Green Bay, WI

Encompassing roughly 46 square miles in upper Wisconsin, the city of Green Bay is home to an estimated 100,000 residents. The city is located at the head of its namesake Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River.

Green Bay is arguably most famous as the home of the National Football League's Green Bay Packers, giving the city the distinction of being the smallest city in the country to host a professional sports team. The team is also noteworthy for being the only N.F.L. organization to be owned by its fans. Nicknamed "Titletown" or "Titletown USA," Green Bay residents thrive on the local football culture, and take great pride in the fact that their Packers have earned their Wisconsin city national recognition.

The National Civic League twice named Green Bay an "All-America City," in 1964 and 1999.

GETTING AROUND

Interstate 43 comes into Green Bay from the south and ends when it hits the downtown area. That's where it meets up with U.S. Route 41, which connects Green Bay to the Fox Cities, Fond du Lac, and Milwaukee to the south, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the north. Wisconsin Highway 172 is another important roadway to the city, as it is a southern bypass of Green Bay.

For public transportation, the city operates with the Green Bay Metro bus system. There are numerous bus routes that operate throughout the city.

The Austin Straubel International Airport is a public facility located roughly seven miles southwest of Green Bay in the Ashwaubenon neighborhood. It is the third-largest airport in the state.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

With 31 constituent neighborhoods, Green Bay is the third-largest city in Wisconsin. More than half of the homes were built between 1940 and 1994. The most expensive neighborhood is in Tremble, which is at the far northern part of the city, while the least expensive part of Green Bay is in the middle of the city around Day and Quincy streets.

Some of Green Bay's notable districts include:

• Broadway District: Located only two blocks from the Fox River, the Broadway District features historic streets with a variety of businesses, ranging from furniture and home décor to jewelry and fashion. The Broadway District is also home to Leicht Memorial Park, a park with a multicultural theme.
• Downtown District: Washington Street features exciting nightlife and is the primary entertainment strip of the Downtown District. The Downtown District also includes historic Meyer Theater, Brown County Courthouse, and the Fox River State Recreation Trail, a biking and walking trail.
• Olde Main Street: Another nightlife scene with a wide variety of nightclubs, pubs and entertainment venues, Olde Main Street is known for its restaurants and art galleries. This district is home to Green Bay's oldest park, Whitney Park.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Green Bay's economy is highly diversified. The majority of jobs in the area are service providing, but other prominent industries include health care, trade, transportation, utilities, manufacturing and government. Growing industries include tourism, insurance, and transportation.

Health care is the dominant industry in Green Bay, which boasts a strong health care network:

• Bellin Memorial Hospital is located on South Webster Avenue. Known as the region's heart center, it was the first hospital in the area to offer such a specialized center. This hospital also focuses on emergency care, pediatrics, orthopedics, and cancer services.
• As the area's first hospital back in 1888, Saint Vincent Hospital is a major health-care institution. On site are a neuroscience center, a regional cancer center, and a regional rehabilitation center.
• Saint Mary's Hospital is located on the west side of Green Bay and was the first all-private room acute care community hospital in the area. The hospital offers care for urgent medical needs, orthopedics, and cardiac issues.

In 2006, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Green Bay one of the top small cities for entrepreneurs. Inc. Magazine ranked Green Bay as the No. 1 medium-sized city to start or grow a small business in 2004.

BEST BETS

The city offers a variety of attractions for visitors and residents alike:

• Bay Beach Amusement Park: As one of the more popular attractions in the city, Bay Beach offers fun, affordable rides for all ages. For more than 50 years the amusement park has played host to visitors and residents, offering rides, volleyball courts, a softball diamond, a wading pool, and dining options.
• NEW Zoo: Located approximately 10 miles northwest of the downtown area, the zoo is located on roughly 1,560 acres, which it shares with the Brown County Reforestation Camp. People flock to see the Giraffe Encounter, the albino alligator exhibit, and numerous other animals and attractions.
• Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame: The facility located at Lambeau Field grants Packer fans a chance to see history up close and personal. There are a number of interesting exhibits, including the team's three Super Bowl trophies, and several videos for visitors to enjoy. There's also a children's area where kids can experience what it might be like to be a football player; they can put on a uniform, throw a football, and attempt a field goal.
• National Railroad Museum: Providing visitors with railroad history throughout the ages, the museum dates back to 1956. Located on South Broadway Street, the museum offers tours for adults and children.
• Hazelwood Historical House Museum: Situated on South Monroe Avenue, the museum reflects the character of the city back in the 1880s and 1890s. This was the Victorian era, and the house's 10 rooms are decorated to reflect the unique character of that historical period. The house is open for tours seasonally.

EDUCATION

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a four-year, public university. Although it does not have a football team, its athletic teams participate in NCAA Division I sports and are members of the Horizon League.

SPORTS TEAMS

The NFL's Green Bay Packers have called the city home since 1919. As the third-oldest franchise in the entire league, the Packers have won more league championships than any other team, including 9 NFL championships (before the advent of the Super Bowl) and 3 Super Bowl victories. The Packers are also the only professional sports team in the country that is a nonprofit, community-owned major-league team.

The Green Bay Blizzard is a professional minor-league arena football team that plays its games at US Cellular Field in nearby Ashwaubenon. Founded in 2003, the team is currently in the Midwest Division of the American Conference.

LOCAL MEDIA

The Green Bay Press-Gazette is the city's daily newspaper.