Wisconsin State Names

Wisconsin Nicknames and Resident's Name

Midwest

• Badger State

• America's Dairyland

• America's Bread Basket

• Cheese State

Badger State

Early lead miners who spent so much time digging in the ground. The badger has been closely associated with Wisconsin since territorial days, it was not declared the official state animal until 1957. Over the years its likeness had been incorporated in the state coat of arms, the seal, the flag and even State Capitol architecture, as well as being immortalized in the song "On, Wisconsin!" ("Grand old badger state!")

Origin of Wisconsin State Name

French corruption of an Indian word whose meaning is disputed

This state was named after the Wisconsin River. Wisconsin means "grassy place" in the Chippewa language.

Marquette [Jacques Marquette, who explored the area with Louis Jolliet] was a fine mapmaker; and he drew maps of their journey. All of the explorers wrote down the many things they learned. They wrote down the names they heard. One Indian word they heard was miskousing. This later became known as Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Postal Code

WI

Wisconsin Resident's Name

Wisconsinite