History of Wisconsin in Timeline

Wisconsin is a state in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions of the U.S., bordering Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Lake Michigan, and Michigan. With approximately 6 million residents, it ranks as the 20th most populous and 23rd largest state by area. Wisconsin has 72 counties. Milwaukee is the most populous city, while Madison serves as the capital and second-most populous city. Other significant urban areas include Green Bay and the Fox Cities.

1900: Immigration Patterns by 1900

Between 1850 and 1900, immigrants to Wisconsin were mostly Germans, Scandinavians (Norwegian), Irish, and Poles.

1901: Progressive Reforms Begin

In 1901, Wisconsin Progressive Republicans began implementing the nation's first comprehensive statewide primary election system.

1901: First Milwaukee Brewers Team

In 1901, a team called the Brewers played one season in Milwaukee before becoming the St. Louis Browns.

1903: Milwaukee Mile Opens

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

1909: Marquette University becomes coeducational Catholic university

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

1910: Wisconsin Ranks 8th in U.S. Product Value

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

1910: Emil Seidel Elected Mayor of Milwaukee

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

1914: Progressive Era Legislation

By 1914, Progressive Republicans in Wisconsin had created the nation's first effective workplace injury compensation law and the first state income tax.

1921: Green Bay Packers Join the NFL

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

1924: Founding of the Wisconsin Progressive Party

In 1924, following in their father's footsteps, Robert La Follette's sons helped form the Wisconsin Progressive Party, succeeding La Follette's initial party.

1926: Designation of United States Numbered Highways

In 1926, the designation of United States Numbered Highways in the state of Wisconsin began.

1927: Races Held at the Kenosha Velodrome

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

1932: First Unemployment Compensation Program

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

1934: Wisconsin v. Michigan Border Dispute (1934)

In 1934, one of two cases regarding a border dispute with Michigan, Wisconsin v. Michigan, was decided.

1935: Social Security Act

In 1935, Wisconsin Idea scholars at the University of Wisconsin generated the plan that became the New Deal's Social Security Act.

1935: Wisconsin v. Michigan Border Dispute (1935)

In 1935, a second case, Wisconsin v. Michigan, settled the border dispute with Michigan.

July 13, 1936: Highest Temperature Recorded

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

1938: Julius P. Heil defeats Philip La Follette

In 1938, Philip La Follette, embroiled in scandal and accusations, lost his reelection bid to Julius P. Heil, leading to La Follette leaving politics and the National Progressives of America faltering.

1940: Influx of African Americans to Milwaukee

From 1940 onward, there was an influx of African Americans to Milwaukee.

1940: Wisconsin: America's Dairyland

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

1940: License plates marked 'America's Dairyland'

Since 1940, Wisconsin's license plates have read "America's Dairyland", referencing the prominence of dairy farming and cheesemaking.

1945: Close Balance Between Parties Maintained

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

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

In 1946, Robert La Follette, Jr. rejoined the Republican Party of Wisconsin to run in the Senate election after the collapse of the Progressive Party.

1949: Shift in Public Opinion

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

1953: Braves Move to Milwaukee

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

1956: Interstate Highway System Construction

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

1957: Milwaukee Braves Win World Series

In 1957, the Milwaukee Braves won the World Series.

1957: Badger becomes Wisconsin's state animal

In 1957, the badger was named Wisconsin's state animal.

1965: Braves Leave Milwaukee

In 1965, the Milwaukee Braves franchise relocated and became the Atlanta Braves.

1968: Greater Milwaukee Open

In 1968, the Greater Milwaukee Open, a PGA Tour tournament, began its run annually in Brown Deer.

August 1970: Sterling Hall Bombing

In August 1970, radical antiwar protests at UW-Madison culminated in the Sterling Hall bombing.

1970: Manufacturing Jobs and Employment in Wisconsin

In 1970, the number of manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin was approximately 500,000, similar to 2015. The share of total employment in manufacturing was 28% in 1970.

1982: Democrats Last Won all Statewide Offices Before 2018

Prior to 2018, the last time Democrats won all constitutional statewide offices on the ballot in Wisconsin was in 1982.

1984: Last Time Wisconsin Voted Republican Before 2016

Prior to 2016, the last time Wisconsin voted for a Republican presidential nominee was in 1984.

1992: Start of Blue Wall Era

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

1996: Lowest Temperature Recorded

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: Manufacturing Share of Gross State Product

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

2001: Brewers Move to American Family Field

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, DUI offenses in Wisconsin were lowered to a BAC of 0.08 as a result of federal government pressure.

2004: PGA Championship at Whistling Straits

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

January 1, 2008: Wisconsin Estate Tax Decoupled

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

2008: Wisconsin's Manufacturing Output

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

2008: Deer Population Projection

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

2009: Last U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee

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

2009: 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 include 144 murders/non-negligent manslaughter; 1,108 rapes; 4,850 robberies; 8,431 aggravated assaults; and 147,486 property crimes.

2010: PGA Championship at Whistling Straits

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

2010: Wisconsin Population Change Since 2010 Census

Since the 2010 United States census, Wisconsin's population increased by 2.4%.

2011: Wisconsin Cities Over 50,000 Population

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

In 2011, Governor Scott Walker passed and enacted 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, which made substantial changes to the collective bargaining, compensation, retirement, health insurance, and sick leave of public sector employees, sparking major protests.

2011: Start of Democratic Backsliding Allegations

Some have argued that Wisconsin has experienced democratic backsliding since 2011.

2012: Paul Ryan Vice-Presidential Nominee

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

2012: End of Blue Wall Era

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

2014: Source of Renewable Energy

As of 2014, a third of the ten percent renewable energy came from out-of-state sources, mostly wind-generated electricity from Minnesota and Iowa.

2014: Republican Hold on Statewide Offices

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

March 30, 2015: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Achievements

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

2015: Manufacturing Jobs and Employment in Wisconsin

As of 2015, the number of manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin was approximately 500,000, which is similar to the figure in 1970. However, manufacturing declined as a share of total employment, from 28% in 1970 to 14% in 2015.

2015: Renewable Energy Mandate Met

By the end of 2015, Wisconsin had met its mandate to obtain ten percent of its electrical energy from renewable sources.

2015: PGA Championship at Whistling Straits

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

2015: Expansion of Interstate Highway System

In 2015, the Interstate Highway system in Wisconsin expanded with the addition of I-41.

July 1, 2016: Mexican Consulate Opens in Milwaukee

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

2016: Manufacturing Share of Gross State Product

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

2016: Trump Wins Wisconsin in 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 at Erin Hills

In 2017, Erin Hills, a golf course in Erin, Wisconsin, hosted the U.S. Open.

2018: Democrats Win All Statewide Offices

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 with a 2.1 mile initial line.

2018: Countries of Origin for Immigrants

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

January 7, 2019: Tony Evers Assumed Office

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 that the population of Wisconsin was 5,822,434.

2020: Congressional Reapportionment

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

2020: Biden Wins Wisconsin in 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.

2020: Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits

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

2020: Wisconsin Ranked in Voting Easiest

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

2020: Largest Denominations in Wisconsin

Per the Association of Religion Data Archives' 2020 study, Catholicism was the single-largest denomination in Wisconsin, followed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

2021: Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Established

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

2021: Tourism Impact in Wisconsin

In 2021, tourism in Wisconsin generated $20.9 billion in total economic impact, becoming the state's third-largest sector.

2022: Homeless Population Estimate

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 4,775 homeless people in Wisconsin.

2022: Religion Statistics 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.

2022: Largest European Ancestry Groups

In 2022, the five largest European ancestry groups in Wisconsin were German, Irish, Polish, English, and Norwegian.

2022: Per Capita Personal Income in 2022

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

2023: Wisconsin's Gross State Product

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

2023: Wisconsin Supreme Court Overturned Legislative Gerrymander

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

2023: University of Wisconsin Branch Campus Closures

Since 2023, five University of Wisconsin branch campuses have closed, one has gone entirely online, and another has stopped using several buildings, leading to concerns about the future of the Wisconsin Idea.

2024: Road America hosts racing series

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: Fortune 500 Corporations Based in Wisconsin

In 2024, eight corporations based in Wisconsin were listed on the Fortune 500. These included 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).