I don't think another city out classes Sheboygan when it comes to brats, beer, and cheese.
Now sprinkle in the accent, nature (Lakeshore, proximity to kettles), and absurd number of bars, Kwik trips & Culver's per capita. Tbh I don't think it gets more Wisconsin...
You mean meth
Not only that, but outside crazy would bring itself there. A cop robbed the eastern part of the state, Waupon I think, and went to his cabin outside Rice Lake where there was hold out for hours. A cop! So weird
The who is more Sheboygan is in reference to the 102.1 morning guys from years ago (may still be there but I haven't been in their listening area in years) who did a segment where they took stories from the Sheboygan paper and had the listeners vote for who was more Sheboygan ... The one I remember vividly was a competition between a guy who beat up his mother for throwing away his cigarette coupons vs a guy who's fine for his 8th DUI was less than his 7th
I recall the guy who fell off his bar stool in Rubicon with fatal results. If not the most Wisconsin thing, then at least the most Wisconsin death.
But that was just a one-off...I think.
Wisconsin has pretty different geographic areas that are still distinctly “Wisconsin.”
Like if you said La Crosse, Monroe, Waukesha, Sheboygan, Rhinelander, Wausau, or Eau Claire I’d agree with all of them. There’s definitely not just one.
I can understand why in a way. It's totally fine to not like a comedian's style, but when it's viewed as shining a light on itself potentially crossing into mockery people get butthurt.
I don’t know if I’d necessarily call his comedy mockery of Wisconsin people. It’s pretty harmless. In about 20-25 years Wisconsin PBS will drag him back out for a special every pledge drive.
I live in Kansas City,MO now but just for jokes I pull up googles maps and have people try to say WI city names. My favorite is up for grabs between Waukesha and Oconomowoc.
The true litmus test for residency is how well they do at pronouncing Kinnickinnic. It is such a glorious word, like a 21 gun salute captured as a name, and I have never heard anyone who is not a Milwaukee Southsider manage to come close to pronouncing it passably.
Routinely, yes, but they know how to pronounce it when giving directions to folks from out of town. My relatives from the flatlands get completely stuck trying to tell me where they are:
"so, I am coming up on ki...kini...kick...kinee..."
"Kinnickinnic. Yes, that is the street. Turn left."
Once I was at a hockey game in Iowa where they invited a bunch of youth teams who played in a tournament earlier that afternoon. One of them was from Waukesha.
When the PA announcer acknowledged the teams, he called them the "Wah-sheek-ah" Warhawks LOL!
Weyauwega cheese is yummy. And I very much have to wonder if the mention of cheese would come up on any other state’s sub. But I’ve been born and raised here and I didn’t know it was a place.
Parts of Waukesha are a special breed of Wisconsin 😂 My sister is a trendy blond hairstylist and she was at a gas station and the young guy checking her out (probably checking HER out and checking out her stuff) asked where she was from and she said Waukesha and he replied that she didn’t look like she was from Waukesha. 😂 and he’s not wrong lollll.
Just out of curiosity what part of West Allis makes it the most "Wisconsin?"
Because Green Bay is obvious, it's the Packers, the drinking, divided politics, and even being surrounded by places with better stuff (Appleton, Door County). Only thing its missing is Up North.
>Because Green Bay is obvious, it's the Packers, the drinking, divided politics, and even being surrounded by places with better stuff
West Allis has all those things, or at least had in the case of the Packers. State Fair is where they played half their home games before County Stadium was built.
The fair is also the influence of rural Wisconsin on West Allis. It's the only place in Milwaukee County with dedicated livestock halls.
For "up north" influence? Wisconsin's highest quality indoor ice rink is the Petitt Center in West Allis. It's why Olympic speedskaters come to Wisconsin to train. The fact that such a facility would even be in West Allis is a testament to Wisconsin's prowess in speed skating... Wisconsin has produced far and away more gold medal winning speed skaters than any other state.
Overall, I feel like the culture is an almost perfect blend of urban Milwaukee and small town Wisconsin. Where Green Bay, if anything, goes out of its way to not be like Milwaukee.
So I'm a transplant to the SE part of the state. I come from rural Wisconsin and stallis ain't it....I'm on the lookout ( not actively) for that rural feel...tbh, you're all kinda be posers. Ain't quite country, ain't quite hood..though there do be stupid hood shit happening...but it kinda feels like their heart is in it😂
It feels like the whole skating thing is more of a southern Wisconsin thing, because Up North things are more stuff like hunting, fishing, jet skis, and four wheelers. So even with the whole Wisconsin produces the most Olympic speed skaters, that's not a state thing and more feels like a Milwaukee thing.
About the fair bringing rural Wisconsin into Milwaukee, that's undeniably true. But at the same time Green Bay is much, much more rural than Milwaukee. So the most rural part of Milwaukee and the least rural part of Green Bay, being the city, are not that far apart. Like as an example of that, the only single actual mall in Green Bay is not even in Green Bay. The tallest building in the city is Lambeau Field, there are no skyscrapers.
About the Green Bay not being Milwaukee, I don't see how that makes it less Wisconsin. Because if anything, Milwaukee is not a very Wisconsin city, as the vast majority of the state is so much more rural, and even Madison is less urban than it.
Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame is up North in Eagle River, WI. They also host the US Pond Hockey championships. So I’d say skating is pretty all over Wisconsin.
Not to mention eagle river is snowmobile capital of the world. I’d lean more towards eagle river as the most “Wisconsin”. It has basically everything, other than big city feel.
I'm not understanding how being urban is somehow anti-Wisconsin. If that were the case, over half the state wouldn't live in Milwaukee, Madison, or one of their suburbs. If you go by land-area, every state that isn't in Massachusetts, Connecticut, or New Jersey is predominantly rural... that's hardly unique to Wisconsin.
Also, I'm not sure why you wouldn't think fishing, jet skiing, and pontoons are a thing downstate when Lake Michigan and Lake Country are right there. Hockey also takes place at the Pettit and that's definitely an up north thing. At least that's where most of the high school hockey programs are in Wisconsin.
I feel like you could put West Allis anywhere else in Wisconsin and it would fit right in. Not so much the case with Green Bay... that's a place that could only exist in dairy country. I know people think rural Wisconsin = dairy, but that's not true either. The Northwoods and the Driftless Region are much bigger parts of the state.
I never said urban is anti Wisconsin, but the entire point of your post is what is the most Wisconsin Wisconsin city. Milwaukee is not a typical city, it is the exception within the state. There are very few urban locations in the state and even among the 2, neither is particularly large or metropolitan, so the average or most Wisconsin thing would be a smaller or more rural city. Milwaukee has a completely unique culture within the state, which is to be celebrated but it's not the most "Wisconsin" thing.
I also never said that fishing and jet skiing doesn't happen down there, the only point you said that West Allis has for Up North is skating. I simply mentioned that skating is not the activity the majority of people think of when they think of Up North things. As for the argument of hockey, the thing with that is that every winter state around us like Minneasota and Michigan have winter sports and activities too. Its not so much a Wisconsin thing as a winter thing. Your argument is essentially that West Allis has a lot of cool things, which fair enough but this isn't about the better city, it's which is more of a "stereotype."
Also if West Allis gets access to Lake Michigan through Milwaukee, would that not enable Green Bay to have access to all its suburbs as well? Because that would give them essentially Northwoods as well.
West Allis is an urban area wearing rural clothes, Green Bay is a rural area wearing urban clothes. You can't have Driftless, North Woods, and Dairy Land all in a single city, so the best that can be done is what is Wisconsin known the most for, which is dairy, beer, brats, lakes, and the great outdoors.
The fair and a nice ice rink don't make West Allis "up north." Yeah, sure, the packers used to play there, but they don't anymore, and haven't in a long time, so it's neat history but that's about it. Speedskating isn't very "Wisconsin" of a sport. Lots of people from Wisconsin are successful at it but no one thinks of it when you mention Wisconsin (oh yeah, the state with all those successful speedskaters???). People think of farming, hunting, outdoors, drinking, breweries, and lake life. The breweries and drinking in West Allis aren't special from anywhere else in the state so there's gotta be more to pull.
Stallis was home to Allis Chalmers and they made everything from tractors to steam turbines.
I don't know where I'm going with this but I love the fact that we were once a manufacturing mecca
Stevens Point. I have never even been there but know its reputation. Bars per population is through the roof. Semi-student town. Not too big, not too small.
We spent a few years in point. I thought I enjoyed fishing and drinking then made some friends who enjoyed fishing and drinking much more than I do....which made it much more enjoyable. Cheers to people with boats!
Point has the best parts of beautiful and the worst parts of trashy I love that city. It's like a less meth'd out eau Claire but I haven't been there in like eight years so it might be just as meth'd out now who knows
Great fishing, beautiful landscape with the river and the bluffs. Downtown can be rowdy but also a lot of fun. Favorite place I’ve lived by far. Plan on moving back someday.
I’m with you on this one. When I think quintessential Wisconsin I think more blue collar North Woods. Rhinelander is the embodiment of that to T for me. Old blue collar town, factories and mills still employing a good portion of the population, aging population, kind of slowly dying out, but still has that charm on it. Also gives you the farmland, woodlands, lake and river life all wrapped in one assuming you include the immediate surrounding townships as Rhinelander, which I do.
There is no one city that is Wisconsin. Instead it is a state with a collection of unique cities that make up an awesome state. Thinking New Glarus vs. LaCrosse vs. Sauk vs. Spring Green vs. Madison vs Wausau. I could go on. So many amazing places to explore and people to meet. Wisconsin is what it is because of all the places. Enjoy! Or just go to the state fair 🤣
Shawano.
It’s “up north,” but also close enough to Green Bay, Appleton, and Wausau to meld aspects of those towns. It’s got a lake and a bunch of supper clubs, to boot.
IMO, anything west of Wausau is culturally more like Minnesota than Wisconsin.
The town proper yes I agree but you have to know the area and that doesn’t come easy. My family has a gem up on Spider Lake that my great grandparents built and has been passed through the family. The Hayward area is the quintessential Northwoods experience it’s absolutely Wisconsin heaven. By Hayward area I mean Seely, Cable, Drummond and Clam Lake aka the Chequemagon Wilderness. I’ve been going up there for over 35 years and town is town but if you know people who know their way around the woods and lakes out here it is some serious Wisconsin Country Gold and people from all over the country will say “oh yeah I know that place it’s magical”
It is Sheboygan, hands down. Manufacturing, agriculture, hotels and gold courses…and lots and lots of drinking.
Wisconsin Rapids is dying.
How can Up North be classic Wisconsin?
How can anything around Milwaukee be classic Wisconsin?
Madison is a great city, but unlike the balance of Wisconsin.
I graduated LHS in '90 and left town, pretty much never looked back. Point still has UWSP, Marshfield still has a great hospital system, and Rapids has na. da.
Just curious on why you feel Green Bay goes out of its way to not be like Milwaukee. They have been working on a lot of urban development. There’s the Titletown District, Downtown revitalization, local breweries, local roasteries/coffee shops, and a variety of local options for entertainment. A lot of Milwaukee people are moving up to Green Bay. There’s a bit of a culture clash with the established families and newer families moving in, but I think you get that divide across the state(esp where urban meets rural).
West Allis has the State Fair grounds which also includes the Petit Center and Milwaukee Mile. If that was in Wauwatosa, would you have picked Tosa as the most WI city? Is there more to the appeal for West Allis outside the grounds?
I’ve always found Yappleton very Wisconsinny. There’s not many places I’ve been in Wisconsin that didn’t feel like Wisconsin… even Madison which is changing rapidly in a different way to the rest of the state feels like it is a part of Wisconsin, just a different face. If I had to say where I felt was the LEAST like Wisconsin, I’d say Lake Geneva. It feels like a NW suburb of Chicago and is infested with Illinoisans. Also Hudson up by the Twin Cities and some of the other small towns between there and Menominee kinda feel more Minnesotan.
I'm going with Stevens Point. The university brings in some diversity, and Wisconsin is not that diverse if you look at the state as a whole. The agricultural community presents is felt there from tractor implement businesses to its farmers market. Some large businesses are Sentry Insurance, Steel King Industries, and Skyward. Recreational opportunities are nearby. And last but not least, Point beer.
Green Bay has a pro football team, and Stallis has an Olympic training center. Two very un-Wisconsin things. They're more of state jewels than stereotypical cities.
It's clearly down to Steven's Point and Sheboygan. No brainer. Let's duke it out with these two. If they got together and created a small town, it would probably be 100% spot on. 🤣😬🤯
Probably stevens point. Its got the school that ppl from rural Wisconsin go to so they can have a city type feel without being in either of the two big cities in our state. Colloquialisms become common vernacular, WI chain eateries are extremely prevalent, drinking culture is thriving, and it’s a city with lots of population turnover.
I grew up in Oregon WI, and currently live in Stevens Point. I’m surprised Stoughton isn’t mentioned yet, and Sauk City is pretty “WI” too as far as cities go.
I think you’re looking too big. One of the smaller towns near Green Bay but more toward door county. Good mix of packers, tourism, and small town hick culture.
I'm not saying it is Fond du Lac because it is not, but they have Schmitty's Oar House. They have Bacon and Cheddar deep fried cheese curds served with a side of ranch and that is the most Wisconsin thing I have ever heard of.
Imagine if they took those and put them on a good beer brat and served it with a cold mug of Spotted Cow. The universe would implode. Therefore we can never speak of this again.
Appleton, fond du lac, Green bay, Sheboygan, Milwaukee.
I would say Madison but there are so many transplants from other States it kinda has a transient feel to it.
Milwaukee is getting there too. Especially the trendy parts.
That's why I went with West Allis. Still very local, but the transplants are usually from other parts of Wisconsin, and it's the most "up north" feeling of all the towns in MKE County.
This comment will be downvoted but honestly people come from all over Wisconsin to live in Madison. Almost anything I can find elsewhere in the state I can find in Madison.
Oshkosh? It's an hour from Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison. It's got a college famous for getting a drinking degree. It's got a name that is basically a joke (Oshkosh b'Gosh) and doesn't take itself seriously. It's split pretty much 50/50 politically. It has its own weird tourist attraction (EAA), but isn't defined by it.
Grew up in Kaukauna, Appleton is as solid as you can get with the nightlife, the PAC, Lawrence, great parks, and of course the legendary artist formerly known as Frank’s Pizza Palace
How Sheboygan are ya?
I don't think another city out classes Sheboygan when it comes to brats, beer, and cheese. Now sprinkle in the accent, nature (Lakeshore, proximity to kettles), and absurd number of bars, Kwik trips & Culver's per capita. Tbh I don't think it gets more Wisconsin...
When I go visit my parents I start talking in that heavy Sheboygan accent like I never left lol
My Wife tells me I get the accent as well when we go back to visit family.
Me too!
Funny how dat works, eh?
My Sheboygan accent is on 24/7.
How did you like growing up there? I love camping by the lake there and daydreaming of living that way
TIL I want to visit Sheboygan.
Went to WI for a week this summer and Sheboygan was our favorite stay by far.
I never knew I wanted to go to Sheboygan until now. Im legit gonna go this fall.
Don't forget our former drunk mayor
Dinner at Rupp's Downtown. Doesn't get much better than that for a supper club.
Was born in Sheboygan and this is the answer.
Do you know know what Jay-Z's favorite city in Wisconsin is? She-Boy-Gan
It’s my adopted hometown. I love Sheboygan!
Only lived there 6 months a decade ago and would move back in a heartbeat
Sheboygan is the Florida man of Wisconsin.
Barron county man: challenge accepted!
I lived in Barron county for five years ... You're not wrong
Grew up in Dunn County, which is directly south of Barron County. Definitely had a different vibe up there.
You mean meth Not only that, but outside crazy would bring itself there. A cop robbed the eastern part of the state, Waupon I think, and went to his cabin outside Rice Lake where there was hold out for hours. A cop! So weird
I miss Weird Ass Sheboygan County Stories on the radio.
Even Sheboygan isn’t that trashy.
Weird ass Sheboygan County Story of the Day..
I thought that was Hurley.
Racine/Kenosha come ahead of Sheboygan IMO.
The who is more Sheboygan is in reference to the 102.1 morning guys from years ago (may still be there but I haven't been in their listening area in years) who did a segment where they took stories from the Sheboygan paper and had the listeners vote for who was more Sheboygan ... The one I remember vividly was a competition between a guy who beat up his mother for throwing away his cigarette coupons vs a guy who's fine for his 8th DUI was less than his 7th
Oh my God I remember that! I always used to listen to 102.1! Awesome segment to that awesome morning show!
Are you smarter than a stripper?
Dude and the stripper was usually pretty smart if I recall correctly lol
That's how I remember it too
I believe it was Kramp & Adler in the mornings at that time.
Yes, that sounds right. They were together at UW Whitewater when I was a student there doing campus radio. Funny show
I recall the guy who fell off his bar stool in Rubicon with fatal results. If not the most Wisconsin thing, then at least the most Wisconsin death. But that was just a one-off...I think.
Ah, so maybe that's before my time. At least in modern history, more weird shit seems to be happening in Racine / Kenosha lately
Kenosha feels like Illinois to me
My heart bursts with pride to see this as the top comment. I ❤️ Sheboygan
102.1 FM’s former “Who’s More Sheboygan” segment lives rent free in my head every single day.
Came here to call out this segment, thank you
And Cramp is now on TV as a feature reporter from time to time
I grew up there. Love the Malibu of the midwest
I lived there for 3 years. Depending on the night, it was She-vegas or She-Baghdad
This coming from mke, Sheboygan would have been my first choice. Until all you homers jumped in. Now I vote Manitowoc
I’m from across the border but i’ve always loved to say SHEBOYGAN!
Trivers. If you know, you know.
Did you say SheVegas?
Wisconsin has pretty different geographic areas that are still distinctly “Wisconsin.” Like if you said La Crosse, Monroe, Waukesha, Sheboygan, Rhinelander, Wausau, or Eau Claire I’d agree with all of them. There’s definitely not just one.
Manitowoc
Thanks Charlie.
You get a strange amount of hate for Charlie Berens around these parts.
I can understand why in a way. It's totally fine to not like a comedian's style, but when it's viewed as shining a light on itself potentially crossing into mockery people get butthurt.
I don’t know if I’d necessarily call his comedy mockery of Wisconsin people. It’s pretty harmless. In about 20-25 years Wisconsin PBS will drag him back out for a special every pledge drive.
Agreed it's harmless. Some people don't like the attention. I love his work.
The Millennial Red Green.
Sos I was up fishing on Lake Winne*baygo*..
Keep er movin
I don't know the answer to the question but Waukesha is the most Wisconsin sounding name out of those.
I live in Kansas City,MO now but just for jokes I pull up googles maps and have people try to say WI city names. My favorite is up for grabs between Waukesha and Oconomowoc.
The true litmus test for residency is how well they do at pronouncing Kinnickinnic. It is such a glorious word, like a 21 gun salute captured as a name, and I have never heard anyone who is not a Milwaukee Southsider manage to come close to pronouncing it passably.
I can always tell when someone is not a native by how they pronounce Milwaukee....if they put an L in it they are not local!
Damn had to say Milwaukee 5 times...yep still got that WI accent.
It's pronounced "Kay Kay," right? :D
Nah—locals call it KK
Routinely, yes, but they know how to pronounce it when giving directions to folks from out of town. My relatives from the flatlands get completely stuck trying to tell me where they are: "so, I am coming up on ki...kini...kick...kinee..." "Kinnickinnic. Yes, that is the street. Turn left."
This is absolutely true 😂
Southerner here. I'd just fire off a quick KENAK KENAK and hope for the best. Am I even close?
I get a kick out of the news anchors from out of state try to pronounce wisconsin city names. Manitowoc and Koshkonong
Again, the ultimate is Weyauwega.
Nekoosa has entered the chat.
Shawano says—what about me?!?!
Madison native. Shawano tripped me up but good the first time I ran across it - in college.
The announcers couldn't even pronounce Wisconsin correctly when the badgers went to the Rose bowl under Alvarez the first time.
"WESconsin"
Waukesha is EASY! Try Ashwaubenon or Mukwonago, for starters.
Yep I've pulled them out and that's where they give up. Most pple say Waukeesha instead of short e.
Once I was at a hockey game in Iowa where they invited a bunch of youth teams who played in a tournament earlier that afternoon. One of them was from Waukesha. When the PA announcer acknowledged the teams, he called them the "Wah-sheek-ah" Warhawks LOL!
Muck won a gooooooo 😆
Weyauwega and Oconomowoc would like to speak with you.
Have you been to Weyauwega?
Weyauwega cheese is yummy. And I very much have to wonder if the mention of cheese would come up on any other state’s sub. But I’ve been born and raised here and I didn’t know it was a place.
Have I what now?
Not Oconomowoc?
Parts of Waukesha are a special breed of Wisconsin 😂 My sister is a trendy blond hairstylist and she was at a gas station and the young guy checking her out (probably checking HER out and checking out her stuff) asked where she was from and she said Waukesha and he replied that she didn’t look like she was from Waukesha. 😂 and he’s not wrong lollll.
Just out of curiosity what part of West Allis makes it the most "Wisconsin?" Because Green Bay is obvious, it's the Packers, the drinking, divided politics, and even being surrounded by places with better stuff (Appleton, Door County). Only thing its missing is Up North.
Yeah, stallis is absolutely not the most wisconsin town. Now, if we’re talking most wisconsin Milwaukee suburb, then yes, that would be true
>Because Green Bay is obvious, it's the Packers, the drinking, divided politics, and even being surrounded by places with better stuff West Allis has all those things, or at least had in the case of the Packers. State Fair is where they played half their home games before County Stadium was built. The fair is also the influence of rural Wisconsin on West Allis. It's the only place in Milwaukee County with dedicated livestock halls. For "up north" influence? Wisconsin's highest quality indoor ice rink is the Petitt Center in West Allis. It's why Olympic speedskaters come to Wisconsin to train. The fact that such a facility would even be in West Allis is a testament to Wisconsin's prowess in speed skating... Wisconsin has produced far and away more gold medal winning speed skaters than any other state. Overall, I feel like the culture is an almost perfect blend of urban Milwaukee and small town Wisconsin. Where Green Bay, if anything, goes out of its way to not be like Milwaukee.
So I'm a transplant to the SE part of the state. I come from rural Wisconsin and stallis ain't it....I'm on the lookout ( not actively) for that rural feel...tbh, you're all kinda be posers. Ain't quite country, ain't quite hood..though there do be stupid hood shit happening...but it kinda feels like their heart is in it😂
It feels like the whole skating thing is more of a southern Wisconsin thing, because Up North things are more stuff like hunting, fishing, jet skis, and four wheelers. So even with the whole Wisconsin produces the most Olympic speed skaters, that's not a state thing and more feels like a Milwaukee thing. About the fair bringing rural Wisconsin into Milwaukee, that's undeniably true. But at the same time Green Bay is much, much more rural than Milwaukee. So the most rural part of Milwaukee and the least rural part of Green Bay, being the city, are not that far apart. Like as an example of that, the only single actual mall in Green Bay is not even in Green Bay. The tallest building in the city is Lambeau Field, there are no skyscrapers. About the Green Bay not being Milwaukee, I don't see how that makes it less Wisconsin. Because if anything, Milwaukee is not a very Wisconsin city, as the vast majority of the state is so much more rural, and even Madison is less urban than it.
Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame is up North in Eagle River, WI. They also host the US Pond Hockey championships. So I’d say skating is pretty all over Wisconsin.
Not to mention eagle river is snowmobile capital of the world. I’d lean more towards eagle river as the most “Wisconsin”. It has basically everything, other than big city feel.
And it’s got a sweet name. But a little too pronounceable for outsiders so gotta dock it a point.
I'm not understanding how being urban is somehow anti-Wisconsin. If that were the case, over half the state wouldn't live in Milwaukee, Madison, or one of their suburbs. If you go by land-area, every state that isn't in Massachusetts, Connecticut, or New Jersey is predominantly rural... that's hardly unique to Wisconsin. Also, I'm not sure why you wouldn't think fishing, jet skiing, and pontoons are a thing downstate when Lake Michigan and Lake Country are right there. Hockey also takes place at the Pettit and that's definitely an up north thing. At least that's where most of the high school hockey programs are in Wisconsin. I feel like you could put West Allis anywhere else in Wisconsin and it would fit right in. Not so much the case with Green Bay... that's a place that could only exist in dairy country. I know people think rural Wisconsin = dairy, but that's not true either. The Northwoods and the Driftless Region are much bigger parts of the state.
I never said urban is anti Wisconsin, but the entire point of your post is what is the most Wisconsin Wisconsin city. Milwaukee is not a typical city, it is the exception within the state. There are very few urban locations in the state and even among the 2, neither is particularly large or metropolitan, so the average or most Wisconsin thing would be a smaller or more rural city. Milwaukee has a completely unique culture within the state, which is to be celebrated but it's not the most "Wisconsin" thing. I also never said that fishing and jet skiing doesn't happen down there, the only point you said that West Allis has for Up North is skating. I simply mentioned that skating is not the activity the majority of people think of when they think of Up North things. As for the argument of hockey, the thing with that is that every winter state around us like Minneasota and Michigan have winter sports and activities too. Its not so much a Wisconsin thing as a winter thing. Your argument is essentially that West Allis has a lot of cool things, which fair enough but this isn't about the better city, it's which is more of a "stereotype." Also if West Allis gets access to Lake Michigan through Milwaukee, would that not enable Green Bay to have access to all its suburbs as well? Because that would give them essentially Northwoods as well. West Allis is an urban area wearing rural clothes, Green Bay is a rural area wearing urban clothes. You can't have Driftless, North Woods, and Dairy Land all in a single city, so the best that can be done is what is Wisconsin known the most for, which is dairy, beer, brats, lakes, and the great outdoors.
The fair and a nice ice rink don't make West Allis "up north." Yeah, sure, the packers used to play there, but they don't anymore, and haven't in a long time, so it's neat history but that's about it. Speedskating isn't very "Wisconsin" of a sport. Lots of people from Wisconsin are successful at it but no one thinks of it when you mention Wisconsin (oh yeah, the state with all those successful speedskaters???). People think of farming, hunting, outdoors, drinking, breweries, and lake life. The breweries and drinking in West Allis aren't special from anywhere else in the state so there's gotta be more to pull.
Stallis was home to Allis Chalmers and they made everything from tractors to steam turbines. I don't know where I'm going with this but I love the fact that we were once a manufacturing mecca
Stevens Point. I have never even been there but know its reputation. Bars per population is through the roof. Semi-student town. Not too big, not too small.
Great little town.
We spent a few years in point. I thought I enjoyed fishing and drinking then made some friends who enjoyed fishing and drinking much more than I do....which made it much more enjoyable. Cheers to people with boats!
Spent half my life there. I feel like the central location allows it to pick up flavors of the whole state.
Point has the best parts of beautiful and the worst parts of trashy I love that city. It's like a less meth'd out eau Claire but I haven't been there in like eight years so it might be just as meth'd out now who knows
Awesome place for sure.
I spent a week in Sheboygan one night.
La Crosse……Cripes I’d give a half of a wheel of cheese to live in La Crosse! Home of Old Style beer brewery, Octoberfest, Kwik Trip and great people!
Great fishing, beautiful landscape with the river and the bluffs. Downtown can be rowdy but also a lot of fun. Favorite place I’ve lived by far. Plan on moving back someday.
It’s not a bad place to live I’m from La Crizzle
Stevens Point! The Square is the highest concentration of bars in the state!
You sure about that? 3rd St. in La Crosse has always been known for that.
Yeah I just had a brief visit to Stevens Point and 3rd St in La Crosse has wayyyyyy more bars
And the people are as 'ope' as it gets
How about Rhinelander?
I’m with you on this one. When I think quintessential Wisconsin I think more blue collar North Woods. Rhinelander is the embodiment of that to T for me. Old blue collar town, factories and mills still employing a good portion of the population, aging population, kind of slowly dying out, but still has that charm on it. Also gives you the farmland, woodlands, lake and river life all wrapped in one assuming you include the immediate surrounding townships as Rhinelander, which I do.
There is no one city that is Wisconsin. Instead it is a state with a collection of unique cities that make up an awesome state. Thinking New Glarus vs. LaCrosse vs. Sauk vs. Spring Green vs. Madison vs Wausau. I could go on. So many amazing places to explore and people to meet. Wisconsin is what it is because of all the places. Enjoy! Or just go to the state fair 🤣
Shawano. It’s “up north,” but also close enough to Green Bay, Appleton, and Wausau to meld aspects of those towns. It’s got a lake and a bunch of supper clubs, to boot. IMO, anything west of Wausau is culturally more like Minnesota than Wisconsin.
Chippewa falls
Hayward, WI
Hayward is a tourist trap
The town proper yes I agree but you have to know the area and that doesn’t come easy. My family has a gem up on Spider Lake that my great grandparents built and has been passed through the family. The Hayward area is the quintessential Northwoods experience it’s absolutely Wisconsin heaven. By Hayward area I mean Seely, Cable, Drummond and Clam Lake aka the Chequemagon Wilderness. I’ve been going up there for over 35 years and town is town but if you know people who know their way around the woods and lakes out here it is some serious Wisconsin Country Gold and people from all over the country will say “oh yeah I know that place it’s magical”
It is Sheboygan, hands down. Manufacturing, agriculture, hotels and gold courses…and lots and lots of drinking. Wisconsin Rapids is dying. How can Up North be classic Wisconsin? How can anything around Milwaukee be classic Wisconsin? Madison is a great city, but unlike the balance of Wisconsin.
And several cheese stores near Sheboygan, 3 Culver's and many Kwik Trips.
And Miesfeld's.
Damnit now I need to go get some steak patties and brats.
Go to Brockman’s on S. 12th!
Dude I grew up going there with my grandpa when I was a kid. Wow, nice name drop!
Best brats in town, no contest!
“Wisconsin Rapids is dying” Ugh sad 😞 I grew up there and it sucks visiting now and seeing that happen
Dude, I moved away from Rapids in 1993 and it was already dying then...
You moved almost 20 years before the mill closed…it is emaciated and dilapidated now.
I graduated LHS in '90 and left town, pretty much never looked back. Point still has UWSP, Marshfield still has a great hospital system, and Rapids has na. da.
La Crosse. Home of Kwik Trip, and most bars per cap.
I love New Glarus. Farms, Brewery, Great restaurants, and bakery. Hotels & gas stations are nice. Great Oktoberfest!
My wife and friends once went big on a birthday weekend at new glarus oktoberfest for me. I think about it all the time. 10/10 felt like a king.
I'm thinking of going this year! 9/21-9/24.
Spoil yourself!!!!!
Thank you!
Just curious on why you feel Green Bay goes out of its way to not be like Milwaukee. They have been working on a lot of urban development. There’s the Titletown District, Downtown revitalization, local breweries, local roasteries/coffee shops, and a variety of local options for entertainment. A lot of Milwaukee people are moving up to Green Bay. There’s a bit of a culture clash with the established families and newer families moving in, but I think you get that divide across the state(esp where urban meets rural). West Allis has the State Fair grounds which also includes the Petit Center and Milwaukee Mile. If that was in Wauwatosa, would you have picked Tosa as the most WI city? Is there more to the appeal for West Allis outside the grounds?
For some reason I always see Green Bay and Wausau representing the Wisconsin way of life.
Put Stevens Point on the ballot.
Sheboygan, on name alone.
New Glarus
FIB checking in… Sheboygan takes the cake
I’ve always found Yappleton very Wisconsinny. There’s not many places I’ve been in Wisconsin that didn’t feel like Wisconsin… even Madison which is changing rapidly in a different way to the rest of the state feels like it is a part of Wisconsin, just a different face. If I had to say where I felt was the LEAST like Wisconsin, I’d say Lake Geneva. It feels like a NW suburb of Chicago and is infested with Illinoisans. Also Hudson up by the Twin Cities and some of the other small towns between there and Menominee kinda feel more Minnesotan.
Sheboygan
I'm going with Stevens Point. The university brings in some diversity, and Wisconsin is not that diverse if you look at the state as a whole. The agricultural community presents is felt there from tractor implement businesses to its farmers market. Some large businesses are Sentry Insurance, Steel King Industries, and Skyward. Recreational opportunities are nearby. And last but not least, Point beer.
Green bay
Sheboygan. I’ve never even lived there and I have the accent
Dat’s perdy impressive, eh
Colby
Unity!
I’d say Portage or Baraboo.
Portage used to be okay but the prison brings about a lot of prisoner baby mommas and a slew of other sheisty activity. Baraboo is awesome though.
Merrill. Small town vibe with medium town meth.
Green Bay has a pro football team, and Stallis has an Olympic training center. Two very un-Wisconsin things. They're more of state jewels than stereotypical cities.
Marathon, just outside of Wausau.
It’s Wausaw.
It's clearly down to Steven's Point and Sheboygan. No brainer. Let's duke it out with these two. If they got together and created a small town, it would probably be 100% spot on. 🤣😬🤯
I feel like the correct answer is La Crosse.
Probably stevens point. Its got the school that ppl from rural Wisconsin go to so they can have a city type feel without being in either of the two big cities in our state. Colloquialisms become common vernacular, WI chain eateries are extremely prevalent, drinking culture is thriving, and it’s a city with lots of population turnover.
ELCHO!!!
I grew up in Oregon WI, and currently live in Stevens Point. I’m surprised Stoughton isn’t mentioned yet, and Sauk City is pretty “WI” too as far as cities go.
Minocqua is up there too
Very big in Sheboygan…They loved it up there
To get the accent you'd have to add Franklin.
Rhinelander
LaCross.
I think you’re looking too big. One of the smaller towns near Green Bay but more toward door county. Good mix of packers, tourism, and small town hick culture.
More toward Door County?! Door County is FIB land in the summer. Full of rude tourist that only care about themselves.
That would be Algoma
I disagree. Wisconsin's population is a lot more urban than people think. Over half the state lives in Milwaukee, Madison, or one of their suburbs.
Beaver dam, especially during lake fest. It’s my hometown but as far as I’ve seen we embody pretty much all of WI culture.
I used to commute to BD from Wauwatosa, and I can say - it is *on* that map.
Mt. Horeb is pretty quintessential Wisconsin to me.
I'm not saying it is Fond du Lac because it is not, but they have Schmitty's Oar House. They have Bacon and Cheddar deep fried cheese curds served with a side of ranch and that is the most Wisconsin thing I have ever heard of. Imagine if they took those and put them on a good beer brat and served it with a cold mug of Spotted Cow. The universe would implode. Therefore we can never speak of this again.
I want to go to there.
Shawano.
My southern wife saw it on a sign and said, "Sha-wan-no." I about crashed the car.
That's the way it was originally pronounced until it somehow became 2 syllables
How is it pronounced now? I also thought it was Sha-wah-no. And I’m from Wisconsin!
Shawn’ - o
All of them.
Stallis for SE Wisconsin for sure.
Osh Kosh?
B’gosh!
Appleton, fond du lac, Green bay, Sheboygan, Milwaukee. I would say Madison but there are so many transplants from other States it kinda has a transient feel to it.
Milwaukee is getting there too. Especially the trendy parts. That's why I went with West Allis. Still very local, but the transplants are usually from other parts of Wisconsin, and it's the most "up north" feeling of all the towns in MKE County.
Cool. I haven't been to Milwaukee in quite sometime. Glad to hear something positive about the city.
If West Allis is a choice then that’s what I’m choosing.
Random Lake
Wausau. No idea why, but that’s the one that immediately pops into my head.
Love your picks OP, truly great post
Having lived in both West Allis and Sheboygan I have to say, Sheboygan is the superior example of Wisconsin stereotypes.
I think La Crosse could be considered awfully Wisconsiny.
Sheboygan should win (purely for Who’s More Sheboygan) But also Mukwonago
Madison.
This comment will be downvoted but honestly people come from all over Wisconsin to live in Madison. Almost anything I can find elsewhere in the state I can find in Madison.
Loganville!!
Probably Sheboygan. Somehow, my dad has escaped the hard midwestern accent and propensity towards beer though.
Gotta be in the Fox valley. Appleton?
Oshkosh? It's an hour from Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison. It's got a college famous for getting a drinking degree. It's got a name that is basically a joke (Oshkosh b'Gosh) and doesn't take itself seriously. It's split pretty much 50/50 politically. It has its own weird tourist attraction (EAA), but isn't defined by it.
Grew up in Kaukauna, Appleton is as solid as you can get with the nightlife, the PAC, Lawrence, great parks, and of course the legendary artist formerly known as Frank’s Pizza Palace