5 Things to Know Before Moving to Wisconsin

As a lifelong Wisconsin resident, I know a thing or two about the Badger State. Wisconsin is an amazing and underrated state, however, it isn’t for everyone. Here are 5 important things to know about Wisconsin before making the move here.

 

 

1. Wisconsin Culture

If you are looking to move to a state with a rich history and culture, then Wisconsin is a great option. Wisconsin is heavily influenced by German and Scandinavian countries, giving Wisconsin some unique food and drink options that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. Foods like kringle, beer cheese soup, cheese curds, and the state-exclusive, award-winning New Glarus Spotted Cow Farmhouse Ale, to name a few. Another one of Wisconsin’s traditions is supper clubs. Supper clubs are restaurants that serve great comfort food, and cocktails, and are typically open after 4:00 PM.

 

2. Wisconsin Winters

It’s no secret that Wisconsin gets cold, but, is it really THAT bad?!? Well, it depends on who you ask. As a lifelong resident of Wisconsin, I personally feel like the most recent winters have not been bad, but there are certainly days where it feels like the sun doesn’t shine, and it is super cold and windy. If you aren’t a big fan of snow, then living in the Southern portion of the state will help, as the more north you go, the more snow you’ll typically see. To help get through the Winter season, find a fun wintertime activity, invest in a good quality coat and boots, and get a snow blower and you’ll be okay! Some popular wintertime activities in Wisconsin include snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, ice fishing, and curling.

 

3. Wisconsin is pretty rural

There are some “big” cities in Wisconsin, however, much of Wisconsin has a small-town, tight community feel to it. The three biggest cities in Wisconsin are Milwaukee (Pop. 570,000), Madison (Pop. 270,000), and Green Bay (Pop. 107,000). In some counties, it isn’t uncommon to find that a city of 5,000 people is actually the biggest city in the entire county! A “bigger” city within the state of Wisconsin would really be any city with a population bigger than 30,000 people, and only 4 cities in Wisconsin have over 100,000 people (Kenosha being the fourth biggest city).

 

 

 

4. Speaking "Wisconsineese

Yes, fellow Wisconsinites – a Wisconsin accent is a real thing. If you are traveling to Wisconsin for the first time, you may hear some unusual sayings. Phrases like “-Ope,” “Bubbler,” “Stop ‘n Go Lights,” “Up north,” you get the point… Wisconsinites have sayings for things that you just won’t find in other areas and don’t even get me started on Kwik Trip or Culvers. Due to the Native American influence in Wisconsin, a lot of the cities in Wisconsin are tied to Native American culture. Cities like Ashwaubenon, Waunakee, Oconomowoc, and Kaukauna are all tied to Native American culture. You’ll know if someone is truly from Wisconsin if they can pronounce these cities correctly without any hesitation.

 

5. Wisconsin Sports

Last but not least, we can’t talk about Wisconsin without talking about sports, specifically the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Brewers, and Wisconsin Badgers. Fans of Wisconsin sports carry with them a sense of pride. An “underdog” mentality because of how small the market these teams are. Fans here will stick with the teams through thick and thin, and when the team wins it all, the excitement can be felt across the entire state. It truly is such a unique pro sports experience compared to the rest of the country.