Wisconsin is located between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River in the Midwest of the United States. A relatively large number its about 5.9 million residents are of German or Scandinavian ancestry. Wisconsin's diverse nature is characterized by many bodies of water and large forested regions. The most densely populated areas are situated on the shores of Lake Michigan. The state's name comes from the Algonquian language and was the Native American name for the Wisconsin River even before European settlement. Wisconsin was the center of the Effigy Mound culture, known for its animal-shaped earthworks. At the time of contact with Europeans, the region was inhabited by various tribes such as the Dakota Oyate, Ho-Chunk and Menominee. Later, the Ojibwa, Sauk, Fox, Kickapoo and Pottawatomie also entered the region.

Wisconsin's colonial period was dominated by the fur trade. The French were the first Europeans to arrive in 1634. During the Seven Years' War, however, the British took control in 1763. In the course of the Revolutionary War, the U.S. laid claim to Wisconsin and founded the Northwest Territory in 1787. After several territorial changes and wars with Native Americans, the U.S. created the Wisconsin Territory in 1836. When lead mining replaced the fur trade as the most important industry, many of the prospectors lived in the mines they dug rather than in houses, earning them the nickname "Badgers". Hence, Wisconsin became known as the "Badger State". In 1848, Wisconsin was admitted to the Union as the 30^th state. Its motto is "Forward." 

As one of the largest producers of dairy products in the U.S., Wisconsin is also called "America's Dairyland." No other state produces more cheese. In addition, Wisconsin is known for its beer. A number of German immigrants built several breweries in Milwaukee, including the Miller Brewing Company, which was founded in 1855 by Frederick Miller and developed into the second largest brewery in the nation. Wisconsin's largest city Milwaukee is a cultural and economic center. A particularly prominent building on the Lake Michigan waterfront is the Milwaukee Art Museum with its unique wing-like brise soleil, which automatically folds in or out depending on the weather and time of day.

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