Wisconsin State Nickname: The Badger State
Fact-checked • Updated December 16, 2025
"The Badger State"
Also Known As:
About the Nickname The Badger State
Wisconsin's nickname is The Badger State. Lead miners in the 1820s and 1830s dug temporary shelters into hillsides like badgers burrowing underground. These early settlers lived in crude dugouts during winter months before building proper cabins.
Meaning of 'The Badger State'
The Wisconsin nickname Badger State origin traces to lead mining in the southwestern part of the territory. Miners discovered rich lead deposits around 1820 near what became Mineral Point and Galena. Thousands of prospectors rushed to the region hoping to strike it rich. Many arrived late in the year without time to build shelters before winter. They carved simple caves and dugouts into hillsides to survive the cold months.
Other miners noticed these temporary homes looked like badger dens. Badgers dig extensive burrow systems in the ground, and the comparison stuck. People started calling the miners badgers as a nickname. The term spread beyond just the mining communities. By the 1840s, Wisconsin residents called themselves badgers with pride rather than embarrassment.
The Badger State nickname has remained in use long after lead mining ended. In 1957, the badger became Wisconsin’s official state animal. University of Wisconsin athletic teams use Bucky Badger as their mascot. The Badger State name appears on license plates, government documents, and tourism materials. Although the mining origins have mostly faded from public memory, the badger identity has remained strong.
Other Nicknames
America's Dairyland
Wisconsin earned the Wisconsin nickname America's Dairyland because dairy farming became the state's dominant industry by the late 1800s. German and Scandinavian immigrants brought cheese-making traditions when they settled in Wisconsin. The climate and terrain suited dairy cattle better than growing cash crops like cotton or tobacco. By 1900, Wisconsin produced more cheese than any other state. The phrase America's Dairyland appeared on license plates starting in 1940 and remained there for decades. Dairy cooperatives formed across rural Wisconsin, and cheese factories opened in small towns throughout the state. Wisconsin still leads the nation in cheese production today, making about 3 billion pounds annually. Some residents prefer this nickname over Badger State because it represents current economic reality rather than historical mining. The state allows vehicle owners to choose between Badger State and America's Dairyland on their license plates.
The Copper State
Before lead mining took over, some people called Wisconsin the Copper State in the early 1800s. Native Americans had mined copper in the Lake Superior region for thousands of years. French explorers heard stories about copper deposits and searched for them. Small-scale copper mining occurred in northern Wisconsin, but the deposits never matched the massive finds across the lake in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Copper State nickname appeared in a few territorial documents and maps. Lead discoveries in southwestern Wisconsin during the 1820s shifted attention away from copper. The nickname faded quickly as lead mining brought far more settlers and wealth. Michigan eventually claimed copper as its defining mineral resource. Modern Wisconsin residents rarely know about the brief Copper State nickname, and it survives only in historical records from the territorial period.
Interesting Facts
Fact 1 of 6
Lead miners in the 1820s dug temporary homes into hillsides, earning the badger comparison that became Wisconsin's permanent nickname.
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Historical explanation of how lead miners in the 1820s lived in hillside dugouts and were compared to badgers, a comparison that later became Wisconsin’s well-known Badger State nickname.
Official Wisconsin tourism information about the Badger State nickname, state symbols, dairy industry, and how the badger became the official state animal