Statehood 1848

Wisconsin

Wisconsin's colonial history began with French exploration and control under the Pays d'en Haut, established in 1610 as part of New France encompassing the Great Lakes region, with the French establishing settlements including Green Bay. Following the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the region passed to British control as part of the Province of Quebec, lasting through the Revolutionary War until the Treaty of Paris of 1783 ceded the area to the United States. The region then became part of the Northwest Territory in 1787 before becoming the Territory of Wisconsin on July 3, 1836, and finally achieving statehood on May 29, 1848, as the 30th state.

Statehood
1848
Historic sites
2,671
Military engagements
82

Pre-contact era

Wisconsin was home to several Native American tribes before European contact. The history of Wisconsin begins with stories of the many peoples who have lived there, starting with the Native American tribes who were the first inhabitants of the region.

Colonial history

French colonization of the Americas established forts and settlements including Green Bay in what is now Wisconsin. The Pays d'en Haut depended on the colony of Canada.

Throughout the Revolutionary War, the region was part of the British Province of Quebec and the western theater of the war.

Wisconsin was part of the Northwest Territory from 1787, then the Territory of Wisconsin from July 3, 1836, until statehood on May 29, 1848. There were also a handful of French colonial settlements remaining in the territory at the time of the Northwest Territory's creation.

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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Explore Wisconsin records

2,671
National Register historic sites
National Register listings ›
82
Military engagements
Military history records ›
3
Civil War regiments
Union, Confederate, USCT ›
9
Indigenous groups
Heritage records ›
13
Notable figures
Born in Wisconsin ›
2
Colonial-era events
1492 to early statehood ›
1
Archaeological sites
Prehistoric sites ›
Wisconsin counties
Census population history ›
Sources

State history content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Historic sites data: National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

About Wisconsin

When did Wisconsin become a state?
Wisconsin was admitted to the Union in 1848.
What European powers colonized Wisconsin?
The territory that became Wisconsin passed through several colonial periods. French colonization of the Americas established forts and settlements including Green Bay in what is now Wisconsin. The Pays d'en Haut depended on the colony of Canada. Throughout the Revolutionary War, the region was part of the British Province of Quebec and the western theater of the war. Wisconsin was part of the Northwest Territory from 1787, then the Territory of Wisconsin from July 3, 1836,
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