Wisconsin is the US state of dairies. The rural region attracts many winter sports enthusiasts, plus there are large, modern cities.
- The US state of Wisconsin has always been a “free” state where slavery was prohibited.
- The conservative rural population and liberal city dwellers ensure balanced political conditions.
- The state is known for its dairy products and excellent winter sports conditions.
Madison – The story of Wisconsin began when the French discovered the region. In 1763 the area came into British hands with the Treaty of Paris. Until the 19th century, Wisconsin settlers lived primarily from the fur trade and the area was sparsely populated. Only with the discovery of lead and its mining did more people pour into the wooded and snow-covered region in winter.
There was a great wave of immigration from Germany, in the second half of the 19th century many settlers from Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark settled in Wisconsin. The cities of New Glarus and Monroe go back to immigrants from Switzerland. The high proportion of emigrants from Central and Eastern Europe is also unusual. Ten percent of Wisconsin’s citizens have Polish ancestors. The founding as the 30th US state took place on May 29, 1848.
- ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG: Overview of state Wisconsin, including major cities and most commonly used abbreviations of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin: Geography and Cities
With an area of 169, 639 km², the US state of Wisconsin is not half the size of the Federal Republic. 17 percent of the national territory, that is almost 30, 000 km², is covered by water and 46 percent by forest. Around 15, 000 forest and lake areas regularly attract tourists from the Chicago area.
The geography is divided into five different regions:
- The northern Lake Superior Lowland
- Adjacent to the south is the Northern Highlands with coniferous and mixed forests and numerous lakes
- The Central Plains in the middle with fertile farmland and striking sandstones
- The Eastern Ridges and Lowlands in the southeast with the largest cities
- The Western Uplands alternate with forest and farmland
According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, the most populous city in the US state is Milwaukee with around 600, 000 inhabitants. The capital Madison ranks second and binds around 230, 000 residents. Only two other cities (Green Bay and Kenosha) have about 100, 000 inhabitants, all other communities are significantly smaller.
Wisconsin – Population and Economy
In 2011, Wisconsin had 5, 709, 843 residents. The population is divided into these groups as follows:
- 2% whites
- 3% African American
- 9% Hispanics
- 3% Asians
- 0% indigenous people
- 3% of other origins
Although Wisconsin was originally one of the most progressive states and slavery was never allowed, African Americans have some of the worst living conditions in the entire United States. In Milwaukee, where most blacks live, child mortality rates among African Americans are twice that among white families. Almost half of all black male residents between the ages of 20 and 40 have served a prison term. Wisconsin has the highest percentage of black prisoners in the US and particularly rigid laws that affect this population group.
Agriculture, especially dairy, makes up the largest part of the economy. In and around Milwaukee, several well-known industrial companies have manufacturing facilities or headquarters. This includes:
- Kohler plumbing factory
- Harley-Davidson motorcycles
- Briggs & Stratton lawn mower
- Lands’ End Mail Order Company
- Trek bikes
Elections in Wisconsin
Voter favor in Wisconsin is distributed according to place of residence. In elections, city dwellers vote for Democrats, while rural people prefer conservative Republicans. Although the Democrats won every presidential election from 1988 to 2012, the results were extremely close. Therefore, Wisconsin is considered a swing state, the election results of which cannot be reliably predicted.
