Curious about Wisconsin Culture and the City of Madison (Milwaukee: 2010, crime)

[Derry8107]

Dear Wisconsites:

I'm a Mississippian who is seriously thinking about attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School in Fall 2010 since I have been accepted there along with other graduate schools. UW-Madison ranks very top in my field of interest so that's the reason why I find it very appealing. I won't be attending open houses until April 2010. Until then, I thought I would ask some questions about WI to help with my decision-making process since I do not want to jump into something I would regret later. Here are questions for me to ask to see if WI is really for me or not.

WI Culture

Is Wisconsin boring and heavily agricultural as it sounds due to the fact that the state is also known as America's Dairyland?

Is Wisconsin's economy bad as other cities affected by heavy manufacturing and automobile declines like other cities in Great Lakes/Rust Belt areas?

I'm sure there are country folks in WI with their passion for hunting seasons but what about rednecks like the ones in the South? One thing I hate about my home state is that it's full of uneducated, racist rednecks with awful personal hygiene.

I have nothing against Drinking Beer Culture but I need to know more about WI's Smoking Culture. Is it very strong where most Wisconsites do smoke? I happen to be a non-smoker with asthma; my ideal place is to live in a state with lower prevalence of smoking protected by smoking ban.

I already knew Wisconsin is pretty much progressive/Democrat-stronghold state with Madison being the Berkeley of the Midwest so that's a pro to me about WI.

City of Madison, WI

Madison seems to be a vibrant, attractive liberal college town with enough big city amenties to live with stunning scenery and highly educated population along with perhaps the most stable economy than most cities.

I dislike gigantic cities such as Chicago and Twin Cities; however, Madison seems to be my ideal city since it's not too small or too large. Whatever Madison doesn't offer can be found in Milwaukee and Chicago, which is less than 2 hours drive.

Which part of Madison is the best: West, East, or Isthmus? The cost of living doesn't matter.

Which areas should I avoid (crime ridden, ghettos, and overwhelming diversity)?

How humid can summers in Madison become? What are winters like?

I hate humidity and I love the cold but I don't know how cold I could stand though. I could wear a short in St. Louis during winter while visiting family. Anyway, I will be sure to visit WI this winter to check out plus to see if I can bear the winter. LOL!

I think that's all I want to ask about WI for now. Any information you can share would be very helpful and deeply appreciated.

Happy Halloween!

[Drover]

First, I won't humor a question from someone in Mississippi about whether Wisconsin is boring on account of its agricultural roots.

Second, Wisconsin has been hit fairly hard by the recession because a big portion of its economy is manufacturing, but nothing like Michigan and Ohio. Long-term, Wisconsin will be fine.

Third, best I can tell, the main difference between Wisconsin's rednecks and Mississippi's rednecks is that the former enjoy snow and have Canadian accents.

Fourth, there is a statewide public smoking ban.

Fifth, don't get any ideas that Wisconsin is a "mostly progressive state." The politics are deeply divided between the urban and rural areas with suburban areas being the deciding factor. Wisconsin is blue for now, but by a thin margin. That could change with a slight shift in the political winds.


As for Madison: which part is best will depend a lot on what kind of neighborhood you want to live in. Generally speaking, most seem to think west is better than east. I don't necessarily concur.

Areas to avoid: the southwest fringe, some spots on the far north side, that's about it. Madison doesn't have any true ghettos, but quality of life can vary substantially across the various neighborhoods.

Summers can get pretty humid. But humidity is a lot easier to deal with when it's 83 degrees out versus 95 degrees. What you deal with all summer in Mississippi, Madisonians complain about bitterly the 10 or so days a year when it is both truly humid and truly hot. Madison has not officially hit 100 degrees in over 20 years. This past summer I think it got above 90 maybe 3 or 4 times. What is winter like? Expect to wake up a few days each winter to temperatures below zero -- and expect the city to keep right on going like it's business as usual. In winter, UW students walk across Lake Mendota as a short cut to class.

[Derry8107]

Originally Posted by Drover

First, I won't humor a question from someone in Mississippi about whether Wisconsin is boring on account of its agricultural roots.

Second, Wisconsin has been hit fairly hard by the recession because a big portion of its economy is manufacturing, but nothing like Michigan and Ohio. Long-term, Wisconsin will be fine.

Third, best I can tell, the main difference between Wisconsin's rednecks and Mississippi's rednecks is that the former enjoy snow and have Canadian accents.

Fourth, there is a statewide public smoking ban.

Fifth, don't get any ideas that Wisconsin is a "mostly progressive state." The politics are deeply divided between the urban and rural areas with suburban areas being the deciding factor. Wisconsin is blue for now, but by a thin margin. That could change with a slight shift in the political winds.


As for Madison: which part is best will depend a lot on what kind of neighborhood you want to live in. Generally speaking, most seem to think west is better than east. I don't necessarily concur.

Areas to avoid: the southwest fringe, some spots on the far north side, that's about it. Madison doesn't have any true ghettos, but quality of life can vary substantially across the various neighborhoods.

Summers can get pretty humid. But humidity is a lot easier to deal with when it's 83 degrees out versus 95 degrees. What you deal with all summer in Mississippi, Madisonians complain about bitterly the 10 or so days a year when it is both truly humid and truly hot. Madison has not officially hit 100 degrees in over 20 years. This past summer I think it got above 90 maybe 3 or 4 times. What is winter like? Expect to wake up a few days each winter to temperatures below zero -- and expect the city to keep right on going like it's business as usual. In winter, UW students walk across Lake Mendota as a short cut to class.

I know WI and MS are both agricultural states but I mean I am hoping that WI isn't heavily agricultural like MS or other Midwestern states such as Iowa and rural Illinois.

I'm glad to hear that WI's economic recession isn't long term like MI or OH. Madison's having the most stable economy in the state is a pro, according to both Forbes and CNN's List.

Let me be more specific about the rednecks part. Mississippi rednecks are pretty much uneducated, racist trashy white people with terrible sense of fashion and missing, yellow teeth living in traliers. Is that very common among WI rednecks I mean?

I recently learned about the smoking ban signed by WI Governor that will take effect in July 2010. Do you think it will really slow down the high smoking prevalence in WI due to its strong smoking culture?

Politics is unpredictable. We didn't expect President Obama to win electoral votes of Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, and Florida. At least, Madison will always be the liberal mecca of Wisconsin; my home state of Mississippi is overwhelming conservative Republican full of Bible thumpers. LOL!

By the way, I looked at the map of Madison. I noticed Middleton, Fitchburg, West, East, Isthmus (Downtown), Monona, and McFarland. Where is the southwest fringe and far north exactly? Maybe you can tell me the boundaries so I could identify those areas better to avoid them.

Also, I was told that Madison is like this. I don't know if it's true.

West (rich white folks)
East (Mult-racial)
North (Latinos and Gays)
South (Ghetto)
Downtown on Isthmus (Mostly government and commerical)

Again, I have problems locating North and South Madison on map because it seems to have East, West, and Isthmus with surburbs around Madison and the lakes.

12 days of humidity is nothing to me. I love the cold but I don't know how much I could tolerate though. I plan to visit WI this winter since I have to visit relatives in Iowa then Indiana for holidays.

[Milwaukee City]

Do you think it will really slow down the high smoking prevalence in WI due to its strong smoking culture?

I really don't think we have a "culture" of smoking here, it depends where you like to go for enjoyment. If you like yuppie lounges or college bars, one will be smokey and other no smoke. Same goes for restaurants and festival and concerts. I might be going out on a limb here but I think you'll have more smoke at a fish concert than an orchestra show.

my home state of Mississippi is overwhelming conservative Republican full of Bible thumpers. LOL!

Well in madison get ready for the liberal thumping you will get. I don't think a day goes past where someone hasn't tied themselves to a tree or a protest at the state capitol or students passing out propaganda on the university. LOL.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Derry8107

Let me be more specific about the rednecks part. Mississippi rednecks are pretty much uneducated, racist trashy white people with terrible sense of fashion and missing, yellow teeth living in traliers. Is that very common among WI rednecks I mean?

Of course not. Wisconsin rednecks have most of their teeth.

Originally Posted by Derry8107

I recently learned about the smoking ban signed by WI Governor that will take effect in July 2010. Do you think it will really slow down the high smoking prevalence in WI due to its strong smoking culture?

Does it really have a "strong smoking culture?" This isn't exactly tobacco country up here. In either case, whether it slows down the "strong smoking culture" is not really any of your concern so much as will it make it easier for you to go out and have a drink or a meal. The answer is yes. And Madison has had a smoking ban for years already.

Originally Posted by Derry8107

12 days of humidity is nothing to me. I love the cold but I don't know how much I could tolerate though. I plan to visit WI this winter since I have to visit relatives in Iowa then Indiana for holidays.

You'll have a lot more than 12 days of humidity. But you'll only have maybe 12 days where it's so humid and so hot so as to remind you of Mississippi.

[ImaloneJill]

This is a pretty broad statement, but I have to say, there are some heavy agricultural areas, but compared to Mississippi, they are idyllic and scenic, esp. south and central. Amish wagons with dogs chasing behind them, pretty rows of crops, red barns. Not to say there are not pockets of ugliness, but from what I've seen, much more well kept. And as someone who has traveled down Interstate 80, 57 and 55 hundreds of times in Illinois, the scenery in Wisconsin kicks ass. Hills, rivers, stone out-croppings.
I love the prettiness of this state.

[susancruzs]

Eastern Manitowoc county has farms that are less than used now, places where you see several in one area, east of Hwy. 42 on the way to Door. However, driving by them I don't get a bad feeling, more it was a small family farm and family members moved on to other things.

Driving in the south through many states (I've driven on US highways not interstates), areas almost scarey and somewhat depressing.

A generalization, of course, you can find abandoned places in many states, I'm sure. The thing that bugs me most is having a piece of property, and feeling you can leave it junked up.

I had relatives in Upper Michigan their place looked great on first glance but along a tree line, behind a barn, a water heater, an old stove, toilet (not in use) , junk they didn't take to the dump. Huges piles of stuff I didn't believe it, my sister showed me I was shocked. I've never lived in the country or outside city limits so I realize I am naiive!

[Derry8107]

I saw many beautiful pictures of Wisconsin and I can't wait to visit soon. At first, I assumed WI looks similiar to Illinois. On the bright side, I am glad that WI will have statewide smoking ban taking effect in June or July 2010 to cover other locations that do not have local smoking ban.

By the way, I remember last year that Minnesota, Iowa, and WI had terrible flooding. Here is my question I have in mind right now.

Is Madison very vulnerable to floodings due to two lakes or is it just Western WI by the MS River?

[Drover]

There was pretty bad flooding in Wisconsin too. Lake Delton breached its dam and emptied out into the Wisconsin river a few hundred feet away, taking 3 houses and a 300-foot section of highway along with it. Parts of I-94 west of Milwaukee and I-39 by Portage were closed for a few days.

Madison didn't suffer much damage but there was a wake ban on the lakes for a couple months because the water level was so high. I know some of the waterways between lakes were closed for a while too, at the very least the Yahara River between lakes Mendota and Menona was closed to boat traffic because there wasn't enough clearance to fit boats under some of the bridges.

[Derry8107]

Originally Posted by Drover

There was pretty bad flooding in Wisconsin too. Lake Delton breached its dam and emptied out into the Wisconsin river a few hundred feet away, taking 3 houses and a 300-foot section of highway along with it. Parts of I-94 west of Milwaukee and I-39 by Portage were closed for a few days.

Madison didn't suffer much damage but there was a wake ban on the lakes for a couple months because the water level was so high. I know some of the waterways between lakes were closed for a while too, at the very least the Yahara River between lakes Mendota and Menona was closed to boat traffic because there wasn't enough clearance to fit boats under some of the bridges.

Whoa, breached dam doesn't sound good at all.

Are there any other dams near Madison that could cause a disasterous flooding in the city especially the isthmus where the Downtown is?

Is WI doing a better job of maintaining their dams, bridges, and roads than most states to avoid any collapses in the future?

Has Madison ever been flooded badly in its history due to its location around lakes with Downtown being built on an isthmus? If not, is it possible though?

How long does it take to become an official resident of Wisconsin? Some states require 6 months while some requires 1 year. I am asking this question for tutition purpose. UW-Madison's website did say how much it would cost for an out-of-state student in tutition but nothing about residency requirement.