Wisconsin is known as the Badger State, which pays homage to the miners who helped shape the state and the furry creature was also adopted as the mascot for the University of Wisconsin. The state's other nickname, America's Dairyland, also has ties to a beloved sports team in the state, the Green Bay Packers.
Fans of the NFL football team and residents of the state are both called "cheeseheads," and many Wisconsinites work in the dairy industry since it's the second largest industry there.
Below is a compilation of the nine biggest cities in Wisconsin, which all have 60,000 or more residents:
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1. Milwaukee: Milwaukee has just fewer than 600,000 residents, and is about three larger than the second biggest city. It also ranks as the 31st largest city in the U.S.
According to VisitMilwaukee.org, there is a "vibrant arts scene, diverse cultural events, unique visitor attractions and more than $2.5 billion in new tourism product investment since 1998." Milwaukee is considered one of the most wired cities in the world and among the most walkable cities in the U.S.
2. Madison: Thanks to the University of Wisconsin, Madison is a great college town that also happens to be the state capital.
According to Best College Reviews' 50 Best College Towns in America list, Madison came in at number three, due in part to its historic downtown, the rolling prairies that surround it, and the lively community there. It boasts a plethora of outdoor activities, a strong entrepreneurial class, and employers like Google and Microsoft.
3. Green Bay: Over 100,00 residents call Wisconsin's third-largest city home, and a majority of them are Green Bay Packers fans. The team is the "only publicly owned, not-for-profit, major professional team in the United States"
according to The New Yorker. The shareholders of the team elect a seven-member committee to attend the NFL owner meetings.
4. Kenosha: Fourth on this list of biggest cities in Wisconsin, Kenosha sits on Lake Michigan with miles of lakefront that feature a "breathtaking parkland along the waterfront [that] blends beautifully with the adjacent historic downtown featuring quaint shops, galleries, an outdoor market, and eateries — all linked by a vintage electric streetcar system,"
according to TravelWisconsin.com. Over 100,000 residents live in the area.
5. Racine: Another Lake Michigan city, Racine's nickname is "The Belle City of the Lakes" and yet it's also a very affordable place to live. About 78,000 Wisconsinites call it home. The city was made official in 1838 after the area was officially ceded to the United States in 1833.
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6. Appleton: The third waterfront city bordering Lake Michigan among Wisconsin's largest cities is Appleton.
This location earned accolades from The Huffington Post as one of the six small towns to visit in the summer of 2014. The article named Appleton's downtown as a destination, citing that it is "home to more than 60 unique shops, like Fire, a glass and ceramics studio, Vintage Garden, a trendy Pinterest inspired home goods shop and Hey Daisy, a cute modern boutique with clothes and jewelry."
7. Waukesha: Located 18 miles from Milwaukee, Waukesha is the hometown of Les Paul of electric guitar and Grammy fame. This city of about 70,000 has appeared on a number of lists, like the 100 Best Places to Live by Money Magazine, and 100 Best Communities in the U.S. for Young People. It's also been noticed as a Preserve America city.
8. Oshkosh: This city sits on another lake, Winnebago, and is home to 66,000 residents. It's considered "Wisconsin's Event City" with an array of concerts, festivals, races, and sporting events occurring year-round. Oshkosh hosts Oshkosh EAA AirVenture, the world's largest and most significant annual aviation event, and Country USA, one of America's premier country music festivals.
9. Eau Claire: This city's name means 'clear waters' and is traced back to French explorers rejoicing at finding water. It's not a huge tourist destination, but the 65,000 residents like it just that way.
According to Mother Earth News, people like Eau Claire for "its leisurely pace of life, the safety of its streets, and the fact that it was recently named one of the 100 best places to raise children by American's Promise Alliance, an organization that works to ensure the well-being of children and youth."
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