Wisconsin is located near the center of North America. It is a state in the United States that borders Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois. It also has boarders with two out of the five Great Lakes. Wisconsin became part of the United States towards the end of the American Revolution. It was known first as the Wisconsin Territory, which was Wisconsin and parts of some other states, and was formed on July 3, 1836. The state entered the union on May 29th, 1848, and it became the 30th state. Originally, the south boarder of the state was supposed to go all the way down to the tip of Lake Michigan, but during debates, politics took hold and for several reasons the boarders were changed to make the state the size and shape it is today. Had this not happened, Wisconsin would have had claim to the city of Chicago.
The main economy of Wisconsin was originally all based in farming, mining and lumbering. Dairy farms made up the largest percentage of the economy for many years. During the 20th century, tourism became more and more important, and when this happened, many of the people living on the farms and making their livelihoods in that manner relocated to different places, mainly the cities. During this period, there was a large-scale move towards industry, and from the end of the 19th century onward, industrial parks became more and more common. Milwaukee became one of the main industry capitals, and still is today. With the shift in recent years towards the industries of medicine and education, it has become more and more prevalent to follow towards service industries.
The landscape of Wisconsin was mainly formed during the last Ice Age, due to the Wisconsin Glacier. This allows for many different areas within the state where a person can participate in many different outdoor activities such as hiking and rock climbing. The state is also full of campgrounds and other areas for camping for people who enjoy this sort of tourism.
There are many different people who make their homes in Wisconsin. The Yankees were the first to arrive, from New York and New England, and for a lot of history they dominated the landscape with their opinions about industry, farming, finance, politics and education. Following them were many different ethnic groups who were immigrants – such as the Germans, Scandinavians, and many smaller groups of Belgians, Dutch, Swiss, Finns, Irish and even others. After the 19th century, many Poles and slave descendants added to the mix, making Wisconsin one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the United States.
Today, one of the biggest reasons to visit Wisconsin remains to be the various ethnic groups and celebrations that are held to commemorate them. All over the state, you will find different days celebrating different groups of people and ethnic festivals that celebrate many different groups. Some of these include Festa Italiana, Bastille Days, Syttende Mai, which is a Norwegian holiday, Summerfest, the African World Festival, Indian Summer, and Irish Fest. These are only a few of the various festivals that you can be a part of in Wisconsin, which is world known for its celebration of different groups of people, and its celebrations of the groups that made the state what it is today. Just about any time during the year, you can find various festivals or celebrations to attend, and you can learn about the various cultures that call this state home, as well as partaking in many different events in this state as well.
Tourism today is one of the most important parts about Wisconsin and is one of the main reasons that they are as lucrative as they are. The tourism industry is the third largest of all of the industries in the state. Most of this comes from the 90 different attractions that are located in the Wisconsin Dells area – which is a family vacation destination area. This area attracts more than 3 million visitors each year.
There are other main attractions in Wisconsin that are drawing in the people. The House on the Rock, which is near Spring Green, and Circus World Museum, which is in Baraboo draw in thousands of people each year as tourists and visitors. Also, along with the festivals that bring in many different people from all over the world, the EAA Oshkosh Air show brings visitors to Wisconsin as well.
What this state might lack in recreational activities outdoors, it makes up for in the city life. The capital city of Wisconsin is Madison, which is a bustling city that is full of opportunities for anything from museum visits to live music, as well as sports activities and shopping districts. Madison is also home to some of the best festivals, and therefore is seeped in different histories from all different ethnicities.
The largest city in Wisconsin is Milwaukee, which is a huge industrial area that provides many different job opportunities and other things. This city can provide you with learning experiences as well, because of the several universities that can be found there. Traveling through this region, there are many different things to see and do, and perhaps the best part about it is the diversity.
What is usually thought of as a Midwestern state without much in the way of diversity, when it comes to European heritage and other ethnic groups as well, Wisconsin is one of the best states in the United States when it comes to remembering and celebrating the things that set it aside and apart from the other states. The celebrations are what really set this state apart, and all across the state you can see various monuments, museums, and learning opportunities having to do with the many different aspects of culture that you can find in this one single state. History and culture buffs should not miss this state, simply because of the many different things that they can be shown here. There is simply too much to see and do!