Welsh in Wisconsin | Wisconsin Historical Society

Historical Essay

Welsh in Wisconsin

Welsh in Wisconsin | Wisconsin Historical Society
Dictionary of Wisconsin History.

 

Welsh immigrants, like the Irish, were the most easily identifiable British immigrant group in Wisconsin. The Welsh made a conscious effort to settle in rural enclaves apart from other English and American settlers. Welsh immigration occurred primarily between 1840 and 1890 with the peak years between 1850 and 1860. The earliest known Welsh settlers in Wisconsin arrived in Genessee in Waukesha county in 1840. Most Welsh became farmers and settled in the southeastern counties. The largest groupings were in the eastern half of Columbia county, western Dodge county, and southern Green Lake and Marquette counties.

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