43°30′N 91°00′W / 43.5°N 91°W / 43.5; -91
130-556: The Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive is a designated scenic route in southeastern Wisconsin that links the two units of the Kettle Moraine State Forest . The route traverses through scenic and historic areas, including landscape shaped by glaciers from the latest ice age , known as the Wisconsin glaciation . Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive generally follows county and local roads . It begins near Whitewater – at
260-551: A contentious political battleground region of Wisconsin in the past decade. Divided almost evenly between Republicans and Democrats, the area has bucked national trends by remaining relatively liberal despite a widespread shift in rural areas toward the Republican Party. But Republicans have steadily made gains in the area, with Trump winning the area in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. Democrats have won some House, gubernatorial, and State Supreme Court races in
390-521: 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. Settlement began at Prairie du Chien around 1781. The French residents at the trading post in what is now Green Bay, referred to the town as "La Baye". However, British fur traders referred to it as "Green Bay", because
520-673: A gorge across bedrock cuestas , thereby forming the modern incised upper Mississippi River valley. The region has elevations ranging from 603 to 1,719 feet (184 to 524 m) at Blue Mound State Park , and together with the Driftless-like region, covers 24,000 square miles (62,200 km ). Retreating glaciers leave behind material called drift composed of silt, clay, sand, gravel, and boulders. Glacial drift includes unsorted material called till and layers deposited by meltwater streams called outwash . While drift from early ( pre-Illinoian ) glaciations has been found in some parts of
650-562: A part of the Central Plain occupy the western part of the state, with lowlands stretching to the shore of Lake Michigan. Wisconsin is third to Ontario and Michigan in the length of its Great Lakes coastline. The northern portion of the state is home to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest . At the time of European contact, the area was inhabited by Algonquian and Siouan nations, and today it
780-437: A place where even a pond can naturally form. There are also very few dams in that the valley walls and floors are very often fissured or crumbly, or very porous, providing very poor anchors for a dam or making it difficult to keep any kind of reservoir appropriately filled. There are no real waterfalls , but some very strong springs bear the name. A modern, man-made characteristic is the comparatively twisty nature of highways in
910-520: A population of nearly 5.9 million. Its most populous city is Milwaukee , while its capital and second-most populous city is Madison . Other urban areas include Green Bay , Kenosha , Racine , Eau Claire , and the Fox Cities . Wisconsin's geography is diverse, shaped by Ice Age glaciers except for the Driftless Area . The Northern Highland and Western Upland along with
1040-629: A presence at Fort McCoy in Monroe County between Sparta and Tomah , immediately south of the Black River State Forest . The property is used mainly for military training exercises, although troops have also been based there for deployments overseas. The Coulee Region portion of the Driftless Area comprises much of Wisconsin's Western Upland geographical region. The most rugged part of Wisconsin's Driftless area
1170-592: A religion or spiritual tradition were approximately 75% of the state's population. 69% of Wisconsinites self-identified as Christian . Specifically, 25% of respondents identified as Mainline Protestant , 12% as Evangelical Protestant , 4% as other Protestants, and 27% as Catholic . Roughly 25% of the population were unaffiliated with any religious body. Small minorities of Jews (1%), Hindus (1%), Buddhists (1%), Jehovah's Witnesses (1%), Unitarian Universalists (1%), Muslims (<1%), Mormons (<1%), and other faiths exist according to this study. Christianity
1300-856: A route along the Kettle Moraine was believed to be conceived in the early 1940s by the Kettle Moraine Committee of the Izaak Walton League – Milwaukee Chapter, which was the backbone behind the development of the Kettle Moraine State Forest units. The first surveying of the area did not begin until 1946. The Wisconsin Highway Commission approved the route in 1948 and the first paving project was completed in 1950. The drive passes by various opportunities for recreation and tourism in
1430-630: A stream to its confluence with the main-stem Mississippi can reach well past 650 feet (200 m) in only a few miles. The Waukon Municipal Airport is reliably established as being 1,281 feet (390 m) above sea level. The Army Corps of Engineers maintains a river level in Pool 9 of about 619 feet (189 m) above sea level, which covers Lansing . Maps and signs issued by the Iowa Department of Transportation indicate Waukon and Lansing are 17 miles (27 km) apart on Iowa Highway 9 . This
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#17327880504831560-613: A substantial diversion of water from the Great Lakes Basin and the Saint Lawrence River, reducing the inflow of fresh water into the North Atlantic with possible impacts to ocean currents and climate . The Mississippi River trench is one of the few places in the Driftless Area where the bedrock is very deep below the surface, and is overlaid by large amounts of sediment. As home to the formation of
1690-595: A substantial portion of the gorge of the Upper Mississippi, this enormous quantity of sediment goes down at least 300 feet (91 m) under the present riverbottom at the confluence of the Wisconsin River . In contrast, as the Mississippi exits the Driftless Area "between Fulton and Muscatine , [... ( Pool 13 )], it flows over or near bedrock." "The course of the upper Mississippi River along
1820-599: Is Hmong , with significant communities in Milwaukee , Wausau , Green Bay , Sheboygan , Appleton , Madison , La Crosse , Eau Claire , Oshkosh , and Manitowoc . 61,629 people in Wisconsin, or around 1% of the population, identify as Hmong. 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. In 2018,
1950-513: Is Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest , which contains some state-owned land, but is mostly private, controlled by state conservation easements. Around 85% of the Driftless Area lies within Wisconsin, comprising much of the southwestern quarter of the state. The border is defined by the catchment of the Chippewa River on the north, and somewhat west (or east, depending on if the southwestern portion of Wisconsin's Central Plain
2080-606: Is 13 feet but was recorded as high as 23 feet during the 2018 flood which was declared a statewide emergency. Many community members were rescued by boats sent by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources . Days later, when two dams in Ontario, Wisconsin broke, it produced flood water downstream in Readstown, Wisconsin , Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin , and Gays Mills, Wisconsin . The history of this portion of
2210-599: Is a state in the Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest 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. Wisconsin is the 20th-largest state by population and 23rd-largest state by area . It is divided into 72 counties and as of the 2020 census had
2340-476: Is a drop of more than 660 feet (200 m) in less than 20 miles (32 km) (and this along a very minor tributary of the Mississippi). "The role of isostatic rebound on the process of stream incision in the area is not clearly understood." There are many small towns in the Driftless Area, especially in river valleys, at or upstream from the Mississippi. Small towns in a deep steep valley going down to
2470-454: Is a multi-agency cooperative effort to restore the landscape. The main issues are water pollution from agricultural and animal runoff, and erosion. Many farmers in the region utilize contour plowing , strip cropping , and other agricultural practices to reduce soil erosion due to the hilly terrain. Water pollution is critical in karsted regions such as this, in that it can degrade or destroy prime cold water fish habitat. Soil erosion presents
2600-469: Is also called the Ocooch Mountains . Largely rural in character, land cover is forest, farmland, and grassland/pasture; modest wetlands are found in river valleys, and along the Mississippi. Row crop farming is less encountered than elsewhere in the state. Away from the Mississippi, Wisconsin, and other major rivers, much of the terrain is gently rolling, supporting dairy farms. In other areas,
2730-548: Is also interested. The Driftless Area contains more than half of the world's algific talus slopes , a type of small, isolated ecosystem. These refugia create cool summer and fall microclimates which host species usually found further north. They contain at least one endangered species , the Iowa Pleistocene Snail , and a threatened plant, the Northern monkshood . The Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge
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#17327880504832860-490: Is characterized "by the absence of glacial drift deposits, the sculpted topography, and the presence of the ancient limestone immediately beneath the soil and in cliff outcroppings." The Minnesota Driftless Area did not reach the Twin Cities or any areas to the north or west of them; rather, the Twin Cities marked the edge of glaciation, with substantial terminal moraines overlying the region. The largest protected area
2990-582: Is dominated by manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, and agriculture—specifically dairy, cranberries , and ginseng . Tourism is also a major contributor to the state's economy. The gross domestic product in 2020 was $ 348 billion. Wisconsin is home to one UNESCO World Heritage Site , comprising two of the most significant buildings designed by Wisconsin-born architect Frank Lloyd Wright : his studio at Taliesin near Spring Green and his Jacobs I House in Madison. The Republican Party
3120-514: Is flatter than the Blufflands. The Coulee Region is the southwestern part of the Driftless Area in Wisconsin. It is named for its numerous ravines. Never covered by ice during the last ice age , the area lacks the characteristic glacial deposits known as drift . Its landscape is characterized by steep hills, forested ridges, deeply carved river valleys, and karst geology with spring-fed waterfalls and cold-water trout streams. Ecologically,
3250-534: Is home to eleven federally recognized tribes . Originally part of the Northwest Territory , it was admitted as a state in 1848. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, many European settlers entered the state, most of whom emigrated from Germany and Scandinavia . Wisconsin remains a center of German American and Scandinavian American culture, particularly in respect to its cuisine , with foods such as bratwurst and kringle . Wisconsin
3380-601: Is included) of the north-south line of the Wisconsin River . Where the Wisconsin River turns west to join the Mississippi, the area to the south, including the whole of Grant County as well as most of Lafayette County , are part of the Driftless Area. The rugged terrain comprising most of the Driftless Area is distinct from the rest of Wisconsin, and is known locally as the Coulee Region. The steep ridges, numerous rock outcroppings, and deep, narrow valleys in
3510-583: Is made from unpasteurized milk. Organic dairy generally fits best with a grass-based milk production system. The bioregion's economic and cultural characteristics were federally recognized with the granting of the Upper Mississippi River Valley (UMRV) viticultural area, the largest designated winemaking region in the country, by the Treasury Division's Tax and Trade Bureau in 2009. The petition for designation maintains
3640-544: Is one of the nation's leading dairy producers and is known as "America's Dairyland"; it is particularly famous for its cheese . The state is also famous for its beer , particularly and historically in Milwaukee , most notably as the headquarters of the Miller Brewing Company . Wisconsin has some of the most permissive alcohol laws in the country and is known for its drinking culture . Its economy
3770-745: Is the largest inland lake, with over 137,700 acres (557 km ), and 88 miles (142 km) of shoreline. Along the two Great Lakes, Wisconsin has over 500 miles (800 km) of shoreline. Many of the named islands in Wisconsin are located in the Great Lakes; many surround the Door Peninsula in Lake Michigan or are part of the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. The Mississippi River and inland lakes and rivers contain
3900-491: 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 , 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. About 33% of Wisconsin's Asian population
4030-894: 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. 276,904 adhered to nondenominational Christianity . 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. Wisconsin also publishes its own statistics through
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4160-439: Is the rising of fishflies , a kind of mayfly endemic to the Mississippi valley in the region. These are aquatic insects attracted to light, which rise by the millions as adults to mate, only to die within hours. Wildlife is abundant with opportunities for hunting whitetail deer and wild turkey . Fishing, particularly for brown trout , brook trout , and rainbow trout in tributaries, and species such as channel catfish in
4290-652: The Army Corps of Engineers with a problem that requires them to dredge the Mississippi River shipping channels to keep them open. Trout Unlimited is part of this effort, if only because of the superb cold-water streams the region supports. A symposium was held in October 2007 in Decorah, Iowa , "to share the results of research, management and monitoring work in the Driftless Area." The Nature Conservancy
4420-477: The Boaz mastodon , a composite skeleton of two separate mastodons found in the 1890s in southwestern Wisconsin . Although evidence exists that mastodons inhabited mostly coniferous spruce forests associated with the taiga biome , it is likely that most or all of the Driftless Area was at times covered by tundra and permafrost during periods of glacial maximums . The Midwest Driftless Area Restoration Effort
4550-457: The Boaz mastodon , a prehistoric mastodon skeleton unearthed along with spear points in southwest Wisconsin. After the ice age ended around 8000 BCE, people in the subsequent 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
4680-542: The Door Peninsula . The hypothesis posits that the flow of the ancient Wyalusing River was ultimately captured by the ancestral Mississippi River to the south when that river eroded through the Military Ridge near Wyalusing State Park , possibly as a result of an ancient ice sheet in a previous continental glaciation blocking the Wyalusing River to the east. The resulting proglacial lake would have filled
4810-603: The Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, Wisconsin is home to 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 1,500,000-acre (610,000-hectare) Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest , as well as thousands of glacial lakes, and
4940-483: The Great Lakes in 1634, and it is traditionally assumed that he came ashore near Green Bay at Red Banks . 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. In 1673, Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet became the first to record a journey on the Fox-Wisconsin Waterway all
5070-810: The Magnesian Escarpment . 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 portions 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. The oldest geologic formations were created over 600 million years ago during
5200-566: The Menominee at the time of European contact. Other Native American groups living in Wisconsin when Europeans first settled included the Ojibwa , Sauk , Fox , Kickapoo , and Pottawatomie , who migrated to Wisconsin from the east between 1500 and 1700. The first European to visit what became Wisconsin was probably the French explorer Jean Nicolet . He canoed west from Georgian Bay through
5330-650: The New England states. 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. Yankees also speculated in real estate, platted towns such as Racine, Beloit, Burlington, and Janesville, and established schools, civic institutions, and Congregationalist churches. At
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5460-768: The Precambrian , with the majority being below the glacial deposits. Much of the Baraboo Range consists of Baraboo Quartzite , and other Precambrian metamorphic rock . This area was not covered by glaciers during the most recent ice age, the Wisconsin Glaciation . Langlade County has a soil rarely found outside the county called Antigo silt loam . The state has more than 12,000 named rivers and streams, totaling 84,000 miles (135,000 km) in length. It has over 15,000 named lakes, totaling about 1 million acres (4,000 km ). Lake Winnebago
5590-636: The UW-Extension system at this time. Later, UW economics professors John R. Commons and Harold Groves helped Wisconsin create the first unemployment compensation program in the United States in 1932. 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 the key role. In
5720-463: The University of Wisconsin , helped the state build a reputation as "America's Dairyland". Meanwhile, conservationists including Aldo Leopold helped re-establish the state's forests during the early 20th century, paving the way for a more renewable lumber and paper milling industry as well as promoting recreational tourism in the northern woodlands. Manufacturing also boomed in Wisconsin during
5850-538: The University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, is a coalition of sustainable-agriculture farmers, processors, distributors, chefs, planning commissions, and other participants. The project seeks to define the culinary identity of the region and further direct the development of agritourism . Fine-grained silica sand is typical of the Driftless and is mined for use primarily in hydraulic fracturing , commonly known as "fracking". Due to
5980-605: The Upper Mississippi River dates back to an origin "as an ice-marginal stream during what had been referred to as the ' Nebraskan glaciation .'" This is an outdated and abandoned period in the Pre-Illinoian Stage . The level of erosion often exposes Cambrian limestone of about 510 million years of age. Evidence from soil borings and recent lidar imagery in the lower Wisconsin River valley in
6110-406: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources . The Division of Forestry manages a further 471,329 acres (1,907.40 km ) in Wisconsin's state forests . Most of Wisconsin is classified as warm-summer humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfb ), while southern and southwestern portions are classified as hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa ). The highest temperature ever recorded in
6240-814: The Wisconsin Glaciation involved several major lobes of the Laurentide Ice Sheet: the Des Moines lobe, which flowed down toward Des Moines on the west; the Superior lobe and its sublobes on the north; and the Green Bay lobe and Lake Michigan lobes on the east. The northern and eastern lobes were in part diverted around the area by the Watersmeet Dome, an ancient uplifted area of Cambrian rock underlain by basalt in northern Wisconsin and western upper Michigan . The southward movement of
6370-548: The 2020s. Corresponding to the southeast geological region of Minnesota , the colloquial "Driftless Area" (though the whole region was glaciated) begins at about Fort Snelling . Starting as a narrow sliver against the Mississippi, it widens to the west as one goes south. The western boundary is the Bemis-Altamont moraine. Another more easily located reference to the western boundary is the approximate line of Minnesota State Highway 56 . The upland plateau lies west of
6500-556: The 20th century, a number of African Americans and Mexicans settled in Milwaukee ; and after the end of the Vietnam War came an influx of 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. Menominee County
6630-633: 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 proposed and then successfully 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. A series of major protests by union supporters took place that year in protest to
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#17327880504836760-718: The Bureau of Justice Information and Analysis. The state reported 14,603 violent crimes in 2009, with a clearance rate (% solved) of 50%. The state reported 4,633 sexual assaults in 2009, with an overall clearance rate for sexual assaults of 57%. Driftless Area The Driftless Area , also known as Bluff Country and the Paleozoic Plateau , is a topographical and cultural region in the Midwestern United States that comprises southwestern Wisconsin , southeastern Minnesota , northeastern Iowa , and
6890-622: The Driftless Area are in marked contrast with the rest of the state, where glaciers have modified the landscape. The hilly unglaciated landscape is well represented in Wisconsin's Coulee Experimental State Forest , Wildcat Mountain State Park , Governor Dodge State Park , Perrot State Park , and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Karst topography is most prominent in Wisconsin. Eagle Cave in Blue River, WI and Cave of
7020-421: The Driftless Area's flora and fauna are more closely related to those of the Great Lakes region and New England than those of the broader Midwest and central Plains regions. The steep riverine landscape of both the Driftless Area proper and the surrounding Driftless-like region is the result of early glacial advances that forced preglacial rivers that flowed into the Great Lakes southward, causing them to carve
7150-405: The Driftless area suggests that the river in the valley once flowed eastward, rather than its existing westerly course toward its confluence with the Mississippi River. This has led to the hypothesis that the ancient Upper Mississippi River (also named the Wyalusing River) at one time flowed east through the Wisconsin River valley and into the Great Lakes / Saint Laurence River system somewhere near
7280-456: The Driftless area was covered by or bordered by Glacial Lake Wisconsin during the Wisconsin glaciation . The steep-sided rocky bluffs present in Roche-a-Cri State Park and Mill Bluff State Park are Cambrian outliers of the Franconia cuesta to the southwest and were once islands or sea stacks in the ancient lake. The flat plain in which these bluffs lie is located in the southwest portion of Wisconsin's Central Plain geographic region, and
7410-457: 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 . The first permanent settlers, mostly French Canadians , some Anglo- New Englanders and
7540-440: The Kettle Moraine area. Access is provided to sightseeing, hiking, biking, camping, cross-country skiing and fishing facilities. The following state parks and forests are accessible via the scenic drive – from south to north: The following historical sites are accessible via the scenic drive – from south to north: Wisconsin Wisconsin ( / w ɪ ˈ s k ɒ n s ɪ n / wiss- CON -sin )
7670-499: The Lake Superior snowbelt each year. Wisconsin has three types of municipality: cities, villages, and towns. Cities and villages are incorporated urban areas. Towns are unincorporated minor civil divisions of counties with limited self-government. Over two-thirds of Wisconsin residents live in urban areas. 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
7800-511: The Mississippi are at risk every 50 to 100 years or so of a major flood, as with the wreck of Gays Mills, Wisconsin , in August 2007, or the holding of the levee in Houston, Minnesota , (on the South Fork Root River ) at the same time. Metropolitan areas have flood walls ( See 2007 Midwest flooding ). In August 2018, the region yet again experienced record-breaking flooding in valley towns such as Coon Valley, Wisconsin , La Farge, Wisconsin and Viola, Wisconsin . The Kickapoo River flood stage
7930-400: The Mississippi is available, with ice fishing in winter. The Driftless Area is part of the Mississippi Flyway . Many birds fly over the river in large flocks, going north in spring and south in autumn. There are very few natural lakes in the region, these being found in adjoining areas of glacial till, drift, and in moraines; the region is extraordinarily well drained, and there is rarely
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#17327880504838060-399: The Mounds , near Blue Mounds, WI , are better known examples. The Driftless Area is located in all or part of Pierce , Pepin , Eau Claire , Buffalo , Trempealeau , Jackson , La Crosse , Monroe , Juneau , Vernon , Richland , Sauk , Crawford , Iowa , Dane , Green , Grant , and Lafayette counties. If the less restrictive definition of the Driftless Area is used (which includes
8190-405: The U.S. resulted in a net decrease of 72,006 people. According to HUD 's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report , there were an estimated 4,775 homeless people in Wisconsin. (of any race) In 2022, the five largest European ancestry groups were: German (36%), Irish (10.2%), Polish (7.9%), English (6.7%), and Norwegian (6.3%). German is the most common ancestry in every county in
8320-449: 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
8450-517: The Wisconsin River, which drained Glacial Lake Wisconsin , and Glacial River Warren (whose bed is occupied by the Minnesota River ), which drained the colossal Glacial Lake Agassiz . There was ample water to dig a very deep, hundreds-of-miles-long gash into the North American bedrock where the Upper Mississippi River now flows. The climate is humid continental , displaying both the cool summer and warm summer subtypes as one travels from north to south. The United States Department of Agriculture has
8580-406: The Wyalusing River valley until it overtopped the Military Ridge, ultimately carving through the ridge and draining the lake. This resulted in the ancient Upper Mississippi River changing course and flowing south toward the Gulf of Mexico , instead of east into the Saint Lawrence River and the North Atlantic Ocean . The stream capture hypothesis for the Upper Mississippi River would have produced
8710-507: The aftermath of these events. During the Civil War , around 91,000 troops from Wisconsin fought for the Union . 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 J.I. Case & Company in Racine were founded to build agricultural equipment. Wisconsin briefly became one of
8840-459: The area, as it was the outlet for Glacial Lake Duluth , forerunner to Lake Superior , when the eastern outlet was blocked by the continental ice sheet. All major rivers in and adjacent to the Driftless Area have deep, dramatic canyons giving testimony to the immense quantity of water which once surged through them as a result of the nearby melting Glaciers associated with the miles-high Ice sheets during recurring Ice ages . Other examples include
8970-473: The area. 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 located at Mineral Point , 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". The sudden influx of white miners prompted tension with
9100-410: The changes, and Walker survived a recall election held the next year , becoming the first governor in United States history to do so. Wisconsin is located in the Midwestern United States and is part of both the Great Lakes region and Upper Midwest . The state has a total area of 65,496 square miles (169,630 km ). Wisconsin is bordered by the Montreal River ; Lake Superior and Michigan to
9230-517: The continental glacier was also hindered by the great depths of the Lake Superior basin and the adjacent highlands of the Bayfield Peninsula , Gogebic Range , Porcupine Mountains , Keweenaw Peninsula , and the Huron Mountains along the north rim of the Superior Upland bordering Lake Superior. The Green Bay and Lake Michigan lobes were also partially blocked by the bedrock of the Door Peninsula , which presently separates Green Bay from Lake Michigan . Another factor that may have contributed to
9360-536: The countries of origin for Wisconsin's immigrants came from Mexico, India, China, Laos and the Philippines . 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. Religious self-identification, per Public Religion Research Institute 's 2022 American Values Survey According to Public Religion Research Institute 's 2022 American Values Survey , those identifying with
9490-463: The current spelling official in 1845. 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 word Meskonsing , meaning ' it lies red ' , a reference to the setting of the Wisconsin River as it flows through
9620-536: The deposition of loess. The sedimentary rocks of the valley walls date to the Paleozoic Era and are often covered with colluvium or loess. Bedrock , where not directly exposed, is very near the surface and is composed of "primarily Ordovician dolomite , limestone , and sandstone in Minnesota, with Cambrian sandstone, shale , and dolomite exposed along the valley walls of the Mississippi River." In
9750-481: 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. The early 20th century was also notable for the emergence of progressive politics championed by Robert M. La Follette . Between 1901 and 1914, Progressive Republicans in Wisconsin created
9880-445: The earth through fractured bedrock or a sinkhole, either joining an aquifer , or becoming an underground stream. Blind valleys are formed by disappearing streams and lack an outlet to any other stream. Sinkholes result from the collapse of a cave's roof, and surface water can flow directly into them. Disappearing streams can re-emerge as large, cold springs. Cold streams with cold springs as their sources are superb trout habitat. Due to
10010-572: The east, the Baraboo Range , an ancient, profoundly eroded monadnock in south central Wisconsin , consists primarily of Precambrian quartzite and rhyolite . The area has not undergone much tectonic action, as all the visible layers of sedimentary rock are approximately horizontal. Karst topography is found throughout the Driftless area. This is characterized by caves and cave systems, disappearing streams , blind valleys , underground streams , sinkholes , springs , and cold streams. Disappearing streams occur where surface waters sink down into
10140-534: The extreme northwestern corner of Illinois . The Driftless Area is a USDA Level III Ecoregion: Ecoregion 52 . The Driftless Area takes up a large portion of the Upper Midwest forest–savanna transition . The eastern section of the Driftless Area in Minnesota is called the Blufflands , due to the steep bluffs and cliffs around the river valleys. The western half is known as the Rochester Plateau, which
10270-597: The first governor of Wisconsin , was a Democrat . Dewey oversaw the transition from the territorial to the new state government. 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 and Wisconsin Rivers . During his administration, the State Board of Public Works was organized. Dewey, an abolitionist ,
10400-466: The heartland of the " Effigy Mound culture", which built thousands of animal-shaped mounds across the landscape. Later, between 1000 and 1500 CE, the Mississippian and Oneota cultures built substantial settlements including the fortified village at Aztalan in southeast Wisconsin. The Oneota may be the ancestors of the modern Ioway and Ho-Chunk nations who shared the Wisconsin region with
10530-773: The immediate aftermath of World War II , citizens of Wisconsin were divided over issues such as creation of the United Nations , support for the European recovery, and the growth of the Soviet Union 's power. However, when Europe divided into Communist and capitalist camps and the Chinese Communist Revolution succeeded in 1949, public opinion began to move towards support for the protection of democracy and capitalism against Communist expansion. Wisconsin took part in several political extremes in
10660-576: The incised tributaries to the Mississippi. The historic vegetation was mixed woodland, with occasional goat prairies on southwesterly facing slopes. In the western section is "an old plateau covered by loess [...] along the eastern border and pre-Wisconsin age glacial till in the central and western parts. The western portion is a gently rolling glacial till plain that is covered by loess in places." The counties involved include all or part of Dakota , Goodhue , Rice , Wabasha , Winona , Olmsted , Dodge , Houston , Fillmore , and Mower . Aside from
10790-480: The lack of glaciation of the Driftless area is the fractured, permeable bedrock within the Paleozoic Plateau underlying it, which would have promoted below-ground drainage of subglacial water that would otherwise have lubricated the underside of the glacial ice sheet. The dewatering of the underside of the ice sheet would have inhibited forward movement of the glacier into the Driftless Area, especially from
10920-401: The landscape. Prairies also occurred on steep slopes with south or southwest aspect ( see goat prairie ). Natural fire, which has long been vigorously suppressed, was essential for the regeneration of such prairies. Evidence of ancient extinct ice age animals that once inhabited the Driftless Area has been discovered over the years. An example of extinct Pleistocene megafauna in the area is
11050-571: The local Native American population. The Winnebago War of 1827 and the Black Hawk War of 1832 culminated in the forced removal of Native Americans from most parts of the state. Following these conflicts, 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
11180-490: The margin of the Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota is believed to have been established during pre-Wisconsin time, when a glacial advance from the west displaced the river eastward from central Iowa to its present position." Other rivers affected by this geologic process are: Although lying just to the north of the Driftless Area, the Saint Croix in Wisconsin and Minnesota is another important river that affected
11310-438: The metro area. Other metropolitan cities in the state include Appleton , Racine , Oshkosh , Eau Claire , Janesville , Wausau , La Crosse , Sheboygan , and 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
11440-517: The mid to late 20th century, ranging from the anti-communist crusades of Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s to the radical antiwar protests at UW-Madison that culminated in the Sterling Hall bombing in August 1970. The state undertook welfare reform under Republican Governor Tommy Thompson during the 1990s. The state's economy also underwent further transformations towards the close of
11570-482: The nation's first comprehensive statewide primary election system, the first effective workplace injury compensation law, and the first state income tax , making taxation proportional to actual earnings. During World War I , due to the neutrality of Wisconsin and many Wisconsin Republicans , progressives , and German immigrants which made up 30 to 40 percent of the state population, Wisconsin would gain
11700-421: The nation's leading producers of wheat during the 1860s. Meanwhile, the lumber industry dominated in the heavily forested northern sections of Wisconsin, and sawmills sprang up in cities like La Crosse , Eau Claire , and 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
11830-517: The nickname "Traitor State" which was used by many "hyper patriots". As the war raged on in Europe, Robert M. La Follette , leader of the anti-war movement in Wisconsin. led a group of progressive senators in blocking a bill by president Woodrow Wilson which would have armed merchant ships with guns. Many Wisconsin politicians such as Emanuel L. Philipp and Irvine Lenroot were accused of having divided loyalties. Even with outspoken opponents to
11960-534: 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 in the west, and the Menominee River in the northeast. With its location between
12090-436: The paleozoic plateau, following the original drainage patterns. Overall, the region is characterized by an eroded plateau , with bedrock overlain by varying thicknesses of loess . Most characteristically, the branching river valleys are deeply dissected. The bluffs lining this reach of the Mississippi River climb to nearly 600 feet (180 m). In Minnesota, pre-Illinoian-age till was probably removed by natural means prior to
12220-515: The period of French fur traders, the next wave of settlers were miners, many of whom were Cornish , who settled the southwestern area of the state. The next wave was dominated by "Yankees", migrants of 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 Germans , Scandinavians (the largest group being Norwegian ), Irish , and Poles . In
12350-466: The position that the region is a cohesive whole for marketing wine, and is now used to market other products. In addition to wine-grape production and wine-making, the region, especially in southeast Minnesota, is known for apple, maple syrup, and honey production. Tobacco was also once a key crop of the Driftless, as its topography and sandy, nutrient-rich soil are suitable for its growth. The Driftless Region Food and Farm Project, in partnership with
12480-402: The presence of sandstone bedrock at or near the surface, sand mining is an industrial activity in the Driftless, with Wisconsin at the forefront of the industry. The sandstone contains quartz (silica) sand grains of the ideal hardness, shape, and size, which make it optimal for use in hydraulic fracturing by the petroleum and natural gas industries. The mining activity involves quarrying
12610-517: The prominence of industry has raised concerns about impacts on water quality, air pollution caused by silica dust, noise and light pollution , heavy truck traffic, and the destruction of hills and ridges for which the region is known. Recently , industry changes have caused companies such as Hi-Crush, Covia , Superior Silica Sands— all with operations in Wisconsin—to liquidate their frac sand mines and declare bankruptcy. The Driftless Area has become
12740-520: The rapid movement of underground water through regions with karst topography, groundwater contamination is a major concern in the Driftless area. The Mississippi River passes through the Driftless Area between and including Pool 2 and Pool 13 . As rivers and streams approach their confluence with the Mississippi, their canyons grow progressively steeper and deeper, particularly in the last 25 miles (40 km) in their journey to their mouths. The change in elevation above sea level from ridgetops lining
12870-553: The reddish sandstone of the Wisconsin Dells . Other theories include claims that the name originated from one of a variety of Ojibwa words meaning ' red stone place ' , ' where the waters gather ' , or ' great rock ' . 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 ice age animals such as
13000-422: The region falling mainly in zone 5a , with the northern fringe being 4b. A few patches in Wisconsin are 4a. Prior to European settlement in the 19th century, the vegetation consisted of tallgrass prairie and bur oak savanna on ridgetops and dry upper slopes, sugar maple - basswood - oak forest on moister slopes, sugar maple-basswood forests in protected valleys and on north-facing slopes, wet prairies along
13130-466: The region has generated much public interest in the organic and artisanal food market. Organic dairy and beef production is of particular economic significance to the Driftless. Organic Valley , the largest organic dairy cooperative in the United States, was founded and is headquartered in La Farge, Wisconsin. The region's cheese production boasts specialty cheeses such as raw-milk artisan cheese, which
13260-501: The region licenses for fur trading had been issued scarcely and only to select groups of traders, whereas the British, in an effort to make as much money as possible from the region, issued licenses for fur trading freely, both to British and to French residents. The fur trade in what is now Wisconsin reached its height under British rule, and the first self-sustaining farms in the state were established as well. From 1763 to 1780, Green Bay
13390-514: The region, much of the incised Paleozoic Plateau of Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois has no evidence of glaciation. Numerous glacial advances throughout the world occurred during the most recent Quaternary glaciation (also known as the Pleistocene glaciation). The Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region of North America was repeatedly covered by advancing and retreating glaciers throughout this period. The Driftless Area escaped much of
13520-601: The region, such as in Kentucky , in contrast to the usually rigid east-west/north-south alignment elsewhere in the Midwest. Here, the roads switchback up stream valleys or travel over ridge tops. The route of U.S. Highway 20 through the Driftless, and particularly in Illinois, is a good example. The natural characteristics of the Driftless Area provide good conditions for growing crops and grazing livestock. In recent years,
13650-816: The rest of the islands of Wisconsin. Areas under the protection of the National Park Service include the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore , Ice Age National Scenic Trail , and portions of the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway and North Country National Scenic Trail . There are an additional 18 National Natural Landmarks in the state that include dune and swales, swamps, bogs, and old-growth forests. Wisconsin has 50 state park units , covering more than 60,570 acres (245.1 km ) in state parks and state recreation areas maintained by
13780-448: The river Meskousing (likely ᒣᔅᑯᐤᓯᣙ meskowsin ) in his journal. Subsequent French writers changed the spelling from Meskousing to Ouisconsin , and over time this became the name for both the Wisconsin River and the surrounding lands. English speakers anglicized the spelling from Ouisconsin to Wisconsin when they began to arrive in large numbers during the early 19th century. The legislature of Wisconsin Territory made
13910-460: The rivers, and some mesic prairie on the floodplain farther back from the river. There were probably also oak forests that contained no sugar maple. Marsh and floodplain forests were also common on river flood plains. Prairie was restricted primarily to the broader ridge tops, which were unfavorable sites for trees due to thin soils and shallow bedrock, rapid drainage, and desiccating winds; all these conditions were also good for carrying fires across
14040-401: The rugged nature of the topography in the region is not conducive to farming, except on ridge tops and in river valleys. The sides of the ridges are often too steep for farming, and are usually forested. The Coulee Experimental State Forest near La Crosse was created in part to test soil conservation practices to prevent soil erosion in the hilly Driftless Area. The northeastern portion of
14170-699: 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. Nelson Dewey ,
14300-432: The sandstone bedrock by blasting with dynamite , crushing the rock, washing, drying, and grading the resulting sand, and transporting the sand out of the region via barge or train. In 2017, there were 73 frac sand mines in operation in Wisconsin alone, and there are currently five operating industrial sand mines in Minnesota; the proliferation of sand mines in the region created new jobs and generated economic activity. But
14430-541: The scouring and depositional action by the continental glaciers that occurred during the last ice age, which produced significant differences in the topography and drainage patterns within the unglaciated area compared to adjacent glaciated regions. The region has been subjected to large floods from the melting Laurentide Ice Sheet and subsequent catastrophic discharges from its proglacial lakes , such as Glacial Lake Wisconsin , Glacial Lake Agassiz , Glacial Lake Grantsburg , and Glacial Lake Duluth . The last phases of
14560-762: The southeastern suburban sprawl of the Twin Cities , Rochester is the main urban area. Additional communities include Red Wing , Lake City , Winona , La Crescent , Chatfield , Lanesboro , Rushford , Houston , and Caledonia . Glacial River Warren , in whose bed the Minnesota River now flows, entered the "Driftless Area" just downriver from present-day Minneapolis-Saint Paul , at Fort Snelling , over River Warren Falls , "an impressive 2700 feet (823 m) across and 175 feet (53 m) tall, over 10 times as wide as Niagara falls" (this has since receded to become Saint Anthony Falls ). The region
14690-568: The southern expanse of the Kettle Moraine State Forest's southern unit ( 42°45′56″N 88°42′18″W / 42.76556°N 88.70500°W / 42.76556; -88.70500 ), the drive takes a northeast trek and passes through six counties: Walworth , Jefferson , Waukesha , Washington , Fond du Lac , and Sheboygan . The route's northern terminus is near Sheboygan County Broughton Marsh Park northwest of Elkhart Lake ( 43°50′53″N 88°02′29″W / 43.84806°N 88.04139°W / 43.84806; -88.04139 ). The idea of
14820-495: The state was in the Wisconsin Dells, on July 13, 1936, where it reached 114 °F (46 °C). The lowest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin was in the village of Couderay , where it reached −55 °F (−48 °C) on both February 2 and 4, 1996. Wisconsin also receives a large amount of regular snowfall averaging around 40 inches (100 cm) in the southern portions with up to 160 inches (410 cm) annually in
14950-447: The state's employment. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of Wisconsin was 5,822,434 on July 1, 2019, a 2.4% increase since the 2010 United States census . This includes 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
15080-602: The state's highest point, Timms Hill . In the middle of the state, the 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 and
15210-446: The state's residents. With a population of nearly 280,000, the state capital of Madison is consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in both the state and country and is the fastest-growing city in Wisconsin. 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 in northeastern Wisconsin, with approximately 320,000 people in
15340-533: The state, except Menominee, Trempealeau, and Vernon. Wisconsin has the highest percentage of residents of Polish ancestry of any state. According to the 2022 American Community Survey , 7.6% of Wisconsin's population were of Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race). The largest Hispanic ancestry groups were Mexican (5.1%), Puerto Rican (1.1%), Central American (0.4%), and Cuban (0.1%), with 0.9% reporting other Hispanic or Latino origins. Since its founding, Wisconsin has been ethnically heterogeneous. Following
15470-402: The state. 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
15600-484: The unglaciated southwestern portion of Wisconsin's Central Plain ), then Adams and portions of southern Wood and Portage counties are also included. La Crosse is the principal urban area wholly within the Driftless Area, while the larger Madison 's far western suburbs are located on the edges of the area. Small cities and towns are scattered throughout the region. Numerous Amish settlements are also located within Wisconsin's Driftless Area. The U.S. Army maintains
15730-459: 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 U.S. military . The progressive Wisconsin Idea also promoted the statewide expansion of the University of Wisconsin through
15860-410: The water and the shore assumed green tints in early spring. The old French title was gradually dropped, and the British name of "Green Bay" eventually stuck. The region coming under British rule had virtually no adverse effect on the French residents as the British needed the cooperation of the French fur traders and the French fur traders needed the goodwill of the British. During the French occupation of
15990-653: The way to the Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien . 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 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. The British gradually took over Wisconsin during
16120-429: The west. In the adjacent glaciated regions, the glacial retreat left behind drift, which buried all former topographical features. Surface water was forced to carve out new stream beds. This process was absent in the Driftless Area, where the original drainage systems persisted during and after the ice age. Water erosion continued carving the existing gullies , ravines , stream beds, and river valleys ever deeper into
16250-679: Was a prosperous community which produced its own foodstuff, built graceful cottages and held dances and festivities. Joseph Roi built the Tank Cottage in Green Bay in 1776. Located in Heritage Hill State Historical Park , it is the oldest standing building from Wisconsin's early years and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Wisconsin became a territorial possession of
16380-413: Was formed in part by sediments falling to the bottom of Glacial Lake Wisconsin . This flat plain consists of sandy deposits and contains many bogs that were left over from Glacial Lake Wisconsin. Many of these bogs have been converted into cranberry marshes, helping to make Wisconsin a leader in cranberry production. The remainder of the sand plain consists of forest and irrigated farmland. The Dells of
16510-468: Was founded in Wisconsin in 1854; in modern elections, it is considered a swing state . The word Wisconsin originates from the name given to the Wisconsin River by one of the Algonquian -speaking Native American groups living in the region at the time of European colonization . The French explorer Jacques Marquette was the first European to reach the Wisconsin River, arriving in 1673 and calling
16640-530: Was primarily carved out of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in order to protect these species and their associated ecosystems. Isolated relic stands of pines and associated northern vegetation are found in some locations where algific talus slopes exist. These trees survive in the cooler microclimate produced at these locations outside of their range further north. A noteworthy annual event
16770-714: Was taken into custody under the Federal 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. The Republican Party , founded on March 20, 1854, by anti-slavery expansion activists in Ripon, Wisconsin , grew to dominate state politics in
16900-481: Was the first of many Wisconsin governors to advocate against the spread of slavery into new states and territories. 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 . The debate became especially intense in 1854 after Joshua Glover , a runaway slave from Missouri , was captured in Racine . Glover
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