Wisconsin Borders and Statehood

Badgerland Journal

Have you ever wondered why the Upper Peninsula is not a part of Wisconsin? Did you know that Chicago, Duluth, and St. Paul were all originally part of Wisconsin's intended state borders? Today's episode discusses the formation of Wisconsin's borders and its eventual statehood. Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Minnesota were all part of the Northwest Territory of 1787. The charter lay out proposed borders for the future states formed from out of the territory. Initially, Wisconsin's borders were larger than the current state borders. How did this happen? Over the course of many years, each surrounding state began taking land from the proposed Wisconsin borders. Tune in to learn about the various incidents that lead to the creation of Wisconsin borders. Let us know what part of Wisconsin's original land should be given back to Wisconsin on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, or send an email to [e-mail]

Sources:

“The Creation of Wisconsin Territory.” Wisconsin Historical Society, August 3, 2012. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS394.

Foran, Chris. “How Wisconsin Lost Land to Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota Before It Became a State.” Journal Sentinel, December 10, 2021. https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/green-sheet/2021/12/10/wisconsins-original-borders-had-illinois-michigan-minnesota-cities/5275719001/.

“History of Wisconsin.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed May 24, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/place/Wisconsin/History.

“Statehood.” Wisconsin Historical Society, January 25, 2021. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS16414.

Stein, Mark. How The States Got Their Shapes Too: The People Behind the Borderlines. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Books, 2011.

Stein, Mark. How The States Got Their Shapes. New York: Smithsonian Books/Collins, 2009.