Place Names of Wisconsin

Edward Callary is a professor emeritus of linguistics at Northern Illinois University and the past president of both the American Name Society and the North Central Name Society. He is the author of Place Names of Illinois and the editor of Place Names in the Midwestern United States and Surnames, Nicknames, Placenames, and Epithets in America.

“Up-to-date and fully documented, this alphabetical guide to 2,057 names of Wisconsin’s counties, towns, cities, and villages will be the definitive resource on Wisconsin place names for years to come. Readers—whether locals, travelers, or scholars—will enjoy learning about the unique history of the state as reflected in its place names.” —Luanne von Schneidemesser, senior editor, Dictionary of American Regional English“An extraordinary compilation of original research on Wisconsin place names presented in a very readable, informative, and entertaining style.”—Roger Payne, executive secretary emeritus, U.S. Board on Geographic Names“The introduction is laced with apt examples of naming patterns and sources. It explains pseudo-Indian names and fanciful but false popular explanations of many names. And, Callary includes a helpful pronunciation guide for anyone confronted with Mazomanie, Menomonie, and Muscoda for the first time.” —James P. Leary, editor of Wisconsin Folklore