Wisconsin Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.wisconsin.gov/

Income

The population of Wisconsin in 2002 was 5,439,692. Its rank was 20th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Wisconsin had a per capita personal income of $30,050. This per capita personal income ranked 20th in the United States and was 97 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 2.3 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Wisconsin was $19,683 and ranked 24th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.3 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Wisconsin had a total personal income of $163,463,550. This total personal income ranked 18th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Wisconsin was $98,917,056 and ranked 18th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 3.0 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 5.2 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Wisconsin. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 67.9 percent of total personal income (compared with 67.6 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 17.9 percent (compared with 18.6 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 14.3 percent (compared with 13.9 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 2.5 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 0.3 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 9.3 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 5.2 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 4.7 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 5.4 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Wisconsin increased from $118,855,384 in 2001 to $122,086,023 in 2002, an increase of 2.7 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $73,836,882 to the 2002 estimate was 5.2 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Wisconsin ranks 22nd in size among the states. It covers 169,644 sq km (65,500 sq mi), including 4742 sq km (1831 sq mi) of inland water. Also under jurisdiction of the state is 24,229 sq km (9355 sq mi) of waters in lakes Michigan and Superior. Wisconsin is roughly rectangular in shape, except for the Door Peninsula, which is about 130 km (about 80 mi) long and separates Green Bay from Lake Michigan. Wisconsin has a maximum length from north to south of about 480 km (about 300 mi) and a width from east to west of about 450 km (about 280 mi).

Climate - Wisconsin has a humid continental climate. Winters are long and cold throughout the state. Summers are short and fairly hot, especially in southern Wisconsin. The waters of lakes Superior and Michigan modify the climate of the coastal areas to a noticeable extent. These areas are generally milder in winter and cooler in summer than interior sections of the state. Average July temperatures range from more than 22° C (72° F) in the southwest to less than 19° C (66° F) in some northern areas. Daytime temperatures are seldom much higher than 32° C (90° F), and cool weather is not unusual. Summer nights are generally cool, and July temperatures have been known to dip to the freezing point in northern areas. January averages fall below freezing throughout Wisconsin. They range from less than -12° C (less than 10° F) in the interior northern areas to about -6° C (about 22° F) in the southeast, along the Lake Michigan shore. During winter extremely cold weather persists for several weeks at a time. Average annual precipitation ranges from about 700 to 800 mm (about 28 to 32 in). Rainfall is generally heaviest during the spring and summer, and snowfall is generally moderate in the south, but can be quite heavy in the north. Thunderstorms, sometimes accompanied by devastating tornadoes, are common in spring and summer, particularly in the southern part of the state.

State Flag

State Flower - Wood Violet

State Capitol - Madison
Wisconsin still uses the constitution it adopted at the time of statehood in 1848. It is one of the oldest state constitutions. An amendment to the constitution may be proposed by the legislature or by a constitutional convention. To be ratified, an amendment must be approved by a majority of people voting on the issue in a general election.

Famous People
Alfred Lunt actor, Milwaukee
Allen Ludden tv host, Mineral Point
Amy Pietz actress, Oak Creek
August Derleth author, Sauk City
Bob Uecker baseball player, Milwaukee
Charles and John Ringling circus entrepreneurs, Baraboo
Charles Winninger actor, Athen
Charlotte Rae actress, Milwaukee
Chris Farley actor, Madison
Don Ameche actor, Kenosha
Ellen Corby actress, Racine
Eric Heiden speed skater, Madison
Frank Lloyd Wright architect, Richland Center
Frederic March actor, Racine
Gena Rowlands actress, Cambria
George F. Kennan diplomat, Milwaukee
Georgia O'Keeffe painter, Sun Prairie
Harry Houdini magician, Appleton
Jackie Mason comedian, Sheboygan
Jeanne Dixon seer, Medford
John Bardeen inventor, Madison
Laura Ingalls Wilder author, Pepin
Les Paul musician, Waukesha
Liberace pianist, West Allis
Loretta Sell Hildegarde singer, Adell
Orson Welles actor and producer, Kenosha
Pat O'Brien actor, Milwaukee
Pee Wee King singer, Abrams
Roy Chapman Andrews naturalist and explorer, Beloit
Spencer Tracy actor, Milwaukee
Thomas Hulce actor, Whitewater
Thornton Wilder author, Madison
Thorstein Veblen economist, Cato Township
Tom Snyder newscaster, Milwaukee
Tyne Daly actress, Madison
William Defoe actort, Appleton
William H. Rehnquist jurist, Milwaukee
Woody Herman band leader, Milwaukee
Zona Gale author, Portage