Brown County is located in the northeastern part of Wisconsin, in the Fox River Valley region. It is bordered by Oconto County to the north, Shawano County to the east, Outagamie County to the south, and Calumet and Winnebago Counties to the west. The county covers an area of 817 square miles and has a population of 249,944 people as of 2019.
The geography of Brown County is varied with rolling hills, forests, wetlands, and agricultural land all present in abundance. The Fox River flows through the county providing many recreational activities including boating and fishing opportunities. There are also numerous lakes within Brown County such as Green Bay Lake which is a popular destination for swimming and other water activities.
The landscape in Brown County is largely rural with small towns scattered throughout. These towns provide a variety of services including shopping centers, restaurants, schools, medical facilities, parks and recreation centers. The county seat is Green Bay which serves as an urban center for shopping, dining entertainment and more.
The climate in Brown County is humid continental with hot summers and cold winters that often bring snowfall during winter months. Temperatures can vary greatly between day and night due to its location near Lake Michigan which moderates temperatures throughout the year. Precipitation averages around 33 inches per year with most occurring during spring months when thunderstorms are common.
Country seat and other main cities of Brown County, Wisconsin
Brown County is located in the northeastern part of Wisconsin, and its county seat is the city of Green Bay. Green Bay is the third-largest city in Wisconsin and serves as an urban center for shopping, dining, entertainment, and more. It is home to several universities such as the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and St. Norbert College, as well as professional sports teams including the NFL’s Green Bay Packers.
According to COUNTRYAAH, other main cities in Brown County include De Pere, Allouez, Ashwaubenon, Howard, Pulaski, Bellevue, Hobart, Suamico, Wrightstown and Denmark. De Pere is located along the Fox River and includes attractions such as Voyageur Park and Heritage Hill State Historical Park. Allouez is a small community with a historic downtown district that features shops and restaurants. Ashwaubenon sits on the western side of Green Bay and includes attractions such as Lambeau Field Stadium which is home to the Packers.
Howard offers a variety of recreational activities including fishing on Duck Creek Pond or golfing at Royal Scot Golf Course. Pulaski has many parks and trails perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking or biking. Bellevue sits on Lake Michigan’s western shoreline with beachfront access to beaches such as Red Arrow Beach Park or Theisen Beach Park for swimming or sunbathing during summer months. Hobart has plenty of parks including Robinsonville Park which features a playground area perfect for families with children while Suamico provides wildlife viewing opportunities at Fairfield Nature Preserve. Wrightstown has many historic sites to explore while Denmark offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities such as snowmobiling in winter months.
History of Brown County, Wisconsin
Brown County, Wisconsin was established in 1818 as part of the Michigan Territory. The county was named for Major General Jacob Brown, a hero of the War of 1812. In 1836, it became part of the Wisconsin Territory and in 1848 it became part of the state of Wisconsin.
The first settlers in Brown County were French fur traders who arrived in the early 1700s. They were followed by German and Dutch immigrants who moved into the area in the late 1700s and early 1800s. At this time, much of Brown County was still heavily wooded with a few small farms scattered throughout.
In 1825, Green Bay was made an official port-of-entry for goods entering or leaving Wisconsin by boat. This helped to stimulate growth in the area as more people began to settle there and businesses began to thrive. By 1850, Green Bay had become one of the largest cities in Wisconsin with a population over 5,000 people.
During this time period, many new communities were established throughout Brown County including De Pere, Allouez, Ashwaubenon and Wrightstown among others. These communities developed their own unique histories and cultures over time as they grew and changed with each passing decade. By 1900 most of these communities had become well-established towns with their own schools, churches and businesses that served local residents as well as visitors from outside areas.
Today, Brown County is home to a population of around 260 thousand people spread out across its various cities and townships. It is a vibrant community that has retained much of its history while adapting to modern times through its thriving business sector and diverse culture that includes Native American tribes such as Menominee Nation, Oneida Nation and Ho-Chunk Nation among others who have been living here for centuries.
Economy of Brown County, Wisconsin
Brown County, Wisconsin has a diverse and vibrant economy. It is home to a wide variety of industries, from agriculture, manufacturing, and technology to health care, retail, and tourism. This diversity allows the county to weather economic downturns more easily than other areas that rely heavily on one or two industries.
Agriculture is a major part of the local economy. Dairy farming is especially important in Brown County as it produces more milk than any other county in Wisconsin. In addition, the county grows corn, soybeans, hay and oats for livestock feed as well as fruits such as apples and cherries.
Manufacturing is also an important sector of the Brown County economy. The largest employer in the county is Green Bay Packaging which produces paperboard packaging products for food and beverage companies around the world. Other major employers include Schneider National trucking company, Georgia-Pacific paper products manufacturer, KI furniture maker and Schreiber Foods cheese producer among others.
Technology is another key component of Brown County’s economy with several high-tech companies located here including Microsoft’s Skype division which employs over 500 people in Green Bay. The county also has several data centers operated by IBM and Google as well as a growing number of tech startups that are helping to drive innovation in the area.
Retail also plays an important role in Brown County’s economy with several large shopping malls located here including Bay Park Square Mall in Ashwaubenon which features over 120 stores and restaurants while Fox River Mall in Grand Chute has over 100 stores and restaurants. In addition to these shopping centers there are numerous smaller retailers throughout the county offering everything from clothing stores to antique shops.
Finally, tourism is an increasingly important part of Brown County’s economy with visitors coming from all over to enjoy its many attractions such as Lambeau Field home of NFL’s Green Bay Packers football team; Heritage Hill State Park; National Railroad Museum; Neville Public Museum; Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary; NEW Zoo & Adventure Park; Pine Grove Historical Village; New Denmark Scandinavian Heritage Center; Door County Maritime Museum; Ahnapee State Trail among many others that make this area one of Wisconsin’s top tourist destinations.
