Fond du Lac () is a city in
Fond du Lac County
Fond du Lac County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 104,154. Its county seat is Fond du Lac. The county was created in the Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and later organized in 1844. Fond du La ...
,
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. The population was 44,678 at the 2020 census.
The city forms the core of the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
's Fond du Lac
Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...
, which includes all of Fond du Lac County (2020 population: 104,154). Fond du Lac is the 348th largest
Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...
(MSA) in the United States.
History
"Fond du Lac" is French for the "bottom" or the "farthest point" "of the lake," so named because of its location at the bottom (south end) of
Lake Winnebago
Lake Winnebago ( mez, Wenepekōw Nepēhsæh, oj, Wiinibiigoo-zaaga'igan, one, kanyataláheleˀ) is a shallow freshwater lake in the north central United States, located in east central Wisconsin. At 137,700 acres it is the largest lake entir ...
.
Native American tribes, primarily the
Winnebagos but also the
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi , also spelled Pottawatomi and Pottawatomie (among many variations), are a Native American people of the western Great Lakes region, upper Mississippi River and Great Plains. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a m ...
,
Kickapoo, and
Mascoutin
The Mascouten (also ''Mascoutin'', ''Mathkoutench'', ''Muscoden,'' or ''Musketoon'') were a tribe of Algonquian-speaking Native Americans located in the Midwest. They are believed to have dwelt on both sides of the Mississippi River, adjacent to ...
lived or gathered in the area long before European explorers arrived. Although the identity of the first European to explore the southern end of
Lake Winnebago
Lake Winnebago ( mez, Wenepekōw Nepēhsæh, oj, Wiinibiigoo-zaaga'igan, one, kanyataláheleˀ) is a shallow freshwater lake in the north central United States, located in east central Wisconsin. At 137,700 acres it is the largest lake entir ...
is uncertain, it was probably
Claude-Jean Allouez
Claude Jean Allouez (June 6, 1622 – August 28, 1689) was a Jesuit missionary and French explorer of North America. He established a number of missions among the indigenous people living near Lake Superior.
Biography
Allouez was born in Sai ...
, followed by French fur trappers.
James Doty, a federal judge for the western part of the
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan. Detroit w ...
, thought the land at the foot of Lake Winnebago might be a good location for a city, so he and his partners bought land in the area. In 1836, during the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature, John Arndt proposed making Fond du Lac the new capital. The motion failed, and Doty convinced the legislature to choose
Madison Madison may refer to:
People
* Madison (name), a given name and a surname
* James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States
Place names
* Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...
instead. Colwert, Fanna Pier and Alex Tomasik were the first white residents of the area. In 1835, the construction of the
Military Ridge Road
The Old Military Road was a road built by the U.S. Army in 1835-36, connecting Fort Howard ( Green Bay) Wisconsin with Fort Crawford (Prairie du Chien) via Fond du Lac, Fort Winnebago ( Portage), and Dodgeville. This first military road was a beg ...
began. It passed through Fond du Lac, connecting the forts in Wisconsin and
Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn was a United States fort built in 1803 beside the Chicago River, in what is now Chicago, Illinois. It was constructed by troops under Captain John Whistler and named in honor of Henry Dearborn, then United States Secretary of War. ...
in Illinois. The first school in Fond du Lac was built in 1843. The first railroad came to the community in 1852. About 1856, the first English newspaper in Fond du Lac, the ''Fond du Lac Commonwealth'', was founded. Logging and milling were primary industries in the late 1880s, with access to the lake as the engine of the industry.
From June 1944 to August 1944, the
Fond du Lac County Fair
The Fond du Lac County Fair is an annual county fair that takes place every July in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA. The first Fond du Lac County Fair took place on September 29, 1852 in Rosendale. The Fond du Lac County Fairs' motto is "Education ...
grounds was the site of an Allied
prisoner of war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp (often abbreviated as POW camp) is a site for the containment of enemy fighters captured by a belligerent power in time of war.
There are significant differences among POW camps, internment camps, and military prisons. ...
that held 300 German
prisoners of war
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held Captivity, captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610.
Belligerents hold priso ...
guarded by 39 U.S. soldiers. The prisoners worked on peas farms and in canneries that summer.
Historic districts
Fond du Lac has 20 listings on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
, including four historic districts: the
South Main Street Historic District, the North Main Street Historic District, the Linden Street Historic District, and the
East Division Street-Sheboygan Street Historic District. Other listings include six houses, two
octagon house
Octagon houses were a unique house style briefly popular in the 1850s in the United States and Canada. They are characterised by an octagonal (eight-sided) plan, and often feature a flat roof and a veranda all round. Their unusual shape and app ...
s, two hotels, a church, a fire station, a
train depot
A train station, railway station, railroad station or depot is a railway facility where trains stop to load or unload passengers, freight or both. It generally consists of at least one platform, one track and a station building providing such ...
, an apartment building, a commercial building, and a prehistoric site. Most of the buildings listed in the register were a result of economic prosperity following the lumber industry boom in the Fox Valley and the newly rich building residences in the area.
Geography
Fond du Lac is at (43.775, −88.445).
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.
Fond du Lac lies on the southern shore of
Lake Winnebago
Lake Winnebago ( mez, Wenepekōw Nepēhsæh, oj, Wiinibiigoo-zaaga'igan, one, kanyataláheleˀ) is a shallow freshwater lake in the north central United States, located in east central Wisconsin. At 137,700 acres it is the largest lake entir ...
. The east and west branches of the
Fond du Lac River connect in the city and the river then flows into Lake Winnebago near Lakeside Park.
Climate
The record low was −41 °F (−41 °C) on January 30, 1951.
The record high was 111 °F (44 °C) on July 13, 1936; the days immediately before and after that date hit 109 °F and 110 °F, respectively.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
census of 2020,
the city population was 44,678. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was . There were 19,936 housing units at an average density of . Ethnically, the population was 8.6%
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race. When grouping both Hispanic and non-Hispanic people together by race, the city was 82.4%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 4.5%
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...
or
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 2.0%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.7%
Native American, 4.1% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 6.3% from two or more races.
The 2020 census population of the city included 1,109 people incarcerated in adult correctional facilities and 609 people in student housing.
According to the
American Community Survey
The American Community Survey (ACS) is a demographics survey program conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the decennial census, such as ancestry, citizenship, educati ...
estimates for 2016-2020, the median income for a household in the city was $54,587, and the median income for a family was $70,061. Male full-time workers had a median income of $49,226 versus $38,715 for female workers. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $28,555. About 8.1% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Of the population age 25 and over, 90.6% were high school graduates or higher and 23.1% had a bachelor's degree or higher.
2010 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2010, there were 43,021 people, 17,942 households, and 10,395 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was . There were 19,181 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 90.6%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 2.5%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.7%
Native American, 1.8%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 2.5% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.9% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 6.4% of the population.
There were 17,942 households, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.1% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.94.
The median age in the city was 36.9 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
2000 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 42,203 people, 16,638 households, and 10,282 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 2,501.3 people per square mile (965.9/km
2). There were 17,519 housing units at an average density of 1,038.3 per square mile (401.0/km
2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.59%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 1.86%
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...
or
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.51%
Native American, 1.52%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.01%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...
, 1.27% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.25% from two or more races. 2.92% of the population were
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race.
There were 16,638 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,113, and the median income for a family was $50,341. Males had a median income of $35,682 versus $22,492 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $18,996. About 4.6% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Fond du Lac has a
city manager-council form of government. The city council is composed of seven individuals, who are elected to two-year terms. The current city manager is Joseph P. Moore and the council president is Kay Miller.
Fond du Lac is represented by
Dan Feyen
Dan Feyen is an American printer and politician who currently serves as a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Senate.
Biography
Born in New Holstein, Wisconsin, in Calumet County, he graduated from New Holstein High School in 1986 and rec ...
in the 18th district of the
Wisconsin Senate
The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the larger Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after t ...
, and by
Jeremy Thiesfeldt
Jeremy Thiesfeldt (born November 22, 1966) is an American educator and politician from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for 12 years, representing Wisconsin's 52nd Assembly district from 2011 thr ...
and
Michael Schraa
Michael Schraa (born April 17, 1961) is an American businessman and politician.
Born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Schraa attended University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Schraa is a business owner and former stock broker. In November 2012, Schraa was electe ...
in the 52nd and 53rd districts of the
Wisconsin Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin.
Representatives are elected for two-year terms, e ...
. At a federal level, Fond du Lac falls within
Wisconsin's 6th congressional district
Wisconsin's 6th congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply th ...
and is represented by
Glenn Grothman
Glenn S. Grothman (; born July 3, 1955) is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. representative from Wisconsin's 6th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he was first elected to his seat in 2014.
Grothman r ...
in the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
.
Religion
The
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), also referred to simply as the Wisconsin Synod, is an American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwaukee ...
has four churches in Fond du Lac: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, and Faith Lutheran Church.
Fond du Lac's population is about one-third
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
. In 2000 the six Catholic parishes merged into a single entity called Holy Family Catholic Community. St. Louis Catholic Church burned down in 2007 and the building was demolished. The St. Patrick and St. Joseph churches closed, while Sacred Heart, St. Mary, and St. Peter remain open.
![Agnesian HealthCare](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Agnesian_HealthCare.jpg)
The
motherhouse
A motherhouse is the principal house or community for a religious institute. It would normally be where the residence and offices of the religious superior
In a hierarchy or tree structure of any kind, a superior is an individual or position at ...
of th
Congregation of Sisters of Saint Agnesis in Fond du Lac. The order founded and continues to sponso
Marian Universityin Fond du Lac.
Fond du Lac is the
episcopal see
An episcopal see is, in a practical use of the phrase, the area of a bishop's ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
Phrases concerning actions occurring within or outside an episcopal see are indicative of the geographical significance of the term, mak ...
of the
Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac
The Diocese of Fond du Lac is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, encompassing the northeastern third of Wisconsin. The diocese contains about 3,800 baptized members worshiping in 33 locations. It is part of Provinc ...
.
St. Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Gr ...
is the diocese's mother church.
Fond du Lac also has a synagogue, Temple Beth Israel. Although Jewish people first came to Fond du Lac in the late 19th century, the first synagogue was not established until 1914.
The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The c ...
maintains a local
ward
Ward may refer to:
Division or unit
* Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward
* Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...
meetinghouse.
Education
![FondDuLacHighSchoolEntrance](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/FondDuLacHighSchoolEntrance.jpg)
Fond du Lac is served by the
Fond du Lac School District. Its schools include:
* Chegwin Elementary School (grades K–5)
* Evans Elementary School (grades K–5)
* Lakeshore Elementary School (grades K–5)
* Parkside Elementary School (grades K–5)
* Pier Elementary School (grades K–5)
* Riverside Elementary School (grades K–5)
* Roberts Elementary School (grades K–5)
* Rosenow Elementary School (grades K–5)
* Waters Elementary School (grades K–5)
* STEM Academy (grades 5-12)
* Sabish Middle School (grades 6–8)
* Theisen Middle School (grades 6–8)
* Woodworth Middle School (grades 6–8)
*
Fond du Lac High School
Fond du Lac High School ("Fondy High") is a comprehensive public high school in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin administered by the Fond du Lac School District. Opened in 2001, the school replaced the former Goodrich High School, which was the city's hi ...
(grades 9–12
St. Mary's Springs Academyis Fond du Lac's Catholic school system. It educates students in K3 through grade 12.
Fond du Lac also has four Lutheran primary schools.
The original Fond du Lac High School, built in 1922, was Fond du Lac's only public high school to 2001. The name of the high school changed to L.(owell) P.(ierce?). Goodrich High School, . The original part of the high school, located solely on Linden St., was torn down about the time the new high school was built. When the current Fond du Lac High School on Campus Dr. was built (which is still Fond du Lac's only public high school), the addition part of the former building (opened 1965), located mostly on 9th St. became partially the administration building for the school district (9th St.) and partially Riverside Elementary School (Linden St.).
Private secondary schools in Fond du Lac include:
Winnebago Lutheran Academy
Winnebago Lutheran Academy, also known as WLA, is a private Lutheran high school in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, associated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).
History
WLA is the second oldest WELS high school, after Wisconsin ...
, a Lutheran (
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), also referred to simply as the Wisconsin Synod, is an American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwaukee ...
) high school;
St. Mary Springs High School
St. Mary's Springs Academy (SMSA, formerly St. Mary's Springs High School) is a Catholic, private, coeducational system serving grades 3-year-old Preschool through High School in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and is associated with the Archdiocese of Mi ...
, a
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
high school; Fond du Lac Christian School, an
interdenominational
Interdenominationalism is an evangelical Protestant movement of cooperation among various Christian denominations.
History
The movement has its origins in the founding of the London Missionary Society, a missionary society, in 1795 by variou ...
K–12 school; and Trinity Baptist School, a
Baptist
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...
K–12 school.
Fond du Lac is the home of three colleges:
Marian University, a private Catholic four-year university; the
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Fond du Lac Campus, a two-year campus in the
University of Wisconsin Colleges The University of Wisconsin Colleges, established in 1971 was a unit of the University of Wisconsin System composed of 13 local two-year campuses and one online campus, University of Wisconsin Colleges Online. These campuses offered a liberal arts ...
; and
Moraine Park Technical College
Moraine Park Technical College (Moraine Park Tech or MPTC) is a Public technical college in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It was established in 1912 and is part of the Wisconsin Technical College System. It has campuses in Fond du Lac, Beaver Dam, and ...
, a two-year
technical college
An institute of technology (also referred to as: technological university, technical university, university of technology, technological educational institute, technical college, polytechnic university or just polytechnic) is an institution of te ...
in the
Wisconsin Technical College System
Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) is a system of 16 public technical colleges administered by the state of Wisconsin. The system offers more than 500 programs, awarding two-year associate degrees, one- and two-year technical diplomas, and ...
.
Media
Newspapers
* ''
The Reporter'' – Daily newspaper, owned by
Gannett
Gannett Co., Inc. () is an American mass media holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.[Action Advertiser Action Advertiser, originally Action Advertising Co. and now officially known as Action Publications, is a newspaper based out of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin which features only "good news" along with retail, display and classified advertising. All Acti ...]
'' – Free newspaper printed on Wednesdays and Sundays, also owned by Gannett.
Radio
*
KFIZ – One of the oldest radio stations in Wisconsin, broadcasts out of Fond du Lac. KFIZ first went on the air in 1922 when Oscar Huelsman turned on the transmitter. Branded as News-Talk 1450 KFIZ.
*
WFON
WFON (107.1 FM) is a radio station licensed to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The station is owned by RBH Enterprises, Inc.
History
The station was originally owned by Lola Beckmann, and the original WFON studios were in the building that now houses a ...
– Sister station to KFIZ. Country format. Branded as 107.1 The Bull.
*
WFDL-FM
WFDL-FM (97.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary format. Licensed to Lomira, Wisconsin, United States, the station serves the Fond du Lac area. The station is currently owned by Terry Holzmann, through licensee Radio Pl ...
– Sunny 97.7 FM is a radio station broadcasting an Adult Contemporary format.
Television
*
WIWN
WIWN (channel 68) is a television station licensed to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States (in the Green Bay market), but primarily serving the Milwaukee area as an affiliate of Cozi TV. It is owned by CNZ Communications as sister to Milwauk ...
– A television station (virtual channel 68, physical channel 5) carrying
Cozi TV
Cozi TV (stylized on-air as COZI TV) is an American free-to-air television network owned by the NBC Owned Television Stations division of NBCUniversal. The network airs classic television series from the 1960s to the 2000s.
The network origina ...
; transmits from Milwaukee rather than its
city of license
In American, Canadian, and Mexican broadcasting, a city of license or community of license is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator.
In North American broa ...
to receive market-wide coverage (although Fond du Lac is part of the Green Bay television market).
Business and industry
The largest employer in Fond du Lac is
Mercury Marine
Mercury Marine is a marine engine division of Brunswick Corporation headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The main product line is outboard motors. It also produces the MerCruiser line of sterndrives and inboard motors. Some manufacturing ...
, a division of the
Brunswick Corporation
Brunswick Corporation, formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, is an American corporation that has been developing, manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of products since 1845. Today, Brunswick has more than 13,000 employ ...
. Mercury Marine, which has its world headquarters in Fond du Lac, is the largest maker of
outboard motors
An outboard motor is a propulsion system for boats, consisting of a self-contained unit that includes engine, gearbox and propeller or jet drive, designed to be affixed to the outside of the transom. They are the most common motorised method ...
in the world, employing approximately 2,500 people in its factory and offices. Other industry includes Giddings & Lewis, a manufacturer of machine tools, owned by the Fives Group; Brenner Tank, a builder of transport tankers; Chicago Tube & Iron, a division of
Olympic Steel; Saputo Cheese; and J. F. Ahern, a mechanical and fire protection company.
Fond du Lac is also home to a
Nielsen Corporation
The Nielsen Corporation, self-referentially known as The Nielsen Company, and formerly known as ACNielsen or AC Nielsen, is a global marketing research firm, with worldwide headquarters in New York City, United States. Regional headquarters for ...
data gathering center. Other businesses include
Charter Communications
Charter Communications, Inc., is an American telecommunications and mass media company with services branded as Spectrum. With over 32 million customers in 41 states, it is the second-largest cable operator in the United States by subscribers, ...
,
Society Insurance
Society Insurance is a business insurance carrier headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Society has operated as a mutual company since 1915 and has experienced significant growth in the last 10 years, increasing the policyholders' surplus fro ...
and an office of
Anthem
An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to short ...
.
Fond du Lac has one hospital, St. Agnes Hospital.
Shopping
The main retailers in Fond du Lac include
Kohl's
Kohl's (stylized in all caps) is an American department store retail chain, operated by Kohl's Corporation. it is the largest department store chain in the United States, with 1,165 locations, operating stores in every U.S. state except Hawai ...
,
Walmart
Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
,
Target
Target may refer to:
Physical items
* Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports
** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports
** Aiming point, in field artillery, fi ...
,
T.J. Maxx
TJ Maxx (stylized as T•J•maxx) is an American department store chain, selling at prices generally lower than other major similar stores. It has more than 1,000 stores in the United States, making it one of the largest clothing retailers in ...
,
Mills Fleet Farm
Fleet Farm (formerly Mills Fleet Farm) is an American retail chain of 48 stores in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota. Headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, the company has a main distribution center in Chippewa Falls, W ...
and
Menards
Menards is an American home improvement retail company headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Menards is owned by founder John Menard Jr. through his privately held company, Menard, Inc. It has 335 stores in 15 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa ...
. The primary grocery stores consist of
Walmart
Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
, Pick-n-Save,
Aldi
Aldi (stylised as ALDI) is the common company brand name of two German multinational family-owned discount supermarket chains operating over 10,000 stores in 20 countries. The chain was founded by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht in 1946, when t ...
,
Save-Alot, Festival Foods, and Piggly Wiggly, along with smaller and ethnic supermarkets.
Forest Mall was torn down in the summer/fall of 2020, with Kohls remaining. As of early 2021, a
Meijer
Meijer Inc. (, ; stylized as meijer) is an American supercenter chain that primarily operates throughout the Midwest. Its corporate headquarters are in Walker, Michigan, which is a part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. Founded in 1934 as ...
is announced to replace a portion of the old mall, and a
Big Lots
Big Lots Stores, Inc. (stylized as Big Lots!) is an American retail company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with over 1,400 stores in 47 states.
History
The Big Lots chain traces its history back to 1967 when Consolidated Stores Corporation w ...
and
Hobby Lobby
Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., formerly Hobby Lobby Creative Centers, is an American retail company. It owns a chain of arts and crafts stores with a volume of over $5 billion in 2018. The chain has 969 stores in 47 US states. Hobby Lobby is owned by ...
now replace the former
Shopko.
Culture
Fond du Lac is the county seat of Fond du Lac County and the site of the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds. The Fond du Lac County Fair takes place annually in late July.
Fond du Lac is also host to Walleye Weekend, an annual summer festival centered around the Mercury Marine National Walleye Fishing Tournament. Walleye Weekend, usually hosted on the second weekend in June is a "Free Family Fun Festival" held in Lakeside Park on the south shore of Lake Winnebago.
An annual fall festival is also held in September, called Fondue Fest. The festival was first held in September 2007 when a collaboration project between
The Melting Pot and Brenner Tank created and set the Guinness World Record for the world's largest fondue set. The festival has been held since.
Fond du Lac has a children's museum, which displays rotating child-centric exhibits.
Sports
The
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, a town on the outskirts of Appleton, Wisconsin, Appleton in the Fox ...
and
Marian University have teamed up to create the
Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are a baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League (a collegiate summer baseball league). Based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the Dock Spiders play their home games at Herr-Baker Field on the campus of Marian Uni ...
baseball team in 2017.
The Dock Spiders won the
Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. The league is amateur, and players are not paid, so as to maintain their college el ...
Championship in 2018 and 2020. The team uses Herr-Baker Field on the Marian University campus.
Parks
![FondduLacWisconsinLakesidePark](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/FondduLacWisconsinLakesidePark.jpg)
The largest park in Fond du Lac, Lakeside Park has more than of open recreational space on the south end of
Lake Winnebago
Lake Winnebago ( mez, Wenepekōw Nepēhsæh, oj, Wiinibiigoo-zaaga'igan, one, kanyataláheleˀ) is a shallow freshwater lake in the north central United States, located in east central Wisconsin. At 137,700 acres it is the largest lake entir ...
. Year-round activities include a whitetail deer exhibit. Summer activities include flower displays, boating, picnics, and weddings within the park. April 15 to October 15, the Lakeside Park Lighthouse(built 1933) and its observation tower are open to people. Visitors can ride on a miniature train and an antique carousel. The park also has four jungle gyms and a petting zoo. A steam locomotive stands at the Main Street entrance to the park, donated by the Soo Line in 1955. Lakeside Park hosts a holiday event featuring a "dancing lights" display, decorations and music.
Buttermilk Creek Park is a large, grassy, hilly park containing an amphitheater, tennis courts, two jungle gyms, and a sledding hill.
Other parks include: Taylor Park and Pool, Butzen (Danbury) Park, Jefferson Park, Fairgrounds Park and Pool, and Playmore Park.
Transportation
Airport
*
Fond du Lac County Airport
Fond du Lac County Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located 1 mile (2 km) west of the central business district of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. It is included in the Fed ...
Commercial
airline
An airline is a company that provides civil aviation, air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines use aircraft to supply these services and may form partnerships or Airline alliance, alliances with other airlines for ...
service for Fond du Lac is provided by
Appleton International Airport
Appleton International Airport , formerly Outagamie County Regional Airport, is an airport located in Greenville, Wisconsin, United States, west of Appleton. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integra ...
in
Greenville and
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is a civil–military airport south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States., effective May 21, 2020. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Air ...
in
Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
.
Rail
Canadian National Railway operates the only railroad in Fond du Lac. Fond du Lac was the headquarters of the
Wisconsin Central Railroad until 2001. It was part of the
Soo Line until 1987.
Mass transit
Fond du Lac Area Transit is the city's local public transit operator. The first public transit in Fond du Lac was a privately owned streetcar service in the 1880s; it converted to buses from 1944 to 1967.
After several private operators, the bus system ceased operations in December 1967. In August 1968 the Fondy Area Bus Cooperative was established to provide bus service by support of private citizens and businesses, in lieu of a municipal one; however, it asked the city for financial support in 1970.
The current city-owned transit system began operations on January 15, 1973, following the successful passing of the referendum on November 7, 1972.
It operates eight bus routes (with one of those routes operating only in the morning and afternoon to service K–12 schools), as well as a
Paratransit
Paratransit is the term used in North America, also known by other names such as community transport ( UK) for transportation services that supplement fixed-route mass transit by providing individualized rides without fixed routes or timetables. ...
service and taxi service for areas that the bus system does not reach.
Roads and highways
Notable people
Politics and law
*
William Aldrich
William Aldrich (January 19, 1820 – December 3, 1885) was an American Republican politician who served as Congressman from the state of Illinois.
Biography
He was born in Greenfield Center in the Town of Greenfield in New York. He attend ...
, U.S. Representative from
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
*
Warren Braun
Warren Daniel Braun (born June 12, 1934) is a retired American educator, Catholic deacon, and Democratic politician. He served six years in the Wisconsin State Senate (1977–1983) representing the west side of the city of Milwaukee, and was ...
, Wisconsin State Senator
*
Thomas Cale
Thomas Cale (September 17, 1848February 3, 1941) was a delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the District of Alaska. He was born in Underhill, Vermont, in Chittenden County. He attended the district schools and Bell Academy ...
, U.S. Congressional Delegate from
Alaska Territory
The Territory of Alaska or Alaska Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States from August 24, 1912, until Alaska was granted statehood on January 3, 1959. The territory was previously Russian America, 1784–1867; the ...
*
Flora Cheney, Illinois State Representative
*
Theodore Conkey
Theodore Conkey (December 11, 1819March 17, 1880) was a Wisconsin pioneer, Union Army officer, and businessman. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Biography
Conkey was born in Canton, New York, son of ...
, Wisconsin State Senator
*
John P. Dobyns, Wisconsin State Representative
*
Harrison H. Dodd, Mayor of Fond du Lac
*
Mary Beth Dolin
Mary Elisabeth Dolin (January 25, 1936 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin – April 9, 1985) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in 1981 as a New Democrat, and was a cabinet minister in the governm ...
, Canadian politician
*
F. Ryan Duffy
Francis Ryan Duffy (June 23, 1888 – August 16, 1979) was a United States senator from Wisconsin, a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and a United States district judge of the United State ...
, U.S. Senator and Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals
*
William H. Ebbets, Wisconsin State Representative
*
Charles A. Eldredge
Charles Augustus Eldredge (February 27, 1820October 26, 1896) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician. He served six terms in the United States House of Representatives (1863–1875), representing eastern Wisconsin.
Biography
Bo ...
, U.S. Representative
*
L. J. Fellenz, Wisconsin State Senator
*
Louis J. Fellenz, Jr., Wisconsin State Senator
*
Maurice J. Fitzsimons, Jr., Wisconsin State Representative
*
Rudolph W. E. Fritzke, Wisconsin State Representative
*
Edwin H. Galloway, Wisconsin State Representative
*
Earl Gilson
Earl Gilson (July 1, 1923 – September 4, 2004) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Biography
Gilson was born on July 1, 1923, in De Pere, Wisconsin. He graduated from high school in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin before attending Colorado St ...
, Wisconsin State Representative
*
J. Herbert Green, Wisconsin State Senator
*
Herbert J. Grover
Herbert J. "Bert" Grover (born February 5, 1937) is a retired American educator and Democratic politician. He was the c23rd Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin, serving nearly 12 years (1981–1993). Earlier in his career, he ...
, educator and politician
*
Corwin C. Guell, Wisconsin State Representative
*
E. Harold Hallows, Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
*
Joseph H. Hardgrove, Wisconsin State Representative
*
William Hiner
William Henry Hiner (December 16, 1821April 29, 1880) was an American manufacturing businessman, and Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the 14th mayor of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and represented Fond du Lac County for ...
, Wisconsin State Senator and Mayor of Fond du Lac
*
Charles Hoeflinger
Charles Hoeflinger (September 13, 1832 – September 21, 1880) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Biography
Hoeflinger was born on September 13, 1832 in Obermarchtal, Obermarchtal, Germany. He moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1854.
H ...
, Wisconsin State Representative
*
Paul O. Husting
Paul Oscar Adolph Husting (April 25, 1866October 21, 1917) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Mayville, Wisconsin. He was the first popularly-elected United States senator from Wisconsin, serving from 1915 until his death in ...
, U.S. Senator
*
Edward H. Jenison
Edward Halsey Jenison (July 27, 1907 – June 24, 1996) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative for three terms, Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois State Representative for one term, and newspaper publisher of ...
, U.S. Representative from
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
*
Raphael Katz, Wisconsin State Representative
*
Gaines A. Knapp
Gaines A. Knapp (May 31, 1848 – October 13, 1918) was an American businessman and politician.
Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, only two days after Wisconsin became America's 30th state, Knapp moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1848 and went to p ...
, Wisconsin State Representative
*
Louie Augustus Lange, Wisconsin State Representative
*
Peg Lautenschlager
Peggy Ann Lautenschlager (November 22, 1955 – March 31, 2018) was an American attorney and Democratic politician who was the first chair of the Wisconsin Ethics Commission from 2016 to 2017, the 42nd Attorney General of Wisconsin from 2003 to ...
, Wisconsin Attorney General
*
Rensselaer Morse Lewis
Rensselaer Morse Lewis (November 9, 1820 – December 16, 1888) was an American merchant from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin who served a single one-year term in 1873 as a Liberal Reform Party member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from Fond du Lac Cou ...
, Wisconsin state legislator
*
William H. Loucks,
South Dakota
South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota people, Lakota and Dakota peo ...
State Representative
*
John B. Macy
John B. Macy (March 25, 1799 – September 24, 1856) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.
Macy was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he received a liberal education. He moved to New York City ...
, U.S. Representative, drowned on the steamer
Niagara
Niagara may refer to:
Geography Niagara Falls and nearby places In both the United States and Canada
*Niagara Falls, the famous waterfalls in the Niagara River
*Niagara River, part of the U.S.–Canada border
*Niagara Escarpment, the cliff ov ...
*
Scott McCallum
James Scott McCallum (born May 2, 1950) is an American businessman and former politician. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 43rd governor of Wisconsin, ascending from the Lieutenant Governorship when Tommy Thompson resigned in 2001 t ...
,
Governor of Wisconsin
The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin and the commander-in-chief of the state's army and air forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Wiscons ...
*
Earl F. McEssy, Wisconsin State Representative
*
Carlton W. Mauthe, Wisconsin State Representative
*
Robert W. Monk, Wisconsin State Senator
*
Charles Henry Morgan
Charles Henry Morgan (July 5, 1842January 4, 1912) was an American lawyer and politician from Missouri. He represented Missouri in the United States House of Representatives for five terms spread across four decades. He also served as an Unit ...
, U.S. Representative from
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
*
Ronald E. Nehring, Utah Supreme Court Associate Justice
*
Morgan Noble, Wisconsin State Representative
*
William J. Nuss, Wisconsin State Representative
*
Leo P. O'Brien, Wisconsin State Senator
*
George B. Perkins, Iowa state legislator and businessman
*
Tom Petri
Thomas Evert Petri (born May 28, 1940) is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for from 1979 to 2015; he is a member of the Republican Party.
Early life
Petri was born in Marinette, Wisconsin. When he was a toddler, his fat ...
, U.S. Representatives
*
Kate Hamilton Pier
Kate Hamilton Pier McIntosh (December 11, 1868 – April 1, 1931) was a lawyer. She was the first woman to argue a case before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Early life
Kate Hamilton Pier was born on December 11, 1868, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, ...
, lawyer
*
John Abner Race
John Abner Race (May 12, 1914 – November 9, 1983) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin.
He was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and graduated from Fond du Lac High School and attended the University of Wi ...
, U.S. Representative
*
Michael K. Reilly
Michael Kieran Reilly (July 15, 1869 – October 14, 1944), was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative from Wisconsin.
Reilly was born in the town of Empire, Wisconsin in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin on July 15, 1869. He ...
, U.S. Representative
*
Henry Rollman
Henry Rollmann (February 9, 1853 – August 23, 1927) was a Wisconsin pharmacist and businessman who served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin S ...
, Wisconsin State Senator
*
Samuel M. Smead, Wisconsin State Senator
*
Thomas Wilson Spence
Thomas Wilson Spence (September 2, 1846February 23, 1912) was an Irish American immigrant, lawyer, and politician. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the city of during the 1877 and 1879 sessions. As a young man, he ...
, legislator and lawyer
*
Samuel B. Stanchfield, Wisconsin State Senator
*
George Eaton Sutherland, Wisconsin State Senator
*
Nathaniel Tallmadge
Nathaniel Pitcher Tallmadge (February 8, 1795November 2, 1864) was an American lawyer and politician. He served two terms as United States Senator from New York (1833–1844) and was the 3rd Governor of the Wisconsin Territory (1844–18 ...
, U.S. Senator from
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
*
David Taylor, judge
*
Alfred L. Thwing, Minnesota State Senator and judge
*
William K. Van Pelt, U.S. Representative
*
Thomas S. Weeks, Wisconsin State Representative
*
Owen A. Wells, U.S. Representative
Sports
*
Ed Aspatore,
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
player
*
Bob Blewett,
MLB
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player
*
Ken Criter
Ken Criter (born February 17, 1947 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) is an American college and professional football player who played for the American Football League's Denver Broncos. Criter graduated from New Holstein High School in New Holstein, ...
,
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
player
*
Drake Diener
Drake Richard Diener (born December 19, 1981) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played college basketball at DePaul University.
College career
Diener joined the DePaul Blue Demons in 2001, where he was nominated b ...
, professional basketball player
*
Travis Diener
Travis Lyle Diener ( ; born March 1, 1982) is an American-Italian former professional basketball player who last played for Vanoli Cremona in the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He also holds Italian citizenship, and has played for the Italian ...
, assistant coach for
Marquette, former pro basketball player, cousin of
Drake Diener
Drake Richard Diener (born December 19, 1981) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played college basketball at DePaul University.
College career
Diener joined the DePaul Blue Demons in 2001, where he was nominated b ...
*
Jim Dilling, track & field high jumper
*
Paul Erickson,
MLB
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player
*
Jim Gantner
James Elmer Gantner (born January 5, 1953) is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Brewers (1976–92).
Background
Gantner grew up in Eden, Wisconsin, and attended Campbellsport High School in nearb ...
,
MLB
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player
*
Bill Guilfoile, baseball public relations
*
Bert Husting
Berthold Juneau Husting (March 6, 1878 - September 3, 1948) was an American baseball pitcher and attorney who served between 1933 and 1944 as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. During his Major League Baseball career, ...
,
MLB
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player
*
Colin Kaepernick
Colin Rand Kaepernick ( ; born November 3, 1987) is an American civil rights activist and football quarterback who is a free agent. He played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). In 2016, he knelt dur ...
,
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
quarterback
The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern Ame ...
*
Ann Klapperich
Ann Klapperich (born 1976) is an American basketball player.
Early life
Klapperich was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She attended Lowell P. Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac. As a child, Klapperich played almost every sport. As an 11-year-o ...
, professional basketball player
*
Nubs Kleinke
Norbert George "Nub" Kleinke (May 19, 1911 – March 16, 1950) was an American professional baseball pitcher who appeared in nine games in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals during the seasons of 1935 and 1937. A native of Fond du ...
,
MLB
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player
*
Polly Koch
Walter Henry "Polly" Koch (August 1, 1895June 22, 1976) was a player in the American Professional Football Association for the Rock Island Independents in 1920 as a guard and tackle. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Wisc ...
, professional football player
*
Cory Raymer
As a given name, Cory is used by both males and females. It is a variation of the name Cora, which has Greek origins and is the maiden name of the goddess Persephone. The name also can have origins from the Gaelic word ''coire'', which means "in ...
, center for
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...
and
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
*
Eric Schafer
Eric John Schafer (born September 20, 1977) is a retired American mixed martial artist. A professional from 1997 until 2016, he competed for the UFC.
Background
Schafer attended the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.
Schafer is a black belt in ...
,
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...
fighter in
UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
*
Robert Windsor,
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
player
*
Braelon Allen, football player for the
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the athletic teams representing the University of Wisconsin–Madison (University of Wisconsin). They compete as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level (Football Bowl Subdivisi ...
Military
*
Edward S. Bragg
Edward Stuyvesant Bragg (February 20, 1827June 20, 1912) was an American politician, lawyer, soldier, and diplomat. He was an accomplished Union Army officer in the American Civil War and served four terms in the United States House of Represent ...
,
Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
general,
U.S. Representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
,
U.S. Ambassador
Ambassadors of the United States are persons nominated by the President of the United States, president to serve as the country's diplomat, diplomatic representatives to foreign nations, international organizations, and as Ambassador-at-large, ...
*
Charles Henry De Groat
Charles Henry De Groat (April 3, 1838 – August 15, 1904) was a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War who was nominated and confirmed for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general in 1866.
Biography
De Groat was ...
,
Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
general
*
Charles Smith Hamilton
Charles Smith Hamilton (November 16, 1822April 17, 1891) was a career United States Army officer who served with distinction during the Mexican–American War. He also served as a Union Army general during the early part of the American Civil Wa ...
,
Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
Major General
*
Edward McGlachlin, Jr.,
U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
Major General
*
Hugh J. McGrath,
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...
recipient
*
James Megellas
James Megellas (March 11, 1917 – April 2, 2020) was a United States Army lieutenant colonel. During World War II, he was a rifle company platoon leader and is considered to be one of the most decorated combat officers in the history of the 82n ...
, U.S. Army officer who commanded company "H" of 3rd Battalion,
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
The 504th Infantry Regiment, originally the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (504th PIR), is an airborne forces regiment of the United States Army, part of the 82nd Airborne Division, with a long and distinguished history. The regiment was f ...
,
82nd Airborne Division
The 82nd Airborne Division is an Airborne forces, airborne infantry division (military), division of the United States Army specializing in Paratrooper, parachute assault operations into denied areasSof, Eric"82nd Airborne Division" ''Spec Ops ...
in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
*
Lyman M. Ward
Lyman Munson Ward (October 6, 1836January 19, 1909) was an Americans, American farmer, Republican Party (United States), Republican politician, and Union Army colonel in the American Civil War. He served four years in the Michigan House of Repr ...
,
Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
general
*
David E. Wood,
Union army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
colonel
Other
*
Jeanne Bice, television personality, founder of Quaker Factory clothing line
*
Brigid Bazlen
Brigid Mary Bazlen (June 9, 1944 – May 25, 1989) was an American film, television and stage actress. Although she made only three Hollywood films, '' The Honeymoon Machine'', ''King of Kings'', and '' How the West Was Won'', she is still reme ...
, actress
*
Jonathon Brandmeier
Jonathon "Johnny B" Brandmeier (born July 15, 1956) is a Chicago radio personality and musician.
Career
Born John Francis Brandmeier to a German father and a Lebanese mother, Brandmeier started his radio career in 1973 at WFON in Fond du Lac, Wi ...
, Chicago radio personality on
WGN-AM
*
Julia Colman
Julia Colman ( pen name, Aunt Julia; February 16, 1828 – January 10, 1909) was an American temperance educator, activist, editor and writer of the long nineteenth century. She served as superintendent of literature in the Woman's Christian Tempe ...
(1828–1909), American temperance educator, activist, editor, writer
*
Alice Arnold Crawford
Alice Arnold Crawford (, Arnold; February 10, 1850 – September 1874) was a 19th-century American author of poetry and short stories. She furnished articles in prose and verse for the leading publications of the day. After her death, an unedite ...
(1850–1874), poet
*
Edward L. Doheny
Edward Laurence Doheny (; August 10, 1856 – September 8, 1935) was an American oil tycoon who, in 1892, drilled the first successful oil well in the Los Angeles City Oil Field. His success set off a petroleum boom in Southern California, a ...
, oil tycoon
*
Jeanna Giese
Rabies is a viral disease that causes encephalitis in humans and other mammals. Early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of exposure. These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, vio ...
, first person known to have been successfully treated for
rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes encephalitis in humans and other mammals. Early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of exposure. These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, vi ...
without receiving a vaccine
*
King Camp Gillette
King Camp Gillette (January 5, 1855 – July 9, 1932) was an American businessman who invented a bestselling version of the safety razor. Gillette's innovation was the thin, inexpensive, disposable blade of stamped steel. Gillette is often err ...
, inventor of the
safety razor
A safety razor is a shaving implement with a protective device positioned between the edge of the blade and the skin. The initial purpose of these protective devices was to reduce the level of skill needed for injury-free shaving, thereby reduc ...
and founder of the
Gillette
Gillette is an American brand of safety razors and other personal care products including shaving supplies, owned by the multi-national corporation Procter & Gamble (P&G).
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, it was owned by The Gil ...
Company
*
Don Gorske
Donald A. Gorske (born November 28, 1953) is an American world record holder known as the "ultimate Big Mac fan," having eaten over 32,672 such hamburgers from the U.S. fast food chain restaurant, chain McDonald's in his lifetime, earning him a p ...
,
Big Mac
The Big Mac is a hamburger sold by the international fast food restaurant chain McDonald's. It was introduced in the Greater Pittsburgh Region, Greater Pittsburgh area in 1967 and across the United States in 1968. It is one of the company's fl ...
enthusiast and Guinness World Record holder of most Big Macs eaten in a lifetime
*
Gordon Hammes
Gordon G. Hammes (born 1934 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) is a distinguished service professor of biochemistry, emeritus, at Duke University, professor emeritus at Cornell University, and member of United States National Academy of Sciences. Hammes ...
, professor
*
Carl Kiekhaefer
Elmer Carl Kiekhaefer (June 4, 1906 – October 5, 1983) was the owner of ''Kiekhaefer Mercury'' (later Mercury Marine) and ''Kiekhaefer Aeromarine'' and also a two-time NASCAR championship car owner.
Kiekhaefer Mercury founder
Mr Kiekhaefer ...
, founder of
Mercury Marine
Mercury Marine is a marine engine division of Brunswick Corporation headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The main product line is outboard motors. It also produces the MerCruiser line of sterndrives and inboard motors. Some manufacturing ...
and
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and hi ...
team owner.
*
Ronald W. Langacker
Ronald Wayne Langacker (born December 27, 1942) is an American linguist and professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego. He is best known as one of the founders of the cognitive linguistics movement and the creator of cognitive ...
, professor of linguistics
*
Christian Patterson, artist
*
Daniel Plainview, oil baron
*
Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon
Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon O.F.M. Cap. (born December 3, 1943) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who was bishop of Bluefields, Nicaragua, from 1994 to 2020.
Biography
Born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States, on December 3, 1943, S ...
, Roman Catholic bishop
*
Darold Treffert
Darold A. Treffert (March 12, 1933 – December 14, 2020) was a psychiatrist and research director who specialized in the epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders and savant syndrome. He lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He was on the staff at A ...
, psychiatrist
References
External links
City of Fond du LacFond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors BureauEarly Fond du Lac County People and Places* Sanborn fire insurance maps
188418921898190219081915
*
Around the Corner with John McGivern – Fond du Lac
Video produced by ''Milwaukee PBS
Milwaukee PBS is the collective brand for two Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member television stations licensed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States: WMVS (channel 10) and WMVT (channel 36). Both stations are owned and operated by the Milw ...
''
{{authority control
Cities in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
County seats in Wisconsin
Populated places established in 1843
1843 establishments in Wisconsin Territory
Cities in Wisconsin