New Glarus, Wisconsin
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| New Glarus, Wisconsin | |||
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  New Glarus, Wisconsin
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| Coordinates: 42°48′44″N 89°38′14″W / 42.81222°N 89.63722°W | |||
| Country | United States | ||
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| State | Wisconsin | ||
| County | Green | ||
| Founded | 1845 | ||
| Government | |||
| - President | Erwin L. Zweifel | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 34.7 sq mi (3.7 km2) | ||
| - Land | 34.7 sq mi (3.7 km2) | ||
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 900 ft (274 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Total | 2,111 | ||
| - Density | 566.0/sq mi (218.5/km2) | ||
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) | ||
| FIPS code | 55-56725[1] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1583806[2] | ||
| Website | http://www.swisstown.com/ | ||
New Glarus is a village in Green County, Wisconsin, United States at the intersection of Wisconsin Highways 69 and 39. It has a population of 2,111 according to the 2000 census. The village, as well as the town that surrounds it, was named after the Canton of Glarus in eastern Switzerland[3] because of its founding in 1845 by immigrants from there. Incorporated in 1901, New Glarus is a popular tourist destination best known for its Swiss heritage, old world architecture, ethnic dining, and outdoor festivals.
New Glarus has maintained much of its Swiss heritage and many old world traditions. More than 160 years after it was founded, Swiss-style chalets and flower boxes filled with red geraniums still grace the streets of the village. Swiss flags fly next to the American flag at many businesses and homes. Old World meat markets, restaurants, and a Swiss bakery are also found in downtown New Glarus, along with folk art, museums, and Swiss-style shops. Many Swiss customs are still alive in New Glarus, including the card game Yass, yodeling, and flag tossing.
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[edit] History
[edit] Coming to America
In the early 1840s, after several years of failed crops and as food became scarce, much of Glarus, Switzerland found itself plunged deep into poverty. Having more workers than available jobs, the government of Glarus saw emigration to America as a possible solution. Authorities established the Glarus Emigration Society in 1844, which offered loans to help residents purchase land in the New World. All other expenses associated with the voyage to America were to be paid by the emigrants themselves[4]. Men were offered 20 acres (81,000 m2) free of rent for ten years, after which they could own the land for a mere ten shillings per acre. Given the desperate economic conditions in Switzerland, 193 volunteers decided to leave their homeland to start anew in America.
In 1845, magistrates in Glarus, Switzerland dispatched two men, Nicolas Duerst and Fridolin Streiff, to find a suitable location for a colony in the New World. They were given $2600 and instructions to purchase land, build new cabins, and prepare for the settlers to arrive the following spring.
Duerst and Streiff began their search in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois before reaching St. Louis, Missouri. From there they traveled north to Galena, Illinois. In the early days of July 1845 they arrived at the land office in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. The men investigated several tracts of farm and timber land in the southern Wisconsin territory before deciding on two square miles along the Little Sugar River. On July 17, 1845 the men purchased 1,280 acres (5.2 km2) for $1.25 per acre. It was a fertile basin bounded with hills and a large stand of trees nearby. Some said later it wasn't the best property available, but the valley and hilltops reminded them of their native Switzerland.
The land that would become the Village of New Glarus was untamed wilderness, which was inhabited by Native Americans for centuries. An old Indian trail passed just south of present-day New Glarus, through what is now New Glarus Woods State Park. That trail later became the main thoroughfare through New Glarus. Even as late as 1845 the remnants of an old wigwam were still found there.
Anxious to begin a fresh life in the New World, families in Switzerland decided to depart much earlier than expected. On April 10, 1845 the group left Glarus, Switzerland on a barge bound for Rotterdam. From there they expected to sail into New York City where friends were scheduled to meet them. Dishonest agents, however, routed them instead to Baltimore, Maryland where they first set foot in America after a 49-day voyage. Without any knowledge of the whereabouts of Duerst and Streiff, the former residents of Glarus left Baltimore searching for the two men who arrived before them and the land chosen for their new home.
During their journey across America, the Swiss pioneers heard rumors that Duerst and Streiff had died. Undaunted, the group continued their difficult journey west. When they arrived in St. Louis, it was said that their bodies were covered with mosquito bites and they were very nearly approaching starvation[5]. Once in St. Louis they boarded a steamboat for Galena, Illinois.
Shortly after arriving in Galena they learned Duerst and Streiff were indeed alive and had already secured land for their new settlement. Overjoyed, eighteen men left that night on foot and walked 62 miles (100 km) to the location of the settlement. Wagons were then dispatched to Galena for the remainder of the immigrants. After a journey that took four months and five days, 108 settlers arrived at their new home on August 15, 1845[6]. Three members of their party had died on the way to southern Wisconsin. The balance found work or friends along the way; many joined the colony later the following year.
[edit] The Early Years
In all, the New Glarus settlers purchased 1,200 acres (4.9 km2) for their new home[7]. Many of the pioneers were carpenters, mechanics, and farmers, trades that proved useful as the settlers prepared for their first winter in the Wisconsin Territory. A sum of $1000 was used by the settlers that winter to purchase tools, cattle, seed, and other provisions, all of which had to be repaid with the price of the land within ten years after the formation of the colony[4]. That first winter twelve families stayed in the community's only wooden hut, which was built on the same property where the Swiss United Church of Christ is presently located. Their diet consisted mainly of potatoes and grated cheese, a dish also known as Röschti. They also ate fish caught from the Little Sugar River. Bread, it was said, was a rarity, and meat even more so. To earn money to help survive their first winter, the settlers worked in the nearby lead mines in Exeter and Mineral Point. In 1851 the first store in New Glarus opened, in 1853 the first hotel opened, and in 1870 the first factory in New Glarus began making cheese.
Two years after New Glarus was founded, another group of immigrants arrived from "Old Glarus." Then, one-by-one, even more arrived, as the population of New Glarus was reinforced by settlers from their motherland. The 1870 census showed 1,247 natives of Switzerland living in Green County, Wisconsin. By 1878 the 22 original 20-acre (81,000 m2) parcels owned by the first settlers had grown to more than 30,000 acres (120 km2) around New Glarus.
In 1861, a terrible fire destroyed much of Glarus, Switzerland. The fire, which started in a shed and was fanned by high winds, destroyed 593 buildings; over 3000 people lost their roofs and everything they owned. To help their brothers and sisters in their native homeland, residents of New Glarus donated more money for the reconstruction of Glarus than they originally received as a loan when they had moved to the United States 16 years earlier.
And though they had only been residents in America a very short time, 98 Glarners fought for the Union during the American Civil War. The residents of tiny New Glarus contributed to other American wars, too. During World War II the Swiss Miss Textile Mart and Lace Factory in New Glarus made chevrons and insignia for U.S. military uniforms. Walter Gabriel Schindler, who was born in New Glarus, fought in World War II, becaming a Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy. He flew with the ace Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa in the Battle of Coral Sea in the back seat of a SBD Dauntless dive bomber filming the naval battle unfolding below him. Schindler's footage was later used to develop the strategy for aircraft carrier combat in World War II and following the war. Schindler and Kevin Patrick Lynch, also from New Glarus, received the U.S. Navy Cross, the second highest medal awarded for valor by the Department of the Navy.
[edit] Agriculture
After their first winter in the New World, the residents of New Glarus purchased cattle from Ohio at $12 a head. This stock was the birth of dairy farming and cheese making in New Glarus, a trade many had learned from their fathers and forefathers in Switzerland. Soon the herds of dairy cows in and around New Glarus swelled. The dairy products New Glarus farmers produced became world famous[citation needed] and proved very lucrative.
Nicklaus Gerber, who moved from New York, started the first cheese factories in New Glarus, beginning with the area's first limburger cheese factory on a farm four miles (6 km) southwest of New Glarus. Later he started the first Swiss cheese factory in Wisconsin between New Glarus and Monticello[8].
Following the end of the Civil War, and with the evolution of the cheese factory, the prosperity of New Glarus and neighboring communities grew. At its peak in 1905, New Glarus boasted 22 cheese factories, so many it was said the crossroads of the town were congested with daily deliveries of milk to the Limburger and Swiss cheese factories[9]. New Glarus quickly became known as the "Cheese Capital of the World" and Green County was said to have more cheese factories than any other place on earth.[citation needed] Today only one Limburger cheese factory near New Glarus remains, the last of its kind in North America.
While many still consider New Glarus a farming community, the ranks of farmers and agriculture-related businesses have declined steadily since 1967 when Wisconsin as a whole lost nearly 2,000 farms. Of the 116,000 farmers still remaining in Wisconsin, a full 20% fall below the poverty line. Once integral to the New Glarus economy, gone are the cheese factories, feed mills, and those who made a living from agriculture.
[edit] Tourism
In the years leading up to World War II, an economic crisis affected much of the agriculture and dairy industry in New Glarus. Many residents left the community to look for work elsewhere and leaders became concerned about the future of their small Swiss community. Representatives of the village consulted with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Swiss American Historical Society to find a solution. It was decided that tourism could help resurrect the local economy and preserve its identity. Local businesses began changing the way they did business, actively promoting the heritage of New Glarus. Swiss chalet-style architecture began appearing throughout the village and festivals, once intended for local consumption, became frequented by tourists from throughout the upper Midwest.
Arnold Wieser, owner of the Swiss Miss Textile Mart and Lace Factory, became an ambassador for New Glarus. As he traveled through much of the Midwest peddling his embroidery and Swiss lace at festivals and fairs, Wieser actively marketed the community and its Swiss heritage.
Roger Bright, whose polka band played in 33 states, Canada, and Europe, also became an ambassador for New Glarus. Bright's Cleveland-style polka included a Swiss influence and wherever he played he promoted New Glarus. Bright's music was recorded on 35 albums, including hit songs such as "Everywhere You Go" and "Come to the Mountain." When not on the road, The band was a fixture at the New Glarus Hotel on most weekends. In the early 1970s Bright played on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show with the Emmy Award-winning Frankie Yankovic. He also appeared on the Phil Donahue Show and performed with the St. Louis Pops Orchestra.
[edit] Swiss Center of North America
In 1999 New Glarus was chosen as the future home of the Swiss Center of North America, a cultural center dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Swiss culture in North American. Chicago, New York, and Toronto had also been considered, but New Glarus was ultimately chosen because of its central location and the large concentration of Swiss Americans in the vicinity.
Plans for the Swiss Center include a research library, historical archive, exhibits, conference rooms, and offices. $3 million has been pledged so far, with a majority of the funds coming from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, State of Wisconsin, Canton of Glarus, and corporations, including General Casualty Insurance, Nestle USA, Novartis, Phillip Morris Europe, and Victorinox.
[edit] Food & Dining
Despite its small size, New Glarus is known for many traditional Swiss dishes. Visitors travel to New Glarus to eat specialties rarely seen outside of Switzerland. Foods served in New Glarus include:
- Röschti (or Rösti) – Considered the national dish of Switzerland, it is considered the official dish of New Glarus. A meal eaten by the early Swiss settlers after first arriving in the New World, Röschti is made with grated potatoes, onions, Swiss cheese, and fresh herbs. Röschti is fried and shaped into rounds or patties. Originally served as a breakfast dish, it is now commonly available as a side dish at most restaurants in New Glarus.
- Kalberwurst – A sausage with a distinctive, creamy flavor that originated in the Canton of Glarus, kalberwurst is made with veal, milk, ground crackers, and mild spices. It has a smooth texture and mild taste, and although most sausages are smoked, kalberwurst is not. It is often cooked with onions or gravy. Many Swiss restaurants in New Glarus serve kalberwurst and it is a featured dish at the community's annual Kilby Holiday.
- Spaetzli (or Spätzle) – Spaetzli are small, boiled and fried dumplings made with eggs, flour, and salt. Roughly translated, spaetzli means "small sparrows", which refers to the dumpling's small shape and size.
- Landjaeger (or Landjäger) – A dried sausage made with beef, pork, lard, sugar, and spices, landjaegers are often eaten as a snack. Pressed into a mold, which gives them a distinctive rectangular shape, landjaegers were sent to soldiers from New Glarus fighting in Europe during World War II because they could be kept without refrigeration. Translated, the word landjaeger means "country hunter" in English. Their popularity has increased over the years and now they can be found at most grocery stores, convenience stores, and taverns throughout southern Wisconsin.
- Braetzeli – A braetzeli is a wafer-thin cookie with an almond-vanilla taste. Handmade, braetzelis are extremely difficult and time-consuming to make. They are cooked on a special Swiss iron that imprints a decorative pattern on both sides of the cookie.
Other foods commonly available in New Glarus include bratwurst, fondue (cheese or meat), chaeschuechli, schnitzel, stollen, stroganoff, and Swiss chocolates and sweet treats.
[edit] Festivals & Events
- Winterfest
- New Glarus Community Festival
- Dairy Queen & Ice Cream Social
- Roger Bright Memorial Polkafest
- Heidi Festival and Taste of New Glarus
- Swiss Volkfest
- Wilhelm Tell Festival
- Schuetzen Fest
- Oktoberfest
- Kilby Supper
- St. Nicholas Day
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000 there were 2,111 people, 862 households, and 561 families residing in New Glarus. The population density was 1,469.2 people per square mile (566.0/km²). There were 893 housing units at an average density of 621.5/sq mi (239.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.44% White, 0.38% Asian, 0.28% Native American, 0.24% from other races, 0.09% Black or African American, and 0.57% from two or more races. 1.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
There were 862 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median home in New Glarus cost $189,900. Home appreciation last year was -7.32 percent. New Glarus' cost of living is 12.24% lower than the U.S. average.[10]
[edit] Economy
Travel and tourism is the single largest contributor to the New Glarus economy. The largest employers in New Glarus are LSI, which makes Jack Link’s Beef Jerky (189), the New Glarus School District (110), New Glarus Home (95), New Glarus Brewing Company (60), New Glarus Hotel & Landhaus (50), and Bank of New Glarus (35).
The median income for a household in the village was $45,000, and the median income for a family was $53,438. Males had a median income of $32,423 versus $28,042 for females. The per capita income for the village was $21,392. About 6.9% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
The unemployment rate in New Glarus is 4.70%, with job growth of -0.69%.[citation needed] Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 14.70%, boosted in part by a 75,000 sq ft (7,000 m2)., $18 million expansion to the New Glarus Brewing Company's production facility.[citation needed]
[edit] Notable people
- Suzy Favor-Hamilton, former University of Wisconsin and U.S. Olympic track & field athlete
- Herbert Kubly, author
- Terry O'Quinn, actor famous for playing John Locke in the ABC series Lost regularly eats at the Glarner Stube where he enjoys fine swiss cuisine.
[edit] Historical events
- In 1905 a proposal was presented to the people of New Glarus that limburger cheese be "declared legal tender for the payment of all debts and a medium of exchange throughout the district."[11]
- Three Amish students who stopped attending high school in New Glarus were the basis of Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972), where the United States Supreme Court found that compulsory education past 8th grade did not apply to Amish children, as it violated their fundamental right to freedom of religion.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Wisconsin Historical Society -- Dictionary of Wisconsin History
- ^ a b J. Jacob Tschudy. "Additional Notes on New Glarus," Wisconsin Historical Collections,Vol. VIII (1879)
- ^ J.D. Butler. Milwaukee Sentinel, (August 17, 1895)
- ^ : Wisconsin State Journal, (August 6, 1883)
- ^ J. Q. Emery. in The Wisconsin Magazine of History, Vol. No. 1 (September 1926)
- ^ Historic Cheese Making Center -- Monroe, Wisconsin
- ^ John Luchsinger. What America Has Meant to Me, NGHS Archives, (1899)
- ^ Sperling's Best Places
- ^ Steven Hoelscher.Swiss Public Memory Before the Great War, Louisiana State University, (1998)
[edit] External links
- New Glarus, Wisconsin is at coordinates 42°25′05″N 90°25′53″W / 42.418171°N 90.431472°WCoordinates: 42°25′05″N 90°25′53″W / 42.418171°N 90.431472°W
- Village of New Glarus
- New Glarus School District
- New Glarus Chamber of Commerce
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