Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin is your door to Door County. While an authentic working city, it still offers plenty of lodging, dining, and attractions for tourists. Any trip to Door County calls for time spent in Sturgeon Bay.
This page contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps us provide content to help you plan life-changing travel experiences. Thanks!
Sturgeon Bay Lodging
Start Here
Best Hotels in Sturgeon Bay
These best hotels in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin will serve as a great home base for your Door County vacation . . .
Search for Sturgeon Bay Lodging
HelloDoorCounty.com has teamed up with some of the best Sturgeon Bay hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfasts to help you find the best Sturgeon Bay lodging at the best price. Search for the best lodging in Sturgeon Bay for you:
Posts about Sturgeon Bay Lodging
7 Amazing Door County Hotels on the Water
Holiday Music Motel | Review
Door County Camping Ultimate Guide 2024
Sherwood Point Lighthouse
10 Best Door County Hotels
5 Best Hotels in Sturgeon Bay [2024]
Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort | Review
Posts About Dining in Sturgeon Bay
Check out our posts to learn more about Sturgeon Bay’s best restaurants, breweries, supper clubs, bars, and food trucks.
5 Best Lunch Restaurants in Sturgeon Bay, WI
29 Best Door County Restaurants
7 Best Restaurants for Walleye in Door County
21 Best Restaurants in Sturgeon Bay
8 Best Door County Fish Boils in 2024
The Nightingale Supper Club | Review
5 Best Sturgeon Bay Fish Fry Restaurants [2024]
Kitty O’Reilly’s | Review
15 Best Door County Fish Fry Restaurants [2024]
Donny’s Glidden Lodge Restaurant | Review
9 Best Door County Supper Clubs
Posts About Sturgeon Bay Attractions and Things To Do
Check out our posts on things to do in Sturgeon Bay to learn more about Sturgeon Bay attractions, museums, sights, parks, and more.
Door County Winter Festivals & Events
Sturgeon Bay Lighthouse Guide
Door County Lighthouses Ultimate Guide [Infographic & Map]
Door County Lighthouse Festival
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve Beach
Door County Fall Festivals 2023
Sherwood Point Lighthouse
Door County Cherry Blossoms
24 Best Door County Beaches in 2024
Door County Events
51 Best Things To Do in Door County
Door County Cherry Picking
136 Amazing Door County Parks and Preserves
Door County Maritime Museum Sturgeon Bay: Review [Pics]
Free Things To Do In Door County Wisconsin [2024]
Otumba Park and Beach
20 Best Things To Do In Sturgeon Bay [2024]
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse
Sunset Park Beach
30 Best Things To Do in Winter in Door County
Portage Park Beach
The Farm in Door County [Review, Pics & Tips]
27 Best Things To Do In Door County With Kids
All Posts about Sturgeon Bay, WI
The Farm in Door County [Review, Pics & Tips]
Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort | Review
Otumba Park and Beach
What Is the Best Town to Stay in Door County? [2024]
30 Best Things To Do in Winter in Door County
Door County Cherry Picking
Door County Fall Festivals 2023
10 Best Wisconsin Beach Towns
The Nightingale Supper Club | Review
20 Best Things To Do In Sturgeon Bay [2024]
Sturgeon Bay Lighthouse Guide
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve Beach
Holiday Music Motel | Review
Is Wisconsin in Canada?
Door County Winter Festivals & Events
Airports Near Door County, Wisconsin
136 Amazing Door County Parks and Preserves
7 Best Restaurants for Walleye in Door County
5 Best Lunch Restaurants in Sturgeon Bay, WI
Free Things To Do In Door County Wisconsin [2024]
Door County Maritime Museum Sturgeon Bay: Review [Pics]
Sunset Park Beach
7 Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Door County
29 Best Door County Restaurants
Door County Cherry Blossoms
Door County Lighthouses Ultimate Guide [Infographic & Map]
Portage Park Beach
Door County Events
51 Best Things To Do in Door County
Donny’s Glidden Lodge Restaurant | Review
Is Wisconsin a State or a City?
9 Best Door County Supper Clubs
10 Best Door County Hotels
24 Best Door County Beaches in 2024
15 Best Door County Fish Fry Restaurants [2024]
5 Best Hotels in Sturgeon Bay [2024]
Wisconsin Coastal Towns: Ten To Visit Instead of Florida
27 Best Things To Do In Door County With Kids
Door County Lighthouse Festival
7 Amazing Door County Hotels on the Water
21 Best Restaurants in Sturgeon Bay
8 Best Door County Fish Boils in 2024
5 Best Sturgeon Bay Fish Fry Restaurants [2024]
Kitty O’Reilly’s | Review
Door County in a Day
About Sturgeon Bay, WI
Differentiation
“Sturgeon Bay” can refer either to the bay of Sturgeon Bay, the City of Sturgeon Bay, or the Town of Sturgeon Bay.
The Bay of Sturgeon Bay
The bay of Sturgeon Bay is an arm off of Green Bay, which is itself an arm off of Lake Michigan. It is located on the Door Peninsula, which is a peninsula separating Green Bay from Lake Michigan.
In its natural state, Sturgeon Bay was only connected to the main body of Lake Michigan via Green Bay. However, in 1878 the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal joined the waters of Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michigan.
The Bay of Sturgeon Bay is a popular location for fishing, sailing, and pleasure boating.
The City of Sturgeon Bay
The City of Sturgeon Bay is named after the Bay of Sturgeon Bay. The City of Sturgeon Bay is the only city in Door County, and it is the county seat.
At the 2020 census, the City of Sturgeon Bay had a population of 9, 646 people. It has an elevation of 581 feet. Sturgeon Bay was incorporated as a village in 1874 and a city in 1883.
The Town of Sturgeon Bay
The Town of Sturgeon Bay is located to the northeast and southeast of the City of Sturgeon Bay. It may be hard to understand why there would be both a “City” and a “Town” of Sturgeon Bay, but this is explainable by Wisconsin State Law.
The legal definition of a town in the State of Wisconsin is different than the common definition of town that many people use. Many people think of towns as having an urban or suburban pattern of settlement. However, according to Wisconsin State Law, any land that is not covered by a municipality like a city or a village is part of a town.
Towns in Wisconsin have historically had a rural character. However, this is not always the case. Some towns have experienced much growth and have suburban and even urban settlement patterns.
Town populations can range from 40 residents to over 22,000 residents.
Towns are general-purpose units of local government that perform and provide various kinds of municipal functions and services.
Sturgeon Bay Industries
Major industries in Sturgeon Bay include:
- Shipbuilding
- Tourism and Recreation
- Manufacturing
Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay is home to the largest shipyard in the Great Lakes: Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. This shipyard constructs and maintains large ships including 1,000-foot bulk freighters. The busiest time of year for the shipyard is in the middle of winter. This is because ports in the Great Lake become icebound in the winter. This makes it a good time for the ships to receive maintenance.
Tourism and Recreation in Sturgeon Bay
Door County is a tourism and recreation powerhouse, and Sturgeon Bay is a major provider of services to tourists and recreation seekers.
Multiple hotels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts host tourists to Sturgeon Bay.
Popular events that bring tourists to Sturgeon Bay include the Fire and Ice Festival, fishing tournaments, and the Door County Classic and Wooden Boat festival.
Tourists to Sturgeon Bay enjoy activities that include:
- shopping
- dining
- fishing
- going to the beach
- visiting lighthouses
- sailing and powerboating
Manufacturing in Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay is home to many manufacturing plants. Major manufacturers in Sturgeon Bay include:
- Hatco – manufacturer of commercial kitchen heating equipment
- Therma-Tron-X – an industrial equipment supplier
- Wiretech Fabricators – steel component manufacturers
- Marine Travellift – manufacturer of boat handling equipment