Austrians in Wisconsin
Little has been written on Austrian immigrants due in large part to confusion over the definition of the term as the Austrian Empire included a wide variety of ethnic and nationality groups. For these purposes, Austrian refers to German-Austrians who looked to Vienna and other Germanic centers for cultural leadership. Immigration was inconsequential throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries as Austrian rulers disapproved of immigration and made it virtually impossible. No statistics were recorded for Austrian-born immigrants until 1850 when the census reported that 946 entered the country, 61 of whom settled in Wisconsin. The 1860 census reported 7,081 Austrians and 15,056 in 1870. The number of Austrians grew steadily in the 19th century and peaked in 1910 when 33,645 had settled in Wisconsin. Most Austrians settled in cities and towns rather than on farms. The most sizable population was in and around Milwaukee. Despite small numbers, Austrians have been among some of the most prominent figures in Wisconsin, including Father Joseph Salzman, artist George Peter, composer Hans Balatka, politician Victor Berger, and the plumbing family dynasty Kohlers.
Wisconsin's Cultural Resource Study Units, Wisconsin Historical Society
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