Wisconsin: A Geography

243 Pages·2022·364.714 MB·English

by  Ingolf Vogeler

WISCONSIN

Geographies of the United States
Ingolf Vogeler General Editor
,
Wisconsin: A Geography
Ingolf Vogeler
with Harold Mayer Brady Foust and Richard Palm
, ,
and with editorial assistance by Sharon Knopp
"America's Dairyland" is the favorite image of Wisconsin, but as this book explains,
the state is as rich in culture as it is in agriculture, as diverse as it is bountiful. Popular
impressions as well as the historical and contemporary landscapes are examined in this
systematic and well-illustrated geography of Wisconsin.
Over 160 photographs, sketches, graphs, and tables reflect the state's variety—the red
and white farmsteads, the abandoned ore mines of the Gogebic Range, the beauty of the
Chequamegon National Forest, the small-town ethnic festivals, and the busy streets of
Milwaukee—and delineate Wisconsin's geography, a landscape made diverse by the massive
glaciers that covered most of the state more than 10,000 years ago. Within this environment,
three distinctive historical landscapes evolved: the boreal riverine fur-trading empire, the
settler era, and the nationalist stage of railroads and factories.
In considering the state's three regions, close attention is paid to the differences that
have characterized Wisconsin's growth. In the Northwoods region, the use of natural
resources by the Indians and logging and mining companies is contrasted with the practices
of agricultural settlers and urban recreationalists. Although famous for its dairy farms,
the southern agricultural area also provides a wealth of specialty crops such as tobacco
and cranberries. The state's small towns and urban areas make up the third region.
Particular attention is paid to Milwaukee and its ethnic neighborhoods.
Wisconsin provides a thorough look at a state marked by contrasts and, in so doing,
gives depth to our image of America's dairyland.
Ingolf Vogeler associate professor and chair of the Department of Geography at the
,
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, is also the series editor for Geographies of the United
States. Harold Mayer is professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
Brady Foust professor, and Richard Palm assistant professor, teach at the University of
, ,
Wisconsin–Eau Claire. Sharon Knopp is associate editor of the Journal of Geography.
To the geographer
in all of us
WISCONSIN
A GEOGRAPHY
lngolf Vogeler
with contributions by
Harold Mayer, Brady Foust, and Richard Palm
and with editorial assistance
by Sharon Knopp
First published 1986 by Westview Press, Inc.
Published 2021 by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
Copyright © 1986 by Taylor & Francis
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Notice:
Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Vogeler, lngolf.
Wisconsin, a geography.
(Geographies of the United States)
Includes index.
I. Wisconsin-Description and travel. I. Title.
II. Series.
F58l.V63 1986 977.5'04 85-13907
ISBN 13: 978-0-3672-1369-5 (hbk)
ISBN 13: 978-0-3672-1650-4 (pbk)
DOI:10.4324/9780429267772
Contents
List of Figures ix
List of Tables xiii
Preface and Acknowledgments xv
INTRODUCTION
1
1 IMAGES OF WISCONSIN 4
Water Recreation 4
Beer 9
Dairying 15
Frank Lloyd Wright 21
Selected References 22
P2H YSICAL PROCESSES AND PATTERNS 24
Climate 24
Focus: Wisconsin Thunderstorms 29
Landforms 30
Vegetation 45
Water 49
Selected References 50
HI3S TORICAL LANDSCAPES 51
The Boreal Riverine Empire: Indian Culture Areas and
European Fur Trading 51
The Settler Empire: Miners, Agriculturalists, and Loggers
on the National Frontier 56
Focus: Ethnic Festivals in Wisconsin 71
The Nationalist Empire: Railroads and Factories 77
Selected References 80
TH4E NORTHWOODS REGION 84
Indian Reservations 87
Logging and Lumbering, 1840s-1910s 92
Focus: Lumberjack Lingo 93
Northern Mining, 1880s-1960s 97
Cutover Agriculture, 1910s-1950s 103
Northern Recreation After the 1950s 115
Selected References 121
TH5E SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL REGION 124
Wisconsin's Agricultural History 124
Dairying in Wisconsin Today 127
Focus: Dairy Farming: A Hard Row to Hoe 132
Specialty Crops 136
Selected References 145
TH6E URBAN REGIONS 147
Historical Evolution of the Urban Pattern 147
Central Places: The Size and Spacing of Cities 154
Manufacturing 162
Conclusion 170
Selected References 171
TH7E MILWAUKEE METROPOLITAN REGION 172
The City's Location and Site 172
Historical and Cultural Heritage 177
Milwaukee's Major Areas 183
Focus: Greendale, Wisconsin: Federal City Planning
During the Great Depression 185
The Metropolitan Economy 190
The Service and Utility Infrastructure 201
Milwaukee's Future 203
Selected References 205
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