Geography of Wisconsin

Introduction to Geography of Wisconsin

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.

Physical Geography

Few states show the effects of glaciation as vividly as Wisconsin. The huge continental glaciers of the last Ice Age advanced and retreated several times across most of the state. As the glaciers moved, they ground down hills, gouged out basins for lakes, and deposited vast amounts of debris called drift. Only southwestern Wisconsin escaped the glaciers.

Occupying roughly the northern quarter of Wisconsin is a hilly region known as the Superior Upland. A southern extension of the vast Canadian Shield, it contains many lakes, rivers, and forested hills and ridges. Much of the region lies from 1,000 to 1,700 feet (300 to 520 m) above sea level, with a few hills rising somewhat higher. Southwest of Rhinelander is Timms Hill, which reaches 1,952 feet (595 m) and is the state's highest point. In the far north, the land slopes down to the shores of Lake Superior, whose surface is 600 feet (183 m) above sea level. Offshore are the Apostle Islands, a group of about 20 islands noted for their natural beauty.

South of the Superior Upland, and nearly in the center of the state, is a broad plain that once was the bed of an extensive glacial lake. The plain is the largest expanse of level land in the state.

Southwestern Wisconsin is occupied by the large unglaciated Driftless Area, so called because it lacks the glacial drift found in the rest of Wisconsin and the Middle West. It is rolling to hilly and, in some places, is cut by deep, narrow river valleys. The area is higher than the surrounding land and a number of hills reach elevations of 1,200 to 1,700 feet (370 to 520 m). On the west, steep bluffs drop sharply into the valley of the Mississippi River.

In eastern and southeastern Wisconsin is a glaciated area of ridges and hills, with little level land except near the shores of Lake Michigan and Green Bay. Nearly everywhere, the land is dotted with glacial remnants such as lakes, elongated hills known as drumlins, and ridges called moraines and eskers. Especially prominent is the Kettle Moraine stretching from near Beloit northeastward toward Sheboygan. Another long ridge forms the spine of the Door County peninsula.

Most of the larger rivers begin in the Superior Upland and flow toward the Mississippi River, which forms much of the state's western border. From north to south, the largest streams include the St. Croix, Chippewa, Black, Wisconsin, and Rock. Northwest of Madison, the Wisconsin River has cut its way through deep sandstone to form the scenic Wisconsin Dells. Of the rivers that drain to Lake Michigan, only the Fox, Peshtigo, and Menominee are notable. The Fox River, joined by its chief tributary, the Wolf, flows through Lake Winnebago and eventually reaches Green Bay. The Menominee forms part of the border with Michigan.

An estimated 9,000 lakes dot Wisconsin, mostly in glaciated regions. Lakes are especially numerous in the Superior Upland, where there is a thriving resort and recreational industry. Largest of the northern lakes are Chippewa, Flambeau Flowage (created by a dam on the Flambeau River), and Lac Court Oreilles. In the east and south are other large lakes, including Lake Winnebago—the state's largest lake. On the shores of Lakes Mendota and Monona is the state capital, Madison.

Wisconsin has a continental climate similar to that of other northern states lying east of the Dakotas. Winters are long and severe, especially in the north and central areas, where temperatures occasionally drop to -40° F. (-40° C.). Average January daily highs and lows in the north are about 20° and 5° F. (-7° and -15° C.); in the south, about 25° and 10° F. (-4° and -12° C.). Summers throughout the state are warm to hot, particularly in the south. Even in the far north, there are usually several days of hot weather each summer. Occasional summer cold spells, however, can drop temperatures below freezing as far south as central Wisconsin. July daily highs and lows are approximately 80° and 55° F. (27° and 13° C.) in the north; 85° and 60° F. (29° and 16° C.) in the south. Lakes Michigan and Superior moderate the climate only within a short distance of their shores.

Annual precipitation, including rain and snow, averages 30 to 35 inches (760 to 890 mm) in north-central Wisconsin and about 25 to 30 inches (640 to 760 mm) everywhere else. About two-thirds of the yearly total occurs during the warmer months. Snowfall ranges from about 30 inches (760 mm) in the south each winter to more than 60 inches (1,520 mm) in most of the north. On the slopes of the Gogebic Range, in the extreme north, annual snowfall often totals more than 100 inches (2,540 mm). Throughout the state, low winter temperatures keep snow on the ground for many weeks at a time.

Natural Vegetation.

In the early 1800's, when rapid settlement began, forests covered about 85 per cent of Wisconsin. Great stands of white pine and other evergreens, mixed with hardwoods such as birch, maple, and oak, occupied much of the land. Prairies dotted parts of the south, and marshes were scattered throughout lowland areas. By the early 20th century, excessive cutting and fires had reduced the forests to barely half their original extent. The present forests are nearly all second-growth, with aspen having replaced much of the original northern pine. Once considered a nuisance, aspen is now a valuable source of pulp. Other predominant trees include pine, birch, oak, maple, and basswood.

Economy

The state's reputation as America's Dairyland is well deserved, but manufacturing and service industries provide the foundation on which Wisconsin's economy rests. Manufacturing far outweighs dairying in value of production, and service industries employ the most workers. Some manufacturing is tied directly to farming, but the industrial giants are the makers of transportation equipment, food products, machinery, and paper. Government and wholesale and retail trade employ large numbers of workers. An important part of the economy is tourism, based on the state's natural beauty, pleasant summer weather, and opportunities for winter sports.

Finance, insurance, and real estate is Wisconsin's leading service industry group. Milwaukee ranks as one of the Midwest's major financial centers. Community, business, and personal services ranks as Wisconsin's leading employment group.

The triangular area between Green Bay, Madison, and Kenosha forms one of the nation's major manufacturing districts. Of prime importance is the Milwaukee metropolitan area, which manufactures motorcycles, metal products, beer, and many other items. To the northwest, Automobile manufacture and assembly is centered in Janesville.

Many workers in the state are employed in food-processing establishments. Foremost are dairy plants, cheese factories, and others that turn out such products as condensed and powdered milk, and ice cream. Other branches of the food industry include meat packing and the canning of fruits and vegetables. Beer is Wisconsin's leading beverage product.

The main types of machinery made in the state include engines and turbines, power cranes and other construction machinery, and heating and cooling equipment. Pulp and paper are produced in the cities of the Lake Winnebago-Fox River valley vicinity. Paper products made in Wisconsin include adhesive tape, cardboard boxes, paper bags, and tissue paper.

About half of Wisconsin is farmland, much of it devoted to dairying rather than the raising of cash crops. For many years Wisconsin has ranked as a national leader in the number of dairy cattle and the production of many dairy products, including milk, cheese, and butter. Many of the dairy farmers market their products through cooperatives. Farm income from the sale of livestock ranks second only to that brought by milk.

Because most dairy farmers grow their own livestock feed, Wisconsin is a major producer of corn, oats, and hay. Several cash crops add much to the income of farmers in southern and eastern Wisconsin. Among these crops are beans, sweet corn, carrots, peas, and potatoes. The state's farmers also raise apples, cherries, and cranberries.

Several thousand workers are employed in mining and quarrying around the state. Nonmetals, especially sand, gravel, and stone, are the chief group by value; they are found in a large number of areas. The chief metallic minerals produced are iron or, lead, zinc, and copper.

Endowed with some of the finest lakes, rivers, and beaches in the Middle West, Wisconsin has for many years been highly popular with vacationers and tourists. Each year millions come to enjoy the state's natural beauty and attractions such as those of the Wisconsin Dells and the many state parks. Game fishing is popular at lake resorts, especially in the north. Winter sports—skiing and snowmobiling particularly—are helping tourism to become a year-round industry.

Transportation. Railways and highways form dense networks across much of Wisconsin, especially the southern two-thirds. The railways extend primarily northwest-southeast, with the main lines leading from Milwaukee and the Chicago area to Wisconsin's chief cities and farming regions. Excellent highways, including four Interstate routes, serve virtually every section of the state.

Air transportation is centered chiefly at Milwaukee, which has the state's largest commercial airport. Madison and Green Bay also have scheduled air service.

Ports serve Wisconsin along its two Great Lakes shorelines. Largest, by tonnage handled, is Superior, situated at the western end of Lake Superior. Most of Superior's cargo is iron ore, coal, and grain bound for other lake ports or for the St. Lawrence Seaway. The state's other major ports, all on Lake Michigan, include Milwaukee and Green Bay. Manitowoc is served by ferries that cross the lake carrying passengers and automobiles to Ludington, Michigan.

The People

Most Wisconsinites are descended from settlers who came from the eastern United States beginning in the 1820's or from Europe beginning around mid-century. By 1850, more than one third of the state's total population was foreign born. The most numerous immigrant groups were the Germans, Irish, Scandinavians, Poles, Italians, and English.

American Indians make up just under one per cent of the total population of Wisconsin. A small number of them live on or near reservations. Many of the Indians belong to the Chippewa (Ojibway), Iroquois, Menominee, Potawatomi, Cherokee, and Sioux tribes.

Wisconsin is 18th in rank among the states. The overall population density is 98.8 persons per square mile (38.1 per km 2 ). Whites make up 88.9 per cent of the population and blacks, 5.7 per cent. Most of the black population lives in Milwaukee. Most of the Asians, who account for 1.7 per cent of the population, also live in Milwaukee.

Wisconsin's people are heavily concentrated in the southeast. About a third of the total population lives in Milwaukee, Dane, and Waukesha counties. In these counties are such sizable cities as Milwaukee, Madison, Waukesha, and West Allis.

Education

The Wisconsin public school system is administered by the state Department of Public Instruction, headed by the superintendent of public instruction. There is no state board of education. School attendance is compulsory from age 6 to age 18.

The Wisconsin Board of Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education administers a variety of educational programs and services. Courses are offered in many fields, including agriculture, business, home economics, and industry.

Indian mission schools were established at Green Bay in the 1660's. During the 1840's, German settlers in Milwaukee set up private schools. The state constitution (1848) provided for a public school system. The first kindergarten in the country was founded as a private school by Margarethe Meyer Schurz, wife of the reformer Carl Schurz, in Watertown in 1856. A compulsory school-attendance law was enacted in 1879.

The largest institution of higher learning in Wisconsin is the University of Wisconsin, a state school. It was established in 1848 and opened in 1849. In 1971 it merged with the Wisconsin State Universities, making the new University of Wisconsin system one of the largest such institutions (in student enrollment) in the country. The main campus is in Madison, and there are campuses in a number of other communities throughout the state. The university system also includes several two-year campuses. The extension division offers undergraduate, graduate, and noncredit courses through classroom study or by correspondence.

The Madison campus overlooks Lake Mendota. Bascom Hall, erected in 1859, is the oldest building on campus. Other notable structures include the 56-bell Carillon Tower; Washburn Observatory, which houses the university's planetarium; the block-long Humanities Building; Elvehjem Museum of Art; Steenbock Memorial Library; and Helen C. White undergraduate library. The university arboretum is at nearby Lake Wingra.

Marquette University, in Milwaukee, is the largest private institution of higher learning in the sta4e.

Government

Wisconsin is governed under its original constitution of 1848, as amended. Executive authority is held by the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction. Each of these officials is elected to a four-year term.

The legislature consists of two houses. The Senate has 33 members, who are elected to four-year terms. The Assembly has 99 members, who are elected to two-year terms. The judicial branch consists of a supreme court of seven justices and various lower courts, including a court of appeals and circuit courts. The judges of all state courts are elected by the people.

Wisconsin is divided into 72 counties. The state sends two senators and eight representatives to the U.S. Congress.