Oshkosh - Wisconsin - History

The French were active in the Oshkosh area from 1763, after which the British acquired it. The Treaty of Paris subsequently ceded it to the United States in 1783, which ended the American Revolution.

Unlike the French and British, who were interested primarily in the fur trade, the Americans dispossessed the Indians of their  land by treaty and such skirmishes as the Black Hawk War of 1832. They occupied the land as lead miners and subsequently as pioneer farmers. An influx of immigrants from northern Europe began in the 1830s and grew in volume through the following decades. By 1880 the agriculturally suitable areas had been largely delineated by settlement. 

Permanent settlement did not begin until 1836, when the Menominee Indians ceded their claims to the area. First called Athens, in 1840 it was renamed from a Menominee chief. In its early years, lumbering was the main occupation. The University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, was founded in 1871 as a state normal school.

Oshkosh was a favourite gathering place for ILYA sailors to hold championship races called Regattas. Skippers and crews were eager to win the coveted silver trophies.

Since 1853, the Oshkosh Chamber has been a part of Oshkosh history devoted to strengthening the business community. The Chamber is owned by more than 1,125 members and provides invaluable services for a diverse membership, including retailers, service professionals, and manufacturers.