Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

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|Description = Lake Winnebago on the 1835 Tourist's Pocket Map of Michigan among the "Mennomonie" villages of Wisconsin Territory. Present day Fond du Lac is labeled "White Bosom Village".

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"{{lang|fr|Fond du Lac}}" is French for the "bottom of the lake",Ruth Shaw Worthing. [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=goto&id=WI.FondHistory&isize=M&submit=Go+to+page&page=33 The History of Fond du Lac County, as Told by Its Place-names]. 2nd ed. Oshkosh, Wis.: Globe Printing, 1976, p. 33.{{cite web |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS7747 |title=Fond du Lac County |date=January 11, 2017 |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society |access-date=May 15, 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.uwgb.edu/wisfrench/study/research/fondlac.htm |title=Fond du Lac: Links to our Past |access-date=May 15, 2018 |author=Clorissa Swingen |date=Spring 1988 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607175912/http://www.uwgb.edu/wisfrench/study/research/fondlac.htm |archive-date=June 7, 2010 |url-status=dead}}[http://www.fdlco.wi.gov/about-the-county/county-history County History]. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. so named because of its location at the bottom (south end) of Lake Winnebago.

Native American tribes, primarily the Winnebagos but also the Potawatomi, Kickapoo, and Mascoutin lived or gathered in the area long before European settlers arrived. Although the identity of the first European to colonize the southern end of Lake Winnebago is uncertain, it was probably Claude-Jean Allouez, followed by French fur trappers.{{cite book|last=Mentzer|first=Michael|title=Fond du Lac County: Gift of the Glacier|year=199|publisher=Fond du Lac County Historical Society|location=Fond du Lac, WI USA|isbn=0-9631213-0-8|page=212}} James Doty, a federal judge for the western part of the Michigan Territory, thought the land at the foot of Lake Winnebago might be a good location for a city, so he and his partners bought land in the area.

In 1836, during the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature, John Arndt proposed making Fond du Lac the new capital.{{cite book|last=Barden|first=Cindy|title=Foot of the Lake: An Early History of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin|year=1998|publisher=Fond du Lac Public Library Board of Trustees|location=Fond du Lac, WI USA|asin=B0006E82KA|page=64}} The motion failed, and Doty convinced the legislature to choose Madison instead. Colwert, Fanna Pier and Alex Tomasik were the first white residents of the area.

In 1835, the construction of the Military Ridge Road began. It passed through Fond du Lac, connecting the forts in Wisconsin and Fort Dearborn in Illinois.[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/archstories/early_roads/military_roads.asp] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005144232/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/archstories/early_roads/military_roads.asp|date=October 5, 2013}} The first school in Fond du Lac was built in 1843. The first railroad came to the community in 1852. About 1856, the first English-language newspaper in Fond du Lac, the Fond du Lac Commonwealth, was founded. Logging and milling were primary industries in the late 1880s, with access to the lake as the engine of the industry.

From June 1944 to August 1944, the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds was the site of an Allied prisoner of war camp that held 300 German prisoners of war guarded by 39 U.S. soldiers. The prisoners worked on peas farms and in canneries that summer.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zD-kby0LiuEC&pg=PA123|title=Stalag Wisconsin: Inside WW II Prisoner-of-war Camps|last=Cowley|first=Betty|date=January 1, 2002|publisher=Badger Books Inc.|isbn=9781878569837|pages=112–15|language=en}}

Fond du Lac is at {{Coord|43|46|N|88|27|W|type:city}} (43.775, −88.445).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|20.54|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|19.23|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|1.31|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=2020 Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.2020.html |website=census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 12, 2022}}

Fond du Lac lies on the southern shore of Lake Winnebago.[http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/travel/road/hwy-maps/county-maps/fonddulac.pdf Wisconsin Department of Transportation-Fond du Lac county] The east and west branches of the Fond du Lac River connect in the city and the river then flows into Lake Winnebago near Lakeside Park.

As with the rest of Wisconsin, Fond du Lac has a humid continental climate. The record low was −41 °F (−41 °C) on January 30, 1951.{{Cite web|url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?wi2839|title=FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN - Climate Summary|website=wrcc.dri.edu|access-date=January 16, 2020}} The record high was 111 °F (44 °C) on July 13, 1936; the days immediately before and after that date hit 109 °F and 110 °F, respectively.

{{Weather box

|single line = yes

|location = Fond du Lac WWTP, Wisconsin (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)

|Jan record high F = 57

|Feb record high F = 65

|Mar record high F = 83

|Apr record high F = 90

|May record high F = 105

|Jun record high F = 104

|Jul record high F = 111

|Aug record high F = 103

|Sep record high F = 101

|Oct record high F = 90

|Nov record high F = 81

|Dec record high F = 77

|year record high F = 111

|Jan avg record high F = 45

|Feb avg record high F = 49

|Mar avg record high F = 65

|Apr avg record high F = 79

|May avg record high F = 86

|Jun avg record high F = 91

|Jul avg record high F = 92

|Aug avg record high F = 90

|Sep avg record high F = 87

|Oct avg record high F = 79

|Nov avg record high F = 65

|Dec avg record high F = 52

|year avg record high F = 94

|Jan high F = 24.7

|Feb high F = 28.4

|Mar high F = 39.9

|Apr high F = 53.2

|May high F = 65.9

|Jun high F = 75.6

|Jul high F = 79.8

|Aug high F = 77.5

|Sep high F = 70.6

|Oct high F = 57.1

|Nov high F = 42.6

|Dec high F = 30.5

|year high F = 53.8

|Jan mean F = 17.0

|Feb mean F = 20.2

|Mar mean F = 31.1

|Apr mean F = 43.7

|May mean F = 55.9

|Jun mean F = 66.0

|Jul mean F = 70.2

|Aug mean F = 68.4

|Sep mean F = 60.9

|Oct mean F = 48.0

|Nov mean F = 34.8

|Dec mean F = 23.4

|year mean F = 45.0

|Jan low F = 9.2

|Feb low F = 11.9

|Mar low F = 22.3

|Apr low F = 34.3

|May low F = 45.9

|Jun low F = 56.3

|Jul low F = 60.6

|Aug low F = 59.2

|Sep low F = 51.2

|Oct low F = 39.0

|Nov low F = 27.1

|Dec low F = 16.2

|year low F = 36.1

|Jan avg record low F = -11

|Feb avg record low F = -7

|Mar avg record low F = 2

|Apr avg record low F = 23

|May avg record low F = 33

|Jun avg record low F = 44

|Jul avg record low F = 50

|Aug avg record low F = 48

|Sep avg record low F = 37

|Oct avg record low F = 25

|Nov avg record low F = 12

|Dec avg record low F = -3

|year avg record low F = -15

|Jan record low F = -41

|Feb record low F = -31

|Mar record low F = -24

|Apr record low F = 3

|May record low F = 21

|Jun record low F = 29

|Jul record low F = 38

|Aug record low F = 33

|Sep record low F = 22

|Oct record low F = 5

|Nov record low F = -10

|Dec record low F = -28

|year record low F = -41

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 1.22

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.05

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.88

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.06

|May precipitation inch = 3.43

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.36

|Jul precipitation inch = 3.62

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.47

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.19

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.79

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.91

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.47

|year precipitation inch = 31.45

|Jan snow inch = 10.8

|Feb snow inch = 9.9

|Mar snow inch = 5.7

|Apr snow inch = 2.4

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.4

|Nov snow inch = 1.7

|Dec snow inch = 7.1

|year snow inch = 38.0

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 7.9

|Feb precipitation days = 7.3

|Mar precipitation days = 7.9

|Apr precipitation days = 10.1

|May precipitation days = 11.3

|Jun precipitation days = 10.4

|Jul precipitation days = 10.0

|Aug precipitation days = 9.3

|Sep precipitation days = 8.9

|Oct precipitation days = 10.1

|Nov precipitation days = 8.2

|Dec precipitation days = 7.4

|year precipitation days = 108.8

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 5.8

|Feb snow days = 5.2

|Mar snow days = 3.3

|Apr snow days = 1.0

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.3

|Nov snow days = 1.8

|Dec snow days = 4.9

|year snow days = 22.3

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mkx

| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 15, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00472839&format=pdf

| title = Station: Fond du Lac WWTP, WI

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 15, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1860= 5460

|1870= 12764

|1880= 13094

|1890= 12024

|1900= 15110

|1910= 18797

|1920= 23427

|1930= 26449

|1940= 27209

|1950= 29936

|1960= 32719

|1970= 35515

|1980= 35863

|1990= 37757

|2000= 42203

|2010= 43021

|2020= 44678

|footnote=U.S. Census Bureau{{cite web | url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html | title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing }}

}}

As of the census of 2020,{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Fond du Lac city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5526275&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 12, 2022}} the city population was 44,678. The population density was {{convert|2,323.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 19,936 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,036.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. Ethnically, the population was 8.6% Hispanic or Latino of any race. When grouping both Hispanic and non-Hispanic people together by race, the city was 82.4% White, 4.5% Black or African American, 2.0% Asian, 0.7% Native American, 4.1% from other races, and 6.3% from two or more races.

The 2020 census population of the city included 1,109 people incarcerated in adult correctional facilities and 609 people in student housing.{{cite web|title=Group Quarters Population, 2020 Census: Fond du Lac city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5526275&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P5 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 12, 2022}}

According to the American Community Survey estimates for 2016–2020, the median income for a household in the city was $54,587, and the median income for a family was $70,061. Male full-time workers had a median income of $49,226 versus $38,715 for female workers. The per capita income for the city was $28,555. About 8.1% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web|title=Selected Economic Characteristics, 2020 American Community Survey: Fond du Lac city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5526275&y=2020&d=ACS%205-Year%20Estimates%20Data%20Profiles&tid=ACSDP5Y2020.DP03 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 12, 2022}} Of the population age 25 and over, 90.6% were high school graduates or higher and 23.1% had a bachelor's degree or higher.{{cite web|title=Selected Social Characteristics, 2020 American Community Survey: Fond du Lac city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5526275&y=2020&d=ACS%205-Year%20Estimates%20Data%20Profiles&tid=ACSDP5Y2020.DP02 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 12, 2022}}

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 42,203 people, 16,638 households, and 10,282 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,501.3 people per square mile (965.9/km²). There were 17,519 housing units at an average density of 1,038.3 per square mile (401.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.59% White, 1.86% Black or African American, 0.51% Native American, 1.52% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 2.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,638 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,113, and the median income for a family was $50,341. Males had a median income of $35,682 versus $22,492 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,996. About 4.6% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

Per the 2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the German American population was 19,221.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2022.B04006?t=Ancestry&g=160XX00US5526275|title=B04006 People Reporting Ancestry – Fond du Lac, Wisconsin – 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|date=July 1, 2022|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=November 17, 2024}} Per the 2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the Mexican American population was 2,113 comprising over 60% of the Latino population.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=B03001&g=160XX00US5526275|title=B03001 Hispanic or Latino Origin by Specific Origin – Fond du Lac, Wisconsin – 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates – Fond du Lac, Wisconsin |date=July 1, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 10, 2024}}

File:CSA motherhouse.jpg]]

Fond du Lac's population is about one-third Roman Catholic.[http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Fond_du_Lac_WI-5526275101.aspx Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Religion Data] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927174138/http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Fond_du_Lac_WI-5526275101.aspx |date=September 27, 2007 }} In 2000, the city's Catholic parishes merged into a single entity called Holy Family Catholic Community. The motherhouse of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes is in Fond du Lac. The order founded and continues to sponsor Marian University.

Fond du Lac was the episcopal see of the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac from 1874 until it reintegrated into the Diocese of Wisconsin in 2024.{{cite news|url= https://livingchurch.org/2024/05/02/sisterhoods-7-9-million-gift-helps-launch-a-diocese-in-wisconsin/|title=Update: Newly Flush Wisconsin Dioceses Vote to Reunify|date=May 4, 2024|access-date=March 7, 2025|first=Kirk|last=Petersen|work=The Living Church}} St. Paul's Cathedral is one of three mother churches of the Diocese of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod has four churches in Fond du Lac: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, and Faith Lutheran Church.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints maintains a local ward meetinghouse.[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/meetinghouses/@43.768940,-88.402048,17&lang=eng&id=meetinghouse:5521726-01-01 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] Retrieved March 5, 2016.

Fond du Lac also has a synagogue, Temple Beth Israel. Although Jewish people first came to Fond du Lac in the late 19th century, the first synagogue was not established until 1914.[http://www.fdlpl.org/davis_books/sadoff.html The Sadoff Family of Fond du Lac] archived at [https://web.archive.org/web/20100813105731/http://www.fdlpl.org/davis_books/sadoff.html]

The largest employer in Fond du Lac is Mercury Marine, a division of the Brunswick Corporation. Mercury Marine, which has its world headquarters in Fond du Lac, is the largest maker of outboard motors in the world,{{cite web |url=http://www.mercurymarine.com/about/sustainability/ |title=Sustainability |publisher=Mercury Marine |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-date=March 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330000055/http://www.mercurymarine.com/about/sustainability/ |url-status=dead }} employing approximately 2,500 people in its factory and offices. Other industry includes Giddings & Lewis, a manufacturer of machine tools, owned by the Fives Group; Brenner Tank, a builder of transport tankers; Chicago Tube & Iron, a division of Olympic Steel; Saputo Cheese; and J. F. Ahern, a mechanical and fire protection company.

Fond du Lac is also home to a Nielsen Corporation data gathering center. Other businesses include Charter Communications, Society Insurance and an office of Anthem.

Fond du Lac has one hospital, St. Agnes Hospital.

Fond du Lac is the county seat of Fond du Lac County and the site of the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds. The Fond du Lac County Fair takes place annually in late July.

Fond du Lac is also host to Walleye Weekend,{{cite web|url=http://www.fdlfest.com/walleye-weekend-family-festival-fond-du-lac-wi |title=Walleye Weekend Family Festival |publisher=Fdlfest.com |access-date=November 28, 2015}} an annual summer festival centered around the Mercury Marine National Walleye Fishing Tournament. Walleye Weekend, usually hosted on the second weekend in June is a "Free Family Fun Festival" held in Lakeside Park on the south shore of Lake Winnebago.

An annual fall festival is also held in September, called Fondue Fest. The festival was first held in September 2007 when a collaboration project between The Melting Pot and Brenner Tank created and set the Guinness World Record for the world's largest fondue set.{{Cite web |title=Local artists to highlight Fondue Fest Saturday, along with 'Fondue Brew,' cheese and family-friendly activities |url=https://www.fdlreporter.com/story/entertainment/2022/09/07/fond-du-lac-fondue-fest-marks-summers-end-cheese-live-music-and-more-brew-lakefront-brewery-mptc/7999671001/ |access-date=June 6, 2023 |website=The Reporter |language=en-US}} The festival has been held since.

Fond du Lac has a children's museum, which displays rotating child-centric exhibits.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmfdl.org/ |title=Children's Museum |publisher=Cmfdl.org |date=June 20, 2014 |access-date=November 28, 2015}}

Fond du Lac has 20 listings on the National Register of Historic Places, including four historic districts: the South Main Street Historic District, the North Main Street Historic District, the Linden Street Historic District, and the East Division Street–Sheboygan Street Historic District. Other listings include six houses, two octagon houses, a Moose temple, two hotels, a church, a fire station, a train depot, an apartment building, a commercial building, and a prehistoric site. Most of the buildings listed in the register were a result of economic prosperity following the lumber industry boom in the Fox Valley and the newly rich building residences in the area.{{cite web|url=http://www.fdlpl.org/sites/default/files/upload/file/History%20by%20the%20Lake.pdf|editor=Clarence B. Davis|title=History by the Lake: Studies in the History of Fond du Lac and the Lake Winnebago Region|location=Fond du Lac, Wis.|publisher=Marian College Press|access-date=May 15, 2018|archive-date=May 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515185149/http://www.fdlpl.org/sites/default/files/upload/file/History%20by%20the%20Lake.pdf|url-status=dead}}

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Marian University have teamed up to create the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders baseball team in 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/local/action-advertiser/2016/12/13/dock-spiders-announce-2017-schedule/95345756/|title = Dock Spiders announce 2017 schedule, ticket packages now on sale}}{{cite web |url=http://wbay.com/2016/08/15/northwoods-league-team-coming-to-fond-du-lac/ |title=Northwoods League team coming to Fond du Lac |author=Rhonda Roberts |publisher=WBAY-TV |date=August 15, 2016 |access-date=August 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816072138/http://wbay.com/2016/08/15/northwoods-league-team-coming-to-fond-du-lac/ |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |url-status=dead }} The Dock Spiders won the Northwoods League Championship in 2018 and 2020. The team uses Herr-Baker Field on the Marian University campus.

File:Lakeside Park - panoramio (6).jpg]]

The largest park in Fond du Lac, Lakeside Park has more than {{convert|400|acre|km2}} of open recreational space on the south end of Lake Winnebago. Year-round activities include a whitetail deer exhibit. Summer activities include flower displays, boating, picnics, and weddings within the park. April 15 to October 15, the Lakeside Park Lighthouse(built 1933) and its observation tower are open to people. Visitors can ride on a miniature train and an antique carousel. The park also has four jungle gyms and a petting zoo. A steam locomotive stands at the Main Street entrance to the park, donated by the Soo Line in 1955. Lakeside Park hosts a holiday event featuring a "dancing lights" display,{{cite web|url=http://fdllights.com/ |title=Lakeside Light Show, Fond du Lac, WI |publisher=FDLLights |access-date=November 28, 2015}} decorations and music.

Buttermilk Creek Park is a large, grassy, hilly park containing an amphitheater, tennis courts, two jungle gyms, and a sledding hill.

Other parks include: Taylor Park and Pool, Butzen (Danbury) Park, Jefferson Park, Fairgrounds Park and Pool, and Playmore Park.

{{see also|List of mayors of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin}}

File:Fond du Lac City Hall.JPG

Fond du Lac has a city manager-council form of government. The city council is composed of seven individuals, who are elected to two-year terms. The current city manager is Joseph P. Moore and the council president is Keith Heisler.{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://www.fdl.wi.gov/city-council/contact-us/ |website=City of Fond du Lac |access-date=July 7, 2021}}

Fond du Lac is represented by Dan Feyen in the 18th district of the Wisconsin Senate, and by Jerry L. O'Connor and Michael Schraa in the 52nd and 53rd districts of the Wisconsin Assembly. At a federal level, Fond du Lac falls within Wisconsin's 6th congressional district and is represented by Glenn Grothman in the United States House of Representatives.

File:Fond-du-lac-exterior-photo.jpg]]

Fond du Lac is served by the Fond du Lac School District. Its schools include nine elementary schools, three middle schools, one STEM academy, and Fond du Lac High School.{{cite web|url=http://www.fonddulac.k12.wi.us/ |title=Fond du Lac School District |publisher=Fonddulac.k12.wi.us |access-date=November 28, 2015}}

St. Mary's Springs Academy is Fond du Lac's Catholic school system. It educates students in K3 through grade 12.[http://www.smshs.com/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202071004/http://www.smshs.com/|date=February 2, 2015}} Fond du Lac also has four Lutheran primary schools,[http://www.faithlutheranfdl.org/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=180007759&sec_id=180003194] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202235125/http://www.faithlutheranfdl.org/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=180007759&sec_id=180003194|date=February 2, 2015}}[http://webpages.charter.net/luthermemorial/school.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511211103/http://webpages.charter.net/luthermemorial/school.html|date=May 11, 2008}}[http://www.redeemerfdl.org/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121041043/http://www.redeemerfdl.org/|date=November 21, 2009}}[http://www.stpetersfdl.net/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109183500/http://www.stpetersfdl.net/|date=January 9, 2016}} in addition to Winnebago Lutheran Academy, a Lutheran (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) high school.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wlavikings.org/index.html |title=Winnebago Lutheran Academy|access-date=February 5, 2010 |archive-date=January 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130113183526/http://www.wlavikings.org/index.html |url-status=dead }} Other private secondary schools include Fond du Lac Christian School, an interdenominational K–12 school, and Trinity Baptist School, a Baptist K–12 school.{{cite web|url=http://www.tbschool.org/ |title=Trinity Baptist School |publisher=Tbschool.org |access-date=November 28, 2015}}

Fond du Lac is the home of two colleges: Marian University, a private Catholic four-year university, and Moraine Park Technical College, a two-year technical college in the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Two newspapers cover Fond du Lac. The Reporter is a daily newspaper owned by Gannett Newspapers, and the Action Advertiser is a free newspaper printed on Wednesdays and Sundays, also owned by Gannett.

KFIZ is one of the oldest radio stations in Wisconsin and broadcasts out of Fond du Lac. KFIZ first went on the air in 1922 when Oscar Huelsman turned on the transmitter. Other stations licensed to the city include WFON, a country music sister station to KFIZ, and WFDL-FM, broadcasting adult contemporary music.

WIWN is a television station (virtual channel 68, physical channel 5) carrying Cozi TV which transmits from Milwaukee rather than its city of license to receive market-wide coverage. Fond du Lac is part of the Green Bay television market. KFIZ-TV was a general entertainment independent television station that carried PBS on a per-program basis (channel 34) from 1968 to 1972.

{{Main|Fond du Lac Area Transit}}

File:Fond du Lac Lighthouse - panoramio.jpg]]

Fond du Lac Area Transit is the city's local public transit operator. The first public transit in Fond du Lac was a privately owned streetcar service in the 1880s; it converted to buses from 1944 to 1967.{{cite web|url=https://www.fdl.wi.gov/transit/history/ |title=History – Transit – Public Works |publisher=City of Fond Du Lac |access-date=November 28, 2015}} After several private operators, the bus system ceased operations in December 1967. In August 1968 the Fondy Area Bus Cooperative was established to provide bus service by support of private citizens and businesses, in lieu of a municipal one; however, it asked the city for financial support in 1970.

The current city-owned transit system began operations on January 15, 1973, following the successful passing of the referendum on November 7, 1972. It operates eight bus routes (with one of those routes operating only in the morning and afternoon to service K–12 schools), as well as a Paratransit service and taxi service for areas that the bus system does not reach.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecwrpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2016-Fond-du-Lac-TDP.pdf|title=Fond Du Lac Transit Development Plan|publisher=East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission|date=October 2016|access-date=January 18, 2019}}

Airport service for Fond du Lac is provided by Fond du Lac County Airport, with commercial service at Appleton International Airport in Greenville and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee.

Canadian National Railway operates the only railroad in Fond du Lac. Fond du Lac was the headquarters of the Wisconsin Central Railroad until 2001. It was part of the Soo Line until 1987.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%"

|-

| File:I-41.svg || Interstate 41 Northbound, I-41 routes to Oshkosh, Appleton and Green Bay. Southbound, I-41 routes to Milwaukee via Lomira. I-41 is a freeway bypassing Fond du Lac on the west side with five interchanges serving the area. The interchanges are at US 151 (Exit 95), Hickory St (Exit 97), Hwy D Military Rd (Exit 98), Wis 23 Johnson St (Exit 99), and Hwy OO Winnebago St (Exit 101). The interchange for Wis 175 Main St was removed when the new US 151 bypass was built.

|-

| File:US 41.svg || U.S. 41 US 41 is cosigned with I-41 in the Fond Du Lac area.

|-

| File:US 151.svg || U.S. 151 Southbound, routes to Waupun, Beaver Dam and Madison. Northbound, routes to Chilton and Manitowoc. Formerly running through the city, the highway now bypasses Fond du Lac to the southeast since a grade-access expressway was completed in the mid 2000s. US 151 has exits at Hwy D Military Rd (Former US 151), Hickory St, Wis 175 Main St, I-41/US 41/US 45 North, US 45 South/Hwy V, and Wis 23 Johnson St. There are a few at grade intersections between Hwy V and Wis 23.

|-

| File:WIS 23.svg || WIS 23 (Johnson St.) travels west to Wisconsin Dells via Rosendale and Ripon and east to Sheboygan via Plymouth.

|-

| File:WIS 175.svg || WIS 175 travels south parallel to I-41 & US 41 and consists of most of the route US 41 took before the construction of the freeway. Wis 175 has been scaled back to the interchange with US 151. Former Wis 175 on Main St has been turned back to local control.

|-

| File:US 45.svg || US 45 travels north to Oshkosh, Wisconsin along the shore of Lake Winnebago, and south to West Bend via Eden and Kewaskum. US 45 has been rerouted onto the US 151 bypass, I-41/US 41, and Wis 23. The former route was returned to local control.

|}

{{See also|Category:People from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin}}

{{div col}}

• William Aldrich, U.S. Representative from Illinois
• Warren Braun, Wisconsin State Senator
• Thomas Cale, U.S. Congressional Delegate from Alaska Territory
• Flora Cheney, Illinois State Representative
• Theodore Conkey, Wisconsin State Senator
• John P. Dobyns, Wisconsin State Representative
• Harrison H. Dodd, Mayor of Fond du Lac
• Mary Beth Dolin, Canadian politician
• F. Ryan Duffy, U.S. Senator and Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals
• William H. Ebbets, Wisconsin State Representative
• Charles A. Eldredge, U.S. Representative
• L. J. Fellenz, Wisconsin State Senator
• Louis J. Fellenz, Jr., Wisconsin State Senator
• Maurice J. Fitzsimons, Jr., Wisconsin State Representative
• Rudolph W. E. Fritzke, Wisconsin State Representative
• Edwin H. Galloway, Wisconsin State Representative
• Earl Gilson, Wisconsin State Representative
• J. Herbert Green, Wisconsin State Senator
• Herbert J. Grover, educator and politician
• Corwin C. Guell, Wisconsin State Representative
• E. Harold Hallows, Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Joseph H. Hardgrove, Wisconsin State Representative
• William Hiner, Wisconsin State Senator and Mayor of Fond du Lac
• Charles Hoeflinger, Wisconsin State Representative
• Paul O. Husting, U.S. Senator
• Edward H. Jenison, U.S. Representative from Illinois
• Raphael Katz, Wisconsin State Representative
• Gaines A. Knapp, Wisconsin State Representative
• Louie Augustus Lange, Wisconsin State Representative
• Peg Lautenschlager, Wisconsin Attorney General
• Rensselaer Morse Lewis, Wisconsin state legislator
• William H. Loucks, South Dakota State Representative
• John B. Macy, U.S. Representative, drowned on the steamer Niagara
• Scott McCallum, Governor of Wisconsin
• Earl F. McEssy, Wisconsin State Representative
• Carlton W. Mauthe, Wisconsin State Representative
• Robert W. Monk, Wisconsin State Senator
• Charles Henry Morgan, U.S. Representative from Missouri
• Ronald E. Nehring, Utah Supreme Court Associate Justice
• Morgan Noble, Wisconsin State Representative
• William J. Nuss, Wisconsin State Representative
• Leo P. O'Brien, Wisconsin State Senator
• George B. Perkins, Iowa state legislator and businessman
• Tom Petri, U.S. Representatives
• Kate Hamilton Pier, lawyer
• John Abner Race, U.S. Representative
• Michael K. Reilly, U.S. Representative
• Henry Rollman, Wisconsin State Senator
• Samuel M. Smead, Wisconsin State Senator
• Thomas Wilson Spence, legislator and lawyer
• Samuel B. Stanchfield, Wisconsin State Senator
• George Eaton Sutherland, Wisconsin State Senator
• Nathaniel Tallmadge, U.S. Senator from New York
• David Taylor, judge
• Alfred L. Thwing, Minnesota State Senator and judge
• William K. Van Pelt, U.S. Representative
• Thomas S. Weeks, Wisconsin State Representative
• Owen A. Wells, U.S. Representative

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• Ed Aspatore, NFL player
• Bob Blewett, MLB player
• Ken Criter, NFL player
• Drake Diener, professional basketball player
• Travis Diener, assistant coach for Marquette, former pro basketball player, cousin of Drake Diener
• Jim Dilling, track & field high jumper
• Paul Erickson, MLB player
• Jim Gantner, MLB player
• Bill Guilfoile, baseball public relations
• Bert Husting, MLB player
• Colin Kaepernick, NFL quarterback
• Ann Klapperich, professional basketball player
• Nubs Kleinke, MLB player
• Polly Koch, professional football player
• Cory Raymer, center for Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers
• Eric Schafer, mixed martial arts fighter in UFC
• Robert Windsor, NFL player

{{div col end}}

• Braelon Allen, football player for the New York Jets

• Edward S. Bragg, Union Army general, U.S. Representative, U.S. Ambassador
• Charles Henry De Groat, Union Army general
• Charles Smith Hamilton, Union Army Major General
• Edward McGlachlin, Jr., U.S. Army Major General
• Hugh J. McGrath, Medal of Honor recipient
• James Megellas, U.S. Army officer who commanded company "H" of 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division in World War II
• Lyman M. Ward, Union Army general
• David E. Wood, Union army colonel

{{div col}}

• Jeanne Bice, television personality, founder of Quaker Factory clothing line{{cite news |first=Rich|last=Juzwiak|title=QVC's Jeanne Bice Dead at 71|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Jeanne-Bice-Dead-Quacker-1034190.aspx |work=TV Guide |date=June 13, 2011 |access-date=June 27, 2011}}
• Brigid Bazlen, actress
• Jonathon Brandmeier, Chicago radio personality on WGN-AM
• Julia Colman (1828–1909), American temperance educator, activist, editor, writer
• Emma Conley (1869–1928), home economist, state official, educator
• Alice Arnold Crawford (1850–1874), poet
• Edward L. Doheny, oil tycoon
• Jeanna Giese, first person known to have been successfully treated for rabies without receiving a vaccine
• King Camp Gillette, inventor of the safety razor and founder of the Gillette Company
• Don Gorske, Big Mac enthusiast and Guinness World Record holder of most Big Macs eaten in a lifetime
• Gordon Hammes, professor
• Carl Kiekhaefer, founder of Mercury Marine and NASCAR team owner.
• Ronald W. Langacker, professor of linguistics
• Hal O'Halloran, radio announcer and singer{{cite news |title=Veteran Announcer Is Emcee Of 'Wake Up And Smile' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50076960/hal-ohalloran/ |accessdate=April 20, 2023 |work=The Jackson Sun |date=January 13, 1946 |location=Tennessee, Jackson |page=24|via = Newspapers.com}}
• Christian Patterson, artist
• Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon, Roman Catholic bishop{{cite web|author=David M. Cheney |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bschmitz.html |title=Bishop Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon [Catholic-Hierarchy] |publisher=Catholic-hierarchy.org |access-date=November 28, 2015}}
• Darold Treffert, psychiatrist

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Fond du Lac, Wisconsin}}

{{Wikivoyage|Fond du Lac}}

• [http://www.fdl.wi.gov/ City of Fond du Lac]
• [http://www.fdl.com/ Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau]
• [http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.FdlLocalHist Early Fond du Lac County People and Places]
• Sanborn fire insurance maps: [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/5033 1884] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/5052 1892] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/5076 1898] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/5108 1902] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/4965 1908] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/5013 1915]
• {{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Fond du Lac |short=x}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160702090305/http://www.mptv.org/video/watch/?id=17355 Around the Corner with John McGivern – Fond du Lac] Video produced by Milwaukee PBS

{{Adjacent communities|title=Control Cities adjacent to Fond Du Lac|West=File:WIS 23.svg Wisconsin Dells, Ripon|East=File:WIS 23.svg Sheboygan, Plymouth|Northeast=File:US 151.svg Manitowoc, Chilton|Northwest=File:I-41.svg File:US 41.svg Green Bay, Oshkosh|Southwest=File:US 151.svg Madison, Waupun|South=File:I-41.svg File:US 41.svg Milwaukee Lomira|Southeast=File:US 45.svg West Bend, Campbellsport|North=File:US 45.svg Oshkosh, North Fond Du Lac|Center=Fond Du Lac}}

{{Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin}}

{{Wisconsin}}

{{Wisconsin county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin

Category:County seats in Wisconsin

Category:Populated places established in 1843

Category:1843 establishments in Wisconsin Territory

Category:Cities in Wisconsin