Wisconsin State Records

The state of Wisconsin is also called "Badger State; Americas Dairyland". Their moto is Forward. The official languages are De jure: None De facto: English. Before statehood it was called Wisconsin Territory. Wisconsin's government is comprised of the Governor, who is currently Scott Walker (R), Lieutenant Governor, who is currently Rebecca Kleefisch (R), Senators: Herb Kohl (D), Ron Johnson (R), House Delegation: 5 Republicans, 3 Democrats (list).The legislature is Wisconsin Legislature.

Total area for Wisconsin is 65,497.82 sq mi (169,639 km2) (Ranked 23rd in the U.S.). The width is 260 miles (420 km) and the length is 310 miles (500 km). In terms of latitude and longitude we have: 42° 37′ N to 47° 05′ N and 86° 46′ W to 92° 53′ W. According to the 2010 United States Census, the total population is 5,711,767 (2011 est) (Ranked 20th in the U.S.). The highest point is Timms Hill 1,951 ft (595 m) and the lowest point is Lake Michigan 579 ft (176 m).

The local time zone is Central: UTC -6/-5. The abbreviations used for this state are WI Wis. US-WI. Additional information and the official website of the state is found at www.wisconsin.gov.

Wisconsin (i/wɨsˈkɒnsɨn/) is a state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin is the 23rd most extensive and the 20th most populous of the 50 United States. Wisconsin's capital is Madison, and its largest city is Milwaukee. The state is divided into 72 counties.

The word Wisconsin originates from the name given to the Wisconsin River by one of the Algonquian speaking American Indian groups living in the region at the time of European contact. French explorer Jacques Marquette was the first European to reach the Wisconsin River and record its name, arriving in 1673 and calling the river Meskousing in his journal. 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.

Throughout the course of its many variations, the Algonquian word for Wisconsin and its original meaning have both grown obscure. Interpretations may vary, but most implicate the river and the red sandstone that line its banks. One 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.'