Mequon, Wisconsin
—  City  —
Mequon City Hall
Official seal of Mequon, Wisconsin Seal
Nickname(s): The Quon
Mequon, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 43°13′27″N 87°57′36″W / 43.22417°N 87.96°W / 43.22417; -87.96Coordinates: 43°13′27″N 87°57′36″W / 43.22417°N 87.96°W / 43.22417; -87.96
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Ozaukee
Incorporation as city	1957
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
• Mayor	Curt Gielow, since 2010
Area
• Total	46.8 sq mi (121.3 km2)
• Land	46.2 sq mi (119.6 km2)
• Water	0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)
Elevation[1]	669 ft (204 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	21,823
• Density	472.5/sq mi (182.4/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	53092 and 53097
Area code(s)	262
FIPS code	55-51150[2]
GNIS feature ID	1569354[1]
Website	http://www.ci.mequon.wi.us/

Mequon ( /ˈmɛkwɒn/ MEK-won) is a city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It had a population of 21,823 at the 2000 census, and an estimated population of 23,739 in July 2009. The mayor is Curt Gielow.

In July 2005, CNN's Money Magazine listed Mequon 19th among its 100 Best Small Cities in the United States, ranked jointly with Thiensville, a village surrounded by Mequon.^[3]

History[link]

The area was originally inhabited by Native Americans; by the early 19th century, the Potawatomi occupied land west of the Milwaukee River, while the Menominee lived between the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan.^[4] European trappers, explorers and traders used the Milwaukee River through the middle of what is now Mequon as a means of transportation. The name "Mequon" is thought to have come from the Native-American word "Emikwaan" or "Miguan," meaning ladle.^[5] This refers to how the Milwaukee River curves like a ladle in the Mequon area. The spelling was undoubtedly influenced by the French in the area at the time.

Between 1834 and 1836, a surveyor named Brink, along with his assistant Mr. Follett, surveyed the land to create the Town of Mequon.^[6] Around this time, settlers came from New York and England, soon followed by German and Irish immigrants. In 1839, a group of immigrants from Saxony settled near the Milwaukee River. In the same year, twenty families from Pomerania founded Freistadt (German Free place) in the western part of the Town of Mequon. The first Lutheran church in Wisconsin was built by these families in 1840.

John Weston served as the first postmaster of the Town of Mequon, having settled in present-day Thiensville in 1837. He later sold his holdings to John Henry Thien. Thien, a wealthy immigrant from Saxony, had traveled north from Milwaukee and settled along the Milwaukee River, where his family built a dam and grist mill. Thien hosted the first town meeting for the Town of Mequon in 1846.^[7] The area around his estate, one square mile in the middle of Mequon township, was later incorporated as the village of Thiensville in 1910. The Town of Mequon was incorporated as a city in 1957.^[8]

Geography[link]

Mequon is located at 43°13′27″N 87°57′36″W / 43.22417°N 87.96°W / 43.22417; -87.96 (43.224243, -87.960094).^[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 46.8 square miles (121 km²), of which, 46.2 square miles (120 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.35%) is water. As of 2005, Mequon was the third-largest city in terms of land area in the state of Wisconsin.^[10]

Freistadt[link]

Freistadt is a neighborhood of the city of Mequon. The community's name means "free city" in German. Though originally in the Town of Mequon, the area was added to the City of Mequon through annexation.^[11]

The community was founded in October 1839 by twenty German families who immigrated to the United States to escape religious persecution. The community was home to the first Lutheran church in Wisconsin. In 1845, the synod later known as the Lutheran Buffalo Synod was organized here. (Through mergers the Buffalo Synod became a part of the American Lutheran Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). The church in Freistadt became a part of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in 1848.^[12]

Climate[link]

The climate of Mequon is much like that of other midwestern cities in the United States. The city experiences four distinct seasons, with variation in precipitation and temperature being very wide. The overall climate of the city is moderated by nearby Lake Michigan, which causes temperatures to be cooler in summer and especially spring, and which keeps overnight temperatures warmer in winter. In March and April, the temperature in Mequon can be 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (5 to 8 degrees Celsius) cooler than temperatures in towns just 15 miles (25 kilometers) further from the lake. In December and January, the effect is reversed, with temperatures in inland towns falling much lower.

In Mequon, the warmest month of the year is July, when the high temperature averages 78°F (25°C), with overnight low temperatures of approximately 58°F (15°C). July is also the wettest month of the year, with the majority of rain falling in short-lived thunderstorms. January is the coldest month in Mequon, with afternoon high temperature averaging only 26°F (-4°C), and overnight lows averaging 11°F (-12°C). February is the driest month, and almost all precipitation falls in the form of snow during that time. In an average winter, 47.0 in (1.3m) of snow falls. The city's proximity to Lake Michigan often increases the snow received by the city. Most of the city's snowfall comes from systems such as Alberta Clippers and Panhandle Hooks.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Mequon was 105°F (41°C) on July 24, 1935, and again on July 17, 1995. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was -40°F (-40°C), on January 17, 1982, also known as Cold Sunday.

Demographics[link]

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 21,823 people, 7,861 households, and 6,406 families residing in the city. The population density was 472.5 people per square mile (182.5/km²). There were 8,162 housing units at an average density of 176.7 per square mile (68.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.16% White, 2.25% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.

There were 7,861 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.8% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $90,733, and the median income for a family was $101,793 (These figures had risen to $97,797 and $113,265, respectively, as of a 2007 estimate^[13]). Males had a median income of $72,762 versus $40,280 for females. The per capita income for the city was $48,333. About 1.3% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation[link]

Mequon contains hundreds of acres of community parks and nature preserves run by the city, and a couple run by the county. The Ozaukee Interurban Trail runs for 5.85 miles (9.41 km) south to north through the city. The Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department conducts a variety of classes and programs for children and adults.^[14]

City parks

• Garrison's Glen: 22 acres (0.09 km²) Neighborhood park on Pioneer Road near the Milwaukee River. Contains walking trail and canoe launch.
• Grasslyn Nature Preserve: 15 acres (0.06 km²) Nature preserve in the southeast of the city. Contains a walking trail and prairie area.
• Highland Woods: 85 acres (0.34 km²) Nature preserve on Green Bay Road north of Thiensville. Contains a walking trail and forest.
• Katherine Kearney Carpenter Park: 35 acres (0.14 km²) Dog walking park in southeastern Mequon. Contains walking trail.
• Lemke Park: 41 acres (0.17 km²) Neighborhood park in southwestern Mequon. Contains playground, picnic tables, archery range, soccer fields, volleyball court, baseball diamond.
• Lilly Lane Nature Preserve: 12 acres (0.05 km²) Nature preserve in southern Mequon. Contains walking trail.
• Little Menomonee Site: 20 acres (0.08 km²) Nature preserve in western Mequon, along the Little Menomonee River
• Mequon Community Park: 16 acres (0.06 km²) Community park just south of Thiensville. Contains swimming pool, baseball diamond, picnic area, playground, and access to the Ozaukee Interurban Trail.
• Mequon Nature Preserve: 408 acres (1.65 km²) Nature preserve in southwestern Mequon. Contains walking trails, education centers, woodland, and observation tower.
• Prinz Site: 10 acres (0.04 km²) Nature preserve north of Thiensville.
• River Barn Park: 37 acres (0.15 km²) Community park in southern Mequon along the Milwaukee River. Contains baseball, soccer, and football fields and a playground.
• River Forest Nature Preserve: 62 acres (0.25 km²) Nature preserve in central Mequon along the Milwaukee River. Contains walking trail.
• Riverview Park: 20 acres (0.08 km²) Neighborhood park in central Mequon along the Milwaukee River. Contains bridge, canoe launch, playground, walking trail, and baseball diamond.
• Rotary Park: 75 acres (0.30 km²) Community park in northern Mequon. Contains basketball court, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, fishing ponds, and walking paths. Also contains Pukaite Woods which contains a handicapped accessible nature trail.
• Scout Park: 12 acres (0.05 km²) Nature preserve in eastern Mequon along the Milwaukee River. Contains a walking trail and river access.
• Settlers Park: 1.2 acres (0.00 km²) Historical park just south of Thiensville along the Milwaukee River. Contains a historic building and walking trail.
• Shoreland Nature Preserve: 19 acres (0.08 km²) Nature preserve in northeastern Mequon along the Milwaukee River. Contains walking trials.
• Swan Road Prairie: 20 acres (0.08 km²) Nature preserve in southwestern Mequon.
• Trinity Creek Wetland Habitat: 35 acres (0.14 km²) Wetland park in southern Mequon. Contains walking trails and educational facility.
• Villa Grove Park: 5 acres (0.02 km²) Community park east of Thiensville along Milwaukee River. Contains picnic tables and boat launch.
• Willow Bay Nature Preserve: 22 acres (0.09 km²) Nature preserve in northeastern Mequon along the Milwaukee River.^[15]

Ozaukee County parks:

• Mee-Kwon Park: County park in northern Mequon. Contains public golf course and sledding hill.^[16]
• Virmond Park: 63 acres (0.25 km²) County park in eastern Mequon on Lake Michigan. Contains volleyball and tennis courts, baseball diamond, soccer field, picnic area.^[17]

Government[link]

Since its incorporation in 1957, Mequon has had a mayor-council form of government. The mayor is elected for a three year term. Aldermen are elected from eight aldermanic districts to the Common Council. The mayor since 2010 has been Curt Gielow.^[18]

Education[link]

Almost all of Mequon is served by the Mequon-Thiensville School District, although six square miles in the far northwest is served by the Cedarburg School District.^[27] Three elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school, Homestead High School are part of the Mequon-Thiensville School District. Mequon is also home to Concordia University, the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and the northern campus of the Milwaukee Area Technical College

Notable natives and residents[link]

• Scott Skiles, head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, currently lives in Mequon.
• Willy Porter, musician, grew up in Mequon, and attended Homestead High School.
• John Ridley, writer, director, actor, grew up in Mequon, and attended Homestead High School.
• Mike Dunleavy, Jr., professional basketball player, lived in Mequon and attended Homestead High School.
• Coby Karl, basketball player who has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, attended Homestead High School.
• Ronald D. Asmus, grew up in Mequon and graduated from Homestead High School
• Halle Berry, Academy Award winning actress, and Eric Benet, musician, owned a house in Mequon when they were married.
• Gregg Steinhafel, CEO of Target Corporation, grew up in Mequon and attended Homestead High School.
• Peter Goldberg, CEO of Alliance for Children and Families and Families International
• Carl Kiekhaefer, former owner of Mercury Marine, NASCAR team owner
• Buzz Williams, head coach of the Marquette University men's basketball team lives in Mequon with his family.
• Beezie Madden, Equestrian champion, who has won three Olympic medals (two gold, one bronze), is originally from Mequon.
• Daron Sutton, Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster, lives in Mequon.
• Balthasar H. Meyer, former United States government official
• Thomas F. Timlin, former Wisconsin State Assemblyman
• William H. Timlin, former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice
• Edward H. Janssen, former Treasurer of Wisconsin
• Many notable sports figures have lived in Mequon, including Hank Aaron, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ray Allen, Paul Molitor, Quinn Buckner, Sal Bando, George Karl, Peter Mueller, and Bob Lanier.

Images[link]

Mequon, Wisconsin

Mequon City Hall   Freistadt historical marker Freistadt historical marker   Trinity Lutheran Church, in Freistadt   Trinity Lutheran Church, in Freistadt   Trinity Lutheran Church, in Freistadt

References[link]

External links[link]

Washington portal

• City of Mequon Website
• Mequon-Thiensville Chamber of Commerce
• Early history of Mequon
• Mequon-Thiensville School District

v t e Milwaukee Metropolitan Area Central City Milwaukee Largest Municipalities (over 25,000 in 2000) BrookfieldC · FranklinC · GreenfieldC · Menomonee FallsV · New BerlinC · Oak CreekC · RacineC · WaukeshaC · WauwatosaC · West AllisC · West BendC Municipalities (over 10,000 in 2000) Brown DeerV · CaledoniaV · CedarburgC · CudahyC · GermantownV · GlendaleC · GraftonV · GreendaleV · MequonC · MuskegoC · OconomowocC · PewaukeeC · RichfieldT · ShorewoodV · South MilwaukeeC · Whitefish BayV Smaller Municipalities (under 10,000 in 2000) BaysideV · Big BendV · BrookfieldT · Elm GroveV · Fox PointV · HartlandV · Hales CornersV · MukwonagoV · PewaukeeV · River HillsV · SaukvilleV · Saint FrancisC · SussexV · ThiensvilleV · West MilwaukeeV Counties Milwaukee · Ozaukee · Racine · Washington · Waukesha Notes: Vvillage  Ttown  Ccity

v t e Municipalities and communities of Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States County seat: Port Washington Cities Cedarburg Mequon Port Washington Villages Bayside‡ Belgium Fredonia Grafton Newburg‡ Saukville Thiensville Towns Belgium Cedarburg Fredonia Grafton Port Washington Saukville CDP Waubeka Unincorporated communities Dacada‡ Decker Corner Decker Hamilton Holy Cross Horns Corners Knellsville Lake Church Lakefield Little Kohler Ulao Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

((Category: German-American history

State of Wisconsin
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): Badger State; America's Dairyland
Motto(s): Forward
Official language(s)	De jure: None De facto: English
Demonym	Wisconsinite
Capital	Madison
Largest city	Milwaukee
Largest metro area	Milwaukee metropolitan area
Area	Ranked 23rd in the U.S.
- Total	65,497.82 sq mi (169,639 km2)
- Width	260 miles (420 km)
- Length	310 miles (500 km)
- % water	17
- Latitude	42° 37′ N to 47° 05′ N
- Longitude	86° 46′ W to 92° 53′ W
Population	Ranked 20th in the U.S.
- Total	5,711,767 (2011 est)[1]
- Density	105/sq mi  (40.6/km2) Ranked 23rd in the U.S.
- Median household income	$47,220 (15th)
Elevation
- Highest point	Timms Hill[2][3] 1,951 ft (595 m)
- Mean	1,050 ft  (320 m)
- Lowest point	Lake Michigan[2][3] 579 ft (176 m)
Before statehood	Wisconsin Territory
Admission to Union	May 29, 1848 (30th)
Governor	Scott Walker (R)
Lieutenant Governor	Rebecca Kleefisch (R)
Legislature	Wisconsin Legislature
- Upper house	Senate
- Lower house	State Assembly
U.S. Senators	Herb Kohl (D) Ron Johnson (R)
U.S. House delegation	5 Republicans, 3 Democrats (list)
Time zone	Central: UTC -6/-5
Abbreviations	WI Wis. US-WI
Website	www.wisconsin.gov

Wisconsin (ⁱ/wɨsˈkɒnsɨn/) is a US 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.

Etymology[link]

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.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6]

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.^[7] 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."^[8]

History[link]

Wisconsin in 1718, Guillaume de L'Isle map, approximate state area highlighted.

Wisconsin has been home to a wide variety of cultures over the past twelve thousand years. The first people arrived around 10000 BCE during the Wisconsin Glaciation. These early inhabitants, called Paleo-Indians, hunted now-extinct ice age animals exemplified by the Boaz mastodon, a prehistoric mastodon skeleton unearthed along with spear points in southwest Wisconsin.^[9] After the ice age ended around 8000 BCE, people in the subsequent Archaic period lived by hunting, fishing, and gathering food from wild plants. Agricultural societies emerged gradually over the Woodland period between 1000 BCE to 1000 CE. Toward the end of this period, Wisconsin was the heartland of the "Effigy Mound culture," which built thousands of animal-shaped mounds across the landscape.^[10] Later, between 1000 and 1500 CE, the Mississippian and Oneota cultures built substantial settlements including the fortified village at Aztalan in southeast Wisconsin.^[11] The Oneota may be the ancestors of the modern Ioway and Ho-Chunk tribes, who shared the Wisconsin region with the Menominee at the time of European contact.^[12] Other American Indian groups living in Wisconsin when Europeans first settled included the Ojibwa, Sauk, Fox, Kickapoo, and Pottawatomie, who migrated to Wisconsin from the east between 1500 and 1700.^[13]

Jean Nicolet, depicted in a 1910 painting by Frank Rohrbeck, was probably the first European to explore Wisconsin. The mural is located in the Brown County Courthouse in Green Bay.

The first European to visit what became Wisconsin was probably the French explorer Jean Nicolet. He canoed west from Georgian Bay through the Great Lakes in 1634, and it is traditionally assumed that he came ashore near Green Bay at Red Banks.^[14] Pierre Radisson and Médard des Groseilliers visited Green Bay again in 1654–1666 and Chequamegon Bay in 1659–1660, where they traded for fur with local American Indians.^[15] In 1673, Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet became the first to record a journey on the Fox-Wisconsin Waterway all the way to the Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien.^[16] Frenchmen like Nicholas Perrot continued to ply the fur trade across Wisconsin through the 17th and 18th centuries, but the French made no permanent settlements in Wisconsin before Great Britain won control of the region following the French and Indian War in 1763. Even so, French traders continued to work in the region after the war, and some, beginning with Charles de Langlade in 1764, now settled in Wisconsin permanently rather than returning to British-controlled Canada.^[17]

Wisconsin became a territorial possession of the United States in 1783 after the American Revolutionary War. However, the British remained in de facto control until after the War of 1812, which finally established an American presence in the area.^[18] Under American control, the economy of the territory shifted from fur trading to lead mining. The prospect of easy mineral wealth drew immigrants from throughout the U.S. and Europe to the lead deposits located at Mineral Point, Wisconsin and nearby areas. Some miners found shelter in the holes they had dug and earned the nickname "badgers," leading to Wisconsin's identity as the "Badger State."^[19] The sudden influx of white miners prompted tension with the local Native American population. The Winnebago War of 1827 and the Black Hawk War of 1832 led to the forced removal of American Indians from most parts of the state.^[20] Following these conflicts, Wisconsin Territory was organized in 1836. Continued white settlement led to statehood in 1848.

The Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon, Wisconsin held the nation's first meeting of the Republican Party

Politics in early Wisconsin were defined by the greater national debate over slavery. A free state from its foundation, Wisconsin became a center of northern abolitionism. The debate became especially intense in 1854 after a runaway slave from Missouri named Joshua Glover was captured in Racine. Glover was taken into custody under the Federal Fugitive Slave Law, but a mob of abolitionists stormed the prison where Glover was held and helped him escape to Canada. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ultimately declared the Fugitive Slave Law unconstitutional in a trial stemming from the incident.^[21] The Republican Party, founded on March 20, 1854, by anti-slavery expansion activists in Ripon, Wisconsin, grew to dominate state politics in the aftermath of these events.^[22] During the Civil War, around 91,000 troops from Wisconsin fought for the Union.^[23]

Drawing of Industrial Milwaukee in 1882

Wisconsin's economy also diversified during the early years of statehood. While lead mining diminished, agriculture became a principal occupation in the southern half of the state. Railroads were built across the state to help transport grains to market, and industries like J.I. Case & Company in Racine were founded to build agricultural equipment. Wisconsin briefly became one of the nation's leading producers of wheat during the 1860s.^[24] Meanwhile, the lumber industry dominated in the heavily forested northern sections of Wisconsin, and sawmills sprang up in cities like La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Wausau. These economic activities had dire environmental consequences. By the close of the 19th century, intensive agriculture had devastated soil fertility, and lumbering had deforested most of the state.^[25] This forced both wheat agriculture and the lumber industry into a precipitous decline.

The Daniel E. Krause Stone Barn in Chase, Wisconsin was built in 1903 as dairy farming spread across the state

Beginning in the 1890s, farmers in Wisconsin shifted from wheat to dairy production in order to make more sustainable and profitable use of their land. Many immigrants carried cheese-making traditions that, combined with the state's suitable geography and dairy research led by Stephen Babcock at the University of Wisconsin, helped the state build a reputation as "America's Dairyland."^[26] Meanwhile, conservationists including Aldo Leopold helped reestablish the state's forests during the early 20th century,^[27] paving the way for a more renewable lumber and paper milling industry as well as promoting recreational tourism in the northern woodlands. Manufacturing also boomed in Wisconsin during the early 20th century, driven by an immense immigrant workforce arriving from Europe. Industries in cities like Milwaukee ranged from brewing and food processing to heavy machine production and toolmaking, leading Wisconsin to rank 8th among U.S. states in total product value by 1910.^[28]

Wisconsin Governor Robert La Follette addressing an assembly in Decatur, Illinois, 1905.

The early 20th century was also notable for the emergence of progressive politics championed by Robert M. La Follette. Between 1901 and 1914, Progressive Republicans in Wisconsin created the nation's first comprehensive statewide primary election system,^[29] the first effective workplace injury compensation law,^[30] and the first state income tax,^[31] making taxation proportional to actual earnings. The progressive Wisconsin Idea also promoted the statewide expansion of the University of Wisconsin through the UW-Extension system at this time.^[32] Later, UW economics professors John R. Commons and Harold Groves helped Wisconsin create the first unemployment compensation program in the United States in 1932.^[33]

Wisconsin took part in several political extremes in the mid to late 20th century, ranging from the anti-communist crusades of Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s to the radical antiwar protests at UW-Madison that culminated in the Sterling Hall bombing in August 1970. Recent politics have been comparatively moderate, but the state has continued to push forward new ideas, most notably becoming a leader in welfare reform under Republican Governor Tommy Thompson during the 1990s.^[34] The state's economy also underwent further transformations towards the close of the century, as heavy industry and manufacturing declined in favor of a service economy based on medicine, education, agribusiness, and tourism.