WISCONSIN

State of Wisconsin

ORIGIN OF STATE NAME: Probably from the Ojibwa word wishkonsing, meaning "place of the beaver." NICKNAME: The Badger State. CAPITAL: Madison. ENTERED UNION: 29 May 1848 (30th). SONG: "On, Wisconsin!" MOTTO: Forward. COAT OF ARMS: Surrounding the US shield is the shield of Wisconsin, which is divided into four parts symbolizing agriculture, mining, navigation, and manufacturing. Flanking the shield are a sailor, representing labor on water, and a yeoman or miner, representing labor on land. Above is a badger and the state motto; below, a horn of plenty and a pyramid of pig lead. FLAG: A dark-blue field, fringed in yellow on three sides, surrounds the state coat of arms on each side, with "Wisconsin" in white letters above the coat of arms and "1848" below. OFFICIAL SEAL: Arms surrounded by the words "Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin" and 13 stars below. ANIMAL: Badger. WILDLIFE ANIMAL: White-tailed deer. DOMESTIC ANIMAL: Dairy cow. BIRD: Robin. SYMBOL OF PEACE: Mourning dove. FISH: Muskellunge. INSECT: Honeybee. FLOWER: Wood violet. TREE: Sugar maple. ROCK: Red granite. MINERAL: Galena. SOIL: Antigo silt loam. BEVERAGE: Milk. GRAIN: Corn. DANCE: Polka. LEGAL HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., 3rd Monday in January; Lincoln and Washington Day, 3rd Monday in February; Good Friday, March or April; Memorial Day, last Monday in May; Independence Day, 4 July; Labor Day, 1st Monday in September; Primary Day, 2nd Tuesday in September in even-numbered years; Columbus Day, 2nd Monday in October; Election Day, 1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in November in even-numbered years; Veterans Day, 11 November; Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November; Christmas Day, 25 December. TIME: 6 am CST = noon GMT.