Our History
Life in Manitowoc County boasts a rich heritage dating back to 1836, when it became an official county, even before Wisconsin earned its statehood. Our name itself is rich in heritage, and means “dwelling of the great spirit.” According to excerpts from the Wisconsin Historical Society, Manitowoc county is located at the base of the Door Peninsula on Lake Michigan. Indians had occupied the area for centuries before the French laid claim to the land in the seventeenth century.
In 1779, Samuel Robertson became the first European to explore Manitowoc when he traveled from Milwaukee to meet a friend at a place called "Twin Rivers,” which today is the City of Two Rivers (the home of the West and East Twin Rivers). Jacques Vieau (1757-1853) came to the area in 1795 looking for places to establish trading posts for the Northwestern Fur Company. Preparations for a permanent settlement at Manitowoc began in 1836 with the creation of a town plat. The first to settle were lumberman. Several mills were established along the Manitowoc River. Despite boasting a population of 2000 people by 1855, Manitowoc's neighbor to the north, Two Rivers, overshadowed the city's early years in industry and commerce.
The area's population fluctuated greatly over the next decades. When the railroad came, many settlers moved further west. A huge influx of Bohemians, Germans and Poles in the 1870s helped Manitowoc county’s population rebound. Manitowoc's location on a natural harbor helped the area grow. Shipbuilding took root in the mid-19th century, mostly of various lake schooners and clippers. The establishment of the Manitowoc Dry Dock Company in 1902 led to the building of steel vessels and its famed submarine industry during World War II.
Since then, our county of 82,000 residents has grown considerably and ventured into many new areas of economic vitality. From large national companies to small but successful family -owned businesses, the economy is robust and climbing every day. We have become a truly great community situated on the Great Lake Michigan. Manitowoc County is a unique place with a mix of natural and man-made assets that cannot be matched anywhere else. We are a top tourism destination with one of only two working car ferries on Lake Michigan.
Our best asset is our people. We are a community of hard-working, proud people, who are passionate to call this our home. We work hard to maintain our rich culture but stay ahead of the curve when it comes to innovative industry settings, retail establishments, entertainment and vibrant way of living.
Learn more - Historical Society
