Wisconsin (IPA pronunciation: ) is a state in the United States, located in the Midwest. The rural economy was originally based on furs, then came lumber, farming, dairy, and vacationing. Industrialization began in the late 19th century in the southeast, with Milwaukee as the major center. In recent decades service industries, especially medicine and education, have become dominant.

The state has always been ethnically heterogeneous. The Yankees arrived first and long dominated industry, finance, politics and education. Large numbers of Germans arrived between 1850 and 1900, centering in Milwaukee, but also settling in many small cities and farm areas in the southeast. Scandinavians settled in lumbering and farming areas in the northwest. Small colonies of Belgians, Swiss, Finns and other groups came to the state. Irish Catholics mostly came to the cities. After 1900, Polish immigrants came to Milwaukee, followed by African Americans from 1940 on.

Politically, the state was a Republican stronghold that supported the Union during the Civil War. Ethnoreligious issues regarding schools split the Republican coalition briefly in 1890. From 1900 to the 1940s, Robert La Follette and his sons dominated state politics using the Republican Party and then their own Progressive Party. Since 1945, the state has maintained a close balance between the Republicans and Democrats. The Republicans put forth conservative-to-moderate Governor Tommy Thompson in the 1980s and 1990s, while the Democrats have produced liberal Senator Russ Feingold in the 2000s. Conant ch 1; Barone and Cohen; Pearce

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Christmas in Wisconsin got myself a white christmas!!
ToddJamesMusic (Todd James ) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:37:41 -0000
Christmas in Wisconsin got myself a white christmas!!
wisconsin!!! Thank u otr guy!
dupe_rocess (Grace Neal) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:36:57 -0000
wisconsin!!! Thank u otr guy!
"The Family Village / Waisman Center / University of Wisconsin Madison" ( http://bit.ly/61CCtC )
disability (disability) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:34:52 -0000
"The Family Village / Waisman Center / University of Wisconsin Madison" ( http://bit.ly/61CCtC )
[mnh] Wis. girl, 17, in coma after snowmobile crash - TOWN OF MUKWONAGO A 17-year-old Wisconsin girl is in a coma ... http://ow.ly/16d7w0
marshfieldnews (Marshfield Wisconsin) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:30:48 -0000
[mnh] Wis. girl, 17, in coma after snowmobile crash - TOWN OF MUKWONAGO A 17-year-old Wisconsin girl is in a coma ... http://ow.ly/16d7w0
[mnh] Wis. girl, 17, in coma after snowmobile crash - TOWN OF MUKWONAGO A 17-year-old Wisconsin girl is in a coma ... http://ow.ly/16d7vZ
marshfieldnews (Marshfield Wisconsin) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:30:48 -0000
[mnh] Wis. girl, 17, in coma after snowmobile crash - TOWN OF MUKWONAGO A 17-year-old Wisconsin girl is in a coma ... http://ow.ly/16d7vZ
Just saw a barn near Stevens Point that read "4 ever in our hearts" with a broken heart as a tribute to Favre. Only in Wisconsin. #Packers
epmckenna (E.P. McKenna) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:29:46 -0000
Just saw a barn near Stevens Point that read "4 ever in our hearts" with a broken heart as a tribute to Favre. Only in Wisconsin. #Packers

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