Editing Algoma, Wisconsin (section)

==History==
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The Ahnapee settlement, which eventually became known as Algoma, was founded in 1834 by Joseph McCormick of [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin|Manitowoc]]. In 1851, [[Ireland|Irish]] and [[England|English]] pioneers moved to the area and called the place ''Wolf River''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The History of the Belgian Settlements in Door, Kewaunee and Brown Counties|last=Tlachac|first=Math S.|publisher=Peninsula Belgian-American Club|year=2007|location=Namur, Wisconsin|pages=18}}</ref> The wolf was a legendary animal in stories told by the local [[Potawatomi]] Indians. (This animal eventually became the mascot of the [[Algoma School District|Algoma High School]].) In the [[Menominee language]], the town is known as {{lang|mez|Ākem}}, meaning "snowshoe".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www4.uwsp.edu/museum/menomineeClans/places/chart.aspx|title=Menominee Place Names in Wisconsin|last=Hoffman|first=Mike|website=The Menominee Clans Story|access-date=2018-10-05}}</ref>

In the mid-19th century, immigrants from Germany, [[Bohemia]], [[Scandinavia]], and [[Belgium]] settled in the community. The earliest businesses consisted of a sawmill, a general store, and churches. In 1859, the name of the town was changed from Wolf to ''Ahnapee''<ref>"Ahnapee, Town of." ''Dictionary of Wisconsin History'', http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=6581 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611154340/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=6581 |date=June 11, 2011 }}</ref> a [[corruption (linguistics)|corruption]] of the [[Chippewa language|Chippewa]] {{lang|ciw|anin api}} meaning "when".<ref>{{citation|last=Verwyst|first=Chrysostom|title=Geographical names in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, having Chipewa origin|url=https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/whc/id/7169}}</ref> [[Ahnapee, Wisconsin|The town which surrounds Algoma]] still bears this name.

In 1871, the town survived the [[Peshtigo Fire]] that swept from [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] and destroyed thousands of acres of land. Local residents were prepared to escape from the fire, but torrential rains extinguished it just before it reached Ahnapee.

Growth and development in Ahnapee was greatly advanced in 1892 with the arrival of the [[Ahnapee and Western Railway]], which connected the coastal town with the [[Kewaunee, Green Bay and Western Railroad|Kewaunee Green Bay and Western Railroad]] at [[Casco Junction, Wisconsin|Casco Junction]]. The railroad would connect Algoma with the rest of the nation's rail system for the 94 years. Several factories were built in Ahnapee as a result of the railroad's arrival, including the Ahnapee Seating & Veneer Company. This industry would change owners and names through the years, and operated until 2017 when it closed its doors.

Ahnapee incorporated as a city on February 23, 1879.<ref>Laws of Wisconsin of 1879, Chapter 120</ref> In 1897, the city was renamed ''Algoma'',<ref>1929 Wisconsin Blue Book p. 627-629, http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1929</ref> a name which may have come from an Indian{{clarify|reason="Indian" is not a language. This text should specify the actual language of origin|date=January 2024}} term for "park of flowers".{{cn|date=January 2024}} (See also [[Algoma (word)]]). The name was changed by action of the Wisconsin state legislature. As a result, the local newspaper also changed its name from the ''Ahnapee Record'' to the ''Algoma Record''.<ref>[http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024885 Library of Congress] Some sources have the name change taking place in 1879. (See, e.g., [http://www.algoma.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=27 The Algoma Chamber of Commerce] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426063233/http://www.algoma.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=27 |date=2009-04-26 }})</ref> At that time the commercial fishing fleet located in Algoma was the largest on Lake Michigan. Sport fishing is still a major tourist attraction today.

In 2020, Algoma was awarded the [[All-America City Award]] for its plan to counter long-running [[brain drain]], which included a student mentoring program, student vocational opportunities, and a community wellness and fitness center.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clough |first1=Christopher |title=Algoma named an All-America City for the Live Algoma community wellness initiative |url=https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/kewaunee-county/2020/08/25/algoma-named-all-america-city-its-community-wellness-initiative/3437607001/ |website=Green Bay Press-Gazette |publisher=Gannett |access-date=October 8, 2020 |date=August 25, 2020}}</ref>