Wisconsin Facts

Learn why the Midwest’s dairyland is a worthwhile travel destination by reading Wisconsin state facts and information. Plan a group tour or travel to visit Wisconsin's famous attractions, beautiful great lakes, sights, historical museums, and more.

State Tree: Maple
State Bird: Robin
State Symbol of Peace: Mourning Dove
State Flower: Wood Violet
State Animal: Badger
State Capital: Madison
Total number of lakes: 14,927
Forest area: 14,478,00 acres
Miles Long: 300
Miles Wide: 280

Our Great Outdoors

There are over 400 golf courses.
There are 4,000 acres of cherry and apple trees in Door County combined to create the largest fruit orchards in Wisconsin.
Practically all the natural lakes in Wisconsin have resulted from glaciers.
There are 108,000 miles of roads in Wisconsin.
Horicon Marsh-largest freshwater Cattail Marsh in the U.S., covering more than 32,000 acres.
Wisconsin has 500 different types of soils.
Horicon Marsh-in 1991 dedicated as a wetland of international importance (number 9 of only 15 in the U.S.).

Food Facts

Wisconsin is the number one cheese producer in the nation with over 2.5 billion pounds produced annually.
Colby and Brick cheese are the only two cheeses that were first produced in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin produces 2.1 million barrels of cranberries each year.
Nearly 21 million gallons of ice cream are consumed by Wisconsinites each year.
The first ice cream sundae was concocted in Two Rivers in 1881.
Wisconsin is the leading producer of Ginseng in the U.S.
Fish Boils are unique to Door County, Wisconsin.
The first malted milk was made in Racine in 1883.

Wisconsin Lakes & Waterways

There are 1,050 miles of Great Lakes and Mississippi shoreline.
Door County has more shoreline than any other in the U.S. - over 250 miles.
Wisconsin's deepest lake is Green Lake with a depth of 229 feet.
Eagle River has the largest number of lakes in a chain in the world -28 ttl.
Wisconsin's largest lake is Winnebago with 137,708 acres.
The Fox River is one of the few rivers in the nation that flows north.
22 Apostle Islands comprise the National Lakeshore in Lake Superior.
The smallest is 3 acres. The largest 14,000 acres.

Wisconsin History

During different times in history, Wisconsin was part of the Territory of Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan.
The Green Bay Packers were one of the founding teams of the National Football League.
The Circus World Museum in Baraboo is located at the birthplace of the Ringling Brothers Circus, which is winter quartered there.
The first white man to reach Wisconsin was Jean Nicolet, a French fur trader, in 1634.
Wisconsin was the 30th state in the U.S.
Wisconsin's first permanent settlement was founded in 1764, near what is now called Green Bay
Milwaukee native Golda Meir became famous as the prime minister of a foreign country

Famous Wisconsin People

Gary Burghoff M*A*S*H's Radar O'Reilly is from Wisconsin.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox, of Westport, is Wisconsin's most famous poet. She is best known for the quote "Laugh and the word laughs with you".
Georgia O'Keefe, of Sun Prairie is recognized as one of the leading artists of our time.
Actor Gene Wilder was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Thorton Wilder, Pulitzer prize winning author, was born in Madison, Wisconsin.
Spencer Tracy was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Henry Aaron played for Eau Claire, Wisconsin's minor league baseball team before he became a star for the Milwaukee Braves.
In 1934, John Dillinger and his mob hid out in Little Bohemia, in Vilas County.
The famous magician Harry Houdini was raised in Appleton, Wisconsin.
One of the world's most famous pianists, Liberace, was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Edna Ferber, of Appleton, wrote Show Boat, Giant and Cimarron
Carl Eliason, resident of St. Germain, Wisconsin, is the inventor of the snowmobile.

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