Wisconsin State Names

Wisconsin Name Etymology and State Nicknames

Midwest

• Badger State

• Dairy State

• America's Dairyland

• America's Bread Basket

• Cheese 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 spelling was later corrupted to Ouisconsin by other French explorers, and over time this version became the French name for both the Wisconsin River and the surrounding lands. English speakers anglicized the spelling to its modern form when they began to arrive in greater numbers during the early 19th Century. The current spelling was made official by the legislature of Wisconsin Territory in 1845.

Through the course of its many variations, the Algonquian source word for Wisconsin, together with its original meaning, have grown obscure. However, a leading theory holds that the name originated from the Miami word Meskonsing, meaning "it lies red", a reference to the setting of the Wisconsin River as it flows by the reddish sandstone of the Wisconsin Dells. Numerous other theories have also been widely publicized, including claims that name originated from one of a variety of Ojibwa words meaning "red stone place," "gathering of the waters," or "great rock.

Nicknames

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!")

Dairy State, America's Dairyland, or Cheese State

But Wisconsin is predominantly a dairy state, producing 40% of the country's cheese, and 20% of its butter - not surprisingly, then, the state is sometimes nicknamed the Dairy State, America's Dairyland (which is how it appears on license plates) or even the Cheese State.

Slogans

America's Dairyland (on its license plate)

Wisconsin Postal Code

WI

Wisconsin Resident's Name

Wisconsinite