Racine, Wisconsin

Racine is a city located in Racine County, Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 81,855. It is the county seat of Racine County{{GR|6}}.

History

In 1832 just after the Blackhawk War the area surrounding Racine was settled by Yankees from upstate New York, looking for new horizons for their entrepreneurial urges.

Related Topics:
1832 - Blackhawk War - Yankee - New York

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Gilbert Knapp, a Lake boat captain in 1834, founded the settlement of Port Gilbert at the place where the Root River empties into Lake Michigan. The area was previously called Kipi Kawi and Chippecotton by the indigenous peoples, both names for the Root River. The name "Port Gilbert" was never really accepted, and in 1841 the community was incorporated as the village of Racine. (The word "racine" means "root" in French). After Wisconsin statehood was granted in 1848, the new legislature voted in August to incorporate Racine as a city.

Related Topics:
Gilbert Knapp - Lake boat - 1834 - Root River - Lake Michigan - 1841 - French - 1848

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Before the American Civil War, Racine was well known for its strong opposition to slavery. Many slaves escaping to freedom via the underground railroad passed through Racine. In 1854 Joshua Glover, an escaped slave who had made a home in Racine, was arrested as a fugitive and taken to jail in Milwaukee. 100 men landed by boat from Racine and broke into the jail to free him. He was helped to escape to Canada. Glover's rescue gave rise to many legal complications and a great deal of litigation eventually leading to the Supreme Court declaring the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 unconstitutional.

Related Topics:
American Civil War - Slavery - Underground railroad - 1854 - Joshua Glover - Milwaukee - Canada - Supreme Court - Fugitive Slave Law of 1850

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Waves of immigrants, including Danes, Germans, and Czechs began to settle in Racine between the Civil War and the First World War. Racine's Emmaus Lutheran Church is the oldest Danish Lutheran Church in North America, founded on August 22, 1851. Emmaus Lutheran, orginally part of the American Lutheran Church (ALC), merged with the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) in 1988, to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Related Topics:
Danes - Germans - Czechs - First World War - 1851 - American Lutheran Church - Lutheran Church in America - 1988 - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - ELCA

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Commercial background

Racine was a factory town almost from the very beginning. The first industry in Racine County included the manufacture of Fanning mills, machines that separated wheat grain from chaff. Racine also had its share of captains of industry, including J. I. Case (heavy equipment), S.C. Johnson (cleaning and chemical products), Secor, and many others.

Related Topics:
Fanning mill - Wheat - Chaff - J. I. Case - S.C. Johnson - Secor

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In 1887, malted milk was invented by William Horlick in Racine. The garbage disposal was invented in 1927 by architect John Hammes of Racine. He founded the company In-Sink-Erator in Racine, which still produces millions of garbage disposers a year. In addition, Racine is the home of Johnson Wax, with its headquarters designed in 1936 by Frank Lloyd Wright, who also designed the Wingspread Conference Center and many residences in Racine.

Related Topics:
1887 - Malted milk - William Horlick - Garbage disposal - 1927 - Architect - In-Sink-Erator - Johnson Wax - Headquarters - 1936 - Frank Lloyd Wright

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Racine is particularly known for it Danish pastries, especially kringle. The O&H Danish Bakery, founded there in 1949, has been featured on Food Network.

Related Topics:
Kringle - 1949 - Food Network

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