History of Wisconsin in Timeline

Wisconsin, a state in the U.S. Upper Midwest/Great Lakes region, borders Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Lake Michigan, Michigan, and Lake Superior. It ranks 20th in population (around 6 million) and 23rd in area (approximately 65,500 sq mi), comprising 72 counties. Milwaukee is its most populous city, while Madison serves as the capital and second-most populous city. Other notable urban areas include Green Bay and the Fox Cities.

1900: Immigrant Groups

Between 1850 and 1900, the immigrants were mostly Germans, Scandinavians (the largest group being Norwegian), Irish, and Poles.

1901: Robert M. La Follette as Governor

In 1901, Robert M. La Follette began his term as governor of Wisconsin, marking the emergence of progressive politics in the state.

1901: Milwaukee Brewers Play One Season in 1901

In 1901, the Milwaukee Brewers played only one season before becoming the St. Louis Browns.

1903: Milwaukee Mile Opens in 1903

In 1903, the Milwaukee Mile, an oval track, opened and became the oldest operating motorsports venue in the world.

1906: Robert M. La Follette as U.S. Senator

In 1906, Robert M. La Follette transitioned from governor to U.S. Senator, continuing to champion progressive policies.

1909: Marquette University becomes coeducational

In 1909, Marquette University became the world's first coeducational Catholic university.

1910: Wisconsin Ranks 8th in Total Product Value by 1910

By 1910, Wisconsin ranked 8th among U.S. states in total product value due to booming manufacturing industries and a large immigrant workforce.

1910: Emil Seidel Elected Mayor of Milwaukee in 1910

In 1910, Emil Seidel was elected mayor of Milwaukee, becoming the first socialist mayor of a large city in the United States.

1914: Progressive Republicans create first state income tax

By 1914, Progressive Republicans in Wisconsin had created the nation's first state income tax, making taxation proportional to actual earnings.

1921: Green Bay Packers Join the NFL in 1921

The Green Bay Packers have been part of the NFL since the league's second season in 1921.

1925: Robert M. La Follette's Senate Term Ends

In 1925, Robert M. La Follette's tenure as a U.S. Senator came to an end, concluding a significant period of progressive leadership.

1926: United States Numbered Highways designated

In 1926, the United States Numbered Highways were designated in the state of Wisconsin, a process which continued until the mid-1930s.

1927: Races held at Kenosha Velodrome Since 1927

Since 1927, races have been held every year at the Kenosha velodrome, the oldest operating velodrome in the nation.

1932: Wisconsin Creates First Unemployment Compensation Program

In 1932, UW economics professors John R. Commons and Harold Groves helped Wisconsin create the United States' first unemployment compensation program.

1934: Wisconsin v. Michigan case in 1934

In 1934, a border dispute between Wisconsin and Michigan was addressed in the case Wisconsin v. Michigan.

1935: Social Security Act of 1935

In 1935, Wisconsin Idea scholars generated the plan that became the New Deal's Social Security Act, with Wisconsin expert Arthur J. Altmeyer playing a key role.

1935: Wisconsin v. Michigan case in 1935

In 1935, a second case, also titled Wisconsin v. Michigan, further addressed the border dispute between the two states.

July 13, 1936: Highest Temperature Recorded in Wisconsin

On July 13, 1936, the highest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin reached 114 °F (46 °C) in the Wisconsin Dells.

1938: Philip La Follette Loses Reelection

In 1938, Philip La Follette, facing scandal and accusations of authoritarianism, lost reelection and left politics to serve in World War II, contributing to the decline of the Wisconsin Progressive Party.

1940: African Americans Migrate to Milwaukee

From 1940 onward, African Americans migrated to Milwaukee, leading to 86% of Wisconsin's African-American population residing in four cities: Milwaukee, Racine, Beloit, and Kenosha.

1940: "America's Dairyland" Becomes Official State Slogan in 1940

In 1940, the prominence of the dairy industry in Wisconsin led to the state being known as "America's Dairyland", which was made the official state slogan.

1940: "America's Dairyland" on License Plates Since 1940

Since 1940, Wisconsin's license plates have read "America's Dairyland," reflecting the state's prominence in dairy farming.

1945: Balance Between Parties Since 1945

Since 1945, Wisconsin has maintained a close balance between Republicans and Democrats.

1946: Robert La Follette, Jr. Rejoined the Republican Party

In 1946, following the collapse of the Progressive Party, Robert La Follette, Jr. rejoined the Republican Party of Wisconsin to run in the Senate election but narrowly lost to Joseph McCarthy in the Republican primary.

1949: Chinese Communist Revolution of 1949

After the Chinese Communist Revolution of 1949, public opinion in Wisconsin began to shift towards support for the protection of democracy and capitalism against Communist expansion.

1953: Braves Move to Milwaukee in 1953

In 1953, the now-Atlanta Braves franchise moved from Boston to Milwaukee.

1956: Interstate Highway system construction begins

In 1956, the first part of the Interstate Highway system was constructed in Wisconsin.

1957: Braves Win World Series in 1957

In 1957, the Milwaukee Braves won the World Series.

1957: Badger named Wisconsin's state animal

In 1957, the badger was officially named Wisconsin's state animal, solidifying its connection to the state's identity.

1965: Braves Leave Milwaukee in 1965

In 1965, the Braves franchise left Milwaukee, becoming the Atlanta Braves.

1968: Inaugural Greater Milwaukee Open in 1968

In 1968, the Greater Milwaukee Open, later named the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee, began as a PGA Tour tournament.

August 1970: Sterling Hall Bombing in August 1970

In August 1970, during radical protests against the Vietnam War at UW-Madison, an attack by anarchists culminated in the Sterling Hall bombing.

1970: Manufacturing Jobs in 1970

In 1970, Wisconsin's manufacturing jobs were approximately 500,000, representing 28% of total employment.

1982: Last Time Democrats Won all Statewide Offices Before 2018

1982 was the last time Democrats won all constitutional statewide offices on the ballot in Wisconsin before they did so again in 2018.

1984: Last Time Wisconsin Voted Republican Before 2016, 1984

1984 was the last time Wisconsin voted for a Republican presidential nominee before Donald Trump won the state in 2016.

1992: Wisconsin Part of Blue Wall Starting in 1992

Starting in 1992, Wisconsin was part of the blue wall, a group of states the Democratic Party won in each presidential election until 2012.

1996: Lowest Temperature Recorded in Wisconsin

In 1996, the lowest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin reached −55 °F (−48 °C) in the village of Couderay on both February 2 and 4.

2000: Decline in Manufacturing Share Between 2000 and 2016

Between 2000 and 2016, manufacturing declined as a share of Wisconsin's gross state product from about 21.5% to 18.5%.

2001: Milwaukee Brewers Move to American Family Field in 2001

In 2001, the Milwaukee Brewers, the state's only major league baseball team, began playing in American Family Field in Milwaukee.

2003: DUI Offenses Lowered in 2003

In 2003, DUI offenses in Wisconsin were lowered to a BAC of 0.08 due to federal government pressure.

2004: PGA Championship Held at Whistling Straits in 2004

In 2004, Sheboygan's Whistling Straits golf club hosted the PGA Championship.

January 1, 2008: Wisconsin Estate Tax Decoupling on January 1, 2008

Until January 1, 2008, Wisconsin's estate tax was decoupled from the federal estate tax laws; therefore the state imposed its own estate tax on certain large estates.

2008: Wisconsin's Economic Output from Manufacturing in 2008

In 2008, Wisconsin's economic output from manufacturing was $48.9 billion, ranking tenth among states in manufacturing gross domestic product.

2008: Deer Population Projection in 2008

In 2008, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources projected the pre-hunt deer population to be between 1.5 and 1.7 million.

2009: Final U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee in 2009

In 2009, the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee, formerly the Greater Milwaukee Open, held its final PGA Tour tournament.

2009: Wisconsin Minimum Wage Since 2009

Since 2009, Wisconsin's minimum wage has been $7.25, the same as the federal rate.

2009: FBI Crime Statistics for 2009

Statewide FBI Crime statistics for 2009 in Wisconsin include 144 murders/non-negligent manslaughter; 1,108 rapes; 4,850 robberies; 8,431 aggravated assaults; and 147,486 property crimes.

2010: PGA Championship Held at Whistling Straits in 2010

In 2010, Sheboygan's Whistling Straits golf club hosted the PGA Championship.

2010: United States Census

The United States Census of 2010 served as the baseline for population changes in Wisconsin, with subsequent estimates showing a 2.4% increase by July 1, 2019.

2011: Cities in Wisconsin with Population over 50,000 in 2011

As of 2011, there were 12 cities in Wisconsin with a population of 50,000 or more, accounting for 73% of the state's employment.

2011: Wisconsin Act 10 Enacted in 2011

In 2011, Wisconsin became the focus of controversy when Governor Scott Walker enacted 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, making large changes in the areas of collective bargaining, compensation, retirement, health insurance, and sick leave of public sector employees, among other changes.

2011: Possible Democratic Backsliding since 2011

Some have argued Wisconsin has experienced democratic backsliding since 2011.

2012: Walker Survives Recall Election and Ryan on Presidential Ticket in 2012

In 2012, Governor Scott Walker survived a recall election, and Congressman Paul Ryan appeared on a major party ticket as Mitt Romney's running mate in the 2012 United States presidential election.

2012: Paul Ryan Vice-Presidential Nominee in 2012

In the 2012 election, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan was the Republican vice-presidential nominee, alongside Mitt Romney.

2012: Wisconsin Part of Blue Wall Until 2012

Until 2012, Wisconsin was part of the blue wall, a group of states the Democratic Party won in each presidential election since 1992.

2013: Kringle Becomes Official State Pastry in 2013

In 2013, kringle, a sweet flaky pastry brought by Danish immigrants, became the official state pastry of Wisconsin.

2014: Out-of-State Renewable Energy in 2014

As of 2014, a third of Wisconsin's renewable energy came from out-of-state sources, mostly wind-generated electricity from Minnesota and Iowa.

2014: Republican Control after 2014 Elections

Following the 2014 general elections, the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and treasurer were all Republicans, while the secretary of state was a Democrat.

March 30, 2015: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Success as of March 30, 2015

As of March 30, 2015, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference had claimed 107 NCAA national championships in 15 different sports.

2015: Manufacturing Jobs in 2015

As of 2015, Wisconsin had approximately 500,000 manufacturing jobs, similar to 1970 but a smaller share of total employment at 14%.

2015: I-41 added to the Interstate Highway system

In 2015, I-41 was added to the Interstate Highway system in Wisconsin.

2015: Paul Ryan Elected Speaker of the House in 2015

In 2015, Paul Ryan was elected Speaker of the House.

2015: PGA Championship Held at Whistling Straits in 2015

In 2015, Sheboygan's Whistling Straits golf club hosted the PGA Championship.

2015: Renewable Energy Mandate in 2015

Wisconsin had a mandate that ten percent of its electrical energy come from renewable sources by the end of 2015, although not entirely from in-state sources.

July 1, 2016: Mexican Consulate Opened in Milwaukee on July 1, 2016

On July 1, 2016, a Mexican consulate opened in Milwaukee.

2016: Decline in Manufacturing Share Between 2000 and 2016

Between 2000 and 2016, manufacturing declined as a share of Wisconsin's gross state product from about 21.5% to 18.5%.

2016: Donald Trump Wins Wisconsin in 2016 Presidential Election

In 2016, Donald Trump won Wisconsin by a narrow margin of 0.77%, the first time the state voted for a Republican presidential nominee since 1984.

2017: U.S. Open Held at Erin Hills in 2017

In 2017, the U.S. Open was held at Erin Hills, a golf course in Erin, Wisconsin.

2018: Democrats Win Statewide Offices in 2018

In 2018, Democrats won all constitutional statewide offices on the ballot in Wisconsin, the first time this had happened since 1982.

2018: The Hop streetcar system begins service

In 2018, The Hop, a modern streetcar system in Milwaukee, began service. The initial line runs from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Burns Commons.

2018: Countries of Origin for Wisconsin's Immigrants

In 2018, the main countries of origin for Wisconsin's immigrants were Mexico, India, China, Laos and the Philippines.

January 7, 2019: Tony Evers Assumes Office on January 7, 2019

On January 7, 2019, Tony Evers assumed office as the Governor of Wisconsin.

July 1, 2019: Wisconsin Population Estimate

On July 1, 2019, the United States Census Bureau estimated Wisconsin's population to be 5,822,434, a 2.4% increase since the 2010 census.

2020: Wisconsin Congressional Seats Following 2020 Census

Following the 2020 census reapportionment, Wisconsin has eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

2020: Joe Biden Wins Wisconsin in 2020 Presidential Election

In 2020, Democrat Joe Biden won Wisconsin by a narrow margin of 0.63%.

2020: Gross Domestic Product in 2020

In 2020, Wisconsin's gross domestic product was $348 billion, reflecting its diverse economy.

2020: Ryder Cup Held at Whistling Straits in 2020

In 2020, the Ryder Cup golf competition between USA and Europe was held at Sheboygan's Whistling Straits golf club.

2020: Voting Easiest State Ranking in 2020

In a 2020 study, Wisconsin was ranked as the 25th easiest state for citizens to vote in.

2020: Religion Data in 2020

Per the Association of Religion Data Archives' 2020 study, Catholicism was the single-largest denomination with 1,237,342 adherents, followed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with 316,245 members and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod with 209,788 adherents.

2021: Tourism Impact in 2021

According to the Department of Tourism, tourism in Wisconsin generated $20.9 billion in total economic impact in 2021 and is the state's third-largest sector.

2021: Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Established in 2021

In 2021, the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary was established in the waters of Lake Michigan off Wisconsin.

2022: Religion in Wisconsin in 2022

According to Public Religion Research Institute's 2022 American Values Survey, approximately 75% of Wisconsin's population identified with a religion or spiritual tradition, with 69% self-identifying as Christian.

2022: Homeless Population in Wisconsin

In 2022, HUD's Annual Homeless Assessment Report estimated that there were 4,775 homeless people in Wisconsin.

2022: Per Capita Personal Income in 2022

In 2022, Wisconsin's per capita personal income was $61,475, and $66,596 when adjusted by regional price parity.

2022: Ancestry Groups in Wisconsin

In 2022, the five largest European ancestry groups in Wisconsin were German (36%), Irish (10.2%), Polish (7.9%), English (6.7%), and Norwegian (6.3%).

2023: Wisconsin's Gross State Product in 2023

In 2023, Wisconsin's gross state product was $413.966 billion, ranking it 21st among U.S. states.

2023: Wisconsin Supreme Court Overturns Legislative Gerrymander in 2023

In the 2023 ruling of Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the legislative gerrymander.

2023: University of Wisconsin Branch Campuses Closed since 2023

Since 2023, five University of Wisconsin branch campuses have closed, one has gone entirely online, and one has stopped using several of its buildings, raising concerns about the Wisconsin Idea's future.

2024: Road America Hosts Races as of 2024

As of 2024, Road America near Elkhart Lake hosts races in the IndyCar Series, IMSA SportsCar Championship, Sports Car Club of America GT World Challenge America and Trans-Am Series and the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.

2024: Wisconsin Corporations on Fortune 500 in 2024

In 2024, eight Wisconsin-based corporations were listed on the Fortune 500, including Northwestern Mutual, Fiserv, ManpowerGroup, Rockwell Automation, and WEC Energy Group (all based in Milwaukee), as well as Kohl's (based in Menomonee Falls), American Family Insurance (based in Madison), and Oshkosh Corporation (based in Oshkosh).