Wisconsin

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State in north-central USA, one of the Great Lakes states, bordered to the south by Illinois, to the west by Iowa and Minnesota, to the north by Lake Superior and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and to the east by Lake Michigan; area 140,662 sq km/54,310 sq mi; population (2000) 5,363,700; capital Madison. Wisconsin's nickname is derived from the underground living habits of early miners, who dug their homes out of hillsides or lived inside the mines. The state contains many lakes. Features include the Apostle Islands, Door Peninsula, and the Wisconsin Dells, a scenic gorge. Wisconsin's most important industries are manufacturing and food processing, and the state is the nation's leader in the production of paper and dairy products. The brewing of beer is one of the state's oldest industries. Other towns and cities include Milwaukee, Green Bay, Kenosha, and Racine. The earliest inhabitants of Wisconsin were the Sioux and Chippewa American Indians. Prior to the influx of pioneers, the Chippewa had pushed the Sioux westward towards the plains. Originally settled by the French, and then the British, Wisconsin became part of the USA in 1783, as part of the Northwest Territory, but Britain did not fully remove control until after the War of 1812. Wisconsin's state motto is ‘Forward’, and it is one of the most progressive states in the USA. Wisconsin was admitted to the Union in 1858 as the 32nd US state.

Blue represents the Caribbean Sea. Yellow stands for the golden beaches. Effective date: 10 July 1973. >>