Wisconsin

STATE POPULATION:

Population Ranked 20th

• Total 5,757,564 (2014 est)[6]

• Density 105/sq mi (40.6/km2) Ranked 23rd

• Median household income $47,220 (15th)

NAME OF THE BIGGEST CITIES:

Wisconsin is known as the Badger State, which pays homage to the miners who

helped shape the state and the furry creature was also adopted as the mascot for the

University of Wisconsin. The state's other nickname, America's Dairy Land, also has ties to

a beloved sports team in the state, the Green Bay Packers.

Fans of the NFL football team and residents of the state are both called "cheese

heads," and many Wisconsinites work in the dairy industry since it's the second largest

industry there.

Below is a compilation of the nine biggest cities in Wisconsin, which all have

60,000 or more residents:

1. Milwaukee: Milwaukee has just fewer than 600,000 residents, and is about three

larger than the second biggest city. It also ranks as the 31st largest city in the U.S., there

is a "vibrant arts scene, diverse cultural events, unique visitor attractions and more than

$2.5 billion in new tourism product investment since 1998." Milwaukee is considered one

of the most wired cities in the world and among the most walk able cities in the U.S.

2. Madison: Thanks to the University of Wisconsin, Madison is a great college

town that also happens to be the state capital. According to Best College Reviews' 50 Best

College Towns in America list, Madison came in at number three, due in part to its historic

downtown, the rolling prairies that surround it, and the lively community there. It boasts a

plethora of outdoor activities, a strong entrepreneurial class, and employers like Google

and Microsoft.

3. Green Bay: Over 100, 00 residents call Wisconsin's third-largest city home, and

a majority of them are Green Bay Packers fans. The team is the "only publicly owned, not-

for-profit, major professional team in the United States" according to The New Yorker. The

shareholders of the team elect a seven-member committee to attend the NFL owner

meetings.

4. Kenosha: Fourth on this list of biggest cities in Wisconsin, Kenosha sits on Lake

Michigan with miles of lakefront that feature a "breathtaking parkland along the waterfront

[that] blends beautifully with the adjacent historic downtown featuring quaint shops,

galleries, an outdoor market, and eateries — all linked by a vintage electric streetcar

system,". Over 100,000 residents live in the area.

5. Racine: Another Lake Michigan City, Racine's nickname is "The Belle City of the

Lakes" and yet it's also a very affordable place to live. About 78,000 Wisconsinites call it

home. The city was made official in 1838 after the area was officially ceded to the United

States in 1833.

6. Appleton: The third waterfront city bordering Lake Michigan among Wisconsin's

largest cities is Appleton. This location earned accolades from the Huffington Post as one

of the six small towns to visit in the summer of 2014. The article named Appleton's

downtown as a destination, citing that it is "home to more than 60 unique shops, like Fire,

a glass and ceramics studio, Vintage Garden, a trendy interest inspired home goods shop

and Hey Daisy, a cute modern boutique with clothes and jewelry."

7. Waukesha: Located 18 miles from Milwaukee, Waukesha is the hometown of

Les Paul of electric guitar and Grammy fame. This city of about 70,000 has appeared on a

number of lists, like the 100 Best Places to Live by Money Magazine, and 100 Best

Communities in the U.S. for Young People. It's also been noticed as a Preserve America

city.

8. Oshkosh: This city sits on another lake, Winnebago, and is home to 66,000

residents. It's considered "Wisconsin's Event City" with an array of concerts, festivals,

races, and sporting events occurring year-round. Oshkosh hosts Oshkosh EAA Air

Venture, the world's largest and most significant annual aviation event, and Country USA,

one of America's premier country music festivals.

9. Eau Claire: This city's name means 'clear waters' and is traced back to French

explorers rejoicing at finding water. It's not a huge tourist destination, but the 65,000

residents like it just that way. According to Mother Earth News, people like Eau Claire for

"its leisurely pace of life, the safety of its streets, and the fact that it was recently named

one of the 100 best places to raise children by American's Promise Alliance, an

organization that works to ensure the well-being of children and youth."

Name Populatio

n

Latitude/Longitude

1 Milwaukee 594,833 43.039 / -87.906

2 Madison 233,209 43.073 / -89.401

3 Green Bay 104,057 44.519 / -88.02

4 Kenosha 99,218 42.585 / -87.821

5 Racine 78,860 42.726 / -87.783

6 Appleton 72,623 44.262 / -88.415

7 Waukesha 70,718 43.012 / -88.231

8 Oshkosh 66,083 44.025 / -88.543

9 Eau Claire 65,883 44.811 / -91.498

STATE MAP:

Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States, in the Midwest

and Great Lakes regions. It is bordered by 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 23rd largest state by total area and the 20th most

populous. The state capital is Madison, and its largest city is Milwaukee, which is located

on the western shore of Lake Michigan. The state is divided into 72 counties.

Geographically, Wisconsin is placed between latitude 42° 30'N to 47° 3'N and

longitude 86° 49'W to 92° 54'W. The State of Wisconsin is located at a height of 1,050

feet. The State of Wisconsin encompasses total area of 145,436 square kilometer.

Wisconsin Map offers vital information regarding the location of various cities and

towns, physiographic, railway tracks, highways and places of interest of the state. The

Map of Wisconsin, in a way, presents all necessary details about the state. The Wisconsin

state map is also a helpful guide. The 1,118.68 miles long interstate highways of

Wisconsin connect the various cities of the state. Also, the wide-reaching network of the

railways of Wisconsin helps in linking the far and near destinations of the state.

STATE FLAG:

Originally designed in 1866 when regiments from Wisconsin wanted a flag for

battlefield use, it wasn't until 1913 that state statutes specified the design of the state flag.

In 1941, Carl R. Eklund reported that he raised the state flag over Antarctica, at the

behest of Wisconsin Governor Julius P. Heil, about 500 miles north of the South Pole and

620 miles into a previously unexplored area. In 1958, Eklund flew another flag over

Antarctica which he presented for display in a state museum.

In 1953, state assemblyman William N. Belter of Wautoma criticized the flag as too

costly because of the details.

In 1973, when the state senate was attempting to add the word Wisconsin to the

flag, it was criticized as already too cluttered.

In 1975, some state flags were being sold that improperly had the state seal on

them instead of the state coat of arms. Wisconsin Secretary of State Douglas J. La Follette

noted that the correct state flag did not have the banner of thirteen stars at the bottom.

In order to distinguish it from the many other blue U.S. state flags, Wisconsin's flag

was modified in 1979 to add "Wisconsin" and "1848", the year Wisconsin was admitted to

the Union. All Wisconsin state flags manufactured after May 1, 1981 were required to use

this design.

In 2001, a survey conducted by the North American Vexillological Association

(NAVA) placed Wisconsin's flag 65th out of the 72 Canadian provincial, U.S. state and

U.S. territory flags. The NAVA stated that about half of U.S. states used blue fields making

them difficult to distinguish and the survey ranked flags with words and complex seals the

lowest. The NAVA survey "favored strong, simple, distinctive flags" and ranked "seal-on-a-

bedsheet" type flags the lowest.

STATE TREE:

The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) was designated the state tree of Wisconsin in 1949.

Sometimes called hard maple or rock maple, sugar maple is one of the largest and more

important of the hardwoods. Sap from the trunks of sugar maples is used to make maple

syrup. Sugar maple trees seldom flower until they are at least 22 years old, but they can

also live 300 to 400 years.

STATE BIRD:

Name: American Robin

Binomial Name: Turdus Migratorius

Adopted: Legislation of 1949

The American Robin (Turdus Migratorius) is a migratory songbird of the thrush

family and breeds throughout Canada and the United States.

It is 10 or 11 inches long and has gray upper parts and head, and orange under

parts, usually brighter in the male. The adult males of the species grow distinctive black

feathers on their heads during breeding season, and they lose this eye-catching plumage

after the breeding season is over.

STATE FLOWER:

Wood Violet

Viola papilionacea

State flowers were first nominated in 1908. When the official tally was taken on

Arbor Day 1909, school children selected the wood violet (Viola papilionacea) over the wild

rose, trailing arbutus, and the white water lily. It was a close vote. The wood violet is a

small flower commonly seen in wet woodland and meadow areas, and along roadsides.

This purple violet is very popular in the eastern United States and blooms between March

and June. Not only is it the state flower for Wisconsin, but it also holds this title in Illinois,

New Jersey, and Rhode Island. Believe it or not, the leaves are very tasty and can be used

in salads, candies, and jellies.

STATE SONG:

On, Wisconsin

Music by W. T. Purdy

On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!

Grand old badger state!

We, thy loyal sons and daughters,

Hail thee, good and great.


Champion of the right,

"Forward", our motto

God will give thee might!

Adoption of the State Song

Though at first glance, one wouldn't expect it, the words to the Wisconsin state

song have a long history. One thing that might look more obvious is that the song

originated as the University of Wisconsin football song. But, it was originally intended for

the University of Minnesota!

In 1909, the University of Minnesota was having a contest for a new football song

and William T. Purdy decided that he would enter the contest. He composed the music for

the song, but then ran into Carl Beck, a former University of Wisconsin student. Beck

persuaded Purdy to dedicate the new song to the University of Wisconsin instead of the

University of Minnesota and Beck contributed lyrics.

The earliest performance of the song was on November 10, 1909 when it was sung

by the University of Wisconsin Glee Club. The next day, Purdy performed the song at a

giant pep rally before the "Minnesota game." The song was an instant hit with the students

and the next day the University of Wisconsin Band performed the song at the game. The

legend of "On, Wisconsin" was just beginning. Below is a set of lyrics from the University of

Wisconsin:


Plunge right through that line!

Run the ball clear down the field,

(Originally "Run the ball clear 'round Chicago")

A touchdown sure this time.


Fight on for her fame

Fight! Fellows! - Fight, fight, fight!

We'll win this game.


Stand up, Badgers, sing!

"Forward" is our driving spirit,

Loyal voices ring.


Raise her glowing flame

Stand, Fellows, let us now

Salute her name!

Among the delegates at the centennial celebration of the Battle of Lake Erie, in 1913, were

Judge Charles D. Rosa and Beloit Free Press editor J. S. Hubbard. Thinking of the

University of Wisconsin football song's future as an official state song and inspired by the

celebration, Judge Rosa and Mr. Hubbard wrote new words more fitting for an official state

song.

In 1918, William Purdy sold the copyright to the song and yet another version of "On,

Wisconsin" was released with words by Dr. Philip A. Forsbeck and published by Flanner-

Hofsoo's Music House, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

For years "On, Wisconsin" was thought of as the song of Wisconsin, but it had never been

officially proclaimed as such. In 1959, when State Representative Harold W. Clemons

found out that Wisconsin was one of only ten states that had no official state song, he

decided to fix the problem. Representative Clemens introduced a bill in the Legislature to

make "On, Wisconsin" the official state song of Wisconsin. When it was found that different

sets of lyrics were circulating for the song, the Wisconsin Legislature made sure that the

adopted lyrics were included in the official text of the law.

The song, "On, Wisconsin", words not attributed and music by William T. Purdy, was

adopted as the official state song of Wisconsin on July 11, 1959. Governor Gaylord Nelson

signed the legislation. The song that John Philip Sousa called "the finest of college

marching songs" was finally made official.

Documents

Wisconsin