Green Bay, Wisconsin

Green Bay, Wisconsin
Official seal of Green Bay, Wisconsin
Seal
Nickname(s): Titletown, USA
WIMap-doton-Green Bay.png
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County Brown
Government
 - Mayor James J. Schmitt
Area
 - City 54.3 sq mi (140.7 km²)
 - Land 43.9 sq mi (113.6 km²)
 - Water 10.5 sq mi (27.1 km²)
Elevation 581 ft (177 m)
Population (2006)
 - City 101,203
 - Density 3,332.1/sq mi (1,900.5/km²)
 - Metro 226,778
Time zone Central (UTC−6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC−5)
Area code(s) 920
FIPS code 55-31000[1]
GNIS feature ID 1565801[2]
Website: www.ci.green-bay.wi.us

Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin.[3]

The city is located at the head of its namesake Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of 581 feet (177 m) above sea level and is located 112 miles (180 km) north of Milwaukee. According to the 2006 census estimate, Green Bay has a population of 100,353.[4] The Town of Green Bay is located several miles northeast of the city.

Green Bay is the principal city of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan area that covers Brown, Kewaunee, and Oconto counties[5] and had a combined population of 282,599 at the 2000 census.[1]

Set at the southern end of the bay of the same name as the city, Green Bay. and divided by the Fox River, Green Bay is an industrial city with several meatpacking and paper plants. The city of Green Bay is a port on the Bay of Green Bay, an arm of Lake Michigan. Green Bay is home to the National Railroad Museum, the Neville Public Museum with exhibitions of art, history, and science, and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

The Green Bay Packers professional football team of the National Football League has been based in the city since 1919. Green Bay is by far the smallest U.S. market for an NFL team,[6] although the Packers' fanbase stretches across the state of Wisconsin, as well as throughout the U.S. and even around the world. Green Bay is nicknamed "Titletown" and "Titletown, USA"[6] for the number of NFL titles (12) it has won over the years (including the first two Super Bowls as well as Super Bowl XXXI), more than any other team. The name appears on the city seal, is used by the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce for its web address (www.titletown.org) and variations of the word appear in the name of more than two dozen local businesses.[7]

Green Bay was awarded the title of All-America City two times in the city's history, with the first award in 1964, and the second award in 1999.

There is a free public Wi-Fi system in the downtown Green Bay Broadway District that went into operation in 2007. The system was put into place by local Internet Consulting and Web Design Firm Green Bay Net and On Broadway inc.[8]

Contents

History

There is a long history of the City of Green Bay Wisconsin, in which many groups, and people were involved. Green Bay originated because it was the gathering place of many different settling groups and travelers. These travelers began settling in the Green Bay area after traveling down the Fox River which led to the city becoming Wisconsin’s first settlement. The settlement occurred very soon after the arrival of the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock in 1620. [9] Jean Nicolet was ordered by New France’s founder Samuel de Champlain to explore the new land that he had been hearing about. He had heard that some people had been referring to themselves as “People of the Sea.” The place where current Green Bay is now, was referred to as La Baie des Puants, which directly means “the bay of the stinking water”[9]. After this the area was referred to as "La Baie Verte" which also means the sea of green. Champlain was hearing about some resources that were present in this near area of interest. The resources involved were the fertile soil, new forests, and animals. Nicolet set out on his new journey for this new learned of land shortly before winter in the year of 1634 [9] .

People lived in the Green Bay area even before the French and Nicolet discovered the area. This has been proven by archeologists who say that there had been numerous cultures that resided in this area before the presumed white race. Many animals that are common today in the thick woods of the Green Bay area were also living in the area long ago. These animals are mostly creatures with very long and thick coat, as it was necessary for survival in the cold winters this area experiences. Along with mammals were also the fish in which are similar species to the species found today in the waters around Green Bay [9].

The first group that Nicolet met when he got to the Green Bay area was a group that spoke a Siouan language, the Ho-Chunk also known as the Winnebagos. “Besides hunting and fishing, the Winnebagos cultivated corn, bean, squash, and tobacco. Wild rice, a dietary staple, grew in abundance in the river and its tributaries, and was gathered along with nuts, berries, and edible roots of the woods[9]. In this tribe there were pretty distinguished and easy identifiable gender roles. The men typically tended to do most of the dirty work, which included the actual killing of the animals, and actual catching of the fish for food where as the women would cook the dead and prepare the furs of the dead animals for rugs, furniture and other uses around the house. Women were a very important aspect in the political process of this tribe as no action could take place without agreement of half of the women. Nicolet wound up staying with this tribe for the cold months of November, December, and January. He became allies with this tribe which helped open up the opportunity for trade and commerce. Nicolet stayed for a total of about one year before he headed back to Quebec [9].

A few months after Nicolet returned from his quest Samuel de Champlain died. Champlain’s death put a stall on journeys made to the new discovered land, La Baie Verte. Nicolas Perrot was the next journeyman sent to La Baie by Pere Claude Allouez. Perrot’s 18 year stay ended in 1869. After this the French avoided this area due to the intensity of Indian and European wars. They were forced to move into the area in 1763 as the English forced them out. One of the first French settlers was Charles de Langlade and his family. “Charles de Langlade, called the "Father of Wisconsin," was a half-French Ottawa war chief who is credited with planning the ambush of British General Braddock and George Washington in that war. De Langlade and his family became the first permanent settlers in Wisconsin when they moved to Green Bay in 1765. The Grignons, Porliers and Lawes who followed brought Canadian-French culture with them. Colorful "jack-knife Judge" Reaume dispensed British justice in the territory.” [9]. These are a few of the first and important French settlers to the area. These people set the tone for the rest. Green Bay was still an area that the British greatly controlled until years after the end of the war, even after America had gained its independence. “Doty, Whitney, Arndt, Baird and Martin were among the American settlers who pushed French culture into the background following the American establishment of Fort Howard in 1816”[9]. Before Wisconsin became a state in 1848, the majority of commerce and business had to do with fur trading. After Wisconsin became a state there was a shift away from fur trading and towards lumbering. “For a short time in the 1860's and 70's, iron smelting in charcoal kilns rivaled the timber industry while the port handled increasing amounts of fuel, feed, and lumber. Today's major local industry had its start in 1895 when the first paper mill was built” [9].

The small area of land called Green Bay was created in 1838 and is the main center of the current city. This borough combined with the borough Fort Howard in 1856 and the city of Fort Howard in mid April 1865. These three areas combined to make the City of Green Bay. The size of the borough of Green Bay was very small compared to the size of the actual city today [9]. The 1850’s brought a lot of change to the City of Green Bay when other groups of people started immigrating to the area. The 1850's brought in influx of Belgian, German, Scandinavian, Irish and Holland immigrants as word spread of America's cheap land and good soil. The greatest concentration of newcomers came from Belgium. They cleared the land to farm and build their homes” [9] Chicago and Northwestern Railroad companies were formed and it allowed people, product, and things to travel all over the state, which increased business and trade opportunities. The area was really able to grow and enrich itself with the use of the river and plenty of timber resources. This led to the paper industry becoming the major employer of the City of Green Bay. This opened up the port for not only domestic trade, but also international trade [9].

A small trading post, originally named La Baye or La Baie des Puants, was established at this location in 1634 by French-Canadian explorer Jean Nicolet[10] , making Green Bay the 13th oldest permanent settlement in America. In 1671 a Jesuit Mission was set up here. A fort was added in 1717. The town was incorporated in 1754, and was passed to British control in 1761. As British settlers in the area came to outnumber the French, the name "Green Bay" (from the French: Baie Verte) became the more common name for the town. In 1783 the town became part of the United States of America.

Heritage Hill State Park in Green Bay.

The United States Army built Fort Howard on the banks of the Fox River in 1816. Wisconsin's first newspaper, The Green Bay Intelligencer, was first published here in 1833. By 1850 the town had a population of 1,923. The town was reincorporated as the city of Green Bay, joining several small towns including Navarino, Astor (created by John Jacob Astor) and Fort Howard in 1854. The Green Bay Area Public School District was founded in 1856. The railroad arrived in the 1860s. In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt came to Green Bay to honor its tricentennial.[10] By 1950 the city had a population of 52,735. In 1964, the Town of Preble was consolidated with the city of Green Bay.[11]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 54.3 square miles (140.7 km²), of which 43.9 square miles (113.6 km²) is land and 10.4 square miles (27.1 km²) is water. The total area is 69.24% water.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Green Bay, Wisconsin

The city of Green Bay has a continental climate, moderated slightly by the city's proximity to Lake Michigan. The city's climate features four distinct seasons, with warm, frequently hot summers and long, cold and snowy winters. The variance in temperature and precipitation between months is severe and often extreme. The warmest month is July, when the average high temperature is 81°F (28°C). During July, the average low temperature is 59°F (15°C). The coldest month of the year is January, when the high temperature averages only 24°F (−5°C), and the low temperatures average 7°F (−14°C).

The wettest month in Green Bay is August, when 3.77 inches (95.8 mm) of precipitation falls, mostly in the form of rainfall from thunderstorms. The driest month in Green Bay is February, when the majority of precipitation falls as low moisture-content snow due to cold, dry air. On average, 1.01 inches (25.7 mm) of precipitation falls in February.

Monthly Temperatures and Precipitation
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
°F °C °F °C °F °C °F °C °F °C °F °C °F °C °F °C °F °C °F °C °F °C °F °C
Record High Temperature
53 12 61 16 78 26 89 32 91 33 98 37 103 39 99 37 95 35 88 31 74 23 64 18
Normal High Temperature
24.1 −4.4 28.9 −1.7 40 4 54.6 12.6 68 20 76.8 24.9 81.2 27.3 78.5 25.8 70.2 21.2 57.9 14.4 42.4 5.8 29 −2
Normal Low Temperature
7.1 −13.8 12.1 −11.1 22.6 −5.2 33.9 1.1 44.7 7.1 54 12 58.6 14.8 56.5 13.6 47.5 8.6 36.9 2.7 25.6 −3.6 13.3 −10.4
Record Low Temperature
−31 −35.0 −28 −33.3 −29 −33.9 7 −14 21 −6 32 0 40 4 38 3 24 −4 15 −9 −9 −22.8 −27 −32.8
 
Precipitation
in mm in mm in mm in mm in mm in mm in mm in mm in mm in mm in mm in mm
1.21 31 1.01 26 2.06 52 2.56 65 2.75 70 3.43 87 3.44 87 3.77 96 3.11 79 2.17 55 2.27 58 1.41 36
Source: USTravelWeather.com

Transportation

US Army 101, on display at the National Railroad Museum

Green Bay is served by Austin Straubel International Airport.

The majority of the people in Green Bay use cars. The city was the headquarters of the Green Bay and Western Railroad from 1896 to 1993. After the GB&W quit, the line was purchased by Wisconsin Central Transportation. In 2001, the WC was merged into the Canadian National system. The Chicago and North Western Railway also served Green Bay, and their depot still stands today. Green Bay was last served with a regular passenger train, the CNW's Peninsula 400, in 1971. The CNW sold its trackage from Green Bay south to Sheboygan in 1987 to the Fox River Valley Railroad, which became part of the WC in 1993. Green Bay also saw passenger service from the Milwaukee Road's Chippewa Hiawatha, which ran from Chicago into the UP of Michigan. Green Bay is also served by the Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad. Amtrak expansion to Green Bay is part of the Midwest Regional Rail Project, and would follow a route from Milwaukee through Fond du Lac, Oshkosh and Appleton. Milwaukee-Madison to Milwaukee service is top priority for the State of Wisconsin at this time, with the Green Bay project on the back burner.

Green Bay also has its own mass transit system known as Green Bay Metro (formerly known as Green Bay Transit).

Green Bay is connected to the rest of the state by four major highways. US-41 connects Green Bay to the Fox Cities, Fond du Lac and Milwaukee to the south and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan via Oconto, Peshtigo, and Marinette. US-141 starts in Green Bay and joins with US-41 to the north for 18 miles before splitting off and providing access to the Upper Peninsula via Niagara. I-43, which terminates at US-41/US-141, heads south along Lake Michigan to Milwaukee and on to Illinois via Beloit. Recently WI-29 has been upgraded to four lanes to provide better access to western Wisconsin and Minnesota via Wausau and Eau Claire.
A few other highways of importance are :
WI-172: Forms a southern freeway bypass of Green Bay, and continuing to Austin Staubel Airport.
WI-32: Two lane highway which runs from Illinois to Michigan and provides alternative routes to the north and south and travels through many small communities.
WI-54: Two lane highway which runs through Green Bay from Algoma to New London and Waupaca.
WI-57: Heads to Green Bay from I-43 near Port Washington and continues through Sturgeon Bay to the Door Peninsula, terminating with WI-42 at Gills Rock with ferry access to Washington Island.

Demographics

City of Green Bay
Population by year [12]
1860 2,276
1870 4,698
1880 7,476
1890 9,069
1900 23,748
1910 25,216
1920 31,643
1930 37,407
1940 46,205
1950 52,735
1960 62,952
1970 87,829
1980 87,947
1990 96,466
2000 102,313

As of the census of 2000,[1] there were 102,313 people, 41,591 households, and 24,663 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,332.1 people per square mile (900.5/km²). There were 43,123 housing units at an average density of 982.9/sq mi (379.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.86% White, 1.38% African American, 3.28% Native American, 3.76% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.72% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.13% of the population.

There were 41,591 households of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. About 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,820, and the median income for a family was $48,678. Males had a median income of $33,246 versus $23,825 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,269. About 7.4% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those 65 and older.

Education

Religion

The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay. The Cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier in Green Bay is the mother church of the Diocese. The diocese is in the province of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The Saint Joseph Oratory is located in Green Bay.

In 2000, the American Religion Data Archive reported Green Bay to be predominantly Catholic (71.5%), with Lutherans composing an additional 16.4%. The remaining 12% are almost entirely Protestant denominations. There is also one Islamic mosque located in the city.

Sports

Professional

Collegiate

Media

Green Bay is served by the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Another local newspaper, the Green Bay News-Chronicle, ceased publication in 2005.

See also: List of radio stations in Green Bay, List of television stations in Green Bay
Lambeau Field.
City Hall.

Points of interest

Modern-day Old City Stadium.
W. C. E. Thomas, first mayor of Green Bay.

Notable residents

Mayors

  • W. C. E. Thomas 1854
  • Francis X. Desnoyers 1855
  • H. E. Eastman 1856, 1857
  • Burley Follett 1858, 1863
  • E. H. Ellis 1860
  • Henry S. Baird 1861, 1862
  • Nathan Goodell 1859, 1864
  • M. P. Lindsley 1865
  • Charles. D. Robinson 1866,1872
  • James S. Marshall 1867
  • Anton Klaus 1868,1869, 1870
  • Alonzo Kimball 1871, 1873
  • Dr. C. E. Crane 1874, 1875, 1877, 1878, 1879
  • F. S. Ellis 1876
  • J. C. Neville 1880
  • J. H. M. Wigman 1882
  • W. J. Abrams 1881,1883, 1884
  • Charles Hartung 1885, 1886, 1887
  • Arthur C. Neville 1888,1889
  • James H. Elmore 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895
  • Frank B. Desnoyers 1896, 1897, 1898
  • Simon J. Murphy, Jr. 1899,1900, 1901
  • J. H. Tayler 1902, 1903
  • Robert E. Minahan 1904-1907
  • Winford Abrams 1908-1916
  • Elmer S. Hall 1916-1920
  • W. Wiesner 1921-1927
  • James H. McGillan 1927–1929
  • John V. Diener 1929–1937
  • John S. Farrell 1937–1938
  • Alex Biemeret 1938–1945
  • Dominic Olejniczak 1945–1955
  • Otto Rachals 1955–1959
  • Roman Denissen 1959–1965
  • Donald Tilleman 1965–1972
  • Harris Burgoyne 1972–1973
  • Thomas Atkinson 1973–1975
  • Michael Monfils 1975–1979
  • Samuel J. Halloin 1979–1995
  • Paul F. Jadin 1995–2003
  • James J. Schmitt 2003–

Photos of Green Bay

Sister Cities

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ↑ "Table 1: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places Over 100,000, Ranked by July 1, 2006 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006" (CSV). 2005 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division (2007-06-28). Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
  5. ↑ METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS, Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Accessed 2008-07-30.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Will, Tracy (1997). Wisconsin. Oakland, California: Compass American Guides. pp. 83. ISBN 1878867490. 
  7. ↑ ESPN.com, "There is no other TitleTown USA", April 10, 2008.
  8. ↑ Ryman, Richard (October 12, 2007). "Broadway District businesses go Wi-Fi", Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved on 2007-12-09. 
  9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 City of Green Bay. "City of Green Bay." www.ci.green-bay.wi.us. 5 Oct. 2008 <http://www.ci.green-bay.wi.us/geninfo/history_o.html>
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Rodesch, Gerrold C. (1984). "Jean Nicolet". University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. Retrieved on 2007-10-13.
  11. ↑ Mayor Denissen
  12. ↑ United States Census Bureau. [1]

External links

Green Bay, Wisconsin
Surrounding
communities
(over 10,000)
Allouez‡ | Ashwaubenon‡ | Bellevue‡ | De Pere° | Howard‡
(under 10,000)
Hobart‡ | Ledgeview* | Scott* | Suamico‡
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Counties
Brown County
*town ‡village °city
Municipalities and communities of
Brown County, Wisconsin
County seat: Green Bay
Cities

De Pere | Green Bay
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Brown County.svg
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Allouez | Ashwaubenon | Bellevue | Denmark | Hobart | Howard | Pulaski | Suamico | Wrightstown
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‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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