The Thirteen Colonies declare Independence from Great Britain, becoming the United States.
In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was a deal in which the U.S. bought approximately 828,000 square miles of French territory for fifteen million dollars.
The War of 1812 caused Forts and military presence to increase in frontier territories as a means of defense, this includes Wisconsin.
Throughout the 1830s "Yankee-English" settlers where among the first to come settle in Portage County, many came from the New England region. These peoples where likely two or three generations removed from English settlers, hence the name.
Approximately 4 million acres of land in Wisconsin ceded to the United States by the Menominee Nation. Lead to settlers moving westward for the growing logging industry.
Portage County was created out of the newly gained territory from the Menominee Lands.
French-Canadians move into the Wisconsin territory to work on logging and sawmills. The French were among the first Europeans to enter the lands that would become Wisconsin in the 17th century.
George Stevens creates a storage shed for his lumber business at a point in the Wisconsin River. This would eventually become Stevens Point, named after his stopping point.
In 1844-1845 Plover would become a prominent location in Portage County. During this time an election was held that made Plover the county seat.
Portage County was officially organized as a county, allowing for local officials to be elected.
Small amounts of Holland or Flemish settlers came to Portage County. Among the first recorded families was William Vanderverker who purchased land in Plover in 1845.
First major German immigration wave occurred in the 1840s to Wisconsin, the 1850 census found 38,064 Germans.
In 1846, the United States and Mexico went to war. The result of this conflict, was the expansion of US. territory in the west. Including the territories of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.
Elisha Larson entered Plover in April, 1846, marking the first documented Norwegian immigrant in the County. He would later leave the county, after mortgaged land he purchased to Elias Larson.
In 1848, Wisconsin becomes the 30th state in the growing United States.
Almond is established along a stagecoach and freight route that runs from Berlin and Stevens Point. Jacob Meyers creates a barn and inn as a stopping point along the route, creating the foundations for Almond.
Amherst was established when John F. Hillstrom arrived that year, John and A. P. Een arrived in August, 1852, leading to the town's establishment. The town was officially named in 1853, when Judge Gilbert L. Park of Stevens Point suggested the name in honor of General Amherst, a famous British general.
The Republican party was founded in Ripon, Wisconsin to oppose the expansion of slavery in Western territories such as Kansas and the failings of older parties.
Earliest accounts of Polish families moving to the Portage County area regard Michael Koziczkowski and his family as being the first. He arrived in the U.S. through Ellis Island, New York in late 1857 and according to his daughter arrived a few weeks later to Portage County.
George Ruder and Franz Wahle found the Stevens Point Brewery.
Stevens Point is officially incorporated as a town in Portage County. William W. Schofield would be elected as the first Mayor of Stevens Point.
Polonia is founded by Polish families and would form one of the first Polish agricultural communities in Wisconsin.
The culmination of decades of debate and conflict over the insitution of slavery. The Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865 between the Union and the Confederacy, with the Union winning the conflict. The primary result was the abolition of slaves throughout the United States.
Between 1861 and 1865 approximately 91,000 Wisconsin men went to fight and 12,000 didn't return.
A federal law that enabled American citizens to claim land in the west if they lived and farmed it for five years. This caused a migration of people from the eastern U.S. as well as immigrants from Europe to move into the frontier.
The Wisconsin Central Railway completes a connection between Menasha and Stevens Point. Allowing for the first train to arrive in Stevens Point in early November of 1871.
Eastern European Jewish immigrants move to Stevens Point throughout the 1880s and establish a small community near Water Street.
Second major German immigration wave to Wisconsin. The 1880 census found 184,328 people from Germany, while the 1890 census found 259,819.
In 1885, the historic Fire House No.2 is built on Strongs Avenue in Stevens Point. The Portage County Historical Society owns and maintains the building.
E.M. Copps founds "E.M. Copps and Company" as a company that supplied basic necessities. It would eventually evolve in a major grocery chain in the county and Central Wisconsin area.
Plover Paper Co. founded at the junction of Plover and Wisconsin rivers. Later renamed to "Whiting-Plover Paper Co."
Stevens Point Normal School opens in Old Main, the original building, it later becomes University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The school focused on training teachers. The land it was built on was a Menominee, Ho-Chunk and Potawatomi burial ground.
In 1898, Carrie Frost opened the Frost Fishing Tackle Co., specializing in the production of fly fishing tackle.
A war between the United States and Spain caused after the sinking of the USS Maine. It resulted in the United States emerging as a world power after acquiring Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines.
In 1902, the Sisters of St. Joseph begin building a convent in Stevens Point. The building went through renovations throughout its lifetime and now serves as "The Grove," affordable housing for seniors and families.
Israel Shafton and the Jewish community in Stevens Point would raise 480 dollars to purchase a lot on Water Street where they build a synagogue.
The U.S. joined WWI in 1917, primarily because of unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmerman Telegram. President Wilson was deeply involved in the peace terms and post-war plans.
Roughly 122,000 Wisconsin men are involved in WWI.
From 1917-1918 over 1500 men from Portage County are involved in WWI.
The Wisconsin Central/Soo Line Railroad Depot is constructed in Stevens Point in 1918. It is a historic building influenced by the Prairie School of architecture.
The Prohibition era brought on challenges for breweries, which struggled to stay open. The local Stevens Point Brewery tackled this challenge by producing soft drinks, and other near-beer products.
A nationwide ban on all manufacturing and sales of alcohol In the 1920s, and early 1930s. Intended to reduce crime and help public health, it caused a rise in organized crime to illegally manufacture alcohol.
Women gain the right to vote through the 19th Amendment, after years of suffrage movements.
In 1924, JCPenney opened a store in Stevens Point. Later in the 1980s they would move to the newly built CenterPoint Mall.
The Stevens Point Country Club had starting acquiring funding in 1925, and acquired enough to purchase a lot by the end of that year. In 1926 and 1927, they started construction of the original course.
Construction on Iverson Park started in April 1926 by the Stevens Point Water Commission. Later in 1935 further development would be approved because of funding by the Works Progress Administration. This work included draining swamps, building structures and further developing the beach and swimming areas. The park would gain its name from Jules Iverson who purchased and donated land to the city for the project.
In 1927, the Stevens Point Normal School would be renamed to the Central State Teachers School. It also begins offering four-year teaching degrees as opposed to the previous two or three year teaching programs.
In 1927, the previous location of Joens Brothers Furniture Company suffered from a fire. This led the company to move itself to Stevens Point.
Major economic crash leading to high unemployment, cost of living etc... Considered to have ended with the start of WW2 and the increase in manufacturing demand for war products.
P.J. Jacobs High School, was constructed by Works Progress Administration workers through funding by New Deal era public works programs. It served as Stevens Point's primary public high school until SPASH opened in the 1970s.
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