INDUSTKY OF COUNTIES. 
485 
\ 
BROWN COUNTY.* 
In the limits of this county the first settlement in the state was made; 
nearly two hundred years ago (in 1672) the Jesuit missioneries established 
their headquarters at Green Bay. In 1816 the government located a mili¬ 
tary post there, which was kept up for 35 years. The county was first or¬ 
ganized in 1818, under the territorial government of Michigan, and then 
comprised all the eastern portion of the state of Wisconsin. Its area is 
now reduced to sixteen townships, or 576 square miles. Lying at the head 
of Green Bay where the Fox river empties into the bay, and having the best 
natural harbor on the lake, it possesses commercial advantages unequaled 
by any county of the state. The completion of the water communication 
between the lakes and the Mississippi, will still further increase these ad¬ 
vantages and give a fresh impetus to its industry. 
The county is generally heavily timbered with hard wood, with occasional 
patches of natural meadow along the streams. Nearly all of the land is 
susceptible of cultivation. The fertile soil, consisting of clay, black, rich 
loam and sand, produces largely of all the varieties of grain and vegetables 
common to our climate. Fruits, such as apples, plums, cherries and grapes 
do well and are raised in considerable quantities. 
The amount of our improved land is 51,192 acres, from which were pro¬ 
duced in 1870, 156,783 bushels of wheat; 16,819 bushels of rye; 14,967 
bushels of corn; 155,101 bushels of oats; 68,479 bushels of potatoes; 12, 
341 pounds of wool; 328,622 pounds of butter. The total value of the pro¬ 
ducts of our soil for the year was $830,692; while that of our manufactures 
footed up $2,159,392. This indicates plainly the direction given to our in 
dustry. With the best of commercial facilities, an unlimited amount of 
water power, and an abundance of material for manufacturing purposes, the 
attention of our citizens was early directed to manufactures; and the same 
influences will serve to make this the leading interest of our county for 
years to come. 
The leading towns of the county are Green Bay, with a population of 4, 
666 , the seat of a large manufacturing and commercial business; Depere 
and Fort Howard, both large manufacturing towns, with a population of 1,- 
382 and 2,461 respectively. 
The county is well watered; the principal rivers are the Fox, East and Big 
Suamico; besides these, there are numerous small streams and living 
springs, which furnish abundant water for stock. On the borders of these 
streams there are patches of low prairie, which yield large supplies of hay 
and feed, well adapted for stock raising and dairy purposes. 
* Passed over iu its o der by mistake. 
