [[Fugitive Slave Act of 1850|Fugitive Slave Law]], but a mob of abolitionists stormed the prison where Glover was held and helped him escape to Canada. In a trial stemming from the incident, the [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]] ultimately declared the Fugitive Slave Law unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite book|title=Leading Events of Wisconsin History|last=Legler|first=Henry|year=1898|publisher=Sentinel|location=Milwaukee, Wis.|pages=226–229|url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/WIReader/WER1124.html|chapter=Rescue of Joshua Glover, a Runaway Slave|access-date=October 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018071024/http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/WIReader/WER1124.html|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], founded on March 20, 1854, by anti-slavery expansion activists in [[Ripon, Wisconsin]], grew to dominate state politics in the aftermath of these events.<ref>{{cite book|last=Nesbit|year=1973|isbn=978-0-299-06370-2|pages=[https://archive.org/details/wisconsinhistory0000nesb/page/238 238–239]|title=Wisconsin: a history|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |url=https://archive.org/details/wisconsinhistory0000nesb/page/238}}</ref>

During the [[American Civil War]], around 91,000 troops from Wisconsin fought for the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Turning Points in Wisconsin History: The Iron Brigade, Old Abe and Military Affairs|url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-023/?action=more_essay|publisher=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]|access-date=March 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204150829/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-023/?action=more_essay|archive-date=December 4, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> A number of Wisconsin regiments were distinguished, including three that served in the celebrated "[[Iron Brigade]]"— the [[2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment|2nd Wisconsin]], [[6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment|6th Wisconsin]], and [[7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment|7th Wisconsin]]. The [[8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment|8th Wisconsin]], another hard-fighting regiment, was often accompanied into battle by its mascot, [[Old Abe]], a bald eagle.

[[File:Chase Stone Barn - Green Grass.jpg|thumb|The [[Daniel E. Krause Stone Barn]] in [[Chase, Wisconsin|Chase]] was built in 1903, as dairy farming spread across the state.]]

Wisconsin's economy also diversified during the early years of statehood. While lead mining diminished, agriculture became a principal occupation in the southern half of the state. Railroads were built across the state to help transport grains to market, and industries like [[Case Corporation|J.I. Case & Company]] in Racine were founded to build agricultural equipment. Wisconsin briefly became one of the nation's leading producers of wheat during the 1860s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Nesbit|year=1973|isbn=978-0-299-06370-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/wisconsinhistory0000nesb/page/273 273]|title=Wisconsin: a history|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |url=https://archive.org/details/wisconsinhistory0000nesb/page/273}}</ref> Meanwhile, the lumber industry dominated in the heavily forested northern sections of Wisconsin, and sawmills sprang up in cities like [[La Crosse]], [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]], and [[Wausau, Wisconsin|Wausau]]. These economic activities had dire environmental consequences. By the close of the 19th century, intensive agriculture had devastated soil fertility, and lumbering had deforested most of the state.<ref>{{cite book|last=Nesbit|year=1973|isbn=978-0-299-06370-2|pages=[https://archive.org/details/wisconsinhistory0000nesb/page/281 281, 309]|title=Wisconsin: a history|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |url=https://archive.org/details/wisconsinhistory0000nesb/page/281}}</ref> These conditions forced both wheat agriculture and the lumber industry into a precipitous decline.

Beginning in the 1890s, farmers in Wisconsin shifted from wheat to dairy production to make more sustainable and profitable use of their land. Many immigrants carried cheese-making traditions that, combined with the state's suitable geography and dairy research led by [[Stephen Babcock]] at the [[University of Wisconsin]], helped the state build a reputation as "America's Dairyland".<ref>{{cite book|title= The Progressive Era, 1893–1914|series=History of Wisconsin|volume=4|first=John|last=Buenker|publisher=State Historical Society of Wisconsin|location=Madison, WI|year=1998|editor-first=William Fletcher|editor-last=Thompson|isbn=978-0-87020-303-9|pages=25, 40–41, 62}}</ref> Meanwhile, conservationists including [[Aldo Leopold]] helped re-establish the state's forests during the early 20th century,<ref>{{cite web|title=Turning Points in Wisconsin History: The Modern Environmental Movement|url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-048/?action=more_essay|publisher=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]]|access-date=March 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204150526/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-048/?action=more_essay|archive-date=December 4, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> paving the way for a more renewable lumber and [[paper mill]]ing industry as well as promoting recreational tourism in the northern woodlands. Manufacturing also boomed in Wisconsin during the early 20th century, driven by an immense immigrant workforce arriving from Europe. Industries in cities like Milwaukee ranged from brewing and food processing to heavy machine production and tool-making, leading Wisconsin to rank 8th among U.S. states in total product value by 1910.<ref>{{cite book|title= The Progressive Era, 1893–1914|series=History of Wisconsin|volume=4|first=John|last=Buenker|publisher=State Historical Society of Wisconsin|location=Madison, WI|year=1998|editor-first=William Fletcher|editor-last=Thompson|isbn=978-0-87020-303-9|pages=80–81}}</ref>

===Progressive era and World Wars===
[[File:Suffragists campaigning in Wisconsin, June 7, 1916.jpg|thumb|[[Women's suffrage in Wisconsin|Suffragists]] campaigning, 1916. Wisconsin was among the earliest states to ratify the [[Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Nineteenth Amendment]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Suffrage 2020 Illinois|url=https://suffrage2020illinois.org/|access-date=January 16, 2021|website=Suffrage 2020 Illinois|language=en}}</ref>]]
The early 20th century was notable for the emergence of [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] politics championed by [[Robert M. La Follette]], who served as governor from 1901 to 1906 and U.S. senator from 1906 to 1925. Between 1901 and 1914, Progressive Republicans in Wisconsin created the nation's first comprehensive statewide [[Partisan primary|primary election]] system,<ref>{{cite book|title=The American direct primary: party institutionalization and transformation in the North |last=Ware|first=Alan|year=2002|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|location=Cambridge, England|isbn=978-0-521-81492-8|page=118}}</ref> the first effective [[workers' compensation|workplace injury compensation]] law,<ref>{{cite web|last=Ranney|first=Joseph|title=Wisconsin's Legal History: Law and the Progressive Era, Part 3: Reforming the Workplace|url=http://www.wisbar.org/AM/TemplateRedirect.cfm?template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=35854|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918150059/http://www.wisbar.org/AM/TemplateRedirect.cfm?template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=35854|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2012|access-date=March 13, 2010}}</ref> and the first state [[income tax]],<ref>{{cite journal|last=Stark|first=John|year=1987|title=The Establishment of Wisconsin's Income Tax|journal=Wisconsin Magazine of History|volume=71|issue=1|pages=27–45|url=http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/36669|access-date=January 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202080527/http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/36669|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> making taxation proportional to actual earnings.

During [[World War I]], due to the neutrality of Wisconsin and many of its [[Republican Party of Wisconsin|Republicans]], [[Progressivism in the United States|Progressives]], and [[Conservatism in the United States|Conservatives]], including [[German Americans|Germans]] and [[Nordic and Scandinavian Americans|Scandinavians]] who were a significant proportion of the state's population, Wisconsin began to be accused of being the "Traitor State" by many "hyper patriots."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cary |first=Lorin Lee |date=1969 |title=The Wisconsin Loyalty Legion, 1917–1918 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4634484 |journal=The Wisconsin Magazine of History |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=33–50 |jstor=4634484 |issn=0043-6534 |access-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202010328/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4634484 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 10, 2012 |title=Expression Leads to Repression |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS3418 |access-date=February 1, 2024 |website=Wisconsin Historical Society |language=en |archive-date=April 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401193504/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Content.aspx?dsNav=N:4294963828-4294963805&dsRecordDetails=R:CS3418 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Falk |first=Karen |date=1942 |title=Public Opinion in Wisconsin during World War I |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4631476 |journal=The Wisconsin Magazine of History |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=389–407 |jstor=4631476 |issn=0043-6534 |access-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202010329/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4631476 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2013 |title=ODD WISCONSIN: State denounced as 'traitor' in 1917 |url=https://lacrossetribune.com/courierlifenews/lifestyles/odd-wisconsin-state-denounced-as-traitor-in-1917/article_6c65843a-0ad5-11e3-8caa-001a4bcf887a.html |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=La Crosse Tribune |language=en |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202010329/https://lacrossetribune.com/courierlifenews/lifestyles/odd-wisconsin-state-denounced-as-traitor-in-1917/article_6c65843a-0ad5-11e3-8caa-001a4bcf887a.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

As the war raged on in Europe, La Follette led the antiwar movement in Wisconsin and steered a group of progressive senators in blocking a bill by President [[Woodrow Wilson]] that would have armed merchant ships with guns. Many Wisconsin politicians, such as [[Emanuel L. Philipp]] and [[Irvine Lenroot]], were accused of having divided loyalties.<ref>''The History of Wisconsin 1914–1940'' by Paul W. Glad, 1990. State Historical Society of Wisconsin, p.309—310.</ref> Even with outspoken opponents to the war, at the onset of the war, many Wisconsinites would abandon neutrality. Businesses, labor and farms all enjoyed prosperity from the war. With over 118,000 going into military service, Wisconsin was the first state to report for the national drafts conducted by the [[United States Armed Forces|U.S. military]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 3, 2012 |title=World War I |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS422 |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=Wisconsin Historical Society |language=en |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202010329/https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS422 |url-status=live }}</ref> As governor, Philipp was successful in combating [[Anti-German sentiment|anti-German hysteria]] in the state.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-08 |title=Philipp, Emanuel Lorenz 1861–1925 |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS11743 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Wisconsin Historical Society |language=en |archive-date=January 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123112256/https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS11743 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The progressive [[Wisconsin Idea]] also promoted the statewide expansion of the University of Wisconsin through the [[University of Wisconsin–Extension|UW–Extension]] system at this time.<ref>{{cite book|last=Stark|first=Jack|chapter=The Wisconsin Idea: The University's Service to the State|title=The State of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1995–1996|location=Madison|publisher=Legislative Reference Bureau|year=1995|pages=99–179|oclc=33902087|chapter-url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=article&did=WI.WIBlueBk1995.i0009&id=WI.WIBlueBk1995&isize=L|access-date=January 31, 2017|archive-date=October 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017001801/http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=article&did=WI.WIBlueBk1995.i0009&id=WI.WIBlueBk1995&isize=L|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1932, UW economics professors [[John R. Commons]] and Harold Groves helped Wisconsin create the United States' first [[unemployment compensation]] program.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Nelson|first=Daniel|year=1968|title=The Origins of Unemployment Insurance in Wisconsin|journal=Wisconsin Magazine of History|volume=51|issue=2|pages=109–21|url=http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/31447|access-date=January 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202080531/http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/31447|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other [[Wisconsin Idea]] scholars at the university generated the plan that became the New Deal's [[Social Security Act]] of 1935, with Wisconsin expert [[Arthur J. Altmeyer]] playing a key role.<ref>Arthur J. Altmeyer, "The Wisconsin Idea and Social Security." ''Wisconsin Magazine of History'' (1958) 42#1: 19–25.</ref>

[[File:LaFollette-Philip-Announces-380428.jpg|thumb|Governor [[Philip La Follette]] announces formation of the [[National Progressives of America]], 1938]]

After La Follette died, his sons [[Philip La Follette|Philip]] and [[Robert M. La Follette Jr.|Robert Jr.]] took over the Wisconsin Republican Party, later founding the [[Wisconsin Progressive Party]] as a successor to [[Progressive Party (United States, 1924–1927)|their father's Progressive Party]]. It gained momentum in the mid-1930s with support from President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and progressive Democrats, winning offices statewide and in Congress. The party declined after Philip, facing scandal and accusations of authoritarianism, [[1938 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|lost reelection in 1938]] to [[Julius P. Heil]] and left politics to serve in [[World War II]]. The [[National Progressives of America]], an organization Philip had hoped would precede a national realignment, then faltered.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=TIME |title=WISCONSIN: Heil Heil |url=https://time.com/archive/6768930/wisconsin-heil-heil/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250524091532/https://time.com/archive/6768930/wisconsin-heil-heil/ |archive-date=May 24, 2025 |access-date=2025-11-14 |magazine=TIME |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

The last Progressive candidate elected governor of Wisconsin was [[Orland Steen Loomis|Orland S. Loomis]], in [[1942 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|1942]]. He died before taking office. The [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]] ruled that Republican Lieutenant Governor [[Walter Samuel Goodland|Walter S. Goodland]] would serve Loomis's term as governor.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1942-12-08 |title=-GOV-ELECT LOOMIS OF WISCONSIN DIES; Only Progressive Elected in Recent Campaign Succumbs to Heart Malady at 49 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1942/12/08/archives/gov-elect-loomis-of-wisconsin-dies-only-progressive-elected-in-recent.html |access-date=2026-04-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1942-12-30 |title=GOODLAND GOVERNOR BY WISCONSIN RULING; Court Holds Lieutenant Governor Must Fill Death Vacancy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1942/12/30/archives/goodland-governor-by-wisconsin-ruling-court-holds-lieutenant.html |access-date=2026-04-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 1946, the Wisconsin Progressives voted to dissolve and rejoin the Republican Party.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Kasparek |first=Jonathan |title=Fighting Son: A Biography of Philip F. La Follette |publisher=[[Wisconsin Historical Society]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-87020-353-4}}</ref>

===Mid-20th century to present===
{{Expand section|Needs additional Cold War-era and early 21st-century history.|date=September 2025}}
In World War II's immediate aftermath, Wisconsinites were divided over issues such as the creation of the [[United Nations]], support for the European recovery, and the growth of the [[Soviet Union]]'s power. But when [[Iron Curtain|Europe divided into Communist and capitalist camps]], and with the Progressive Party's collapse, [[Robert M. La Follette Jr.|Robert La Follette Jr.]] rejoined the Republican Party of Wisconsin to run in the 1946 Senate election. He narrowly lost to [[Joseph McCarthy]] in the [[1946 United States Senate election in Wisconsin|Republican primary]]. After the [[Chinese Communist Revolution]] of 1949, public opinion began to continue move toward support for the protection of democracy and capitalism against Communist expansion.<ref name=":3">A Short History of Wisconsin By Erika Janik page 149</ref>

[[File:Swing bridge, Superior, Wisconsin (cut).jpg|thumb|In the 20th century, [[Superior, Wisconsin|Superior]] was a major hub for shipping iron ore across the Great Lakes via [[lake freighter]]s.]]
Wisconsin took part in several political extremes in the mid- to late 20th century, ranging from the [[McCarthyism|anti-communist]] crusades of Senator McCarthy in the 1950s, to the founding of [[Earth Day]] by environmental advocate [[Gaylord Nelson]] in 1970. During radical protests against the [[Vietnam War]] at UW-Madison, an attack by anarchists culminated in the [[Sterling Hall bombing]] in August 1970. The state undertook [[welfare reform]] under Republican Governor [[Tommy Thompson]] during the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tommy Thompson: Human Services Reformer|website = [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=122179&page=1|date=September 4, 2004|access-date=March 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130132917/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=122179&page=1|archive-date=January 30, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Its economy also underwent further transformations toward the end of the 20th century, as heavy industry and manufacturing declined in favor of a [[service economy]] based on medicine, education, agribusiness, and tourism.

In 2011, Wisconsin became the focus of some controversy when newly elected governor [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]] proposed and then passed and enacted [[2011 Wisconsin Act 10]], which made large changes in the areas of collective bargaining, compensation, retirement, health insurance, and sick leave of public sector employees, among other changes.<ref>{{cite news|last=Condon|first=Stephanie|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-signs-anti-union-bill-but-democrats-say-theyre-the-political-victors/|title=Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signs anti-union bill – but Democrats say they're the political victors|work=CBS News|date=March 11, 2011|access-date=March 12, 2011|archive-date=March 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312162805/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20042122-503544.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[2011 Wisconsin protests|series of major protests]] by union supporters took place that year in protest to the changes, and Walker survived [[Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election|a recall election held the next year in 2012]], becoming the first governor in U.S. history to do so.<ref>{{cite news|last=Montopoli|first=Brian|title=CBS News: Scott Walker wins Wisconsin recall election|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/scott-walker-wins-wisconsin-recall-election/|newspaper=CBS News|date=June 5, 2012|access-date=January 20, 2017|archive-date=November 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110170530/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57447954-503544/wisconsin-recall-walker-opens-slight-lead-as-votes-are-counted/|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2012, Congressman [[Paul Ryan]] became the first Wisconsinite to appear on a major party ticket, as Republican nominee [[Mitt Romney]]'s running mate in the [[2012 United States presidential election]]. Ryan was elected [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] in 2015.

Since 2023, [[Closures of the University of Wisconsin branch campuses|five University of Wisconsin branch campuses have closed]], one has gone entirely online, and one has stopped using several of its buildings. Many have expressed concern about the Wisconsin Idea's future since these closures.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kremer |first=Rich |date=2024-04-25 |title=UW to vacate Richland campus 1 year after college classes ended |url=https://www.wpr.org/news/uw-vacate-richland-campus-college-classes-ended |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=WPR |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kremer |first1=Rich |date=November 22, 2022 |title=In-person classes ended at UW-Platteville Richland campus July 1 |url=https://www.wpr.org/uw-platteville-richland-campus-july-1-close-in-person |access-date=November 22, 2022 |work=[[Wisconsin Public Radio]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-13 |title=UW-Oshkosh to shut down Fox Cities campus amid enrollment plunge |url=https://apnews.com/article/uw-wisconsin-oshkosh-closing-81c25ab9b12226e45758095c20a9897d |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Wisconsin}}
{{multiple image
 | direction = vertical
 | total_width = 230
 | image1 = Wisconsin geographic provinces.svg
 | caption1 = Wisconsin geographic regions
 | image2 = TypicalDriftless.jpg
 | caption2 = The [[Driftless Area]] is characterized by bluffs carved in [[sedimentary]] rock by water from melting [[Ice age]] glaciers.
 | image3 = Big waves on Devils Island shoreline (e99f5cd1-548c-439d-962d-0c03204c2bf8).jpg
 | caption3 = [[Sea caves]] are located on the shorelines of the [[Apostle Islands]] in [[Lake Superior]].
}}

Wisconsin is in the [[Midwestern United States]] and is part of both the [[Great Lakes region]] and the [[Upper Midwest]]. The state has a total area of {{Convert|65,496|sqmi|km2}}. Wisconsin is bordered by [[Lake Superior]] and [[Michigan]] to the north; by [[Lake Michigan]] to the east; by [[Illinois]] to the south; and by [[Iowa]] to the southwest and [[Minnesota]] to the northwest. A border dispute with Michigan was settled by two cases, both [[Wisconsin v. Michigan]], in 1934 and 1935. The state's boundaries include the [[Mississippi River]] and [[St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota)|St. Croix River]] in the west, and the [[Menominee River]] and [[Montreal River (Wisconsin–Michigan)|Montreal River]] in the northeast.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/rivers/wisconsin.htm |website=National Park Service |access-date=June 21, 2024 |title=Wisconsin - Rivers (U.S. National Park Service) }}</ref>

Lying between the [[Great Lakes]] and the Mississippi River, Wisconsin has a wide variety of geographical features. The state is divided into five distinct regions. In the north, the [[Lake Superior Lowland]] occupies a belt of land along Lake Superior. Just to the south, the [[Northern Highland]] has massive mixed hardwood and coniferous forests including the {{convert|1500000|acre|adj=on|abbr=off}} [[Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest]], as well as thousands of glacial lakes, and the state's highest point, [[Timms Hill]]. In the middle of the state, the [[Central Plain (Wisconsin)|Central Plain]] has some unique [[sandstone]] formations like the [[Dells of the Wisconsin River]] in addition to rich farmland. The [[Eastern Ridges and Lowlands]] region in the southeast is home to many of Wisconsin's largest cities. The ridges include the [[Niagara Escarpment]] that stretches from New York, the [[Black River Escarpment (Wisconsin)|Black River Escarpment]] and the [[Magnesian Escarpment]].<ref name=Martin1965>{{cite book|isbn=978-0-299-03475-7|url=https://archive.org/details/physicalgeograph0000mart|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/physicalgeograph0000mart/page/247 247]|quote=Black River Escarpment.|title=The physical geography of Wisconsin|publisher=[[University of Wisconsin Press]]|year=1965|author=Lawrence Martin|access-date=September 14, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wisconline.com/wisconsin/geoprovinces/easternridges.html|title=The Eastern Ridges and Lowlands of Wisconsin|publisher=Wisconsin Online|access-date=September 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010209021338/http://www.wisconline.com/wisconsin/geoprovinces/easternridges.html|archive-date=February 9, 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In the southwest, the [[Western Upland]] is a rugged landscape with a mix of forest and farmland, including many bluffs on the Mississippi River, and the [[Baraboo Range]]. This region is part of the [[Driftless Area]], which also includes parts of Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota. Overall, 46% of Wisconsin's land area is covered by forest.

Wisconsin has geologic formations and deposits that vary in age from over three billion years to several thousand years, with most rocks being millions of years old.<ref>{{cite map|author=Mudrey, M.G.|author2=Brown, B.A.|author3=Greenberg, J.K.|year=1982|title=Bedrock Geologic Map of Wisconsin|publisher=University of Wisconsin Extension}}</ref> The oldest geologic formations were created over 600 million years ago during the [[Precambrian]], the majority below the glacial deposits. Much of the Baraboo Range consists of [[Baraboo Quartzite]] and other Precambrian [[metamorphic rock]].<ref name="Hanson">Hanson, G. F., [http://wisconsingeologicalsurvey.org/pdfs/IC14.pdf ''Geology of the Baraboo District, Wisconsin''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222184825/http://wisconsingeologicalsurvey.org/pdfs/IC14.pdf|date=February 22, 2014}}, The University of Wisconsin Extension, November 1970, Information Circular 14</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=April 1981|title=Bedrock Geology of Wisconsin|url=https://wgnhs.wisc.edu/pubshare/M067.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=October 14, 2021|archive-date=August 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804145204/https://wgnhs.wisc.edu/pubshare/M067.pdf}}</ref> This area was not covered by [[glacier]]s during the most recent ice age, the [[Wisconsin Glaciation]]. [[Langlade County]] has a soil rarely found outside the county called [[Antigo (soil)|Antigo silt loam]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_019841.pdf|title=Wisconsin State Soil: Antigo Silt Loam|author=United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service|date=April 1999|access-date=October 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516155048/https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_019841.pdf|archive-date=May 16, 2017}}</ref>

The state has more than 12,000 named rivers and streams, totaling {{Convert|84,000|mile|km|abbr=}} in length.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rivers {{!}} Wisconsin DNR|url=https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/rivers|access-date=October 30, 2020|website=dnr.wisconsin.gov|archive-date=October 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030215318/https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/rivers|url-status=live}}</ref> It has over 15,000 named lakes, totaling about {{Convert|1|e6acre|km2|abbr=|spell=}}. [[Lake Winnebago]] is the largest inland lake, with over {{Convert|137,700|acres|km2|abbr=}}, and {{Convert|88|miles|km|abbr=}} of shoreline. Along the two Great Lakes, Wisconsin has over {{Convert|800|mi|km}} of shoreline (over {{Convert|500|mi|km}}, not counting minor islands and indentations).<ref name="Martin (1916) p. 21">{{harvp|Martin|1916|p=[https://archive.org/details/physicalgeograph00martrich/page/21 21]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/GreatLakes/Learn.html | title=About Wisconsin's Great Lakes &#124; Lake Michigan and Lake Superior &#124; Wisconsin DNR }}</ref>  Many of the [[List of islands of Wisconsin|named islands in Wisconsin]] are in the Great Lakes; many surround the [[Door Peninsula]] in Lake Michigan or are part of the [[Apostle Islands]] in Lake Superior.<ref>{{cite web |title=Door Co. Map |url=https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/door.pdf |website=Door Co. Dept. of Transportation |access-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201004227/https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/door.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The Mississippi River and inland lakes and rivers contain the rest of Wisconsin's islands.

Areas under the protection of the [[National Park Service]] include the [[Apostle Islands National Lakeshore]], [[Ice Age Trail|Ice Age National Scenic Trail]], and portions of the [[Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway]] and [[North Country Trail|North Country National Scenic Trail]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/state/wi/index.htm |title=Wisconsin |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=July 24, 2024 }}</ref> There are an additional 18 [[List of National Natural Landmarks in Wisconsin|National Natural Landmarks]] in the state that include dune and swales, swamps, bogs, and old-growth forests. Wisconsin has [[List of Wisconsin state parks|50 state park units]], covering more than {{convert|60570|acres|km2}} in state parks and state recreation areas maintained by the [[Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources]]. The Division of Forestry manages a further {{convert|471329|acres|km2}} in [[List of Wisconsin state forests|Wisconsin's state forests]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milwaukeemag.com/your-guide-to-wisconsins-50-state-parks/ |title=Your Guide to Wisconsin's 50 State Parks |author=Watters, Alli |date=July 15, 2024 |publisher=Milwaukee Magazine |access-date=October 7, 2024 }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{further|Climate change in Wisconsin}}
[[File:Wisconsin Köppen.svg|thumb|Köppen climate types of Wisconsin]]
Most of Wisconsin is classified as warm-summer [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfb''), while southern and southwestern portions are classified as hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen ''Dfa''). The highest temperature ever recorded in the state was in the Wisconsin Dells, on July 13, 1936, where it reached 114&nbsp;°F (46&nbsp;°C). The lowest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin was in the village of [[Couderay]], where it reached −55&nbsp;°F (−48&nbsp;°C) on both February 2 and 4, 1996. Wisconsin also receives a large amount of regular snowfall averaging around {{convert|40|in|cm}} in the southern portions with up to {{convert|160|in|cm}} annually in the Lake Superior [[snowbelt]] each year.<ref name="uwexclimate">{{cite web|url=http://www.uwex.edu/sco/stateclimate.html|title=Climate of Wisconsin|access-date=March 16, 2007|last=Benedetti|first=Michael|publisher=The University of Wisconsin–Extension|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117094615/http://www.uwex.edu/sco/stateclimate.html|archive-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref>

{{sort under}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sort-under" "text-align:center; font-size:90%;" |
|+ '''Monthly normal high and low temperatures for selected Wisconsin cities''' [°F (°C)]
|-
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" | City
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Jan
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Feb
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Mar
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Apr
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | May
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Jun
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Jul
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Aug
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Sep
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Oct
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Nov
! style="background-color: #e5afaa;" data-sort-type="number" | Dec
|- style="background: #f8f3ca;"
! style="background: #f8f3ca;" | [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]]
| 25/10<br />(−4/−12)
| 29/13<br />(−2/−11)
| 40/23<br />(5/−5)
| 55/35<br />(13/1)
| 67/45<br />(19/7)
| 76/55<br />(25/13)
| 81/59<br />(27/15)
| 79/58<br />(26/14)
| 71/49<br />(22/10)
| 58/38<br />(14/4)
| 43/28<br />(6/−2)
| 30/15<br />(−1/−9)
|- style="background: #c5dfe1;"
! style="background: #c5dfe1;" | [[Hurley, Wisconsin|Hurley]]
| 19/0<br />(−7/−18)
| 26/4<br />(−4/−16)
| 36/16<br />(2/−9)
| 49/29<br />(9/−2)
| 65/41<br />(18/5)
| 73/50<br />(23/10)
| 76/56<br />(25/13)
| 75/54<br />(24/12)
| 65/46<br />(18/8)
| 53/35<br />(12/2)
| 36/22<br />(2/−6)
| 24/8<br />(−5/−14)
|- style="background: #f8f3ca;"
! style="background: #f8f3ca;" | [[La Crosse]]
| 26/6<br />(−3/−14)
| 32/13<br />(0/−11)
| 45/24<br />(7/−4)
| 60/37<br />(16/3)
| 72/49<br />(22/9)
| 81/58<br />(27/14)
| 85/63<br />(29/17)
| 82/61<br />(28/16)
| 74/52<br />(23/11)
| 61/40<br />(16/4)
| 44/27<br />(7/−3)
| 30/14<br />(−1/−10)
|- style="background: #c5dfe1;"
! style="background: #c5dfe1;" | [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]]
| 27/11<br />(−3/−12)
| 32/15<br />(0/−9)
| 44/25<br />(7/−4)
| 58/36<br />(14/2)
| 69/46<br />(21/8)
| 79/56<br />(26/13)
| 82/61<br />(28/16)
| 80/59<br />(27/15)
| 73/50<br />(23/10)
| 60/39<br />(15/3)
| 45/28<br />(7/−2)
| 31/16<br />(−1/−9)
|- style="background: #f8f3ca;"
! style="background: #f8f3ca;" | [[Milwaukee]]
| 29/16<br />(−2/−9)
| 33/19<br />(0/−7)
| 42/28<br />(6/−2)
| 54/37<br />(12/3)
| 65/47<br />(18/8)
| 75/57<br />(24/14)
| 80/64<br />(27/18)
| 79/63<br />(26/17)
| 71/55<br />(22/13)
| 59/43<br />(15/6)
| 46/32<br />(8/0)
| 33/20<br />(0/−7)
|- style="background: #c5dfe1;"
! style="background: #c5dfe1;" | [[Superior, Wisconsin|Superior]]<ref name="superior_temp_avg">{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/54880 |title=Monthly Averages for Superior, WI (54880)—weather.com |access-date=May 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103190315/http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/54880 |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| 21/2<br />(−6/−17)
| 26/6<br />(−3/−14)
| 35/17<br />(2/−8)
| 46/29<br />(8/−2)
| 56/38<br />(13/3)
| 66/47<br />(19/8)
| 75/56<br />(24/13)
| 74/57<br />(23/14)
| 65/47<br />(18/8)
| 52/36<br />(11/2)
| 38/23<br />(3/−5)
| 25/9<br />(−4/−13)
|}

{{Weather box
|single line = y
|location = Wisconsin (normals 1981–2010)
|Jan record high F = 66
|Feb record high F = 69
|Mar record high F = 89
|Apr record high F = 97
|May record high F = 109
|Jun record high F = 106
|Jul record high F = 114
|Aug record high F = 108
|Sep record high F = 104
|Oct record high F = 95
|Nov record high F = 84
|Dec record high F = 70

|Jan high F = 23.9
|Feb high F = 29.2
|Mar high F = 40.6
|Apr high F = 55.5
|May high F = 67.3
|Jun high F = 76.3
|Jul high F = 80.4
|Aug high F = 78.2
|Sep high F = 69.8
|Oct high F = 56.9
|Nov high F = 41.2
|Dec high F = 27.5
|year high F = 52.9

|Jan mean F = 15.0
|Feb mean F = 19.6
|Mar mean F = 30.5
|Apr mean F = 44.0
|May mean F = 55.3
|Jun mean F = 64.7
|Jul mean F = 69.1
|Aug mean F = 67.1
|Sep mean F = 58.7
|Oct mean F = 46.5
|Nov mean F = 33.1
|Dec mean F = 19.4

|Jan low F = 3.7
|Feb low F = 6.3
|Mar low F = 18.3
|Apr low F = 31.6
|May low F = 42.6
|Jun low F = 52.4
|Jul low F = 57.2
|Aug low F = 55.0
|Sep low F = 47.1
|Oct low F = 36.2
|Nov low F = 23.7
|Dec low F = 10.6
|year low F = 31.8

|Jan record low F = −54
|Feb record low F = −55
|Mar record low F = −48
|Apr record low F = −20
|May record low F = 7
|Jun record low F = 20
|Jul record low F = 27
|Aug record low F = 22
|Sep record low F = 10
|Oct record low F = −7
|Nov record low F = −34
|Dec record low F = −52

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.15
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.03
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.80
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.63
|May precipitation inch = 3.54
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.17
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.79
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.78
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.75
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.38
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.00
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.27
|year precipitation inch =

|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.8
|Nov snow inch = 4.9
|Dec snow inch = 10.2
|Jan snow inch = 11.4
|Feb snow inch = 9.5
|Mar snow inch = 8.7
|Apr snow inch = 3.2
|May snow inch = 0.4
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|year snow inch = 48.7
|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.aos.wisc.edu/~sco/clim-history/state/index.html|title=Wisconsin State Climatology Office}}
}}

===Cities===
{{Further|List of municipalities in Wisconsin by population|Administrative divisions of Wisconsin}}
[[File:Wisconsin municipalities 2.svg|thumb|Map of the [[administrative divisions of Wisconsin]]]]
Wisconsin has three types of municipality: cities, villages, and towns. [[City (Wisconsin)|Cities]] and [[Village (Wisconsin)|villages]] are incorporated urban areas. [[Town (Wisconsin)|Towns]] are unincorporated [[minor civil division]]s of [[Political subdivisions of Wisconsin#County|counties]] with limited self-government.

Over two-thirds of Wisconsin residents live in urban areas.<ref name="wi2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.doa.state.wi.us/docs_view2.asp?docid=418|title=Number and Percent of Total Population by Urban/Rural Categories for Wisconsin Counties: April 1, 2000|access-date=March 16, 2007|last=Naylor|format=PDF|publisher=State of Wisconsin, Department of Administration|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311091426/http://www.doa.state.wi.us/docs_view2.asp?docid=418|archive-date=March 11, 2007}}</ref> [[Milwaukee]], in southeastern Wisconsin, is the state's most populous city, with approximately 580,000 people. The [[Milwaukee metropolitan area]] accounts for 1.57 million of the state's residents. With a population of nearly 280,000, the state capital of [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]] is consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in both the state and country and is the [[population growth|fastest-growing]] city in Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite news |title=Census: Madison, suburbs top list of fastest-growing cities in Wisconsin |url=https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/census-madison-suburbs-top-list-of-fastest-growing-cities-in-wisconsin/article_c079b92b-1f18-5ac4-8538-0c74e004e018.html |access-date=July 24, 2020 |work=Madison.com |language=en |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029202910/https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/census-madison-suburbs-top-list-of-fastest-growing-cities-in-wisconsin/article_c079b92b-1f18-5ac4-8538-0c74e004e018.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wells |first1=Kevin |title=Three Wisconsin cities ranked in top-100 best places to live, per Livability |url=https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/three-wisconsin-cities-ranked-in-top-100-best-places-to-live-per-livability |access-date=February 24, 2021 |agency=[[WTMJ-TV]] |date=March 7, 2019 |archive-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118101812/https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/three-wisconsin-cities-ranked-in-top-100-best-places-to-live-per-livability |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Madison metropolitan area]] in southern Wisconsin has about 680,000 residents.

Medium-size cities dot the state. The largest of these is [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] in northeastern Wisconsin, with approximately 320,000 people in the metro area. Other metropolitan cities in the state include [[Appleton, Wisconsin|Appleton]], [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]], [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin|Oshkosh]], [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]], [[Janesville, Wisconsin|Janesville]], [[Wausau, Wisconsin|Wausau]], [[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La Crosse]], [[Sheboygan, Wisconsin|Sheboygan]], and [[Fond du Lac, Wisconsin|Fond du Lac]]. Furthermore, another 12 cities function as centers of [[micropolitan statistical areas]] which typically anchor a network of working farms surrounding them. As of 2011, there were 12 cities in Wisconsin with a population of 50,000 or more, accounting for 73% of the state's employment.<ref>Wisconsin Department of Revenue, "Wisconsin's Metropolitan Statistical Areas", Summer 2011.</ref>

{{anchor|Major cities}}
{{Largest cities
| country = Wisconsin
| stat_ref =<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 100 Biggest Wisconsin Cities By Population |url=https://www.biggestuscities.com/wi |website=biggestuscities.com |access-date=March 3, 2021 |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124035/https://www.biggestuscities.com/wi |url-status=live }}</ref>
| list_by_pop =
| div_name =
| div_link = Counties of Wisconsin{{!}}County
| city_1 = Milwaukee
| div_1 = Milwaukee County, Wisconsin{{!}}Milwaukee
| pop_1 = 577,222
| city_2 = Madison, Wisconsin{{!}}Madison
| div_2 = Dane County, Wisconsin{{!}}Dane
| pop_2 = 269,840
| city_3 = Green Bay, Wisconsin{{!}}Green Bay
| div_3 = Brown County, Wisconsin{{!}}Brown
| pop_3 = 107,395
| city_4 = Kenosha, Wisconsin{{!}}Kenosha
| div_4 = Kenosha County, Wisconsin{{!}}Kenosha
| pop_4 = 99,986
| city_5 = Racine, Wisconsin{{!}}Racine
| div_5 = Racine County, Wisconsin{{!}}Racine
| pop_5 = 77,816
| city_6 = Appleton, Wisconsin{{!}}Appleton
| div_6 = Outagamie County, Wisconsin{{!}}Outagamie
| pop_6 = 75,644
| city_7 = Waukesha, Wisconsin{{!}}Waukesha
| div_7 = Waukesha County, Wisconsin{{!}}Waukesha
| pop_7 = 71,158
| city_8 = Eau Claire, Wisconsin{{!}}Eau Claire
| div_8 = Eau Claire County, Wisconsin{{!}}Eau Claire
| pop_8 = 69,421
| city_9 = Oshkosh, Wisconsin{{!}}Oshkosh
| div_9 = Winnebago County, Wisconsin{{!}}Winnebago
| pop_9 = 66,816
| city_10 = Janesville, Wisconsin{{!}}Janesville
| div_10 = Rock County, Wisconsin{{!}}Rock
| pop_10 = 65,615
| city_11 = West Allis, Wisconsin{{!}}West Allis
| div_11 =  Milwaukee County, Wisconsin{{!}}Milwaukee
| pop_11 = 60,325
| city_12 = La Crosse, Wisconsin{{!}}La Crosse
| div_12 = La Crosse County, Wisconsin{{!}}La Crosse
| pop_12 = 52,680
| city_13 = Sheboygan, Wisconsin{{!}}Sheboygan
| div_13 = Sheboygan County, Wisconsin{{!}}Sheboygan
| pop_13 = 49,929
| city_14 = Wauwatosa, Wisconsin{{!}}Wauwatosa
| div_14 = Milwaukee County, Wisconsin{{!}}Milwaukee
| pop_14 = 46,396
| city_15 = Fond du Lac, Wisconsin{{!}}Fond du Lac
| div_15 = Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin{{!}}Fond du Lac
| pop_15 = 44,678
| city_16 = Brookfield, Wisconsin{{!}}Brookfield
| div_16 = Waukesha County, Wisconsin{{!}}Waukesha
| pop_16 = 41,464
| city_17 = New Berlin, Wisconsin{{!}}New Berlin
| div_17 = Waukesha County, Wisconsin{{!}}Waukesha
| pop_17 = 40,451
| city_18 = Wausau, Wisconsin{{!}}Wausau
| div_18 = Marathon County, Wisconsin{{!}}Marathon
| pop_18 = 39,994
| city_19 = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin{{!}}Menomonee Falls
| div_19 = Waukesha County, Wisconsin{{!}}Waukesha
| pop_19 = 38,527
| city_20 = Greenfield, Wisconsin{{!}}Greenfield
| div_20 = Milwaukee County, Wisconsin{{!}}Milwaukee
| pop_20 = 37,803
}}

==Demographics{{anchor|Ethnicity}}==
===Population===
{{US Census population
|1820= 1444
|1830= 3635
|1840= 30945
|1850= 305391
|1860= 775881
|1870= 1054670
|1880= 1315457
|1890= 1693330
|1900= 2069042
|1910= 2333860
|1920= 2632067
|1930= 2939006
|1940= 3137587
|1950= 3434575
|1960= 3951777
|1970= 4417731
|1980= 4705767
|1990= 4891769
|2000= 5363675
|2010= 5686986
|2020= 5893718
|estyear=2025
|estimate= 5972787
|estref=<ref>{{cite web |title=Wisconsin |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/WI/PST045223 |website=census.gov |access-date=June 28, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=Source: 1910–2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Historical Population Change Data (1910–2020) |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/popchange-data-text.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429012609/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/popchange-data-text.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}

[[File:Wisconsin 2020 Population Density.png|thumb|upright=1.25|Wisconsin 2020 Population Density Map[[File:Ethnic_origins_in_Wisconsin_(2020).jpg|thumb|Largest alone or in any combination ethnic origin by county in Wisconsin, per the 2020 census]]]]
[[File:Ethnic Origins in Wisconsin.png|thumb|upright=1.25|Ethnic origins in Wisconsin]]
[[File:Wisconsin demographics.webp|thumb|Wisconsin demographics for 2024]]
The [[United States Census Bureau]] estimated Wisconsin's population at 5,822,434 on July 1, 2019, a 2.4% increase since the [[2010 United States census]].<ref name="PopEstUS">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/wi,US/PST045218|title=QuickFacts Wisconsin; UNITED STATES|website=2018 Population Estimates|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division|date=February 8, 2019|access-date=February 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815114553/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/WI,US/PST045218|archive-date=August 15, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> This included a natural increase since the last census of 150,659 people (i.e., 614,771 births minus 464,112 deaths) and a decrease due to net migration of 12,755 people. Immigration resulted in a net increase of 59,251 people, and migration from within the U.S. resulted in a net decrease of 72,006 people.<ref name="Components">{{cite web|url = https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-state-total.html|title = Estimates of the Components of Resident Population Change for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: July 1, 2018 to July 1, 2019|access-date = June 10, 2020|archive-date = January 26, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200126071436/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-state-total.html|url-status = live}}</ref>

According to [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|HUD]]'s 2022 [[Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress|Annual Homeless Assessment Report]], there were an estimated 4,775 [[homeless]] people in Wisconsin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007–2022 PIT Counts by State |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huduser.gov%2Fportal%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fxls%2F2007-2022-PIT-Counts-by-State.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |access-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314020239/https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huduser.gov%2Fportal%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fxls%2F2007-2022-PIT-Counts-by-State.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress |url=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf |access-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311234217/https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Ethnic composition as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]
|-
! Race and Ethnicity<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html |title=Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=August 12, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 26, 2021 |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815165418/https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Alone
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|78.6|%|2||background:gray}}
|align=right| {{bartable|81.9|%|2||background:gray}}
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]{{efn|Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin are not distinguished between total and partial ancestry.}}
|align=right| {{bartable}}
|align=right| {{bartable|7.6|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| [[African Americans|African American (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|6.2|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|align=right| {{bartable|7.3|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|3.0|%|2||background:purple}}
|align=right| {{bartable|3.6|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| Native American
|align=right| {{bartable|0.8|%|2||background:gold}}
|align=right| {{bartable|2.0|%|2||background:gold}}
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]]
|align=right| {{bartable|0.03|%|2||background:pink}}
|align=right| {{bartable|0.1|%|2||background:pink}}
|-
| Other
|align=right| {{bartable|0.3|%|2||background:brown}}
|align=right| {{bartable|1.1|%|2||background:brown}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible nowrap" style="font-size: 90%;"
|+ '''Wisconsin historical population by race'''
|-
! Racial composition !! 1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |title=Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For The United States, Regions, Divisions, and States |author=Population Division, Laura K. Yax |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012 }}</ref>!! 2000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://censusviewer.com/state/WI|title=Population of Wisconsin—Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts—CensusViewer|access-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323174812/http://censusviewer.com/state/WI|archive-date=March 23, 2016|url-status=usurped}}</ref>!! 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|title=2010 Census Data|author=Center for New Media and Promotions(C2PO)|access-date=February 18, 2018|archive-date=May 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522200920/https://census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|url-status=live}}</ref>!! 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Decennial Census, Wisconsin, Table P1: Race |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0400000US55&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708180347/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0400000US55&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[White American|White]] || 92.2% || 88.9% || 86.2% || 80.4%
|-
| [[African American|Black]] || 5.0% || 5.7% || 6.3% || 6.4%
|-
| [[Asian American|Asian]] || 1.1% || 1.7% || 2.3% || 3.0%
|-
| Native || 0.8% || 0.9% || 1.0% || 1.0%
|-
| [[Native Hawaiian]] and<br />[[Pacific Islander|other Pacific Islander]] || – || – || – || –
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Other race]] || 0.9% || 1.6% || 2.4% || 3.1%
|-
| [[Two or more races]] || – || 1.3% || 1.8% || 6.1%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
(of any race)
|1.9%
|3.6%
|5.9%
|7.6%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic whites|Non-Hispanic white]]
|91.3%
|87.3%
|83.3%
|78.6%
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Wisconsin   – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wisconsin  |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?q=P004:+HISPANIC+OR+LATINO,+AND+NOT+HISPANIC+OR+LATINO+BY+RACE+[73]&g=040XX00US55|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 13, 2026|df=mdy }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wisconsin  |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2010.P2?q=p2&g=040XX00US55|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 13, 2026|df=mdy }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wisconsin  |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=p2&g=040XX00US55|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 13, 2026|df=mdy }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|4,681,630
|4,738,411
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,634,018
|87.28%
|83.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |78.63%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|300,245
|350,898
|style='background: #ffffe6; |366,508
|5.60%
|6.17%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.22%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|43,980
|48,511
|style='background: #ffffe6; |48,384
|0.82%
|0.85%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.82%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|87,995
|128,052
|style='background: #ffffe6; |174,267
|1.64%
|2.25%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.96%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|1,346
|1,565
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,892
|0.03%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|3,637
|4,095
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17,613
|0.07%
|0.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.30%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|51,921
|79,398
|style='background: #ffffe6; |203,746
|0.97%
|1.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.46%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|192,921
|336,056
|style='background: #ffffe6; |447,290
|3.60%
|5.91%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.59%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''5,363,675'''
|'''5,686,986'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''5,893,718'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

In 2022, the five largest European ancestry groups were: [[German American|German]] (36%), [[Irish American|Irish]] (10.2%), [[Polish American|Polish]] (7.9%), [[English American|English]] (6.7%), and [[Norwegian American|Norwegian]] (6.3%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 – Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=04000US55&primary_geo_id=04000US55 |access-date=June 29, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> German is the most common ancestry in every county in the state, except Menominee, Trempealeau, and Vernon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.wi.us/LRB/bb/03bb/128-133.pdf|title=Wisconsin Blue Book 2003–2004|access-date=July 25, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325105850/http://www.legis.state.wi.us/LRB/bb/03bb/128-133.pdf|archive-date=March 25, 2009}}</ref> Wisconsin has the highest percentage of residents of Polish ancestry of any state.<ref name="census.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040920132346/http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 20, 2004 |title="Ancestry: 2000", U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 25, 2010 }}</ref> According to the 2022 [[American Community Survey]], 7.6% of Wisconsin's population were of [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] origin (of any race). The largest Hispanic ancestry groups were [[Mexican American|Mexican]] (5.1%), [[Puerto Ricans|Puerto Rican]] (1.1%), [[Central America]]n (0.4%), and [[Cuban American|Cuban]] (0.1%), with 0.9% reporting other Hispanic or Latino origins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03001 – Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03001&geo_ids=04000US55&primary_geo_id=04000US55 |access-date=June 29, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

Since its founding, Wisconsin has been ethnically heterogeneous. Following the period of French fur traders, the next wave of settlers were miners, many of whom were [[Cornish American|Cornish]], who settled the southwestern area of the state. The next wave was dominated by "Yankees", migrants of [[English American|English descent]] from [[New England]] and [[upstate New York]]; in the early years of statehood, they dominated the state's heavy industry, finance, politics, and education. Between 1850 and 1900, the immigrants were mostly [[German Americans|Germans]], [[Scandinavian Americans|Scandinavians]] (the largest group being [[Norwegian American|Norwegian]]), [[Irish Americans|Irish]], and [[Polish Americans|Poles]]. In the 20th century, a number of African Americans and [[Mexican Americans|Mexicans]] settled in [[Milwaukee]]; and after the end of the [[Vietnam War]] came an influx of [[Hmong Americans|Hmongs]].

The various ethnic groups settled in different areas of the state. Although German immigrants settled throughout the state, the largest concentration was in Milwaukee. Norwegian immigrants settled in lumbering and farming areas in the north and west. Irish, Italian, and Polish immigrants settled primarily in urban areas.<ref>Miller, Frank H., [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/tp&CISOPTR=14489 "The Polanders in Wisconsin"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829135614/http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=%2Ftp&CISOPTR=14489 |date=August 29, 2009 }}, Parkman Club Publications No. 10. Milwaukee, Wis.: Parkman Club, 1896; retrieved January 29, 2008.</ref> [[Menominee County, Wisconsin|Menominee County]] is the only county in the eastern United States with a Native American majority.

African Americans came to Milwaukee, especially from 1940 on. 86% of Wisconsin's African-American population live in four cities: [[Milwaukee]], [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]], [[Beloit, Wisconsin|Beloit]], [[Kenosha]], with Milwaukee home to nearly three-fourths of the state's black Americans. In the [[Great Lakes]] region, only Detroit and [[Cleveland]] have a higher percentage of African-American residents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slesinger |first=Doris P. |title=African Americans in Wisconsin |url=https://cdn.apl.wisc.edu/publications/African_American_Chartbook.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629174407/https://cdn.apl.wisc.edu/publications/African_American_Chartbook.pdf |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |access-date=June 29, 2023}}</ref>

About 33% of Wisconsin's Asian population is [[Hmong people|Hmong]], with significant communities in [[Milwaukee]], [[Wausau, Wisconsin|Wausau]], [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]], [[Sheboygan, Wisconsin|Sheboygan]], [[Appleton, Wisconsin|Appleton]], [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], [[La Crosse]], [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]], [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin|Oshkosh]], and [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin|Manitowoc]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apl.wisc.edu/publications/HmongChartbook.pdf|title=Wisconsin's Hmong Population|access-date=April 26, 2010|publisher=University of Wisconsin–Madison Applied Population Laboratory|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331124635/https://cdn.apl.wisc.edu/publications/HmongChartbook.pdf|archive-date=March 31, 2022|url-status=dead}}</ref> 61,629 people in Wisconsin, or around 1% of the population, identify as Hmong.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02018 – Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02018&geo_ids=04000US55&primary_geo_id=04000US55#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=June 29, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

Of the residents of Wisconsin, 71.7% were born in Wisconsin, 23.0% were born in a different US state, 0.7% were born in Puerto Rico, U.S. Island areas, or born abroad to American parent(s), and 4.6% were foreign born.<ref>[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/ |date=December 27, 1996 }} . Factfinder2.census.gov; retrieved August 2, 2013.</ref>

In 2018, the countries of origin for Wisconsin's immigrants came from Mexico, India, China, [[Laos]] and the [[Philippines]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/research/immigrants_in_wisconsin.pdf|title=Immigrants in Wisconsin|access-date=January 4, 2024|archive-date=March 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309031633/https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/research/immigrants_in_wisconsin.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

;Birth data

[[File:Wisconsin counties by race.svg|thumb|260px|Map of counties in Wisconsin by racial plurality, per the 2020 U.S. census{{Collapsible list
| title = Legend|{{col-begin}}{{col-2}}

'''Non-Hispanic White'''

{{legend|#dd7e6b|40–50%}}

{{legend|#a61c00|60–70%}}

{{legend|#85200c|70–80%}}

{{legend|#5b0f00|80–90%}}

{{legend|#410b00|90%+}}

{{col-2}}

'''Native American'''

{{legend|#274e13|80–90%}}

{{col-end}}
}}]]
''Note: Births in table add to over 100%, because Hispanics are counted both by their ethnicity and by their race, giving a higher overall number.''
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|+ Live births by single race or ethnicity of mother
|-
! [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Race]]
! 2013<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_01.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2013 |journal=[[National Vital Statistics System|National Vital Statistics Reports]] |volume=64 |issue=1 |date=January 15, 2015 |id=CS253166 |author1=Joyce A. Martin |author2=Brady E. Hamilton |author3=Michelle J. K. Osterman |author4=Sally C. Curtin |author5=T. J. Mathews |display-authors=1 |publisher=[[National Center for Health Statistics|NCHS]] |access-date=June 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911162514/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_01.pdf |archive-date=September 11, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2014<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_12.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2014 |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |volume=64 |issue=12 |date=December 23, 2015 |id=CS260962 |author1=Joyce A. Martin |author2=Brady E. Hamilton |author3=Michelle J. K. Osterman |author4=Sally C. Curtin |author5=T. J. Mathews |display-authors=1 |publisher=NCHS |access-date=June 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214040341/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_12.pdf |archive-date=February 14, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2015<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr66/nvsr66_01.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2015 |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |volume=66 |issue=1 |date=January 5, 2017 |id=CS272653 |author1=Joyce A. Martin |author2=Brady E. Hamilton |author3=Michelle J. K. Osterman |author4=Anne K. Driscoll |author5=T. J. Mathews |display-authors=1 |publisher=NCHS |access-date=June 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831155911/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr66/nvsr66_01.pdf |archive-date=August 31, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2016<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr67/nvsr67_01.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2016 |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |volume=67 |issue=1 |date=January 31, 2018 |id=CS287854 |author1=Joyce A. Martin |author2=Brady E. Hamilton |author3=Michelle J. K. Osterman |author4=Anne K. Driscoll |author5=Patrick Drake |display-authors=1 |publisher=NCHS |access-date=May 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603002249/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr67/nvsr67_01.pdf |archive-date=June 3, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2017<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr67/nvsr67_08-508.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2017 |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |volume=67 |issue=8 |date=November 7, 2018 |id=CS296610 |author1=Joyce A. Martin |author2=Brady E. Hamilton |author3=Michelle J. K. Osterman |author4=Anne K. Driscoll |author5=Patrick Drake |display-authors=1 |publisher=NCHS |access-date=February 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201210916/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr67/nvsr67_08-508.pdf |archive-date=February 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2018<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr68/nvsr68_13-508.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2018 |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |volume=68 |issue=13 |date=November 27, 2019 |id=CS310999 |author1=Joyce A. Martin |author2=Brady E. Hamilton |author3=Michelle J. K. Osterman |author4=Anne K. Driscoll |display-authors=1 |publisher=NCHS |access-date=December 21, 2019 |archive-date=November 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128161211/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr68/nvsr68_13-508.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2019<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr70/nvsr70-02-508.pdf |title=Births: Final Data for 2019 |journal=National Vital Statistics Reports |volume=70 |issue=2 |date=March 23, 2021 |id=CS322077 |author1=Joyce A. Martin |author2=Brady E. Hamilton |author3=Michelle J. K. Osterman |author4=Anne K. Driscoll |display-authors=1 |publisher=NCHS |access-date=April 9, 2021 |archive-date=March 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324160631/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr70/nvsr70-02-508.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr70/nvsr70-17.pdf |title=Data |website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |access-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-date=February 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210175206/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr70/NVSR70-17.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2021<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr72/nvsr72-01.pdf |title=Data |website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-date=February 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201003942/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr72/nvsr72-01.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2022<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr73/nvsr73-02.pdf |title=Data |website=www.cdc.gov |access-date=April 5, 2024 |archive-date=April 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404230758/https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr73/nvsr73-02.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! 2023<ref>
{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr74/nvsr74-1.pdf |title=Data |website=www.cdc.gov |access-date=2025-04-12}}</ref>
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
| 49,357 (74.0%)
| 49,440 (73.6%)
| 49,024 (73.1%)
| 47,994 (72.0%)
| 46,309 (71.3%)
| 45,654 (71.2%)
| 44,784 (70.8%)
| 42,715 (70.5%)
| 43,991 (71.2%)
| 42,455 (70.7%)
| 41,471 (69.4%)
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
| 6,956 (10.4%)
| 7,328 (10.9%)
| 7,386 (11.0%)
| 6,569 (9.9%)
| 6,864 (10.6%)
| 6,622 (10.3%)
| 6,859 (10.8%)
| 6,429 (10.6%)
| 5,964 (9.6%)
| 5,688 (9.5%)
| 5,592 (9.3%)
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
| 3,197 (4.8%)
| 3,333 (5.0%)
| 3,276 (4.9%)
| 3,220 (4.8%)
| 3,017 (4.6%)
| 3,155 (4.9%)
| 2,942 (4.6%)
| 2,870 (4.7%)
| 2,692 (4.3%)
| 2,661 (4.4%)
| 2,651 (4.4%)
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]]
| 1,011 (1.5%)
| 980 (1.5%)
| 1,029 (1.5%)
| 689 (1.0%)
| 745 (1.1%)
| 707 (1.1%)
| 664 (1.0%)
| 573 (0.9%)
| 546 (0.9%)
| 499 (0.8%)
| 486 (0.8%)
|-
| ''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]'' (any race)
| ''6,398'' (9.6%)
| ''6,375'' (9.5%)
| ''6,604'' (9.9%)
| ''6,504'' (9.8%)
| ''6,368'' (9.8%)
| ''6,365'' (9.9%)
| ''6,463'' (10.2%)
| ''6,438'' (10.6%)
| ''6,923'' (11.2%)
| ''6,971'' (11.6%)
| ''7,591'' (12.7%)
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''66,649''' (100%)
| '''67,161''' (100%)
| '''67,041''' (100%)
| '''66,615''' (100%)
| '''64,975''' (100%)
| '''64,098''' (100%)
| '''63,270''' (100%)
| '''60,594''' (100%)
| '''61,781''' (100%)
| '''60,049''' (100%)
| '''59,754''' (100%)
|}
* Since 2016, data for births of [[White Hispanic and Latino Americans|White Hispanic]] origin are not collected, but included in one ''Hispanic'' group; persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

===Religion===
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Religious self-identification, per [[Public Religion Research Institute]]'s 2022 ''American Values Survey''<ref name="avs">{{cite web |last=Staff |date=February 24, 2023 |title=2022 American Values Atlas: Religious Tradition |url=https://ava.prri.org/#religious/2022/States/religion/m/US-WI |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=[[Public Religion Research Institute]]}}</ref>
| label1 = [[Protestantism in the United States|Protestantism]]
| value1 = 41
| color1 = blue
| label2 = [[Catholicism in the United States|Catholicism]]
| value2 = 27
| color2 = purple
| label3 = [[Jehovah's Witnesses|Jehovah's Witness]]
| value3 = 1
| color3 = teal
| label4 = [[Judaism in the United States|Judaism]]
| value4 = 1
| color4 = pink
| label5 = [[Buddhism in the United States|Buddhism]]
| value5 = 1
| color5 = yellow
| label6 = [[Hinduism in the United States|Hinduism]]
| value6 = 1
| color6 = orange
| label7 = [[Unitarian Universalism]]
| value7 = 1
| color7 = green
| label8 = [[New Age]]
| value8 = 1
| color8 = red
| label9 = [[Irreligion in the United States|Unaffiliated]]
| value9 = 25
| color9 = white
| label10 = Other
| value10= 1
| color10 = black
}}
According to [[Public Religion Research Institute]]'s 2022 ''American Values Survey'', those identifying with a religion or spiritual tradition were approximately 75% of the state's population.<ref name="carroll2000">{{cite book|last=Carroll|first=Brett E.|title=The Routledge Historical Atlas of Religion in America|series=Routledge Atlases of American History|date=December 28, 2000|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=978-0-415-92137-4}}</ref> 69% of Wisconsinites self-identified as [[Christian]]. Specifically, 25% of respondents identified as [[Mainline (Protestant)|Mainline Protestant]], 12% as [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Protestant]], 4% as other Protestants, and 27% as [[Catholic]]. Roughly 25% of the population were unaffiliated with any religious body. Small minorities of [[Judaism|Jews]] (1%), [[Hinduism|Hindus]] (1%), [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] (1%), [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] (1%), [[Unitarian Universalism|Unitarian Universalists]] (1%), [[Islam|Muslims]] (<1%), [[Mormonism|Mormons]] (<1%), and other faiths exist according to this study.<ref name="avs" />

Christianity is the predominant religion in Wisconsin. Per the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]]' 2020 study, Catholicism was the single-largest denomination with 1,237,342 adherents, followed by the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] with 316,245 members and the [[Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod]] with 209,788 adherents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maps and data files for 2020 {{!}} U.S. Religion Census {{!}} Religious Statistics & Demographics |url=https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |access-date=August 30, 2024 |website=www.usreligioncensus.org |archive-date=January 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115001940/https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |url-status=live }}</ref> 276,904 adhered to [[nondenominational Christianity]].

===Crime===
{{main|Crime in Wisconsin}}
Statewide FBI Crime statistics for 2009 include 144 murders/non-negligent manslaughter; 1,108 rapes; 4,850 robberies; 8,431 aggravated assaults; and 147,486 property crimes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2009/data/table_05.html |title=Table 5—Crime in the United States 2009 |publisher=.fbi.gov |access-date=September 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014044856/http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2009/data/table_05.html |archive-date=October 14, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Wisconsin also publishes its own statistics through the Bureau of Justice Information and Analysis.<ref>[https://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/bjia/bureau-justice-information-and-analysis Bureau of Justice Information and Analysis], formerly this was done by the Office of Justice Assistance, see {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723032703/http://oja.state.wi.us/index.asp?locid=97 |date=July 23, 2012 }}</ref> The state reported 14,603 violent crimes in 2009, with a clearance rate (% solved) of 50%.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120426081731/http://oja.wi.gov/docview.asp?docid=19873&locid=97 Oja.wi.gov] (Archived April 26, 2012)</ref> The state reported 4,633 sexual assaults in 2009, with an overall clearance rate for sexual assaults of 57%.

==Economy==
{{See also|Wisconsin locations by per capita income|List of Wisconsin companies}}

In 2025, Wisconsin's [[gross state product]] was $473 billion and the state's [[Per capita personal income in the United States|per capita personal income]] was $70,570.<ref>{{cite web |title=SASUMMARY State annual summary statistics: personal income, GDP, consumer spending, price indexes, and employment |url=https://apps.bea.gov/itable/?ReqID=70&step=1&_gl=1*1cmkpu*_ga*MTA4Mjc0NTQwLjE3NzgyMTU2OTU.*_ga_J4698JNNFT*czE3NzgyODk3NzIkbzQkZzEkdDE3NzgyODk3ODckajQ1JGwwJGgw#eyJhcHBpZCI6NzAsInN0ZXBzIjpbMSwyOSwyNSwzMSwyNiwyNywzMF0sImRhdGEiOltbIlRhYmxlSWQiLCI2MDAiXSxbIk1ham9yX0FyZWEiLCIwIl0sWyJTdGF0ZSIsWyIwIl1dLFsiQXJlYSIsWyI1NTAwMCJdXSxbIlN0YXRpc3RpYyIsWyItMSJdXSxbIlVuaXRfb2ZfbWVhc3VyZSIsIkxldmVscyJdLFsiWWVhciIsWyIyMDI1Il1dLFsiWWVhckJlZ2luIiwiLTEiXSxbIlllYXJfRW5kIiwiLTEiXV19 |publisher=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |access-date=May 8, 2026}}</ref> The economy of Wisconsin is driven by manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. As of May 2025, the state's unemployment rate was 3.3%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=staff |first=CNBC com |date=2025-07-10 |title=21. Wisconsin |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/10/wisconsin-top-states-for-business-ranking.html |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> Since 2009, Wisconsin's [[minimum wage]] has been $7.25, the same as the federal rate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watch |first=Hope Karnopp / Wisconsin |date=December 14, 2022 |title=Does Wisconsin have the worst minimum wage to cost-of-living ratio in the country? |url=http://wisconsinwatch.org/2022/12/does-wisconsin-have-the-worst-minimum-wage-to-cost-of-living-ratio-in-the-country/ |access-date=November 3, 2023 |website=Wisconsin Watch |language=en-US |archive-date=November 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103224851/https://wisconsinwatch.org/2022/12/does-wisconsin-have-the-worst-minimum-wage-to-cost-of-living-ratio-in-the-country/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2025, 99.4% of businesses in Wisconsin were [[Small business|small businesses]] and they employed 48.0% of the state's workforce.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 Small Business Profile |url=https://advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Wisconsin_2025-State-Profile.pdf |access-date=February 26, 2026 |website=U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy}}</ref>

Eight corporations based in Wisconsin are listed on the [[Fortune 500|''Fortune'' 500]]. In 2024, the list included [[Northwestern Mutual]], [[Fiserv]], [[ManpowerGroup]], [[Rockwell Automation]], and [[WEC Energy Group]] (all based in Milwaukee), as well as [[Kohl's]] (based in [[Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|Menomonee Falls]]), [[American Family Insurance]] (based in Madison), and [[Oshkosh Corporation]] (based in [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin|Oshkosh]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2024/06/06/wisconsin-companies-on-2024-fortune-500-led-by-northwestern-mutual/73998064007/ |title=These are the 8 Wisconsin companies on the 2024 Fortune 500. Three of them took big jumps on the list. |author=Clarey, David |publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=June 6, 2024 |access-date=August 27, 2024 }}</ref>

===Manufacturing===
[[File:U.S. Bank Center (50144125176).jpg|thumb|upright|The [[U.S. Bank Center (Milwaukee)|U.S. Bank Center]] in [[downtown Milwaukee]] is home to the main headquarters of [[Baird (investment bank)|Baird]], [[Foley & Lardner]], and [[Sensient Technologies]], as well as regional headquarters for [[U.S. Bank]] and [[IBM]].]]
As of 2015, the number of manufacturing jobs in the state was approximately 500,000, similar to the figure in 1970. However, it declined as a share of the state's gross state product between 2000 and 2016 from about 21.5% to 18.5%, a proportion that is eighth among all states.<ref name="WisEconomy">{{cite web|url=https://economicdevelopment.extension.wisc.edu/files/2019/05/Manufacturing_Full-report.pdf |title=The State of Manufacturing in Wisconsin: Patterns of Economic Growth and Development |author=Tessa Conroy, Matt Kures, Steven Deller and I-Chun Chen |publisher= University of Wisconsin-Madison Economic Development Administration University Center |date=2018 |access-date=August 26, 2024 }}</ref> Similarly, as a share of total employment, manufacturing declined from 28% in 1970 to 14% in 2015. The state's economic output from manufacturing was $48.9&nbsp;billion in 2008, making it the tenth largest among states in manufacturing gross domestic product.<ref>EconPost, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120625085243/http://econpost.com/industry/manufacturing-industry-top-10-states-gdp Manufacturing industry top 10 states by GDP] (Archived June 25, 2012)</ref>

Major Wisconsin companies in manufacturing include the [[Kohler Company]]; [[Mercury Marine]]; [[Rockwell Automation]]; [[Johnson Controls]]; [[John Deere]]; [[Briggs & Stratton]]; [[Milwaukee Electric Tool Company]]; [[Miller Electric]]; [[Caterpillar Inc.]]; [[Joy Global]]; [[Oshkosh Corporation]]; [[Harley-Davidson]]; [[Case IH]]; [[S. C. Johnson & Son]]; [[Ashley Furniture]]; [[Ariens]]; and [[Evinrude Outboard Motors]].

Wisconsin has a significant lumber industry, being a major producer of paper and packaging. Wisconsin ranks first nationwide in the production of paper products; the lower Fox River from [[Lake Winnebago]] to [[Green Bay (Lake Michigan)|Green Bay]] has 24 [[paper mill]]s along its {{convert|39|mi|km}} stretch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://badgerherald.com/features/2022/12/06/paper-cuts-deep-the-evolution-of-wisconsins-paper-industry/ |title=Paper cuts deep: The evolution of Wisconsin's paper industry |author=Larsen, Lydia |publisher=The Badger Herald |date=December 6, 2022 |access-date= August 26, 2024 }}</ref>

A large part of the state's manufacturing sector includes commercial food processing, including well-known brands such as [[Oscar Mayer]], [[Tombstone (pizza)|Tombstone]] frozen pizza, [[Johnsonville Foods|Johnsonville]] [[bratwurst|brats]], and [[Fred Usinger|Usinger's sausage]]. [[Kraft Foods]] alone employs more than 5,000 people in the state. Milwaukee is a major producer of beer and was formerly headquarters for [[Miller Brewing Company]]—the nation's second-largest brewer—until it merged with Coors. Formerly, [[Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company|Schlitz]], [[Valentin Blatz Brewing Company|Blatz]], and [[Pabst Brewing Company|Pabst]] were cornerstone breweries in Milwaukee.

The development and manufacture of healthcare devices and software is a growing sector of the state's economy, with key players such as [[GE Healthcare]], [[Epic Systems]], and [[TomoTherapy]].

===Agriculture===
{{Main|Agriculture in Wisconsin}}
{{see also|Wisconsin dairy industry|Wisconsin cheese}}
[[File:Dunnum Family's Top of the Town dairy farm near Westby in Vernon County, Wisconsin.jpg|thumb|Dairy cows at a [[Wisconsin dairy industry|Wisconsin dairy farm]]]]
Wisconsin produces about a quarter of America's cheese, leading the nation in cheese production.<ref name=USDA>"Total Cheese Production Excluding Cottage Cheese—States and United States: February 2010 and 2011" in United States Department of Agriculture, [http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/dary0411.pdf ''Dairy Products''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113150907/http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/dary0411.pdf |date=January 13, 2012 }}, p. 13–14.</ref> It is second in milk production, after [[California]],<ref>"Milk Cows and Production—23 Selected States: March 2011 and 2012" in United States Department of Agriculture, [https://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/MilkProd/MilkProd-04-19-2012.pdf ''Milk Production'']{{dead link|date=March 2017 |bot=Beta7 |fix-attempted=yes }}, p. 3.</ref> and third in per-capita milk production, behind California and [[Vermont]].<ref>"Table 6: Per Capita Milk Production by State, 2003" in CITEC, [http://www.citec.org/test/dairy_industry_study_020105.pdf ''The Dairy Industry in the U.S. and Northern New York''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426081730/http://www.citec.org/test/dairy_industry_study_020105.pdf |date=April 26, 2012 }}, p. 25.</ref> Wisconsin is second in butter production, producing about one-quarter of the nation's butter.<ref>Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, [https://archive.today/20130105104124/http://www.wisdairy.com/Upload/statistics/wi_rank_nation_dairy_industry_2007.gif Wisconsin's Rank in the Nations's Dairy Industry: 2007]</ref> Wisconsin requires cheese and butter makers to hold a license for production, being the only state in the US to require certification for either.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Malina|first=Chris|date=June 1, 2016|title=Want To Make Cheese In Wisconsin? It's Harder Than One Might Think|url=https://www.wpr.org/want-make-cheese-wisconsin-its-harder-one-might-think|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=Wisconsin Public Radio|language=en|archive-date=September 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907200215/https://www.wpr.org/want-make-cheese-wisconsin-its-harder-one-might-think|url-status=live}}</ref>

The state ranks first nationally in the production of corn for [[silage]], [[cranberries]],<ref name="USDA Cran">U.S. Department of Agriculture. [https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Wisconsin/Publications/Crops/2022/WI-Cranberries-Annual-05-22.pdf ''Wisconsin Ag News– Cranberries''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517111240/https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Wisconsin/Publications/Crops/2022/WI-Cranberries-Annual-05-22.pdf |date=May 17, 2024 }}, May 4, 2022, p. 1.</ref> [[ginseng]],<ref name="USDA Gin">United States Department of Agriculture. ''[https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_US/usv1.pdf 2012 Census of Agriculture: United States Summary and State Data, Vol. 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206190206/https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_US/usv1.pdf |date=December 6, 2017 }}''. Washington, DC: 2014, pp. 475–476.</ref> and [[snap beans]] for processing. It grows more than half the national crop of cranberries.<ref name="USDA Cran"/> and 97% of the nation's ginseng.<ref name="USDA Gin"/> Wisconsin is also a leading producer of [[oat]]s, potatoes, carrots, tart [[cherries]], [[maple syrup]], and [[sweet corn]] for processing.

The significance of the state's agricultural production is exemplified by the depiction of a Holstein cow, an ear of corn, and a wheel of cheese on Wisconsin's [[state quarter]] design.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=173693| title=Doyle flips decision, puts cow on quarter| last=Walters| first=Steven| work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel| access-date=March 30, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070321031237/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=173693|archive-date = March 21, 2007}}</ref> The state annually selects an "[[Alice in Dairyland]]" to promote the state's agricultural products around the world.<ref>Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. [https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Growing_WI/AliceInDairyland.aspx Alice in Dairyland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525200457/https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Growing_WI/AliceInDairyland.aspx |date=May 25, 2017 }}.</ref> The prominence of the dairy industry in Wisconsin has led to Wisconsin being known as "America's Dairyland",<ref>{{Cite web|title=What is Wisconsin Known For?|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-wisconsin-known-for.html|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=WorldAtlas|date=October 24, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=September 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907214906/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-wisconsin-known-for.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Urdang"/> which was made the official state slogan in 1940.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 23, 2012 |title=Wisconsin State Symbols |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2908 |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=Wisconsin Historical Society |language=en |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907200207/https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2908 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Tourism===
{{Further|Economy of Door County, Wisconsin}}
[[File:Wisconsin Dells, Memorial Day Weekend 2014.jpg|thumb|The [[Dells of the Wisconsin River]] form a tourism region focused on river features and nearby [[theme park]]s.]]
According to the Department of Tourism, tourism in Wisconsin generated $20.9 billion in total economic impact in 2021 and is the state's third-largest sector.<ref name="witour">{{cite web|url=https://www.wpr.org/economy/wisconsin-most-popular-favorite-places-to-visit |title=Tourism in Wisconsin brings in billions of dollars each year. Here's a look at some of people's favorite destinations. |author=Watson, LaBreea |publisher=Wisconsin Public Radio |date=May 9, 2023 |access-date=August 31, 2024 }}</ref> Festivals such as [[Summerfest]] and the [[EAA AirVenture Oshkosh]] draw international attention, along with hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.<ref>Birgit Leisen, "Image segmentation: the case of a tourism destination". ''Journal of services marketing'' (2001) 15#1 pp: 49–66 on Oshkosh.</ref> Notable attractions across the state include the [[Harley-Davidson Museum]], [[Lambeau Field]], [[Milwaukee Art Museum]], [[Chazen Museum of Art]], [[Henry Vilas Zoo]], [[National Railroad Museum]], and [[Wisconsin State Capital]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hellodoorcounty.com/popular-wisconsin-travel-destinations/ |title=7 Most Popular Wisconsin Travel Destinations According to Data |author=Stoneman, Mark |publisher=Hello Door County |date=March 3, 2023 |access-date=August 31, 2024 }}</ref> Other tourist destinations include [[Taliesin (studio)|Taliesin]], the studio of architect [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]; [[House on the Rock]], a complex of architecturally distinct rooms; and the [[Circus World Museum]], located in the [[Ringling brothers]]' hometown of [[Baraboo, Wisconsin|Baraboo]].

The [[Dells of the Wisconsin River]], a gorge noted for its rock formations in south-central Wisconsin, annually attracts more than four million visitors between water tours of the scenery and numerous [[theme park]]s in the region.<ref name="witour" /> Nearby [[Devil's Lake State Park (Wisconsin)|Devil's Lake State Park]] is one of the most visited of [[List of Wisconsin state parks|Wisconsin's state parks]] due to its proximity to the Dells and its own scenery.

The [[Door Peninsula]], which extends off the eastern coast of the state, contains [[Door County, Wisconsin|Door County]], a popular destination for boaters due to the large number of natural harbors and boat launches on both the Green Bay and Lake Michigan sides of the peninsula. The area draws more than two million visitors yearly to its quaint villages, seasonal cherry picking, and [[fish boil]]s.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141029161327/http://map.co.door.wi.us/planning/Comp-Plan/Completed/Town%20of%20Sevasopol%20Comprehensive%20Plan.pdf Town of Sevastopol Comprehensive Plan 2028], November 2008, Chapter 4, page 11, (page 64 of the pdf) (Archived October 29, 2014)</ref><ref>William H. Tishler, ''Door County's Emerald Treasure: A History of Peninsula State Park'' (Univ of Wisconsin Press, 2006)</ref>

Given the large number of lakes and rivers in the state, water recreation is popular. In the Northwoods Lake Country, what had been an industrial area focused on timber has largely been transformed into a vacation destination. Popular interest in the environment and environmentalism, added to traditional interests in hunting and fishing, has attracted a large urban audience within driving range.<ref>Aaron Shapiro, ''The Lure of the North Woods: Cultivating Tourism in the Upper Midwest'' (University of Minnesota Press, 2015).</ref> [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin|Lake Geneva]] in southeastern Wisconsin is similarly popular for water recreation.

===Energy===
{{See also|Focus on Energy|Wind power in Wisconsin|Solar power in Wisconsin}}
[[File:Wisconsin power grid.webp|thumb|[[List of power stations in Wisconsin|Wisconsin power grid]]]]
Wisconsin has no production of oil, gas, or coal.<ref name="eia-sedb">{{cite web|url=http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=WI#tabs-3|title=U.S. Energy Information Administration—EIA—Independent Statistics and Analysis|access-date=December 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220173535/http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=WI#tabs-3|archive-date=December 20, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Its in-state electrical generation is mostly from coal. Other important electricity sources are natural gas and nuclear.<ref name="eia-sedb"/>

The state has a mandate that ten percent of its electrical energy come from renewable sources by the end of 2015.<ref>[http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/06/13/3448779/wisconsin-hits-renewable-goal-early/]{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220172307/http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/06/13/3448779/wisconsin-hits-renewable-goal-early/|date=December 20, 2014}} Thinkprogress—Wisconsin hits renewable goal</ref> This goal has been met, but not with in-state sources. {{As of|2014}}, a third of that ten percent comes from out-of-state sources, mostly wind-generated electricity from Minnesota and Iowa. The state has agnostic policies for developing wind power in state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://union-bulletin.com/news/2014/sep/08/wind-power-industry-grows-so-does-opposition/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141220161722/http://union-bulletin.com/news/2014/sep/08/wind-power-industry-grows-so-does-opposition/|url-status=dead|title=As wind power industry grows, so does opposition—Walla Walla Union|date=December 20, 2014|archive-date=December 20, 2014}}</ref>

===Taxation===
{{main|Sales taxes in the United States|Property tax in the United States|State income tax}}
[[File:Wisconsin Budget (2021).webp|thumb|upright=1.25|Wisconsin Budget (2021)]]
Wisconsin collects personal [[income tax]]es which range from 4% to 7.65% based on five [[income bracket]]s. The state [[sales tax|sales]] and [[use tax]] rate is 5.0%. Fifty-nine counties have an additional sales/use tax of 0.5%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.revenue.wi.gov/esd/cotax07.html|title=County Sales Tax Distribution-2007|access-date=March 24, 2007|date=March 6, 2007|publisher=Wisconsin Department of Revenue|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513134039/http://www.revenue.wi.gov/esd/cotax07.html|archive-date=May 13, 2008}}</ref>

The most common property tax assessed on Wisconsin residents is the real [[property tax]], or their residential property tax. Wisconsin does not impose a property tax on vehicles, but does levy an annual registration fee. Property taxes are the most important tax revenue source for Wisconsin's local governments, as well as major methods of funding school districts, vocational-technical colleges, special purpose districts and tax incremental finance districts. Equalized values are based on the full market value of all taxable property in the state, except for agricultural land. To provide property tax relief for farmers, the value of agricultural land is determined by its value for agricultural uses, rather than for its possible development value. Equalized values are used to distribute state aid payments to counties, municipalities, and technical colleges. Assessments prepared by local assessors are used to distribute the property tax burden within individual municipalities.

Wisconsin does not assess a tax on [[intangible property]]. Wisconsin does not collect [[inheritance tax]]es. Until January 1, 2008, Wisconsin's [[estate tax]] was decoupled from the federal estate tax laws; therefore the state imposed its own estate tax on certain large estates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.revenue.wi.gov/faqs/ise/estate.html#ret3|title=Wisconsin Department of Revenue|publisher=Revenue.wi.gov|access-date=July 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722063948/http://www.revenue.wi.gov/faqs/ise/estate.html#ret3|archive-date=July 22, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

There are no [[toll road]]s in Wisconsin; highway construction and maintenance are funded in part by [[motor fuel tax]] revenues, and the remaining balance is drawn from the State General Fund. Non-highway road construction and maintenance are funded by local governments (municipalities or counties).

==Culture==
[[File:JO PARIS 2024 PENTATHLON MODERNE MENS PARC DU CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES - 53915642596.jpg|thumb|[[Cheesehead]] hats at the [[2024 Summer Olympics]]]]
{{see also|History of cheesemaking in Wisconsin}}
Residents of Wisconsin are called Wisconsinites. The traditional prominence of references to [[dairy farming]] and [[cheesemaking]] in Wisconsin's rural economy (the state's [[license plates]] have read "America's Dairyland" since 1940)<ref>Christopulos, Mike and Joslyn, Jay. "Legislators took license with ideas for slogan on plate" ''Milwaukee Sentinel'' 12–27–85; pg. 5, part 1</ref> have led to the nickname (sometimes used pejoratively among non-residents) of "[[cheesehead]]s", and to the creation of "cheesehead hats" made of yellow foam in the shape of a wedge of cheese.

Numerous [[ethnic]] festivals are held throughout Wisconsin to celebrate the heritage of its citizens. Such festivals include [[Summerfest]], [[Oktoberfest celebrations|Oktoberfest]], [[Polish Fest]], [[Festa Italiana]], [[Irish Fest]], Bastille Days, [[Syttende Mai]] (Norwegian Constitution Day), Brat(wurst) Days in [[Sheboygan, Wisconsin|Sheboygan]], [[Pulaski, Wisconsin#Pulaski Polka Days|Polka Days]], Cheese Days in [[Monroe, Wisconsin|Monroe]] and [[Mequon]], African World Festival, Indian Summer, Arab Fest, Wisconsin Highland Games, and many others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelwisconsin.com/things-to-do/entertainment-attractions/fairs-festivals#/directory/108?CurrentPage=108&ContentPageId=407555&ContentPage_WidgetId=136852&BaseContentId=136055&Keyword=&StartDate=&EndDate=&CityId=0&CountyId=0&City=&MileRange=0&CategoryId=0&RegionId=0|title=Wisconsin Fairs and Festivals—Travel Wisconsin|website=TravelWisconsin|access-date=May 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514154010/http://www.travelwisconsin.com/things-to-do/entertainment-attractions/fairs-festivals#/directory/108?CurrentPage=108&ContentPageId=407555&ContentPage_WidgetId=136852&BaseContentId=136055&Keyword=&StartDate=&EndDate=&CityId=0&CountyId=0&City=&MileRange=0&CategoryId=0&RegionId=0|archive-date=May 14, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Architecture===
[[File:Taliesin Courtyard 02.jpg|thumb|[[Taliesin (studio)|Taliesin]] was the studio of architect [[Frank Lloyd Wright]].]]
With the immigration of [[Nordic and Scandinavian Americans|northern Europeans]] into Wisconsin and the [[upper Midwest]], they brought the techniques of building [[Log house|log homes]] with them.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 27, 2016|title=The History of the American Log Home|url=https://hankeringforhistory.com/the-history-of-the-american-log-home/|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=Hankering for History|language=en-US|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190344/https://hankeringforhistory.com/the-history-of-the-american-log-home/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Milwaukee Art Museum]] is known for its Quadracci Pavilion created by Spanish architect [[Santiago Calatrava]]. The Quadracci Pavilion contains a movable, wing-like Burke ''[[brise soleil]]'' that opens up for a wingspan of {{convert|217|ft}} during the day, folding over the tall, arched structure at night or during inclement weather.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Museum |first=Milwaukee Art |title=Visit {{!}} Milwaukee Art Museum |url=https://mam.org/visit/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |website=mam.org}}</ref>

[[Frank Lloyd Wright]], an architect known as the pioneer of [[Prairie School]] architecture and the [[Usonia]]n home concept, was raised in Wisconsin. Wright's home and studio in the 20th century was at [[Taliesin (studio)|Taliesin]], south of [[Spring Green, Wisconsin]]. Taliesin and the Usonian [[Herbert and Katherine Jacobs First House|Jacobs I House]] in Madison are listed as [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]s as part of "[[The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright]]".<ref name="whs"/> Other notable works of Wright in Wisconsin include the [[Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church]] in Wauwatosa, [[First Unitarian Society of Madison]], and [[Johnson Wax Headquarters]]. [[Monona Terrace]] in Madison, a convention center designed by Taliesin architect Anthony Puttnam, is based on a 1930s design by Wright.<ref>[http://www.purecontemporary.com/Interview/article/11 Pure Contemporary interview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012181448/http://purecontemporary.com/Interview/article/11 |date=October 12, 2007 }} with Anthony Puttnam</ref>

===Alcohol===
[[File:Miller Brewery.png|thumb|The [[Miller Brewing Company|Miller Brewery]] in Milwaukee]]
Drinking has long been considered a significant part of Wisconsin culture, and the state ranks at or near the top of national measures of per-capita alcohol consumption, consumption of alcohol per state, and proportion of drinkers. Consumption per-capita per-event, however, ranks low among the nation; number of events (number of times alcohol is involved) is significantly higher or highest, but consumption at each event smaller, marking Wisconsin's consumption as frequent and moderate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/31237904.html|author=Rick Romell|title=Drinking deeply ingrained in Wisconsin's culture|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=October 19, 2008|access-date=August 18, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114133501/http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/31237904.html|archive-date=January 14, 2012}}</ref> Factors such as cultural identification with the state's heritage of German immigration, the long-standing presence of major breweries in Milwaukee, and a cold climate are often associated with the prevalence of drinking in Wisconsin.

Many large breweries were founded in Wisconsin, largely in Milwaukee, which gained the epithet "Brew City" before the turn of the century. [[Miller Brewing Company]], [[Pabst Brewing Company]], [[Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company]], and [[Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company]] all began as local businesses before entering national markets. Several other popular craft brews include Ale Asylum,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ale Asylum|url=http://www.aleasylum.com/|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=www.aleasylum.com}}</ref> [[Capital Brewery|Capital]], [[Sprecher Brewery|Sprecher]], and [[New Glarus Brewing Company|New Glarus]], the latter being well known for the Spotted Cow Farmhouse Ale only sold in Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rotman |first1=Audrey |title=Explained: Why New Glarus beer is only sold in Wisconsin |url=https://608today.6amcity.com/new-glarus-beer-only-sold-wisconsin |website=608 Today |date=November 12, 2021 |access-date=May 23, 2024}}</ref>

In Wisconsin, the legal drinking age is 21, except when accompanied by a parent, guardian, or spouse who is at least 21 years old. Age requirements are waived for possessing alcohol when employed by a brewer, brewpub, wholesaler, or producer of alcohol fuel. The minimum legal age to purchase alcohol is 21, with no exceptions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/atundrg.html|work=Wisconsin Department of Revenue|title=Alcohol Beverage Laws for Retailers, Underage Alcohol Questions|date=November 25, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213022814/http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/atundrg.html|archive-date=December 13, 2014}}</ref> The Absolute Sobriety law states that any person not of legal drinking age (currently 21) may not drive after consuming alcohol.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.uwplatt.edu/files/police/absolutesobriety.pdf |title=Wisconsin's Absolute Sobriety Law, What It Means And Its Consequences |work=University of Wisconsin |location=Platteville, WI |date=2012 |access-date=March 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109083553/https://www.uwplatt.edu/files/police/absolutesobriety.pdf |archive-date=January 9, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> DUI offenses were lowered to BAC 0.08 in 2003 as a result of federal government pressure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/wb/03wb9.pdf |title=Prohibited Blood Alcohol Concentration Reduced to .08 |work=Wisconsin Briefs from the Legislative Reference Bureau |id=Brief 03–9 |date=December 2003 |access-date=May 5, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130185021/http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/wb/03wb9.pdf |archive-date=January 30, 2015 }}</ref>

===Cuisine===
{{main|Cuisine of Wisconsin}}
[[File:Fried Cheese Curds Green Bay Wisconsin.JPG|thumb|Fried [[cheese curd]]s]]
Wisconsin's cuisine is famous for [[Wisconsin cheese|its cheese]] as well as other dairy products. [[Colby cheese]] was first created in Wisconsin in 1885 (named after [[Colby, Wisconsin]]), and [[brick cheese]] was first created in the state in 1877.<ref name="norton2009">{{cite book |last1=Norton |first1=James |last2=Dilley |first2=Becca |year=2009 |title=The Master Cheesemakers of Wisconsin |publisher=[[University of Wisconsin Press]] |isbn=978-0-299-23433-1 |page=151}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.widmerscheese.com/the-story-of-wisconsin-brick-cheese/ | title=Story of Brick Cheese &#124; Widmer's Cheese Cellar &#124; (888) 878–1107 }}</ref> The state is the only producer of [[Limburger cheese]] in the United States. [[Cheese curd]]s are a popular variant that can be eaten separately cold as a snack, or covered in batter and fried as an appetizer, often served with [[ranch dressing]] as a dipping sauce. [[Hot and spicy cheese bread]] is a popular type of bread created and sold in Madison.

Wisconsin is the nation's top producer of [[cheese]], the state's official dairy product. It is also a leading producer of [[cranberries]], the state's official fruit, and [[ginseng]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About Cranberries {{!}} Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association |url=https://www.wiscran.org/cranberries/ |website=www.wiscran.org |access-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102165605/https://www.wiscran.org/cranberries/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Dane County Farmers' Market]] in Madison is the nation's largest producers-only farmer's market.<ref name="BadgerHeraldReidy">{{cite web|last1=Reidy|first1=Kiyoko|title=Public market gets green light from Madison City Council|url=https://badgerherald.com/news/2015/11/11/public-market-gets-green-light-from-madison-city-council/|website=The Badger Herald|accessdate=August 8, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808003220/https://badgerherald.com/news/2015/11/11/public-market-gets-green-light-from-madison-city-council/|archivedate=August 8, 2016|date=November 11, 2015|quote=The Dane County Farmers' Market is the largest producers-only farmers' market in the country, with additional markets around the county nearly every day of the week, Kemble said.}}</ref><ref name="WaPoWax">{{cite news|last1=Wax|first1=Emily|title=The Impulsive Traveler: In Wisconsin, supper clubs make a comeback|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/the-impulsive-traveler-in-wisconsin-supper-clubs-make-a-comeback/2012/08/23/83b1c48a-db3f-11e1-9745-d9ae6098d493_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=August 8, 2016|date=August 24, 2012|quote=Beyond the supper clubs, one highlight of our trip that surprised me was the epic Saturday Dane County farmers market, which stretches for blocks around the capitol. It's said to be the largest producers-only farmers market — meaning that all items must be produced locally — in the country.}}</ref>

The Friday night [[fish fry]], often battered and fried [[perch]] or [[walleye]], is traditional throughout Wisconsin, while in northeast Wisconsin and [[Door County, Wisconsin|Door County]] the [[fish boil]] is more popular. The [[supper club]] is another common phenomenon of Wisconsin culinary heritage and often a destination for fish frys; other fried food are common side dishes, along with condiments of tartar sauce and [[cole slaw]] or crimson slaw, a variety of cole slaw that incorporates Wisconsin cranberries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Crimson Slaw|url=https://www.midwestliving.com/recipe/salads/crimson-slaw/|access-date=March 24, 2021|website=Midwest Living|language=en}}</ref> [[Beer soup|Beer cheese soup]] is usually made from a variety of beer and cheddar or Colby cheese with sausage, potatoes, and green onions.

[[Booyah (stew)|Booyah]] is a [[stew]] common to Wisconsin, commonly using meat and a mirepoix of vegetables cooked together in a "booyah kettle" over low heat for several days.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/booyah-this-northeastern-wisconsin-tradition-could-become-the-official-state/article_cc13c0ac-80e5-5b29-a84f-894851b1bf75.html |title=Booyah! This northeastern Wisconsin tradition could become the official state soup |publisher=The Capital Times |date=December 10, 2015 |accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref>

The southeastern city of [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]] is known for its [[kringle]], a sweet flaky pastry often served as a dessert. The recipe was brought by [[Danish Americans|Danish immigrants]] to the region in the 1800s and became the official state pastry of Wisconsin in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wisconsin State Pastry – Kringle |url=https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/wisconsin/food-agriculture/kringle |website=statesymbolsusa.org |date=June 20, 2016 |accessdate=November 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129215909/http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/news/213832791.html |archive-date=2014-11-29 |title=Kringle becomes Wisconsin state pastry |website=Today'S TMJ4 |date=July 1, 2013 |url=http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/news/213832791.html |first1=Jaclyn |last1=Brandt |access-date= July 26, 2013 |publisher=Journal Communications }}</ref> The [[Wisconsin State Fair]] is known for its giant [[cream puff]]s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://wistatefair.com/fair/original-cream-puffs/|title=Original Cream Puffs|work=Wisconsin State Fair |access-date=January 10, 2020|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/08/12/637932151/the-cream-puffs-of-wisconsin |date=August 12, 2018 |first1=Lulu |last1=Garcia-Navarro |title=The Cream Puffs Of Wisconsin|work=NPR |access-date=January 10, 2020|language=en}}</ref>

The [[butter burger]] originated in Wisconsin, most likely in [[Solly's Grille]] in [[Glendale, Wisconsin|Glendale]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Christenson |first1=Ann |title=Your Guide to Finding the Best Burger in Milwaukee |url=https://www.milwaukeemag.com/your-guide-to-finding-the-best-burger-in-milwaukee/ |website=Milwaukee Magazine |accessdate=November 6, 2020 |date=October 2, 2020}}</ref> [[Culver's]] is a midwestern [[fast casual restaurant|fast casual food restaurant chain]] originally from [[Sauk City, Wisconsin|Sauk City]] and currently headquartered in [[Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin|Prairie du Sac]] known for serving butter burgers, fried cheese curds, and frozen custard. [[La Croix Sparkling Water]] originates from [[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La Crosse]].

=== Film ===
Wisconsin has a modest but growing [[Film industry in Wisconsin|film industry]], supported in part by renewed state incentives in 2025.

===Music===
{{Main|Music of Wisconsin}}
[[File:Generac.jpg|thumb|[[Summerfest]] is an annual music festival in downtown Milwaukee.]]
Milwaukee hosts [[Summerfest]], dubbed "The World's Largest Music Festival", every year<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/07attendance|title=OnMilwaukee|website=Onmilwaukee.com|access-date=13 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mymidwestmagazine.com/2007/05/01/fun-in-the-sun/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629105003/http://mymidwestmagazine.com/2007/05/01/fun-in-the-sun/|url-status=usurped|title=金沙电子游戏app下载(中国)有限公司|archive-date=29 June 2007|website=Mymidwestmagazine.com|access-date=13 September 2023}}</ref> The festival is held at the lakefront [[Henry Maier Festival Park]] just south of downtown, as are a summer-long array of [[ethnic]] musical festivals. The [[Wisconsin Area Music Industry]] hosts an annual awards show for top Wisconsin artists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wamimusic.com/|title=WAMI—Wisconsin Area Music Industry|access-date=May 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423150452/http://wamimusic.com/|archive-date=April 23, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Mile of Music]] in [[Appleton, Wisconsin|Appleton]] is an annual all-original music festival of varying styles. It focuses on undiscovered touring musicians and bands.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://whby.com/index.php/News/WHBY_News/555622 |title=News Talk 1150 WHBY Appleton, Green Bay, Fox Cities |access-date=2015-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821112855/http://www.whby.com/index.php/News/WHBY_News/555622 |archive-date=2015-08-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Other music festivals include [[Hoofbeat (festival)|Hoofbeat]] country fest, Country Jam USA, the [[Hodag Country Festival]], [[Lifest]], Porterfield Country Music Festival, Country Thunder USA in Twin Lakes,<ref name="Country Music Chicago">{{cite web|title=Wisconsin Country Music Festivals|url=http://eauxclaires.com/|website=Eaux Claires|access-date=June 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623161504/http://eauxclaires.com/|archive-date=June 23, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Country USA.

===Recreation===
{{see also|List of Wisconsin amusement parks}}
The varied landscape of Wisconsin makes the state a popular vacation destination for outdoor recreation. Winter events include skiing, ice fishing and [[World Championship Snowmobile Derby|snowmobile derbies]]. Wisconsin is situated on two Great Lakes and has many inland lakes of varied size; the state contains {{convert|11188|sqmi|km2}} of water, more than all but three other states—[[Alaska]], Michigan, and Florida.<ref>{{cite book|title=Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012 |url=https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0358.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017210726/http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0358.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=November 23, 2012 |year=2012 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |page=223 }}</ref> The [[Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary]] was established in 2021 in the waters of Lake Michigan off Wisconsin and is the site of a large number of historically significant [[shipwreck]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/06/23/2021-12846/wisconsin-shipwreck-coast-national-marine-sanctuary-designation-final-regulations|title=Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Designation; Final Regulations|publisher=NOAA via Federal Register|date=June 23, 2021|access-date=June 29, 2021|archive-date=October 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023012203/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/06/23/2021-12846/wisconsin-shipwreck-coast-national-marine-sanctuary-designation-final-regulations|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/media/docs/wisconsin-shipwreck-coast-national-marine-sanctuary.pdf |title=National Marine Sanctuaries media document: Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Accessed 29 June 2021 |access-date=September 9, 2023 |archive-date=September 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230911180736/https://nmssanctuaries.blob.core.windows.net/sanctuaries-prod/media/docs/wisconsin-shipwreck-coast-national-marine-sanctuary.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-designates-new-national-marine-sanctuary-in-wisconsin-s-lake-michigan |title=NOAA News "NOAA designates new national marine sanctuary in Wisconsin's Lake Michigan," June 22, 2021 Accessed 29 June 2021 |date=June 22, 2021 |access-date=September 9, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603142508/https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-designates-new-national-marine-sanctuary-in-wisconsin-s-lake-michigan |url-status=live }}</ref>

Outdoor activities are popular in Wisconsin, especially hunting and fishing. One of the most prevalent game animals is the [[whitetail deer]]. Each year in Wisconsin, well over 600,000 deer-hunting licenses are sold.<ref name="wdnr2008">{{cite press release|title=A Chronology Of Wisconsin Deer Hunting From Closed Seasons To Antlerless Permits|publisher=[[Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources]]|date=November 12, 2005|url=http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/news/rbnews/2005/111205scr4.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211061345/http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/news/rbnews/2005/111205scr4.htm|archive-date=February 11, 2007|access-date=March 16, 2007}}</ref> In 2008, the [[Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources]] projected the pre-hunt deer population to be between 1.5 and 1.7&nbsp;million.

===Sports===
{{Main|Sports in Wisconsin}}
{{multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| total_width       = 230
| image1            = Lambeau Field bowl.jpg
| caption1          = [[Lambeau Field]] is home to the publicly owned [[Green Bay Packers]] of the [[National Football League]].
| image2            = St. Louis Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers September 2023 01 (American Family Field).jpg
| caption2          = [[American Family Field]] is home to the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], one of two professional sports teams based in Milwaukee.
| image3            = F1 V10 (53742784505).jpg
| caption3          = [[Road America]], near [[Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin|Elkhart Lake]], has hosted [[motorsport]] races since the 1950s.
}}
Wisconsin is represented by major league teams in three sports: football, baseball, and basketball. [[Lambeau Field]], located in [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]], is home to the [[National Football League]]'s [[Green Bay Packers]]. The Packers have been part of the NFL since the league's second season in 1921 and are the smallest city franchise in the NFL, and the only one owned by shareholders statewide.<ref>Green Bay Packers, Inc., [http://www.packers.com/fan_zone/faq/ Fan Zone FAQ], accessed February 28, 2010. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100318031051/http://www.packers.com/fan_zone/faq/ |date=March 18, 2010 }}</ref> The [[Milwaukee Brewers]], the state's only major league baseball team, have played in [[American Family Field]] in Milwaukee since 2001. Before the Brewers, Milwaukee had two prior Major League teams. The first team, also called the Brewers, played only one season in 1901 before becoming the [[St. Louis Browns]]. Milwaukee was also the home of the now-[[Atlanta Braves]] franchise when they moved from Boston from 1953 to 1965, winning the [[World Series]] in 1957.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/history/story_of_the_braves.jsp|title=Story of the Braves—History|website=Atlanta Braves|access-date=May 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030062629/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/history/story_of_the_braves.jsp|archive-date=October 30, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Milwaukee Bucks]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] play home games at the [[Fiserv Forum]].<ref>NBA Hoops Online [http://nbahoopsonline.com/teams/MilwaukeeBucks/Articles/1.html Bucks History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525200112/http://nbahoopsonline.com/teams/MilwaukeeBucks/Articles/1.html |date=May 25, 2017 }}, accessed February 17, 2015.</ref>

The state also has minor league teams in hockey ([[Milwaukee Admirals]]) and baseball (the [[Wisconsin Timber Rattlers]], based in [[Appleton, Wisconsin|Appleton]] and the [[Beloit Sky Carp]] of the [[High-A]] minor leagues). In addition to these affiliated minor league teams, Wisconsin has two [[American Association of Professional Baseball]] teams, being the [[Milwaukee Milkmen]] based in [[Franklin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin|Franklin]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 18, 2020|title=Milkmen Bring Home the Championship For Milwaukee|url=https://www.milwaukeemag.com/milkmen-bring-home-the-championship-for-milwaukee/|access-date=June 19, 2021|website=Milwaukee Magazine|language=en-US|archive-date=June 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613180204/https://www.milwaukeemag.com/milkmen-bring-home-the-championship-for-milwaukee/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Lake Country DockHounds]] based in [[Oconomowoc, Wisconsin|Oconomowoc]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reichard|first=Kevin|date=June 10, 2021|title=New for 2022: Lake Country DockHounds|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/06/10/new-for-2022-lake-country-dockhounds/|access-date=June 19, 2021|website=Ballpark Digest|language=en-US|archive-date=June 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613150632/https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/06/10/new-for-2022-lake-country-dockhounds/|url-status=live}}</ref> Wisconsin is also home to nine [[Northwoods League]] teams. The [[Madison Mallards]], the [[La Crosse Loggers]], the [[Lakeshore Chinooks]], the [[Eau Claire Express]], the [[Fond du Lac Dock Spiders]], the [[Green Bay Rockers]], the [[Kenosha Kingfish]], the [[Wausau Woodchucks]], and the [[Wisconsin Rapids Rafters]] all play in a collegiate all-star summer league. In addition to the Packers, Green Bay is also the home to an [[indoor American football|indoor football]] team, the [[Green Bay Blizzard]] of the [[Indoor Football League|IFL]]. The state is home to the seven-time MISL/MASL Champion [[Milwaukee Wave]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milwaukeewave.com/|title=Milwaukee Wave Professional Indoor Soccer|access-date=May 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316060229/http://www.milwaukeewave.com/|archive-date=March 16, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Wisconsin is also home to [[Forward Madison FC]], which is a professional soccer team that plays in the [[USL League One]]. The Northern Elite Football League consists of many amateur semi-pro teams from Wisconsin.

Wisconsin also has many [[college sports]] programs, including the [[NCAA Division I]] [[Wisconsin Badgers]], [[Milwaukee Panthers]], and [[Green Bay Phoenix]]. The [[Marquette Golden Eagles]] of the [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East Conference]], the state's other major collegiate program, is known for its [[Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball|men's basketball team]]. Many other schools in the University of Wisconsin system compete in the [[Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] at the [[Division III (NCAA)|Division III]] level. The conference is one of the most successful in the nation, claiming 107 NCAA national championships in 15 different sports as of March 30, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wiacsports.com/sports/2010/7/23/GEN_0723103641.aspx|title=Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference|access-date=April 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104023738/http://www.wiacsports.com/sports/2010/7/23/GEN_0723103641.aspx|archive-date=November 4, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Milwaukee Mile]], an oval track opened in 1903, is the oldest operating motorsports venue in the world, having hosted the [[IndyCar Series]] and [[NASCAR]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milwaukeemile.com/History-2010.asp |title=Milwaukee Mile Website—History |publisher=Milwaukeemile.com |access-date=July 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607234936/http://www.milwaukeemile.com/History-2010.asp |archive-date=June 7, 2010 }}</ref> [[Road America]] near [[Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin|Elkhart Lake]] hosts races in the [[IndyCar Series]], [[IMSA SportsCar Championship]], [[Sports Car Club of America]] [[GT World Challenge America]] and [[Trans-Am Series]] and the [[MotoAmerica]] Superbike Championship. [[Dirt track racing|Dirt tracks]] are also popular, with the [[World of Outlaws]] and [[High Limit Racing]] both going to different tracks.

The [[World Championship Snowmobile Derby]] is held at [[Eagle River, Wisconsin]]. The world championship [[off-road racing]] event is held at [[Crandon International Off-Road Raceway]].

Wisconsin is home to the nation's oldest operating [[velodrome]] in [[Kenosha]] where races have been held every year since 1927.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.333m.com/ |title=Kenosha Velodrome Association |publisher=333m.com |access-date=July 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128215649/http://www.333m.com/ |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Sheboygan, Wisconsin|Sheboygan]] is home to [[Whistling Straits]] golf club which has hosted [[PGA Championship]]s in 2004, 2010 and 2015 and the [[Ryder Cup]] golf competition between USA and Europe in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cybergolf.com/golf_news/whistling_straits_named_as_site_for_pga_championships_ryder_cup_matches|title=Whistling Straits Named as Site for PGA Championships & Ryder Cup Matches|website=Cybergolf.com a CBS Sports partner|access-date=September 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826234353/http://www.cybergolf.com/golf_news/whistling_straits_named_as_site_for_pga_championships_ryder_cup_matches|archive-date=August 26, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Greater Milwaukee Open]], later named the [[U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee]], was a PGA Tour tournament from 1968 to 2009 held annually in [[Brown Deer]]. In 2017, [[Erin Hills]], a golf course in [[Erin, Wisconsin]], approximately 30 miles northwest of Milwaukee, hosted the [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]].<ref name=ctmchges>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/07/05/erin-hills-making-changes-in-advance-of-2017-us-open/ |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |last=Greenstein |first=Teddy |title=Erin Hills making changes in advance of 2017 U.S. Open |date=July 5, 2014 |access-date=June 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809135304/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-07-05/sports/ct-erin-hills-us-open-spt-0706-20140705_1_usga-tee-point-man |archive-date=August 9, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Government and politics==
[[File:Wisconsin State Capitol, Christmas Eve, 2012.jpg|thumb|The [[Wisconsin State Capitol]] is located on the [[isthmus]] between [[Lake Mendota]] and [[Lake Monona]], in the city of [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]].]]
The [[Constitution of Wisconsin]] outlines the structure and function of state government, which is organized into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The [[Wisconsin Blue Book]] is the primary published reference about the government and politics of the state. Re-published every two years, copies are available from state legislators.<ref>Wisconsin Statutes, [https://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2021/chapter-35/section-35-15/ 35.15 Laws of Wisconsin], accessed September 3, 2022</ref> The law of the [[Menominee]] also applies within the [[Menominee Indian Reservation]].

===State government===
{{See also|List of Wisconsin state agencies}}
The executive branch is headed by the [[Governor of Wisconsin]]. The current governor, [[Tony Evers]], assumed office on January 7, 2019. The Wisconsin Constitution grants the governor a veto on bills passed by the state legislature as well as a [[line-item veto]] on appropriation bills. A [[Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin|lieutenant governor]] succeeds the governor in the event of any removal from office and performs any duties assigned by the governor. The current lieutenant governor is [[Sara Rodriguez]]. The other elected constitutional offices in the executive branch are the [[Secretary of State of Wisconsin|secretary of state]] ([[Sarah Godlewski]]), [[State Treasurer of Wisconsin|treasurer]] ([[John Leiber]]), [[Attorney General of Wisconsin|attorney general]] ([[Josh Kaul]]), and the non-partisan [[Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin|superintendent of public instruction]] ([[Jill Underly]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lc/briefing_book/ch01_structure_government.pdf |title=Wisconsin's Structure of Government and Law |author=Letzing, Rachel |publisher=Wisconsin Legislative Council |date=November 2018 |access-date=May 25, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Wisconsin_state_executive_offices |title=Wisconsin state executive offices |publisher=Ballotpedia |access-date=May 25, 2024 }}</ref>

[[File:Secretary Pompeo Delivers Remarks in the Senate Chamber of the Wisconsin State Capitol (50378281008).jpg|thumb|The [[Wisconsin State Senate|Senate Chamber]] of the Wisconsin State Capitol]]

The [[Wisconsin State Legislature]] is Wisconsin's legislative branch. The Legislature is a [[bicameral]] body consisting of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]] and the [[Wisconsin State Senate]]. The Assembly has 99 members, and the Senate has 33 members. All 99 members of the Wisconsin Assembly are elected in a two-year term cycle without [[term limits in the United States|term limits]]. Similarly, all 33 members of the Wisconsin Senate are elected in a four-year cycle, also without term limits.<ref name="legislative">[https://archive.today/20130626174729/https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/wiscon/_13/_6 Article IV], Wisconsin Constitution (accessed April 25, 2013)</ref> Half of the Senate is elected every two years. Members of both houses of the Legislature vote within their ranks to select presiding officers, such as the [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker of the Assembly]] and the [[President of the Senate]]. Legislators in both the Senate and the Assembly receive an annual salary of $55,141. Over two years, each legislator is allotted $66,008 to cover general office expenses, printing, postage and district mailings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/2022-legislator-compensation.aspx|title=2022 Legislator Compensation|website=ncsl.org|access-date=May 25, 2024|archive-date=October 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012060022/https://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/2022-legislator-compensation.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Wisconsin's court system has four levels: municipal courts, circuit courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. Municipal courts typically handle cases involving [[local ordinance]] matters. The [[Wisconsin Circuit Court|circuit courts]] are Wisconsin's [[trial courts]], they have [[original jurisdiction]] in all civil and criminal cases within the state. Challenges to circuit court rulings are heard by the [[Wisconsin Court of Appeals]], consisting of sixteen judges who typically sit in three-judge panels. As the state's highest appellate court, the [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]] may hear both appeals from lower courts and original actions. In addition to deciding cases, the Supreme Court is responsible for administering the state's court system and regulating the practice of law in Wisconsin.<ref name="Wisconsin Court System">{{cite web|url=http://www.wicourts.gov/courts/overview/overview.htm|title=Wisconsin Court System—court system overview|publisher=Wicourts.gov|date=September 28, 2011|access-date=February 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214080934/http://www.wicourts.gov/courts/overview/overview.htm|archive-date=February 14, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Federal representation===
{{Main|Wisconsin's congressional delegations|Wisconsin's congressional districts}}
Following the 2020 census [[United States congressional apportionment|reapportionment]], Wisconsin has eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. As of the [[119th United States Congress]], six federal representatives are Republicans while two are Democrats. [[Gwen Moore]] is the most senior member of the Wisconsin delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, while the least senior is [[Tony Wied]]. Wisconsin's [[Seniority in the United States Senate|senior]] [[United States Senator|U.S. senator]], [[Ron Johnson]], is a Republican, while its junior, [[Tammy Baldwin]], is a Democrat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/members?q=%7B%22congress%22%3A117%2C%22member-state%22%3A%22Wisconsin%22%7D |title=Members of the U.S. Congress |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=May 25, 2024 }}</ref>

Wisconsin is under the [[appellate jurisdiction]] of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit]], which includes district courts for the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin|Eastern District of Wisconsin]] and [[United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin|Western District of Wisconsin]].

===Politics===
{{main|Politics of Wisconsin}}

{{See also|United States presidential elections in Wisconsin|Political party strength in Wisconsin}}
{{Gallery
|title=2024 United States presidential election in Wisconsin
|width=160
|height=170
|align=right
|File:Wisconsin Presidential Election Results 2024.svg|Results by county {{leftlegend|#4389E3|Democratic}}{{leftlegend|#AA0000|Republican}}
|File:WI President 2024.svg|Results by municipality
}}

Wisconsin is considered a [[swing state]] at the federal level, being won by either the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] or [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominees.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rakich |first=Nathaniel |date=October 16, 2020 |title=Wisconsin Was Never A Safe Blue State |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/wisconsin-was-never-a-safe-blue-state/ |access-date=March 29, 2023 |website=FiveThirtyEight |language=en-US |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115223612/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/wisconsin-was-never-a-safe-blue-state/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Republican [[Donald Trump]] won the state by 0.87% in the [[2024 United States presidential election in Wisconsin|2024 presidential election]]; it had the closest margin of any state in that election. Democrat [[Joe Biden]] won the state by a narrow margin of 0.63% in [[2020 United States presidential election in Wisconsin|2020]];<ref>{{Cite web|title=Live election results: 2020 Wisconsin results|url=https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/wisconsin/|access-date=January 18, 2021|website=www.politico.com|language=en|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119162934/https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/wisconsin/|url-status=live}}</ref> Trump won Wisconsin in [[2016 United States presidential election in Wisconsin|2016]] by a similarly narrow margin of 0.77%, the first time the state voted for a Republican presidential nominee since [[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]. Wisconsin was part of the [[Blue wall (U.S. politics)|blue wall]], a group of states the Democratic Party won in each presidential election from [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]] to [[2012 United States presidential election|2012]].<ref>{{cite news |title='It's Such a Relief': Biden Voters Rebuild a Wall That Trump Smashed |date=November 8, 2020 |last1=Goldmacher |first1=Shane |last2=Corasaniti |first2=Nick |last3=Gabriel |first3=Trip |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/08/us/politics/joe-biden-voters.html |access-date=November 8, 2020 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=May 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505033651/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/08/us/politics/joe-biden-voters.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Since achieving statehood in 1848, Wisconsin has been won by Republican presidential candidates 26 times, Democrats 18 times, and once by the [[Progressive Party (United States, 1924–1934)|Progressive Party]].

At the statewide level, Wisconsin is competitive, with control regularly alternating between the two parties. Following the [[2014 Wisconsin elections|2014 general elections]], the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and treasurer were all Republicans, while the secretary of state was a Democrat.<ref>[http://wisconsinvote.org Wisconsin 2014 election results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102143923/https://www.wisconsinvote.org/ |date=January 2, 2018 }}, wisconsinvote.org; accessed November 5, 2014.</ref> However, in [[2018 Wisconsin elections|2018]], Democrats won all constitutional statewide offices on the ballot, the first time this happened in Wisconsin since 1982.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Shawn |date=January 17, 2023 |title=Lawsuit challenging Wisconsin 'lame duck' law persists more than 4 years after it was passed |work=[[Wisconsin Public Radio]] |url=https://www.wpr.org/lawsuit-challenging-wisconsin-lame-duck-law-persists-attorneys-general |accessdate=February 6, 2023 |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206232237/https://www.wpr.org/lawsuit-challenging-wisconsin-lame-duck-law-persists-attorneys-general |url-status=live }}</ref> [[List of governors of Wisconsin|Among Wisconsin's 46 governors]], 32 were Republicans, 12 were Democrats, one was a [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]], and two were [[Wisconsin Progressive Party]] members.

In a 2020 study, Wisconsin was ranked as the 25th easiest state for citizens to vote in.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=J. Pomante II |first1=Michael |last2=Li |first2=Quan |title=Cost of Voting in the American States: 2020 |journal=Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy |date=December 15, 2020 |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=503–509 |doi=10.1089/elj.2020.0666 |s2cid=225139517 |doi-access=free |issn=1533-1296}}</ref> Some have argued the state has experienced [[democratic backsliding]] since 2011.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last1=Ginsburg |first1=Tom |title=How to Save a Constitutional Democracy |last2=Huq |first2=Aziz |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |year=2018 |isbn=9780226564388 |pages=7–11, 13, 16, 22, 31 |quote=Wisconsin's elections can be criticized along the third of these criteria, China's along all three. The result is a series of "blurred and imperfect" boundaries between democracy and its alternatives, in addition to myriad pathways away from democratic ordering toward one of a range of alternatives.}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Levine |first=Sam |date=April 5, 2023 |title=Liberal judge's Wisconsin supreme court race win shows a shake-up in US politics |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/05/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-results-janet-protasiewicz-win |access-date=April 5, 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406031220/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/05/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-results-janet-protasiewicz-win |url-status=live }}</ref> Some political scientists classify Wisconsin as a [[hybrid regime]];<ref name=":2" /> the state's [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representative]] and [[State legislature (United States)|legislature]] elections are considered to be [[Free and fair election|free but not fair]], with districts undergoing "extreme [[Gerrymandering|partisan gerrymanders]]" to entrench Republicans "beyond [[Elections in the United States|electoral rotation]]".<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Grumbach |first=Jacob M. |date=December 1, 2022 |title=Laboratories of Democratic Backsliding |journal=American Political Science Review |volume=117 |issue=3 |language=en |pages=967–984 |doi=10.1017/S0003055422000934 |s2cid=234000893 |issn=0003-0554 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Tharoor |first=Ishaan |date=November 8, 2022 |title=U.S. democracy slides toward 'competitive authoritarianism' |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/08/american-democracy-backsliding-competitive-authoritarianism/ |access-date=April 5, 2023 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330111007/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/08/american-democracy-backsliding-competitive-authoritarianism/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the legislative gerrymander in the 2023 ruling of ''[[Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission]].''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bosman |first=Julie |date=December 22, 2023 |title=Justices in Wisconsin Order New Legislative Maps |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/22/us/wisconsin-redistricting-maps-gerrymander.html |access-date=December 22, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

[[File:2011 Wisconsin Budget Protests 1 JO.jpg|thumb|left|The [[2011 Wisconsin Act 10]] led to large protests around the state capitol building in Madison.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-wisconsin-protests-20110227,0,3378088.story|author=Abby Sewell|title=Protesters out in force nationwide to oppose Wisconsin's anti-union bill|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 27, 2011|access-date=February 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303124853/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-wisconsin-protests-20110227,0,3378088.story|archive-date=March 3, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>]]

During the [[American Civil War]], Wisconsin was a [[History of the United States Republican Party|historically Republican state]]; in fact, it is the state that gave birth to the Republican Party, although ethno-religious issues in the late 19th century caused a brief split in the coalition. The [[Bennett Law]] campaign of 1890 controversially required English as the sole medium of instruction in all schools, and Germans switched to the Democratic Party because the Republican Party supported the law.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Kellogg|first1=Louise Phelps|title=The Bennett Law in Wisconsin|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_wisconsin-magazine-of-history_1918-09_2_1/page/n5|journal=Wisconsin Magazine of History|date=September 1918|volume=2|issue=1|pages=3–25|jstor=4630124}}</ref>

Wisconsin's political history is broad in scope, encompassing [[Robert La Follette]] and the [[Progressive movement]] to prominent anti-communist [[Joseph McCarthy]]. From the early 20th century, the [[Socialist Party of America]] had a base in Milwaukee. The phenomenon was referred to as "[[sewer socialism]]" because the elected officials were more concerned with public works and reform than with revolution (although revolutionary socialism existed in the city as well). Its influence faded in the late 1950s largely because of the [[Second Red Scare|red scare]] and racial tensions.<ref name="smith2003">{{cite journal|last=Smith|first=Kevin D.|date=Spring 2003|title=From Socialism to Racism: The Politics of Class and Identity in Postwar Milwaukee|journal=Michigan Historical Review|volume=29|issue=1|pages=71–95|doi=10.2307/20174004|jstor=20174004}}</ref> The first socialist mayor of a large city in the United States was [[Emil Seidel]], elected mayor of Milwaukee in 1910; the city elected three more socialist mayors in [[Daniel Hoan]], [[Frank P. Zeidler]], and [[Henry Maier]]. Socialist [[newspaper editor]] [[Victor Berger]] was repeatedly elected as a U.S. Representative.

Through the first half of the 20th century, Wisconsin's politics were dominated by Robert La Follette and his sons, originally of the Republican Party and later of the [[Wisconsin Progressive Party]]. Since 1945, the state has maintained a close balance between Republicans and Democrats.<ref name="conant2006">{{cite book|last=Conant|first=James K.|title=Wisconsin Politics and Government: America's Laboratory of Democracy|date=March 1, 2006|publisher=[[University of Nebraska Press]]|isbn=978-0-8032-1548-1|chapter=1}}</ref> Wisconsin Congressman [[Paul Ryan]] was the Republican vice-presidential nominee in the [[2012 United States presidential election|2012 election]], alongside [[Mitt Romney]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2012/08/11/mitt-romney-chooses-paul-ryan-as-running-mate/ |title=Mitt Romney chooses Paul Ryan as running mate |publisher=Boston.com |last1=Viser |first1=Matt |last2=Bender |first2=Bryan |date=August 11, 2012 |access-date=March 18, 2024 }}</ref> and later served as 54th [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|speaker of the House of Representatives]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heitshusen |first1=Valerie |last2=Beth |first2=Richard S. |title=Speakers of the House: Elections, 1913-2023 |date=November 6, 2023 |work=CRS Report for Congress |page=8 |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL30857.pdf |publisher=[[Congressional Research Service]], the [[Library of Congress]] |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=March 18, 2024 |archive-date=July 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703214715/https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL30857.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===International relations===
Wisconsin has sister-state relationships with [[Hesse]] in Germany, [[Chiba Prefecture]] in Japan, [[Jalisco]] in Mexico, [[Heilongjiang]] in China, and [[Nicaragua]].<ref name="iw2006">{{cite web|url=http://international.wi.gov/SisterStates.html|title=Sister-States and Cities|access-date=February 23, 2012|date=February 4, 2010|publisher=International Wisconsin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204165758/http://international.wi.gov/SisterStates.html|archive-date=February 4, 2010}}</ref> A [[Mexican consulate]] opened in Milwaukee on July 1, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.jsonline.com/business/mexican-consulate-to-open-in-milwaukee-on-july-1-b99750361z1-384305021.html|title=Mexican Consulate to open in Milwaukee on July 1|website=jsonline.com|access-date=March 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303110303/http://archive.jsonline.com/business/mexican-consulate-to-open-in-milwaukee-on-july-1-b99750361z1-384305021.html|archive-date=March 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Education==
{{See also|List of colleges and universities in Wisconsin|List of high schools in Wisconsin|List of school districts in Wisconsin}}
[[File:Bascom Hall Sunset.jpg|thumb|The [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] is the flagship campus of the [[University of Wisconsin System]].]]
Wisconsin, along with Michigan and Minnesota, was among the [[Midwestern]] leaders in the emergent American state university movement following the [[American Civil War]]. By the start of the 20th century, education in the state advocated the "[[Wisconsin Idea]]", which emphasized service to the people of the state. The "Wisconsin Idea" exemplified the Progressive movement within colleges and universities at the time.<ref name=nye>{{cite book|last=Rudolph|first=Frederick|title=The American College and University: A History|publisher=The [[University of Georgia Press]], Athens and London|year=1990}}</ref>

The [[Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction]] is the [[state education agency|state education]] and public library management agency in the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dpi.wi.gov/content/about-us |title=About Us |work=Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction |date=February 15, 2012 |access-date=July 15, 2024 }}</ref> The department is led by the [[Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin|State Superintendent of Public Instruction]], a non-partisan, constitutional officer elected every four years in the spring primary, six months after the previous year's presidential election.

Public [[post-secondary education]] in Wisconsin consists of two organizations. The [[University of Wisconsin System]] comprises the state's two tier 1 [[research universities]] as classified by the [[Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching|Carnegie Foundation]]: the flagship [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]], and the [[University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity |url=http://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/lookup/srp.php?clq=%7B%22basic2005_ids%22%3A%2215%22%7D |publisher=Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education |accessdate=November 14, 2024 }}</ref> The system has eleven other comprehensive universities and ten two-year branch campuses. It is one of the largest public higher education systems in the country, enrolling more than 160,000 [[university student|students]] each year and employing approximately 41,000 faculty and staff statewide.<ref>{{cite web|title=Faculty & Staff |url=https://www.wisconsin.edu/accountability/faculty-and-staff/ |website=Universities of Wisconsin |date=December 28, 2017 |access-date=July 15, 2024 }}</ref> The 16-campus [[Wisconsin Technical College System]] awards two-year associate degrees, one- and two-year technical diplomas, and short-term technical diplomas and certificates. It also provides training and technical assistance to Wisconsin's business and industry community.

[[Carroll University]] was Wisconsin's first institution of higher education. It was chartered by the territorial legislature on January 31, 1846, and temporarily suspended operations during the Civil War.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS6118|title=Carroll College |date=August 8, 2017 |website=Wisconsin Historical Society |access-date=January 15, 2019 }}</ref> [[Beloit College]] is the state's oldest continuously operated college, chartered on February 2, 1846.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2021/03/28/historic-tour-marks-175-years-for-wisconsin-s-first-college |title='We've Been Here Forever': Student Reflects on Attending Wisconsin's First College |author=Carpenter, Megan |publisher=Spectrum News 1 |date=April 3, 2021 |access-date=March 14, 2025 }}</ref> [[Marquette University]] is a tier 2 research university and Wisconsin's largest private university by enrollment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup |url=https://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/lookup/view_institution.php?unit_id=239105 |publisher=Center for Postsecondary Education |website=carnegieclassifications.iu.edu |access-date=September 12, 2020}}</ref><ref name="nces">{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/institution-profile/239105 |title=Institution Data Profile – Marquette University |publisher=National Center for Education Statistics |access-date=January 17, 2025 }}</ref> It became the world's first coeducational Catholic university in 1909.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://marquetteu.medium.com/building-on-history-and-tradition-d87ae5402757 |title=Building on history and tradition |author=Marquette University |publisher=Medium |date=October 9, 2020 |access-date=March 14, 2025 }}</ref> Other private colleges and universities include [[Alverno College]], [[Carthage College]], [[Concordia University Wisconsin]], [[Edgewood University]], [[Lakeland University]], [[Lawrence University]], [[Medical College of Wisconsin]], [[Milwaukee School of Engineering]], [[Ripon College (Wisconsin)|Ripon College]], [[St. Norbert College]], [[Wisconsin Lutheran College]], and [[Viterbo University]].

==Transportation==
{{See also|List of airports in Wisconsin|List of state trunk highways in Wisconsin|List of Wisconsin railroads|List of lighthouses in Wisconsin}}
[[File:Aerial view of Wind Point Lighthouse, Wisconsin, US julesvernex2.jpg|thumb|[[Wind Point Lighthouse]] on Lake Michigan]]
Wisconsin is served by eight commercial service airports, in addition to a number of [[general aviation]] airports. [[Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport]] is the largest airport located in Wisconsin, [[FAA airport categories|categorized]] as a medium-hub primary commercial service facility.<ref name="NPIAS Airports">{{cite web |title=NPIAS Report 2023–2027 Appendix A |url=https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-10/ARP-NPIAS-2023-Appendix-A.pdf |website=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] |accessdate=December 4, 2022 |date=October 6, 2022}}</ref> [[Dane County Regional Airport]] and [[Appleton International Airport]] are classified as small-hub primary commercial airports that service the Madison and Fox Cities areas.

Wisconsin is served by multiple [[intercity bus]] operators, which provide service to 71 stops and 53 cities. The following carriers provide scheduled bus service: [[Amtrak Thruway]], [[Badger Bus]], [[Flixbus]], [[Greyhound Lines]], [[Indian Trails]], [[Jefferson Lines]], [[Lamers Bus Lines]], [[Megabus (North America)|Megabus]], [[Van Galder Bus Company]], and [[Wisconsin Coach Lines]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/pub-transit/icbus-map.pdf|title=2023 Wisconsin Intercity Bus Map|access-date=September 29, 2023|archive-date=August 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801144920/https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/pub-transit/icbus-map.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Wisconsin is served by eight [[List of Interstate Highways in Wisconsin|Interstate Highways]], consisting of five [[Interstate Highway System#Primary (one- and two-digit) routes (contiguous U.S.)|primary routes]] and three [[Interstate Highway System#Auxiliary (three-digit) Interstates (contiguous U.S.)|auxiliary routes]]. The first part of this system was constructed in 1956, and its most recent expansion took place in 2015, with the addition of [[Interstate 41|I-41]] to the system. Wisconsin's longest Interstate Highway is [[Interstate 94 in Wisconsin|I-94]]. There are also fourteen [[United States Numbered Highways]] in the state of Wisconsin, which were designated beginning in 1926 and ending in the mid-1930s. There are also several [[business route]]s, usually maintained by local governments. The [[Wisconsin Department of Transportation]] maintains [[Wisconsin State Trunk Highway System|158 state trunk highways]], ranging from two-lane rural roads to limited-access freeways. These highways are paid for by the state's Transportation Fund, which is considered unique among state highway funds because it is kept entirely separate from the general fund, therefore, revenues received from transportation services are required to be used on transportation. The majority of state highway funding comes from gas taxes and vehicle registration fees.<ref>{{cite web |author = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |date = n.d. |url = http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/about-wisdot/who-we-are/dept-overview/funding.pdf |title = How Does Wisconsin Fund Transportation? |publisher = Wisconsin Department of Transportation |access-date = January 14, 2017 |archive-date = January 31, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170131094713/http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/about-wisdot/who-we-are/dept-overview/funding.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref>

{{Wisconsin rail network|collapse=y}}
[[Amtrak]] provides daily passenger rail service between Milwaukee and Chicago through the ''[[Hiawatha (Amtrak train)|Hiawatha]]''. The ''[[Borealis (train)|Borealis]]'' provides daily service to Chicago and [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], and is supplemental to the long-distance cross-country ''[[Empire Builder]]'', both with stops in several cities across Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/empire-builder-train|title=Empire Builder|access-date=July 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709193823/http://www.amtrak.com/empire-builder-train|archive-date=July 9, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Commuter rail provider [[Metra]]'s [[Union Pacific North Line|Union Pacific North (UP-N) line]] has its northern terminus in [[Kenosha]], the only Metra line and station in the state of Wisconsin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metrarail.com/maps-schedules/train-lines/UP-N/map|title=Line Map {{!}} Metra|website=metrarail.com|access-date=November 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113030823/https://metrarail.com/maps-schedules/train-lines/UP-N/map|archive-date=November 13, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[The Hop]], a modern streetcar system in Milwaukee, began service in 2018. The 2.1 mile (3.4&nbsp;km) initial line runs from [[Milwaukee Intermodal Station]] to [[Burns Commons]].

==State symbols==
{{see also|List of Wisconsin state symbols}}
[[File:What are you looking at? (48480462057).jpg|thumb|The [[American badger]] is the [[List of U.S. state mammals|state animal]] of Wisconsin.]]
Wisconsin is traditionally known as the "Badger State" due to its early history in [[lead]] [[mining]]. Many of the state's first settlers were drawn by the prospect of mining in southwest Wisconsin, a mineral-rich region which had been contested between [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] and the U.S. Some of the miners lived burrowed within hillsides either due to lack of time or finances to build above-ground structures during the winter. Similar to the [[American badger]] using its claws to dig holes, the miners were nicknamed "badgers". The [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] adopted the badger as a mascot in 1889 after the nickname; the badger was named Wisconsin's state animal in 1957.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/green-sheet/2021/11/09/why-wisconsin-badger-state-and-do-actual-badgers-live-here/6095021001/ |title=Why is Wisconsin the Badger State — and do actual badgers live here? |author=Jurado, Alexa |publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=November 9, 2021 |access-date=July 16, 2024 }}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=27em}}
* [[State nickname]]s: ''Badger State'', ''America's Dairyland''
* [[List of U.S. state and territory mottos|State motto]]: ''Forward''
* [[List of U.S. state songs|State song]]: "[[On, Wisconsin!]]"
* [[List of U.S. state birds|State bird]]: [[American robin]]
* [[List of U.S. state mammals|State animal]]: [[American badger]]
* [[List of U.S. state mammals|State domestic animal]]: [[Cattle|dairy cow]]
* [[List of U.S. state mammals|State wildlife animal]]: [[white-tailed deer]]
* [[List of U.S. state fish|State fish]]: [[muskellunge]]
* [[List of U.S. state insects|State insect]]: [[Western honey bee]]
* [[List of U.S. state dogs|State dog]]: [[American Water Spaniel]]
* [[List of U.S. state foods|State dairy product]]: [[cheese]]
* [[List of U.S. state foods|State fruit]]: [[cranberry]]
* [[List of U.S. state grasses|State grain]]: [[corn]]
* [[List of U.S. state foods|State pastry]]: [[kringle]]
* [[List of U.S. state beverages|State beverage]]: [[milk]]
* State [[cocktail]]: [[Old fashioned (cocktail)|brandy old fashioned]]
* [[List of U.S. state dances|State dance]]: [[polka]]
* [[State fossil]]: [[trilobite]]
* [[List of U.S. state flowers|State flower]]: [[Viola sororia|wood violet]]
* [[List of U.S. state trees|State tree]]: [[Acer saccharum|sugar maple]]
* [[List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones|State rock]]: [[granite]]
* [[List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones|State mineral]]: [[galena]]
* [[50 State Quarters|State quarter]]: US coin issued in 2004 featuring a banner with the state motto, the head of a cow, a round of cheese, and an ear of corn.
* [[List of U.S. state soils|State soil]]: [[Antigo (soil)|Antigo]]
{{div col end}}

== See also ==
{{portal|Wisconsin|United States}}
* [[Index of Wisconsin-related articles]]
* [[List of people from Wisconsin]]
* [[Outline of Wisconsin]]
* [[Impeachment in Wisconsin]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book|last=Martin|first=Lawrence|url=https://archive.org/details/physicalgeograph0000mart|title=The Physical Geography of Wisconsin|publisher=[[University of Wisconsin Press]]|year=1916|isbn=978-0-299-03475-7|access-date=September 14, 2010}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book|last1=Barone|first1=Michael|first2=Richard E.|last2=Cohen|title=The Almanac of American Politics, 2006|year=2005|location=Washington, DC|publisher=National Journal|isbn=978-0-89234-112-2|url=https://archive.org/details/almanacofamerica00mich_5}}
* Cross, John A. and Kazimierz J. Zaniewski. ''The Geography of Wisconsin'' (University of Wisconsin Press, 2022) [http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=58289 online review]
* {{Cite book|last=Current|first=Richard|title=Wisconsin: A History|year=2001|location=Urbana, IL|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=978-0-252-07018-1}}
* {{Cite book|last=Gara|first=Larry|title=A Short History of Wisconsin|year=1962|location=Madison, WI|publisher=State Historical Society of Wisconsin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Holmes|first=Fred L.|title=Wisconsin |others=5 vols|location=Chicago, IL|year=1946}} Detailed popular history and many biographies.
* {{Cite book|last=Nesbit|first=Robert C.|title=Wisconsin: A History|edition=Rev.|year=1989|location=Madison|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press|isbn=978-0-299-10800-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/wisconsinhistory0002nesb}}
* {{Cite book|last=Pearce|first=Neil|title=The Great Lakes States of America|year=1980|location=New York|publisher=Norton|isbn=978-0-393-05619-8|url=https://archive.org/details/greatlakesstates00peir}}
* {{Cite book|last=Quaife|first=Milo M.|title=Wisconsin, Its History and Its People, 1634–1924 |others=4 vols|year=1924}} Detailed popular history & biographies.
* {{Cite book|last=Raney|first=William Francis|title=Wisconsin: A Story of Progress|year=1940|location=New York |publisher=Prentice-Hall}}
* {{Cite book|editor-last=Robinson|editor-first=Arthur H. |editor2-first=J. B.|editor2-last=Culver|title=The Atlas of Wisconsin|year=1974}}
* {{Cite book|editor-last=Sisson|editor-first=Richard|title=The American Midwest: An Interpretive Encyclopedia|year=2006|location=Bloomington, IN|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-34886-9}}
* {{Citation | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=jBCvxBTJQHYC&q=An+Illustrated+History+of+the+State+of+Wisconsin | title = An Illustrated History of the State of Wisconsin: Being a Complete Civil, Political, and Military History of the State from its First Exploration down to 1875 | first1 = Charles R | last1 = Tuttle | place = Madison, WI | year= 1875 | publisher = B. B. Russell}}.
* {{Cite book|last=Van Ells|first=Mark D.|title=Wisconsin [On-The-Road Histories]|year=2009|location=Northampton, MA|publisher=Interlink Books|isbn=978-1-56656-673-5|url=https://archive.org/details/wisconsin00vane}}
* {{Cite book|last=Vogeler|first=I.|title=Wisconsin: A Geography|year=1986|location=Boulder|publisher=Westview Press|isbn=978-0-86531-492-4 }}
* {{Cite book|author=Wisconsin Cartographers' Guild|title=Wisconsin's Past and Present: A Historical Atlas|year=2002}}
* {{Cite book |author=Works Progress Administration|title=Wisconsin: A Guide to the Badger State|year=1941}} Detailed guide to every town and city, and cultural history.
:''See additional books at [[History of Wisconsin]]''

==External links==

{{Sister project links|voy =Wisconsin}}
* {{official website|https://www.wisconsin.gov}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://nationalmap.gov/small_scale/printable/images/pdf/reference/pagegen_wi.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212163404/https://nationalmap.gov/small_scale/printable/images/pdf/reference/pagegen_wi.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |type=map|work=National Atlas|title=Wisconsin|publisher=United States Government}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://dnr.wi.gov/eek/nature/state/|title=Wisconsin state symbols|publisher=State of Wisconsin|access-date=December 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220072943/https://dnr.wi.gov/eek/nature/state/|archive-date=December 20, 2014|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://legis.wisconsin.gov/|title=Wisconsin State Legislature}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.wicourts.gov|publisher=Wisconsin|title=Court System}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-fact-sheets/state-data.aspx?StateFIPS=55&StateName=Wisconsin#.U859T_ldVu0|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140726130245/http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-fact-sheets/state-data.aspx?StateFIPS=55&StateName=Wisconsin%23.U859T_ldVu0|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2014|title=Wisconsin State Facts|publisher=USDA}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080511063816/https://www.lmhscscorecard.com/sc/brief.cgi?s=1 Wisconsin Health and Demographic Data] La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101229213558/https://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=WI Energy Profile for Wisconsin—Economic, environmental, and energy data]
* [https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/ Wisconsin Historical Society]
* [https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI The State of Wisconsin Collection] from the [https://uwdc.library.wisc.edu/ UW Digital Collections Center]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070515184143/https://faculty.uwstout.edu/shiellt/freespeech1/ Wisconsin Free Speech Legacy]
* [https://www.travelwisconsin.com/ Wisconsin Department of Tourism]
* {{Citation | contribution-url = https://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/transit/ | title = Travel Information | contribution = Traveling by public transit | publisher = Wisconsin Department of Transportation | access-date = July 31, 2011 | archive-date = August 8, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110808190327/http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/transit/ | url-status = dead }}.
* {{OSM relation |165466}}
* {{Citation | url = https://collections.lib.uwm.edu/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=all&CISOBOX1=Wisconsin&CISOFIELD1=statep&CISOOP2=all&CISOBOX2=wisconsin+--+maps&CISOFIELD2=subjec&CISOROOT=/agdm&t=s | type = Maps | title = Wisconsin | publisher = The American Geographical Society Library}}.

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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of U.S. states by date of statehood]]|years=Admitted on May 29, 1848 (30th)}}
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