“Green Bay” can refer to the bay of Green Bay, the town of Green Bay, or the city of Green Bay. This post will help you understand the difference between these different things.
Differentiation: The Bay of Green Bay, the Town of Green Bay, and the City of Green Bay
“Green Bay” can refer to the bay of Green bay, the town of Green Bay, or the city of Green Bay. These are all geographically close to each other and related to each other. However, they are different entities.
The Bay of Green Bay
The bay of Green Bay is an arm of Lake Michigan, separated from the main body of Lake Michigan by the Door Peninsula. The bay of Green Bay is about 120 miles long and from 10 to 20 miles wide.
Settlements along the bay of Green Bay include:
- The city of Green Bay
- Marinette, WI
- Menominee, MI
- Sturgeon Bay, WI
The Town of Green Bay
The town of Green Bay is a governmental subdivision of Brown County in the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It is northeast of the city of Green Bay, near the border with Kewaunee County. In the 2010 census, the town of Green Bay had a population of 2, 035.
The City of Green Bay
The city of Green Bay is a city in the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It is located in Brown County. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the city of Green Bay has a population of 107, 015 as of July 2, 2021 (source).
Green Bay is most famous for being the home of the Green Bay Packers American football team. It also has a large paper production industry.
Types of Municipalities in Wisconsin
This post has referred to the city of Green Bay and the town of Green Bay. This terminology might be confusing because the technical usage of these terms in Wisconsin law is different than the way people often use these terms.
Cities
Cities in the state of Wisconsin can have either the mayor-council or the council-city manager structure of local government. Under the mayor-council structure of local government, both the mayor and the city council are elected by the public. Most Wisconsin cities have adopted this structure of local government. Under the council-city manager type of local government, the council is elected and then appoints a city manager.
There are 190 cities in the State of Wisconsin. These include cities like Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Sturgeon Bay.
Villages
Villages in the State of Wisconsin can have either the president-village board or the village board-village manager structure of local government. The vast majority of villages in the state of Wisconsin utilize the president-village board structure. Under the president-village board structure of local government, both the president and the village board are elected by the public. Under the village board-village manager structure, the village board is publicly elected, and the village board appoints the village manager.
There are 411 villages in the State of Wisconsin. These include villages like Ephraim, Forestville, and Ashwaubenon.
Other Political Entities in Wisconsin
Besides cities and villages, Wisconsin has several other types of political entities.
Counties
Wisconsin has 72 counties. Counties in the State of Wisconsin serve a dual purpose. On the one hand, they are units of local government that serve general local governmental needs. On the other hand, they are also administrative arms of the State of Wisconsin. Counties in the State of Wisconsin include Milwaukee County, Brown County, and Door County.
Towns
Wisconsin has 1,253 towns. 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.
Towns in the State of Wisconsin include Gibraltar, Sevastopol, and Clay Banks.
Indian Tribes
11 federally recognized Indian tribes are geographically within the borders of the State of Wisconsin. However, these tribes generally do not fall under state law but rather are governed by tribal law and federal law.
Tribes in the State of Wisconsin include the Oneida Nation, the Menominee Tribe, and the Ho-Chunk Nation.
Unincorporated Villages
There are many areas within the State of Wisconsin with more tightly built residential patterns that even have road signs designating them. These are often known as “unincorporated villages.” Such unincorporated villages do not fall under Wisconsin state law as a unit of local government. However, socially they often function as important locations for living, business, and industry.
Summary
- “Green Bay” can refer to the bay of Green Bay, the town of Green Bay, or the city of Green Bay.
- The terms “city” and “town” have technical meanings in Wisconsin State Law.
- Other types of local government in the State of Wisconsin include villages, counties, and Indian tribes.
