Surprising Origin Of Wisconsin’s ‘Badger State’ Nickname That Most Illinoisans Don’t Know

Did you know Wisconsin's famous 'Badger State' nickname didn't actually come from the furry animals with sharp claws and scrappy attitudes? Me neither, until today.

Reasons Illinoisans Love Wisconsin

As a life-long Illinois resident, I’ve always appreciated our neighboring state of Wisconsin for its cheese, its lakes, its Spotted Cow beer and, of course, its iconic nickname: The Badger State.

I have spent many of my free weekends in Wisconsin and have been to Madison, Home of the Badgers, more times than I can count, yet still I have remained completely oblivious to one very important historical fact, the Badger State nickname isn't a tip of the hat to the state's favorite animal, but it's significant mining roots instead.

How Wisconsin Got Its 'Badger State' Nickname

Whenever someone hears "The Badger State", their mind usually goes here first..

BUT, apparently ole Bucky isn't the reason for the nickname. Before we get to the important Wisconsin fact that blew my mind today, let's have a quick history lesson.

According to wisconsinhistory.org;

Lead brought thousands of miners into Wisconsin in the 1820s and 1830s. The lead industry formed the foundation of the state's 19th century settlement and growth.

Seeing how I slept through many of my history classes in school, I wasn't surprised that Wisconsin's rich mining history was off my radar, but this post shared by Badgerland Legends on Facebook completely blew my mind...

So, I guess the moral of this story is, the next time you’re enjoying some Wisconsin cheddar or beer, give a little nod to those industrious miners who helped shape the state’s history. Maybe it will also help you feel a little less guilty about digging into that cheese dip like a true badger too.

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