The Heart of the Dairy State

Wisconsin is a Midwestern US state defined by its mix of Great Lakes shoreline, rolling farmland, forested northern counties, and a long industrial and immigrant history.

From Glacial Lakes to Lake Michigan

Its capital, Madison, sits among glacial lakes, while Milwaukee anchors the state's largest metropolitan area along Lake Michigan. Across Wisconsin's counties — Sheboygan, Dane, Kewaunee, Buffalo, Jackson, Fond du Lac, Forest, Marinette, Portage, Langlade, and many more — the landscape shifts from dairy country to paper-mill towns, lakefront cities, and rural communities shaped by German, Scandinavian, and Eastern European settlement. The state's geography supports a wide range of cultural and economic traditions, from agriculture and brewing to manufacturing and outdoor recreation.

Local Tip: In Wisconsin, a backyard cookout is called a backyard tailgate — and you should expect plenty of Beer Brats and beer.