Wisconsin Info
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Capital
City: Madison
Economy: Manufacturing,
services, transportation, timber, tourism and agriculture.
Population: 5,363,675
Time Zone: 6 hours behind
Greenwich Mean Time (-6 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed from
the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October
Wisconsin's Flag:
Starting at the top of a shield on a dark blue field is the state
motto "Forward". Below it is a badger the state animal.
A sailor and miner show that the people work on water and land. The
shield in the center shows Wisconsin's support for the United States.
In four sections surrounding the shield are representations of the
states main industries: Agriculture, mining, manufacturing and navigation.
The cornicopia and pile of lead represent farm products and minerals.
The flag law was amended in 1979 to include the name of the state
and the date of statehood. From 50states.com.
History
of Wisconsin: The Wisconsin region was first explored
for France by Jean Nicolet, who landed at Green Bay in 1634. In 1660
a French trading post and Roman Catholic mission were established
near present-day Ashland. Great Britain obtained the region in settlement
of the French and Indian Wars in 1763; the U.S. acquired it in 1783
after the Revolutionary War. However, Great Britain retained actual
control until after the War of 1812. The region was successively governed
as part of the territories of Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan between
1800 and 1836, when it became a separate territory. Wisconsin is a
leading state in milk and cheese production. In 1996 the state ranked
first in the number of milk cows (1,410,000) and produced 29% of the
nation's total output of cheese. Other important farm products are
peas, beans, beets, corn, potatoes, oats, hay, and cranberries. The
chief industrial products of the state are automobiles, machinery,
furniture, paper, beer, and processed foods. Wisconsin ranks second
among the 47 paper-producing states. Wisconsin is a pioneer in social
legislation, providing pensions for the blind (1907), aid to dependent
children (1913), and old-age assistance (1925). In labor legislation,
the state was the first to enact an unemployment compensation law
(1932) and the first in which a workman's compensation law actually
took effect. Wisconsin had the first state-wide primary-election law
and the first successful income-tax law. In April 1984, Wisconsin
became the first state to adopt the Uniform Marital Property Act.
The act took effect on January 1, 1986. The state has over 14,000
lakes, of which Winnebago is the largest. Water sports, ice-boating,
and fishing are popular, as are skiing and hunting. Public parks and
forests take up one-seventh of the land, with 45 state parks, 9 state
forests, 14 state trails, 3 recreational areas, and 2 national forests.
Among the many points of interest are the Apostle Islands National
Lakeshore; Ice Age National Scientific Reserve; the Circus World Museum
at Baraboo; the Wolf, St. Croix, and Lower St. Croix national scenic
riverways; and the Wisconsin Dells.
Other Wisconsin Links:
League of Wisconsin
Municipalities
SBA: Wisconsin District
Wisconsin Association of Assessing Officers (WAAO)
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Wisconsin Department of Tourism
Wisconsin Government Finance Officers Association
Wisconsin Technical College System
Wisconsin Land Information Association
The Cheese State
Wisconsin Register of Deeds Association
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce |
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