Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Manitowoc County runs along the western shore of Lake Michigan on Wisconsin’s eastern edge. The county seat, Manitowoc, earned the nickname “Clipper City” thanks to its long history of shipbuilding.
Today, the harbor is more likely to be filled with recreational boats than working cargo ships, but the county’s maritime roots are still easy to see. The Wisconsin Maritime Museum even has a real submarine on display. Inland, farmland stretches across the countryside, with fields of corn and plenty of dairy cows creating that unmistakable Midwest scene.
Manitowoc County has some unusual stories too. In 1962, a chunk of the Soviet Sputnik satellite came crashing down here. Seriously. Between its lakefront scenery, farming traditions, cheese curds, and quirky history, Manitowoc County feels like Wisconsin in a nutshell.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| County Name | Manitowoc County |
| County Seat | Manitowoc |
| Cities, Towns, and Communities | Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Kiel, Valders, Reedsville |
| Interstates and Highways | I-43, US-10, WI-42, WI-147 |
| Etymology | Named after the Manitowoc River, derived from a Native American word meaning “dwelling of the Great Spirit” |
| FIPS Code | 55-071 |
| Total Area (Land and Water) | 1,494 sq mi (Land: 589 sq mi; Water: 905 sq mi) |
| Time Zone | Central Time Zone (CT) |
| State | Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 44.0886° N, 87.6576° W |
| Major Landmarks | Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse, Lincoln Park Zoo |
| Adjacent Counties (and Direction) | Brown County (Northwest), Kewaunee County (Northeast), Sheboygan County (South), Calumet County (West), Mason County, Michigan (Southeast), Manistee County, Michigan (Northeast) |
| Population | Approximately 81,000 |
