History and Culture

The first people to reach the land that now comprises Wisconsin were nomadic bands of Indians who supported themselves by hunting and fishing. The area was subsequently peopled by a succession of woodland culture Indians who practiced agriculture and whose burial mounds are still much in evidence. The first Europeans to arrive in Wisconsin were the French, led by explorer Jean Nicolet in 1634. The word “Wisconsin” appears to be the French version of an Indian word that may have meant gathering of the waters, wild rice country, or homeland. Wisconsin remained under the influence of French fur traders until 1763, when the British took control after winning the French and Indian War.

After the Revolutionary War, the new American government gained possession of the territory. Between 1829 and 1842 the Native American tribes were forced to cede most of their land and retained only a few reserves. On May 29,1848 Wisconsin became the nation’s 30th state. The fur trade dominated Wisconsin’s economy until the early 1800s when lead mining became important. The "Badger State" nickname comes from the industrious lead miners, who rather than taking time to build houses,burrowed into hillside caves like the feisty critter. With the influx of settlers in the late 1830s and the 1840s, farming assumed much greater importance, and wheat was the leading crop until the 1870s. In the 1880s, dairying became a critical part of the farm economy. To this day, Wisconsin is referred as "America's Dairyland." Lumbering was of special importance from 1850 to 1900. Early manufacturing in Wisconsin reflected the state’s natural assets and the importance of agriculture. It included milling, shipping, brewing, manufacture of farm implements, and, somewhat later, paper making, meat processing, and metal working.

The second half of the 19th century saw a major influx of settlers from Germany, Poland, Italy, Ireland, Norway and other parts of Europe. While these new immigrants became part of the melting pot that is the United States, many ethnic and cultural traditions were maintained and adapted over the years. In more recent years Wisconsin has experienced a growing Hmong community from Laos and immigration from Mexico and Central America.

Despite Wisconsin's agricultural heritage and reputation, more than 65% of the population is considered urban. Most of the urban population is concentrated in the southeastern part of the state and the Fox River Valley/Lake Winnebago areas. In 2000, the state’s population was88.9% white, 5.7% Black, 1.7% Asian, and 0.9% Native American. Hispanics make up 3.6% of the state’s population.