The history of Wisconsin dates from 1639, when the first white settlement within its borders was made at Green bay by the French. During the next forty years several places, among them Prairie du Chien, on the Mississippi, were settled, and war was waged with the Indians to secure the right of way through lake Winnebago. The whole region was under the laws of Canada and subject to the British government until 1796, i when it was ceded to the United States and annexed to what was known at that time as the North-west territory, an immense tract of country that had been given up to the confederation, after the revolution, by Virginia and other states of the union. In 1836 it was formed into an independent territory out of lands comprised within the territory of Michigan, and embraced, besides the present state limits, all the land within the states of Iowa and Minnesota, and that part of the present territory of Dakota which lies e. of the Missouri and White Earth rivers. These portions were set off in 1838 and in 1849, the year after Wisconsin became a state, since which time the area has remained un changed. A constitution was framed by a convention sitting at Madison from October to December, and was approved by congress, but was rejected by the people on account of certain provisions relating to banks. A second convention, therefore, was held ing the two following months, and a constitution prepared which was ratified by the people by a vote of 16,442 to 6,149. At the time of admission to the union the popula tion of the state was about 300,000, and it ranked 24th. Since the civil war of 1861-65, in which it bore a conspicuous part in support of the union, the population has gained in numbers rapidly. and the wealth and various industries of the state have increased greatly. At present it ranks 14th. By the census of 1880 the total population of the state was reported to be 1,315,480, a gain of 264,129 in ten years. There were 680,106 males and 635,374 females; those of native birth numbered 910,063, and those of foreign birth, 405,417. The city of Milwaukee had 115,578 inhabitants; Oshkosh, 15,749; La Crosse, 14,505; and Fond du Lac, 13,091.
In agricultural products the state ranks among the first in the union. According to the census of 1870 there were at that date 11,715,321 acres in farms, of which about one-half was improved land. The cash value of the land was estimated to he $300,414, 000, and of farming implements and machinery, $14,239,364. The total estimated value of farm productions, including betterments and additions to stock, was $78,027,032; value of orchard products, $819,268: of produce of market gardens, $226,665: of forest products, $1,327,618; of animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter, $11,914,643; of all live stock, $45,310,882. The live stock included 252,019 horses, 4,195 mules, 308,377 Inilch cows, 53,615 working oxen, 331,302 other cattle, 1,069,282 sheep, and 512,778 swine. By the returns of the state assessors in (five counties not reported) there were planted during that year 1,539,008 acres of wheat, 766,343 of oats, 866,081 of Indian corn. 117,020 of barley, 67,286 of rye, 9,720 of hops, 4,399 of tobacco, and 6,224 of flax. In manufactures the state has made good progress., During the past twenty years a large number of busy manufacturing towns have come into active existence here and there, and the manufactures of lumber, laths, shingles, staves, furniture, agricultural implements, wagons. carriages, and wooden-wares of every kind are leading Industrie?, the scantily-timbered states south-westward affording a convenient market for all such goods. Leather, shoes, saddlery, woolen goods, metallic wares, gloves, 12ine, cement, and bricks are also important articles of manufacture. Altogether in 1870 there were
7,013 manufacturing establishments, having an aggregate capital amounting to $41.981, 872, employing 43,910 hands, paying $13,575,642 a year in wages, using raw material 'I valued at $45,851,266, and producing goods valued at $77,214,326. The mines and quarries in 1870 numbered 80, in which 701 men and boys were employed, and $737,728 were invested. The products were valued at $510,982, including, iron worth $22.000; lead, $369,067; peat, $750; stone, $106,925; and zinc, $12,240. '1 he, foreign commerce of the state is not very extensive comparatively, Milwaukee being the only port of entry; but the coastwise and river commerce is large, and is conducted for the lakes from Mi lwaukee Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, and Superior City, and for the Mississippi river from Crosse and Prairie du Chien, while steamers also ascend the Wisconsin, Chippewa, i Fox, and other rivers. The total amount of imports from foreign countries in the year ending June 30, 1875, was /56,646; and the amount of domestic exports was $1,090,179. Tne coastwise trade reported the entry of 7,230 vessels, of 2,872,493,tons burden, and the clearance of 7,261 vessels, with a burden of 2,798,280 tons. The inter-state com merce by means of railroads is also extensive. In 1876 there were 2,565 miles of road within the state; and the railroads lying wholly or partly in its limits were the Chicago and North-western, Chicago and Milwaukee, Northwestern Union, La Crosse, Trempea lean and Prescott, Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, Wisconsin Union, Madison and Portage, Oshkosh and Mississippi, Galena and Southern Wisconsin, Green Bay and 3Iinnesota, Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western, Mineral Point, Sheboygan and Fond du-Lee, Superior and St. Croix, Western Union, West Wisconsin, Chippewa Falls and Western, North Wisconsin, 'Wisconsin Central, Milwaukee and Northern, and the Wis consin Valley. The number of national banks in operation at the close of 1875 was 42, having a paid-in capital of $3,550,000, and an outstanding circulation of $2,914,329. There were also 23 state banks, which bad an aggregate capital of $1,113,231, loans and deposits amounting to $6,909,214, and liabilities amounting to $1.977,742. The mutual fire and marine insurance companies numbered 7, and had $879,945 paid-up capita] and $1,716,656 net assets.
The total valuation of property in the state in 1879, as determined by the state board of assessments, was $406,303,185, including personal property valued at $88,127,940, city and village lots at $85,545,746.50, and other real estate at $232,629,498.50. The indebtedness consisted of outstanding war bonds amounting to $11,000; certificates of indebtedness to trust funds, $2,241,000; and currency certificates amounting to $57. In all, $2,252,057. The receipts into the state treasury during the fiscal year ending Sept_ 30, 1879, from all sources were $1,812,682; the balance on hand Sept. 30, 1878, was $403,288; making the total receipts $2,215,971. The disbursements during the same period for all purposes were $1,627,146; leaving a balance on hand of $588,824. The receipts into the general fund during the fiscal year were $1,249.338; balance from pre vious year, $79.055—total, $1,328,394. Of .this sum there were derived from direct state tax, $682,388; railroad companies, license-taxes, $395,886; insurance companies, fees, and license taxes, $45,774; miscellaneous sources, $125,289. The disbursements from this fund were : interest on public debt, $157,560; school fund, $7,088.36; high schools, $25,000; state university, $41,310.30; salaries and other permanent appropria tions, $109,023.62; legislative expenses, $84,301.61; benevolent and penal institutions, $378,815.72; miscellaneous purposes, $252,012.90.