The Dairy State

Wisconsin is known as "The Dairy State” because it is one of the nation's leading dairy producers. Wisconsin's dairy farms lead the United States in the production of milk, cheese, and butter, providing 40% of the nation's cheese and 20% of its butter. Beginning in the 1890s, many immigrants carried cheese-making traditions that combined with the state's suitable geography and dairy research helped the state build a reputation as "America's Dairyland." Wisconsin's license plates have read "America's Dairyland" since 1940 and have led to the nickname of its residents as "cheeseheads."