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The Territory of Wisconsin

1836-1848

        As the Native American tribes were forced to give up their land, the American and immigrant European population on the frontier began to increase.  When Wisconsin became a territory in 1836, Governor Henry Dodge ordered that a census be taken by recently appointed county sheriffs.  The total population of the territory, not including Native Americans, was 11, 683.  Almost half of all those counted  lived in Southwestern Wisconsin where the country was filling up quickly with miners and settlers connected with the lead mining industry.  Brown county, which at that time included most of Northeaster Wisconsin, including Outagamie County, had a population of  only 2,706. 

        The United States government began putting the land it had acquired from the Native Americans up for sale in the year 1834.  Before land could be sold, it first had to be organized.  The Land  Ordinance of 1785 had established a system for doing just that.

        The United States government began putting the land it had acquired from the Native Americans up for sale in the year 1834.  Before land could be sold, it first had to be organized.  The Land  Ordinance of 1785 had established a system for doing just that.

        With the lands of Wisconsin now open for settlement, American and European immigrants quickly began to move into the new  Territory.  An important means of transportation during those early days was the steamboat.  By 1840, there where many steamboats sailing up and down the Great Lakes, bringing land buyers and  immigrants at an unprecedented rate. 

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