States from A-Z: Wisconsin & Wyoming

WISCONSIN – “BADGER STATE”

 

Wisconsin, adjoining Lake Superior and Michigan in the North, Lake Michigan in the East, Illinois in the South and Iowa and Minnesota in the West, became the 30th state of the United States in 1848.

 

Measuring 169,639 km² the “Badger State” is the 23th largest state and is twice as big as Bavaria. As of 2006, 5,536,201 inhabitants call Wisconsin their home. The second biggest city is Madison. It is also the capital of Wisconsin.

 

Geographically, Wisconsin can be divided into 5 regions. Lake Superior Lowland is situated in the North and the Northern Highlands in the South, characterized by mixed and coniferous forests. The other three regions are the Central Plains (formed by farmland and impressive sandstone formations), the Eastern Ridges and Lowlands (the multiple cities make it the most populous region) and the Western Uplands (characterized by forests and farmland).

 

Many inhabitants in Wisconsin descend from German immigrants and thus, it is not surprising to have cities here that are called Berlin, New Berlin or Kiel.

 

Before the first European settlers entered present-day Wisconsin many Indian tribes had lived here. Fur trade played an important role for a long time and was the settlers’ main source of income. Yet, in the early 19th century many miners came to Wisconsin to take on the lead mine. They were given the name “Badger” and thus the nickname “Badger State” was given to Wisconsin. Over the course of that century railways had been built and natural resources had been exhausted little by little. At that time, there was a large timber, pulp and paper industry in the northern part of the state and more and more European settlers moved here.

 

Wisconsin is well-known for its oppositions of the rural conservative and the urban liberal regions and thus, ensures a political balance.

 

There is a lot to explore when it comes to tourism. Aside from theme parks, casinos, theaters and spas you can go on a shopping spree, visit the zoo or just do sports. Interesting sights can also be visited: Little Norway in Blue Mounds, a Norwegian farm from 1856 in which a stave church is integrated, St. Joseph Basilica, a replica of the St. Peter’s Church in Rome, Holy Hill National Park and the State History Museum.

 

 

 

 

WYOMING – “COWBOAY STATE”

 

Wyoming, also called Cowboy State, measures 253,336 km² which makes it the 10th largest state of the USA. It is also the state with the least number of inhabitants behind Alaska. Aside from Colorado, Wyoming is the highest US state (2,044 m above sea level).

 

Wyoming also belongs to the legendary „Wild West“. This term evolved from the state’s western location. Its capital is Cheyenne. Wyoming adjoins Montana in the North, South Dakota and Nebraska in the East, Colorado in the South and Utah and Idaho in the West. Aside from Colorado, Wyoming is one of the states (out of two) which is bounded by two latitudes and two longitudes solely.

 

The Great Plains make the eastern part of Wyoming. This is a spacious prairie from Canada down to Mexico. It is a well-known cultural landscape worldwide. Due to drought it was not possible to cultivate the land (wheat if ever). That is why pasture farming is extremely supported.

 

Seen in a historical context, sheep and cattle breeding is one of the state’s most important source of income and up to the present time it still influences culture and lifestyle. Yet nowadays, mining (oil, natural gas etc.) is the most important branch of industry Basis for Wyoming’s tourism is the Rocky Mountains and both national parks.

 

The Yellowstone National Park is definitely worth seeing. It was opened on March 1st in 1872. It covers Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Not less important is the Grand Teton National Park, opened on February, 1929. Aside from these two parks, the Devils Tower National Monument is worth a visit. This monument is a monolith, located near the Bear Lodge Mountains and the Black Hills in Crook County. To the Plains Indians this monolith is a sacred place - considered as the home of the grizzly bears.