Estonians first came to Wisconsin at the turn of the 20th century. Before 1922, Estonians were classified as Russian in U.S. immigration records, which makes accurate population counts before that date difficult. Estimates place the number of Estonians in the U.S. at 5,100 in 1890; 44, 900 in 1910; and 69,200 in 1920.  By 1914, Lincoln and Langlade counties had the second largest concentrations of Estonians in the country. After WWII, the Displaced Persons Act brought 14,000 Estonian refugees to the U.S., many of whom settled in Milwaukee.

[Source: Wisconsin's Cultural Resources Study Units, Wisconsin Historical Society]

Learn More

Dictionary of Wisconsin History

Explore more than 1,600 people, places and events in Wisconsin history.