Wisonsin Facts Learning About US States in Special Ed

Welcome to Wisconsin

If you are teaching about the US states, here are some facts about Wisconsin you may want to know.

The states of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan border Wisconsin. It is also bordered by two Great Lakes, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Madison is the capital.

Let’s learn a little more about this great state.

Scroll to the end for a free picture recipe for a delicious cheese dip.

A brief history of Wisconsin

In 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state to join the United States.

Wisconsin got its name from a Native American word meaning red stone river. The Wisconsin River flows through many beds of red sandstone.

French explorers first inhabited the territory of Wisconsin.

After the French and Indian War, in 1763, the area was controlled by the British.

At the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783, the territory became part of the new country. However, it was controlled by British fur traders for the next several years.

In the 1820s, mining lead became an essential industry for the country, bringing many miners to the area. This was a difficult time for the Native Americans living here, and the miners eventually pushed them out.

Shortly before the Civil War, a group of people in Wisconsin formed what is now the Republican Party as an attempt to stop slavery.

Finally, Wisconsin played an essential role in the Civil War, helping enslaved people escape to Canada through the Underground Railroad.

The geography of Wisconsin

Much of Wisconsin’s geography and topography was formed by glacier movement thousands of years ago.

As the glaciers moved over the land, they carved out large areas, leaving plains and thousands of lakes behind.

How many lakes were left behind? A lot!! Like its neighbor, Minnesota, this state has between 12,000 and 15,000 lakes.

There are 5 main geographical regions in Wisconsin.

The Lake Superior Lowland is a flat area bordered by Lake Superior in the northernmost part of the state.

The Northern Highland covers the northern third of the state. Here you will find woodlands and lots of lakes. This is also where you will find the highest point in Wisconsin, Timms Hill.

The Central Plain is a U-shaped region that begins with the fertile farmland in this state and includes a large sandstone gorge called the Dells of the Wisconsin River.

The Western Uplands are a rugged, hilly region with many rivers and streams.

Finally, in the southern part of the state, you find the Eastern Ridges and the Lowlands, which are home to the world’s best farmlands.

Wisconsin's resources and industries

Despite the cold and snowy winters, Wisconsin has a long growing season and plenty of fertile soil. It also has some of the best farmland in the world.

Wisconsin is known for its dairy farms and milk production. There are more dairy cows per square mile than in any other state. Much of this milk (more than 90%) is used to make cheese. Wisconsin is the largest producer of cheese in the US.

Another natural resource in this state is cranberries. Wisconsin grows more cranberries than any other state.

Finally, they are also the top producer of green beans in the US.

As for industries, transportation equipment (like tractors), tourism, paper products, and processed foods are critical to the economy of Wisconsin.

Commercial food processing is big in this state and is home to Oscar Mayer, Kraft Foods, and several frozen pizza companies.

Fun places to visit in Wisconsin

If you plan to visit Wisconsin, there are some things you will want to know and make sure you get to see. There are some amazing landscapes as well as a rich history to see.

If you visit Wisconsin Dells in the center of the state, you will find yourself surrounded by more water parks than anywhere else in the world.

Threre are 11 different waterparks (some indoor and some outdoor), 200 water slides, and the largest water park in the US, the Noah’s Ark Water Park.

Traveling south, you can visit Devil’s Lake State Park. This area is home to some of the oldest rock formations in the US. Both Devil’s Doorway and Balanced Rock were created by water freezing and expanding in the cracks of the rocks. This is the largest and most visited park in Wisconsin.

A bit further south, you can visit Taliesin East, the home designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Sitting on 600 acres, Wright started building this home in 1911 and spent the rest of his life (until 1959) expanding it.

Still further south, you can visit the National Historic Cheesemaking Center in Monroe. Here, you can learn all about how cheese is made, its history, and sample many delicious cheeses.

If you visit Milwaukee, there are several sites to see. The Milwaukee Public Museum is one of the oldest and largest museums in the US. It was opened in 1884.

Here, you can see over 4 million specimens, including one of the largest dinosaur skulls ever found.

Finally, you may want to visit the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. This archipelago, or group, of 21 small islands was named by French explorers for the 12 apostles and was home to the Ojibwe people.

Here you will find sea caves and rock formations carved by the waters of Lake Superior. You can explore these caves on tours, canoes, or other small boats.

On Sand Island, you will find a historic lighthouse built in 1881. You will get a stunning, panoramic view of Lake Superior from the top.

Fun facts about Wisconsin

Here are a few fun facts about Wisconsin: The Wood Violet is the state flower, and the Robin is the state bird.

Wisconsin is known as the Badger State. Although there are many badgers living in this state, that is not where it got its nickname.

In the 1820s, lead mining was very prevalent in Wisconsin. The miners were called “badgers” because they would dig deep into caves and tunnels looking for lead. They would end up sleeping in these caves, working long hours.

This is the state flag of Wisconsin. It was first designed in 1863 to fly on the battlefield during the Civil War. It has been redesigned several times and is now dark blue with the state seal showcasing the state’s natural resources and contributions of the early settlers.

Wisconsin is second in overall milk production and butter production in the US. Butter was so crucial to this state’s economy that margarine (a butter substitute) was banned in this state up until 1967.

Milwaukee hosts the world’s largest outdoor music festival, Summerfest, every year. Music is an important part of the state’s culture.

There are still strong ties to German and Polish culture as well. Many German-American and Scandinavian-American festivals are held each year.

In fact, Sheboygan is the bratwurst capital of the world.

The first house ever wired with electricity was in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Finally, remembering how important dairy is to the state… The first ice cream sundae in the country was served on a Sunday in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, and cost 5 cents.

Wisconsin is a friendly state with much to see and a rich history. Next time you go on a trip, consider visiting this state and seeing what you can find.