Wisconsin, USA, known as “The Badger State” takes its name from a Chippewa Indian word that means “grassy place”.  Located in the Midwestern section of the nation, WI claims more than 11,000 square miles of the lush region between the Great Lakes and the mighty Mississippi River.  WI shares its borders with Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.   

At the time of the last official census, in 2000, there were 5,363,675 Wisconsinites; however, 2006 estimates indicates a population in excess of  5.5 million.  Madison, the state capital, accounts for 208,054 of that total, while Milwaukee, WI’s largest city, reported nearly 597,000 residents.  Other large WI cities include Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Janesville, Kenosha , Oshkosh, Racine and Waukesha.

Madison captures the spirit of an American college town, while serving as a significant center of commerce and culture for WI.  Madison is also the seat of Dane County.  Also known as the “City of Four Lakes”, Madison lies less than eighty miles west of Milwaukee.  The city’s top employers include the State of Wisconsin and Madison’s campus of the University of Wisconsin.

Milwaukee features all the amenities common in a major metropolitan city, with myriad opportunities within the arts, cultural and recreational venues.  Located along the bluffs and shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee was once the site of four of the world’s largest breweries and to this day remains a city renowned for its production of beer.  Miller Brewing Company continues to provide employment opportunities in the city and is the second-largest beer maker in the nation. 

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported a gross state product of $211.7 billion in 2004, while the personal per capita income in WI averaged $32,157.  Massive production of cheese and milk give the state its nickname of “America's Dairlyand“.  Other leading products produced in WI include beer, bratwursts, cranberries, maple syrup, paper products and tart cherries.  In addition, the Lake Superior harbor’s massive shipyards host some of the country’s largest docks.   

Thousands of glacial Wisconsin lakes and numerous state parks provide opportunities for fishing, hunting, skiing, snowmobiling, and other water sports. The majestic lighthouses and sea caves of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore draw visitors to WI, while Door County remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state.  Additional must-see attractions include the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve, Lake Geneva, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway,  Wisconsin Dells  and Spring Green, the hometown of Frank Lloyd Wright. The Green Bay Packers also call Wisconsin their home. 

The University of Wisconsin System operates thirteen campuses throughout the state.  This massive network of higher learning facilities is a significant contributor in the groundbreaking field of stem-cell research.  Colleges in Madison, the state capital, include a campus of the University of Wisconsin, Edgewood College, Herzing College and the Madison Media Institute.  Additional facilities for higher learning include  Beloit College,  Lawrence University in Appleton, Marquette University in Milwaukee, Ripon College and Silver Lake College in Manitowoc.