Green Bay, Wisconsin

• 1. The First European Footprint

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  Jean Nicolet arrived in the Green Bay area shortly before winter in 1634. He sailed up the Ottawa River and through Lake Huron to reach Lake Michigan. His mission was to form a peaceful alliance with Native Americans who lived in western areas. The Ho-Chunk people, also known as Winnebago, identified themselves as People of the Sea. They believed they must reside on or near an Ocean. Nicolet landed at Red Banks near the modern city site. He established a small trading post named La Baie des Puants. This settlement became one of the oldest European permanent settlements in America. He stayed with the Menominee tribe for about a year. The tribe cultivated corn, beans, squash, and tobacco along the riverbanks. Wild rice grew in abundance there. Women harvested wild rice and gathered nuts, berries, and roots from the woods. Men hunted and fished for food while women processed game into clothing and tools. No political action could be taken without agreement from half of the women. Nicolet helped open trade opportunities before returning to Quebec.

• 2. From Fur Trade To Paper Capital

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  Charles Michel de Langlade moved his family to Green Bay in 1765. He is considered the first settler in present-day Wisconsin. British control began in 1761 after the French and Indian War. The town incorporated as Green Bay on the 27th of February 1854. By 1901 Northern Paper Mills opened its doors in the city. It became the largest producer of toilet paper globally by 1920 under the name Northern Tissue. The company offered splinter-free toilet paper in the early 1930s. Fort Howard Paper Company and Hoberg Paper Company were among the earliest paper firms. Georgia-Pacific and Procter & Gamble remain major producers today. The paper industry helped the city avoid severe Great Depression effects. Acme Packing Company and Indian Packing Company were early meatpackers. JBS S.A. and American Foods Group are current major employers. Bellin Health employs 4,500 people as of 2021. Schneider National has 3,769 employees. Humana employs 3,190 workers. Aurora BayCare Medical Center provides care for 2,297 staff members.

• 3. Waves Of Newcomers And Neighbors

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  Large numbers of Belgian immigrants arrived between 1880 and 1910. They cleared land to farm and build homes. Significant English immigration occurred during this same period. Many English families lived first in Canada before moving here. A small Dutch community existed alongside them. Green Bay held a larger portion of first-generation French immigrants than any other Wisconsin city at that time. The 2020 census recorded 107,395 residents. Racial composition included 66.6% White population. Hispanic or Latino groups made up 17.9% of total residents. Black or African American individuals comprised 5.5%. Asian populations accounted for 4.4%. Native American communities represented 4.4% of the populace. The Hmong American population reached 2,822 according to 2022 surveys. German Americans numbered 29,352 people. Mexican Americans totaled 14,265 individuals. These groups formed over 75% of the city's Latino population. Median household income stood at $52,214 in recent estimates. Per capita income averaged $28,092. About 12.3% of families lived below the poverty line.

• 4. The People Own The Team

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  The Green Bay Packers football team was founded in 1919. They joined the National Football League in 1921. This franchise remains the only remaining small town team in major league sports. Public ownership defines its unique structure. President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Green Bay in 1934 to honor its tercentenary. Lambeau Field opened in 1957 and stands 232 feet tall. City Stadium served as the home before that era. The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin reservation covers about 14% of the city area. The Packers contribute significantly to local economy and culture. Their presence supports tourism and community identity. The team plays games at Lambeau Field every season. Resch Center hosts indoor football and hockey teams. The Green Bay Blizzard and Green Bay Gamblers play there too. Community support keeps the franchise viable without corporate owners. Fans own shares allowing them voting rights on leadership decisions.

• 5. Four Seasons And Fox River Flows

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  Green Bay sits at the mouth of the Fox River on Lake Michigan. Interstate 43 meets Interstate 41 approximately north of Milwaukee. The climate classification is humid continental with four distinct seasons. Summers bring warm, humid weather while winters deliver cold snowfall. Monthly mean temperatures range from January lows to July highs. Average high temperature reaches levels in July. Six point one days exceed plus degrees annually. Sixty-eight days stay at or below freezing each year. Nineteen days drop below zero sublevels. Extreme temperatures ranged from minus degrees on the 21st of January 1888 to plus degrees on the 13th of July 1936. August receives wettest precipitation mostly as thunderstorm rain. February holds driest conditions with low moisture content snow. Tornadoes remain rare though an F3 struck Pittsfield on the 26th of June 1969. About fourteen percent of city land lies inside Oneida Nation reservation boundaries. Water service comes from Green Bay Water Utility. Sewer systems operate under NEW Water district management.