Wisconsin (IPA pronunciation: ) is a state in the United States, located in the Midwest. The rural economy was originally based on furs, then came lumber, farming, dairy, and vacationing. Industrialization began in the late 19th century in the southeast, with Milwaukee as the major center. In recent decades service industries, especially medicine and education, have become dominant.

The state has always been ethnically heterogeneous. The Yankees arrived first and long dominated industry, finance, politics and education. Large numbers of Germans arrived between 1850 and 1900, centering in Milwaukee, but also settling in many small cities and farm areas in the southeast. Scandinavians settled in lumbering and farming areas in the northwest. Small colonies of Belgians, Swiss, Finns and other groups came to the state. Irish Catholics mostly came to the cities. After 1900, Polish immigrants came to Milwaukee, followed by African Americans from 1940 on.

Politically, the state was a Republican stronghold that supported the Union during the Civil War. Ethnoreligious issues regarding schools split the Republican coalition briefly in 1890. From 1900 to the 1940s, Robert La Follette and his sons dominated state politics using the Republican Party and then their own Progressive Party. Since 1945, the state has maintained a close balance between the Republicans and Democrats. The Republicans put forth conservative-to-moderate Governor Tommy Thompson in the 1980s and 1990s, while the Democrats have produced liberal Senator Russ Feingold in the 2000s. Conant ch 1; Barone and Cohen; Pearce

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News from www.lacrossetribune.com

Is 18 too young for drinking? College leaders ponder legal age
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:50:09 -0500
John Ottens Jr. has a brief memory from the moment 30 years ago that put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Johnston leaving Boys & Girls Club
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:50:10 -0500
The executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse will leave at the end of the month “to pursue other professional opportunities,” the board of directors said Wednesday.
Franciscan Skemp to raise prices 4.75 percent; rate hike lowest in a decade
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:10:20 -0500
Prices at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare will increase an average of 4.75 percent effective next month, the lowest rate hike in 10 years.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette Latest Headlines

A.M. roundup: Cooler, with rain this afternoon
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:04:00 -0600
The Green Bay area finally is expected to get some rain today, mainly after 1 p.m., according to the National Weather Service office in Ashwaubenon. The high is expected to hit 61 degrees.
Story, photos: Search for escaped inmate continues
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:42:00 -0600
Authorities said this morning that the search continues for a prisoner who escaped from a Brown County Sheriffs Department transport van at Harvey Street and Webster Avenue in Green Bay about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Hes accused of setting raccoon on fire
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:30:00 -0600
WAUSAU -- Wausau police shot and killed a raccoon Monday that a Wausau man had trapped, shot and burned alive.

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