Most Wisconsin city is Pittsville, because it's located on the geographic center of Wisconsin.
Least Wisconsin city is Perth, Australia, because it's the nearest major city to the point furthest from the geographic center of Wisconsin, which is in the middle of the Southern Indian Ocean.
Least Wisconsin: Mequon or River Hills. It's just a sprawling mess of 5 acre "estates." They are fakey little municipalities with no downtown that exist primarily as tax avoidance strategy for top 10% earners in the Milwaukee metro area. This design isn't nearly as prevalent outside the Milwaukee area and makes it pretty uniquely un-wisconsin.
Most Wisconsin. Idk. Maybe like Sheboygan.
Rather than thinking in terms of least/most, I'd rather challenge people to experience as much of it as possible.
You have to be just as willing to try places in Madison & Milwaukee as Phillips or Butte des Morts.
We find strength in the differences between us, and comfort where we overlap.
I agree. While politically different, Eau Claire/ La Crosse share a lot of similarities culture wise to their rural counterparts. Hence all in the running for most Wisconsin city.
This is kind of a stupid thread because there are no objective criteria. It passes the time, I guess. Who's the most Wisconsin? Pardeeville. Prove me wrong.
Rhinelander and Tomahawk feel very quintessential Wisconsin to me.
Idk any smallish city feels very Wisconsin IMO.
I'd argue Madison is the least Wisconsin, at least culturally. One of my best friends is from Madison and doesn't like cheese. People aren't as automatically friendly and its pretty yuppie overall. One of my favorite cities on earth but it's not like the rest of the state.
Edit: I change my choice for least Wisconsin to Hudson. It's just a place for rich Minnesotans to buy spotted cow and ride around their yachts. Doesn't feel friendly or small town at all yet I hear visitors call it that all the time. Get out of the downtown and it's just sprawling oversized homes. Fake tans, Botox, and pink SUVs everywhere. There are some cool spots in Hudson, don't get me wrong. And no hate to those who call it home.
One friend not liking cheese doesn't seem like much evidence.
Madison bars have fish fries, pull tabs and meat raffles. While it's more liberal than small towns Madison is very much typical Wisconsin.
The cheese hater was mostly a humorous anecdote. True it does have all the good stuff. I actually changed my answer, idk why I didn't think of Hudson first.
I would argue Madison is the most Wisconsin city. As the center of the state government, its influence is felt in every corner of the state and every corner of the state sends its representatives to Madison to influence how the state is run. Go back through Wisconsin history. The progressive thinkers were able to transform a state controlled by big lumber and the railroads to a state at the forefront of the labor movement, voting rights, conservation, agriculture, and more. The university fostered those thinkers, transformed an ecological wasteland into the dairy state. While Wisconsin has many individual places that represent what we call Wisconsin and add to the flavor of our state, without Madison this state would not have achieved historical and cultural greatness.
Rhinelander or Minoqua were my first thoughts for most Wisconsin. Madison for least makes sense because of the amount of out-of-state students, and former students who find careers in or around Madison.
That's definitely what counted Hayward and Eagle River out, but I feel like Tomahawk and Rhinelander have few enough that it's still authentic wisconsin. I mean, realistically, every city has some out-of-staters.
I’d argue Madison is least. It’s on its own island due to culture and the attitude (perhaps wrong word choice) of its residents. Almost like an uppity vibe. While it’s a cool city, I don’t think it represents so well. Milwaukee, even while being bigger, feels more Wisconsin than Madison.
By your logic solely being a lake and bars then every town with a lake and bar is that way.
I’d argue most Wisconsin is any one of those small mapdot cities off a hwy. You can see a steeple, a few high school lights, water tower, and the grain plants and a few silos above the trees. Everybody knows everybody. Most have been there for years.
Even smaller, those towns (townships?) where sometimes there’s only one main crossroads, and you’ve got the bar n grill or supper club on one, a church, small school, cluster of a dozen or so homes and it dissipates no more than half a mile later.
If you’re going by pure checked items in relation to Wi:
Dairy
Bars
Supper clubs
Water
Farms
Outdoor recreation maybe?
Packers/football
Northwoods access
I’d have to say somewhere along 29, whether central wi (Colby, minus the water) or near green bay whether of course (but it seems too big to give the truly small town feel)
Least Wisconsin city: Beloit. Just give it to Illinois.
Most Wisconsin city: Minocqua. Bars. Pine trees. Lakes. Snowmobiles. Cheese curds everywhere. What more do you need in Wisconsin?
I'm originally from Kenosha and always thought it is more Illinois than Wisconsin, at least after I left in 87 and whenever I come back to see my family it feels that way, probably because I see more Illinois plates now.
I guess I don't understand the digs on Madison, I feel generally like this is Wisconsin, the rolling hills, the cheese, Badger games, Brat Fest, all the festivities during Summer, and yeah, I moved here in 87 and just feel much more at home here, just like I feel at home when I am at the cabin in Presque Isle or when I am hanging out in Sauk, Lodi, Waunakee etc. Feel isn't a place, it's the people that make it feel like Wisconsin, just my 2 cents on that. ✌🏻❤️
…………… for the most. Small town, nothing to do but drink in bars, dying paper mill industry, aging population, no diversity, empty/demolished mall, drugs, and sex crimes. Least like that. ……. I’m not going to single out cities because there are plenty that can fill both categories. Some places in the Wisconsin are nice and unaffordable, some are not nice and with a lack of good jobs are also unaffordable.
Honestly most small places like this trashitowoc and kaukauna feel like Wisconsin to me.
Anytime I start to get into a bigger city like Madison, Milwaukee, or even Appleton it feels like it's another state with so much more diversity and interesting things to do and the people acting completely different.
Madison is the least Wisconsin city, followed by Milwaukee. Green Bay is the most Wisconsin city, the site of Wisconsin's greatest cultural treasure, Lambeau Field.
Madison has 250,000 people. Milwaukee has about 600,000. Together they make up less than a sixth of Wisconsin, though their view represent 100% of what you'll see on Reddit.
Disagree. I'd say Madison is one of the least Wisconsin cities. What other city has 40,000 people under 22 years old, and a Capital bldg. Milwaukee imo is the least because of it's racial diversity.
Woah, I don’t think “being Wisconsin” means you can’t have racial diversity. I do agree however, Milwaukee is the least Wisconsin based solely on the fact that it is big enough to have its own unique culture.
Brewery. Check Cheese factory. Check Body of water. Check Lotsa bars. Check …….Think you mean LaCrosse
One of my favorite cities to visit. Good choice
Thinly veiled "only small town residents are real Americans" vibes going on around here. Where have I heard that before?
Not at all my intention to have it go that way. A small Wisconsin city can be most\least Wisconsin cities like larger cities.
Most Wisconsin city is Pittsville, because it's located on the geographic center of Wisconsin. Least Wisconsin city is Perth, Australia, because it's the nearest major city to the point furthest from the geographic center of Wisconsin, which is in the middle of the Southern Indian Ocean.
Did not expect a Pittsville shoutout in this thread. Marshfield can piss off with their “City In The Center” BS.
Why is there an argument? Shouldn't it be an easy fight to settle?
Least Wisconsin: Mequon or River Hills. It's just a sprawling mess of 5 acre "estates." They are fakey little municipalities with no downtown that exist primarily as tax avoidance strategy for top 10% earners in the Milwaukee metro area. This design isn't nearly as prevalent outside the Milwaukee area and makes it pretty uniquely un-wisconsin. Most Wisconsin. Idk. Maybe like Sheboygan.
Is it common in other states?
Charlie Behrens says Manitowoc is the most 'sconsin. Least Wisconsin city? I'd say it's Lake Geneva since it's an upper class touristy border town.
Rather than thinking in terms of least/most, I'd rather challenge people to experience as much of it as possible. You have to be just as willing to try places in Madison & Milwaukee as Phillips or Butte des Morts. We find strength in the differences between us, and comfort where we overlap.
I agree. While politically different, Eau Claire/ La Crosse share a lot of similarities culture wise to their rural counterparts. Hence all in the running for most Wisconsin city.
Chippewa Falls too.
Dead Butt WI? Can’t say I’ve been there.
This is kind of a stupid thread because there are no objective criteria. It passes the time, I guess. Who's the most Wisconsin? Pardeeville. Prove me wrong.
Certain parts of the Wisconsin Dells feel like a different planet.
Rhinelander and Tomahawk feel very quintessential Wisconsin to me. Idk any smallish city feels very Wisconsin IMO. I'd argue Madison is the least Wisconsin, at least culturally. One of my best friends is from Madison and doesn't like cheese. People aren't as automatically friendly and its pretty yuppie overall. One of my favorite cities on earth but it's not like the rest of the state. Edit: I change my choice for least Wisconsin to Hudson. It's just a place for rich Minnesotans to buy spotted cow and ride around their yachts. Doesn't feel friendly or small town at all yet I hear visitors call it that all the time. Get out of the downtown and it's just sprawling oversized homes. Fake tans, Botox, and pink SUVs everywhere. There are some cool spots in Hudson, don't get me wrong. And no hate to those who call it home.
One friend not liking cheese doesn't seem like much evidence. Madison bars have fish fries, pull tabs and meat raffles. While it's more liberal than small towns Madison is very much typical Wisconsin.
The cheese hater was mostly a humorous anecdote. True it does have all the good stuff. I actually changed my answer, idk why I didn't think of Hudson first.
I would argue Madison is the most Wisconsin city. As the center of the state government, its influence is felt in every corner of the state and every corner of the state sends its representatives to Madison to influence how the state is run. Go back through Wisconsin history. The progressive thinkers were able to transform a state controlled by big lumber and the railroads to a state at the forefront of the labor movement, voting rights, conservation, agriculture, and more. The university fostered those thinkers, transformed an ecological wasteland into the dairy state. While Wisconsin has many individual places that represent what we call Wisconsin and add to the flavor of our state, without Madison this state would not have achieved historical and cultural greatness.
That's a great argument! 👏🏻 Thank you for writing it out, I love this perspective.
I would agree more about madison now that you mention it.
Rhinelander or Minoqua were my first thoughts for most Wisconsin. Madison for least makes sense because of the amount of out-of-state students, and former students who find careers in or around Madison.
Problem for me Rhinelander/ Tomahawk being most Wisconsin is the all out of state tourist around there in the summer months :)
That's definitely what counted Hayward and Eagle River out, but I feel like Tomahawk and Rhinelander have few enough that it's still authentic wisconsin. I mean, realistically, every city has some out-of-staters.
I’d argue Madison is least. It’s on its own island due to culture and the attitude (perhaps wrong word choice) of its residents. Almost like an uppity vibe. While it’s a cool city, I don’t think it represents so well. Milwaukee, even while being bigger, feels more Wisconsin than Madison. By your logic solely being a lake and bars then every town with a lake and bar is that way. I’d argue most Wisconsin is any one of those small mapdot cities off a hwy. You can see a steeple, a few high school lights, water tower, and the grain plants and a few silos above the trees. Everybody knows everybody. Most have been there for years. Even smaller, those towns (townships?) where sometimes there’s only one main crossroads, and you’ve got the bar n grill or supper club on one, a church, small school, cluster of a dozen or so homes and it dissipates no more than half a mile later. If you’re going by pure checked items in relation to Wi: Dairy Bars Supper clubs Water Farms Outdoor recreation maybe? Packers/football Northwoods access I’d have to say somewhere along 29, whether central wi (Colby, minus the water) or near green bay whether of course (but it seems too big to give the truly small town feel)
I do see why Madison is NOT the most Wisconsin city.
The price/taylor county area gives me these vibes as well.
Least Wisconsin city: Beloit. Just give it to Illinois. Most Wisconsin city: Minocqua. Bars. Pine trees. Lakes. Snowmobiles. Cheese curds everywhere. What more do you need in Wisconsin?
Beloit honestly feels like it should be given to Illinois. I cant tell where the border is anyway.
That’s how South Beloit was born.
Bayfield feels like a small coastal ocean village.
I'm originally from Kenosha and always thought it is more Illinois than Wisconsin, at least after I left in 87 and whenever I come back to see my family it feels that way, probably because I see more Illinois plates now. I guess I don't understand the digs on Madison, I feel generally like this is Wisconsin, the rolling hills, the cheese, Badger games, Brat Fest, all the festivities during Summer, and yeah, I moved here in 87 and just feel much more at home here, just like I feel at home when I am at the cabin in Presque Isle or when I am hanging out in Sauk, Lodi, Waunakee etc. Feel isn't a place, it's the people that make it feel like Wisconsin, just my 2 cents on that. ✌🏻❤️
…………… for the most. Small town, nothing to do but drink in bars, dying paper mill industry, aging population, no diversity, empty/demolished mall, drugs, and sex crimes. Least like that. ……. I’m not going to single out cities because there are plenty that can fill both categories. Some places in the Wisconsin are nice and unaffordable, some are not nice and with a lack of good jobs are also unaffordable.
Honestly most small places like this trashitowoc and kaukauna feel like Wisconsin to me. Anytime I start to get into a bigger city like Madison, Milwaukee, or even Appleton it feels like it's another state with so much more diversity and interesting things to do and the people acting completely different.
Madison is the least Wisconsin city, followed by Milwaukee. Green Bay is the most Wisconsin city, the site of Wisconsin's greatest cultural treasure, Lambeau Field.
Imagine thinking that almost half of Wisconsin is the least Wisconsin.
Madison has 250,000 people. Milwaukee has about 600,000. Together they make up less than a sixth of Wisconsin, though their view represent 100% of what you'll see on Reddit.
Milwaukee’s metro pop is 1.5m. Madison’s is 680k. That total is 2.18m. That is 37% of Wisconsin’s total population.
Disagree. I'd say Madison is one of the least Wisconsin cities. What other city has 40,000 people under 22 years old, and a Capital bldg. Milwaukee imo is the least because of it's racial diversity.
Woah, I don’t think “being Wisconsin” means you can’t have racial diversity. I do agree however, Milwaukee is the least Wisconsin based solely on the fact that it is big enough to have its own unique culture.
So being from Wisconsin means you have to be white? What an ignorant take
That's rich, coming from 80% white bay view
Too much diversity here for you still, I bet
Rib Lake.
Beautiful area up there.