Wisconsin, a state in the north-central United States. It lies in the upper Middle West, bordering Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The total area is 65,503 square miles (169,653 km2).

Scenic woodlands, lakes, and rivers attract millions of vacationers to Wisconsin every year. Wisconsin's nickname of "America's Dairyland" is particularly appropriate because the state for many years has been a leader in producing dairy products.

Wisconsin is also a thriving industrial state with manufacturing plants that produce a diverse array of goods. Socially and politically, Wisconsin has often been a leader in reforms and innovations—in part, a reflection of ideas brought by immigrants who settled the state in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Wisconsin had the nation's first state-wide primary election system and the first effective workmen's compensation laws. Its voters elected the first Socialist congressman, Victor Berger, and vigorously supported Progressive leader Robert M. La Follette.

Wisconsin'sWisconsin's state bird is the robin.
Wisconsin in brief
General information
Statehood: May 29, 1848, the 30th state.
State abbreviations: Wis. (traditional); WI (postal).
State capital: Madison, Wisconsin's capital since 1848. Territorial capitals were Belmont (1836), Burlington, now in Iowa (1837-1838), and Madison (1838-1848).
State motto: Forward.
Popular name: The Badger State.
State song: "On, Wisconsin!" Words by J. S. Hubbard and Charles D. Rosa; music by William T. Purdy.
Symbols of Wisconsin
State bird: Robin.
State flower: Wood violet.
State tree: Sugar maple.
State flag and seal: The Wisconsin coat of arms appears on both the state flag and the state seal. On the coat of arms, a sailor and a miner support a shield with symbols of agriculture, mining, navigation, and manufacturing. A small United States shield symbolizes Wisconsin’s loyalty to the Union. The badger above the shield represents Wisconsin’s nickname—the Badger State. The flag was adopted in 1913, and the seal was adopted in 1881. The name Wisconsin and the year it became a state, 1848, were added to the flag in 1979.
Land and climate
Area: 56,145 mi2 (145,414 km2), including 1,831 mi2 (4,741 km2) of inland water but excluding 9,355 mi2 (24,229 km2) of Great Lakes water.
Elevation: Highest--Timms Hill, 1,952 ft (595 m) above sea level. Lowest--581 ft (177 m) above sea level along the shore of Lake Michigan.
Record high temperature: 114 °F (46 °C) at Wisconsin Dells on July 13, 1936.
Record low temperature: –55 °F (–48 °C) at Couderay on Feb. 4, 1996.
Average July temperature: 70 °F (21 °C).
Average January temperature: 14 °F (–10 °C).
Average yearly precipitation: 31 in (79 cm).
People
Population: 5,363,675.
Rank among the states: 18th.
Density: 96 per mi2 (37 per km2), U.S. average 78 per mi2 (30 per km2).
Distribution: 68 percent urban, 32 percent rural.
Largest cities in Wisconsin: Milwaukee (596,974); Madison (208,054); Green Bay (102,313); Kenosha (90,352); Racine (81,855); Appleton (70,087).
Economy
Chief products
Agriculture: beef cattle, corn, hay, hogs, milk, snap beans.
Manufacturing: chemicals, fabricated metal products, food products, machinery, paper products, transportation equipment.
Mining: crushed stone, sand and gravel.
Government
State government
Governor: 4-year term
State senators: 33; 4-year terms
State representatives: 99; 2-year terms
Counties: 72.
Federal government
United States senators: 2.
United States representatives: 8.
Electoral votes: 10.
Sources of information
For information about tourism, write to: Wisconsin Department of Tourism, 201 W. Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8690, Madison, WI 53708-8690. The Web site at http://www.travelwisconsin.com also provides information.
For information on the economy, write to: Wisconsin Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 8933, Madison, WI 53708.
The state’s official Web site at http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/home also provides a gateway to much information on Wisconsin’s economy, government, and history.