Superior

Republic of Northern Wisconsin
Flag
Motto: Our right, our land!
Capital	Iron Mountain
Largest city	Superior
Official languages	English
Demonym(s)	Wisconsinite
Government	Presidential Republic
• President	William Kennard
• Deputy-President	Edwin Mills
Legislature	State Council
Independence from Great Lakes Federation
Area
• Total	35,841 sq mi (92,830 km2)
Population
• 2020 estimate estimate	661,807
• Density	18.4/sq mi (7.1/km2)
Currency	Northern Wisconsin Dollar
Time zone	CST
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	right
Internet TLD	.nw

Northern Wisconsin, officially the Republic of Northern Wisconsin, is a self-proclaimed breakaway state in the midwest region of North America. It lies between the Heartland Republic and the Great Lakes Federation and Lake Superior, occupying an area of 92,830 km2 (35,841 sq mi), with a population of about 661,000. Northern Wisconsin declared its independence from the Great Lakes Federation two years after the events of the Shattered Union and has since gained no diplomatic recognition as a sovereign state other than from the Heartland Republic. It consists of the counties of Polk, Barron, Rusk, Price, Lincoln, Langlade, Forest, Florence, Oneida, Vilas, Iron, Ashland, Sawyer, Washburn, Burnett, Douglas and Bayfield in Wisconsin, and the counties of Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft counties in the Upper Peninsula. Most of Northern Wisconsin is covered in a mixture of plains and fields and dense forests. Its capital is Iron Mountain and largest city is Superior.

The region was originally a part of the Great Lakes Federation. Simmering nationalist/localist tensions between the northern Wisconsin region and the Great Lakes Federation government in Ohio resulted in the Great Lakes Federation loss of control over most of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula. Despite a 1999 ceasefire agreement, the dispute remains unresolved as no formal peace treaty was signed, and the Great Lakes Federation has refused to recognize the Republic of Northern Wisconsin.

History

Shattered Union

Former USA Pre-Northern Wisconsin Independence

Former USA Post-Northern Wisconsin Independence

Following a disputed election, and a tie vote, the U.S. Congress installs the most unpopular President in U.S. history, as David Jefferson Adams becomes the 44th President of the United States. Shortly after the election, increased unrest, rioting, and a growing number of militias have given rise to ever-increasing domestic terrorism. In response, the President invokes the Homeland Security Act, and declares martial law on the West Coast, and other areas of the country. Though highly contested, a Supreme Court ruling sidesteps the electoral process, disqualifying popular Presidential candidates from several states. Public outrage explodes when a sham election leads to incumbent David Adams accepting a second term in office. During the 57th Inauguration Day ceremonies, Washington, D.C. is struck by a low-yield nuclear weapon, killing David Adams and most of the U.S. Congress. The destruction of Washington, D.C. effectively breaks the chain of succession, sending the nation into chaos. In an emergency vote, NATO deploys peacekeepers to the greater D.C. area, to secure international interests. With separatist sentiment rising, California's governor declares home rule, and secedes from the Union. Texas follows quickly, and declares sovereignty, taking neighboring states with them and forming the Republic of Texas. Following suit, other separatist movements gave rise to Cascadia, the Heartland Republic, Great Lakes Federation, Georgia Federation and New England.

Early Movements

The idea of the republic originated from a little known man named William Arthur Kennard. During the early months of the existence of the Great Lakes Federation (GLF), Kinnard and a small group of locals were upset about the policies and government of the GLF. Kinnard believed the government to be corrupt, the people of northern wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula under-represented, and that the policies and motives of the GLF did not align with that of the people in northern Wisconsin. Ohio reaped most of the benefits from the actions of the Great Lakes Federation. Most of the wealth was situated in Ohio and the government exploited many fringe states economically and politically. This led to ill-sentiments from many regions in the Great Lakes Federation, with northern Wisconsin, western New York and southern Illinois being having the most separatist support. As time went on, GLF policies became increasingly authoritarian. The government in Columbus had taken steps to politically and economically become more centralized. Local decision making became near impossible without the stamp of approval from the Federation government. To make matters worse, the federation government started to appoint its own officials to local government roles to insure the control and cooperation of member states. Amidst growing tensions between the successor states, the Great Lakes Federation had been experiencing trouble maintaining control and implimenting its policies. Locals became increasingly rebellious and refused to abide by Federation laws and mandates. During this time, Kennard had become incrasingly critical and vocal about the state of the Great Lakes Federation and it's policies, and had gained a following in a number of counties in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula Michigan. Kennard and his group worked to encourage the locals to defy government policies, and became activists for defiance.

NWIF Formation

As the Great Lakes Federation continued on its trend, matters continued to deteriorate in fringe regions. Kennard and his group had started to shift from simple defiance, to the preparation and planning of armed resistance and violence against the Federation and it's mechanisms. With hundreds of supporters spread across several counties, Kennard and his group met in the courthouse in Iron Mountain, Michigan to discuss the path of the group. After hours of talks, the group had formed itself into what was called the Northern Wisconsin Independence Front (NWIF). The newly formed NWIF had the end goal of creating the Republic of Northern Wisconsin, a collection of counties in Upper Peninsula Michgan and northern Wisconsin. Kennard believed that the Great Lakes Federation could not be changed from within and that violence was a necessity, and that the NWIF would launch a mass-oriented insurgency. The NWIF began acquiring weapons (mostly AK and FAL rifles) and other equipment such as explosives from black market sources within the Federation and Canada. Rumours had spread regarding the organization and Kennard eventually became a person of interest to law enforcement agencies. The NWIF had spread to a number of counties, with cells being organized and activelly recruiting. The areas heavily influenced by separatist groups grew larger and became increasingly lawless. In a response to this, the Great Lakes Federation government dispatched Internal Troops to perform policing and peacekeeping duties in problematic areas. In addition, the Federation suspended civil liberties in select counties, and declared that separatist, defiant or rebellious group and/or organizations to be unlawful and illegal. Law enforcement in northern Wisconsin had issued a warrant for the arrest of William Kennard on the basis of being a leading member of a "rebellious group". These actions did not have the desired effect, as it only attacted more individuals to become supportive or collaborative to rebel groups.

William Kennard, early 1998 at an unknown location.

Preliminary Attacks

On 8 August 1998, militants carried out the bombing of a Federation regional administration center in Eau Claire. The attack led to 31 deaths and 139 injuries. That same day, several newspapers received telephone calls from an anonymous individual, giving a list of demands and warning that attacks will continue. The perpetrators of the bombing were never found nor identified. In response, the Great Lakes Federation suspended civil liberties in select counties and the Federation government enacted anti-terrorism laws.

On 20 August, a Federation Internal Army patrol was ambushed, leading to the deaths of 12 soldiers, and a number more unjured. This time, the attack was claimed by the NWIF. They announced the same demands as the anonymous individual earlier in the month. With the influx of attacks, the NWIF had also stated that their primary targets were military and political, not civilians. That same day, the Federation government listed the NWIF as a terrorist organization.

On 2 September, two gunmen attempted to assassinate politician James Gale, who was returning from Ohio. James Gale was considered a "Federation puppet" who actively worked to eliminate separatist and rebel organizations, and was quite successful at doing so. At a municipal airport in Appleton, the gunmen disguised themselves as airport personnel and attacked the politician and his security detail upon exiting the plane. Two security officers were killed, and James Gale was wounded. One gunman was killed at the scene, the other managed to escape the airport but was apprehended two days later. As a result of this attack, the Great Lakes Federation enacted harsher martial law in separatist and rebel counties and was actively suppressing civilians in northern Wisconsin.

Open Rebellion

On October 8th armed separatist activists seized and occupied the federation State Security building in the city of Superior. The activists demanded that separatist leaders who had been arrested previously be released. In anticipation of attempts by the government to retake the building, barricades were erected to reinforce the positions of the activists. By 12 October, the government had regained control over the state security building with the assistance of local police forces.

NWIF fighters in Superior.

The GLF attempted to deploy regular government troops to subdue the militants and separatists. Several thousand protesters and NWIF members gathered for a 'people's assembly' outside the regional state administration building in Superior on 21 October. They then warned the Great Lakes Federation government that if it did not meet these demands by 14:00 on 29 October, they would launch an armed insurgency in the name of the Republic of Northern Wisconsin. As the Federation government did not respond to these demands, a series of coordinated attacks were launched where NWIF militias and other militant groups seized government buildings, National Guard armories, police stations, power plants and other critical infrastructure. The coordinated attacks were well planned and likely long in the works by William Kennard. The police officers and Internal Army units that had been guarding the building offered little resistance to the takeover, and some of them defected and supported the militants.

NWIF movements began to spread across northern Wisconsin towards the end of October. Municipal administration buildings were overrun and the Republic of Northern Wisconsin flag was raised over them. The leadership of the Great Lakes Federation admitted the next day that government forces were unable to stabilise the situation in northern Wisconsin and western New York. On the same day, NWIF members announced the Dickinson County Courthouse and Jail as the seat of power for the republic, and that William Kennard had been appointed as provisional President. The various militant and NWIF militia groups were consolidated into the Northern Wisconsin State Defence Force (NWSDF). In a number of counties in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula conceded to demands by activists declared their support for the new republic. The Great Lakes Federation suspended all civilian flights to the northern part of the state while Federation Internal Army and National Guard units set up a military blockade of the republic. On 1 December, the Great Lakes Federation leadership issued an ultimatum to all warring factions in northern Wisconsin ordering them to disarm and surrender. When the government in Iron Mountain refused, the Federation government ordered the army to "restore constitutional order" by force.

War

Federation troops had to fight town by town as NWSDF fighters and groups of armed militia had constructed simple fortifications in an attempt to slow the advance of Federation units. On 11 December, Federation forces launched a four-pronged ground attack north, in an attempt to reach Iron Mountain and other strategic locations. The main attack was temporarily halted by a federation commander, who then resigned in protest, stating that it is "a crime" to "send the army against its own people." Many in the federation military and government opposed the war as well and held a sort of "let them go" mentality. More than 500 professional soldiers and officers refused to take part in the operation; of these, 35 were convicted by military courts and the rest were discharged. The morale of the federation troops, poorly prepared and lacking in experience and training, was low from the beginning. Some units resisted the order to advance. In Rib Lake, civilian protesters stopped the center column and set 30 military vehicles on fire, while about 100 conscripts deserted their units. Advance of the western column was halted by the unexpected NWSDF resistance around Ridgeland and the federation forces suffered their first serious losses. Deeper in northern Wisconsin, secluded groups of federation Internal Army and National Guard units started to surrender to the local militias.

The federation government ordered the army to show restraint, but it was neither prepared nor trained for this. Civilian losses quickly mounted, alienating the population and raising the hostility that they showed towards the federation forces, even among those who initially supported the federations' attempts to restore control. Other problems occurred as the federation sent in freshly trained conscripts from neighboring regions rather than regular soldiers mostly concentrated in Ohio. Highly mobile units of NWSDF fighters inflicted severe losses on the ill-prepared and demoralized federation troops. Although the federation military command ordered to only attack designated targets, due to the lack of training and experience of federation forces, they attacked random positions instead, turning into carpet bombing and indiscriminate barrages of rocket artillery, causing enormous casualties among the civilian population. On 29 December, in a rare instance of a federation outright victory, airborne forces seized the city of Iron Mountain and repelled a separatist counter-attack in the Battle of Upson. With the federation closing in on the Dickinson County Courthouse, the separatist government relocated and set up new headquarters in Bayfield.

Following the relocation of the republic government, the federation slowly but systematically expanded its control over the surrounding counties. In what was dubbed the worst massacre in the war, federation forces killed at least 103 civilians while seizing the Ashland (several hundred more were detained and beaten or otherwise tortured). In the south, the federation launched an offensive along the entire front on 12 March 1999, advancing in large columns of vehicles. According to an estimate cited in a Heartland Republic Army analysis report, between 11 December and 12 March, when the federation forces conquered most of the republic in the conventional campaign, their losses in northern Wisconsin were approximately 4,100 killed, 15,000 wounded and more than 700 missing or captured.

Great Lakes Federation soldiers occupying Prentice.

As the war continued, separatists resorted to mass-hostage takings, attempting to influence the federation public and leadership. On 29 March, a group of militants took more than 1,500 people hostage in southern Wisconsin in a hospital hostage crisis; about 120 civilians died before a ceasefire was signed. The raid enforced a temporary stop in federation military operations, giving the republic time to regroup during their greatest crisis and to prepare for the national militant campaign. The full-scale federation attack led many civilians in northern Wisconsin to side with separatist forces and thousands of volunteers to swell the ranks of mobile militant units. Many others formed local self-defence militia units to defend their towns in the case of federation offensive action, officially numbering 5,000–6,000 armed men. Altogether, the NWSDF forces fielded some 10,000–12,000 full fighters and 15,000 reserve fighters at a time, according to the NWSDF command. As the territory controlled by them shrank, the separatists increasingly resorted to using classic guerrilla warfare tactics, such as setting booby traps and mining roads in enemy-held territory. The successful use of improvised explosive devices was particularly noteworthy; they also effectively exploited a combination of mines and ambushes.

By 10 April, Great Lakes Federation commander Simon McCalmont, who was in northern Wisconsin at the time, was critically injured and paralyzed in a bomb blast. Suspicion of responsibility for the attack fell on rogue elements of the federation military, as the attack destroyed hopes for a permanent ceasefire. On 27 April, the federation forces in Rhrinelander opened fire on a massive pro-independence peace march which had involved hundreds of people, killing a number of demonstrators.

Aid from the Heartland Republic

On 3 May, NWSDF fighters infiltrated Ashland, Superior and Eagle River and launched a three-day surprise raid on the cities, overrunning much of it and capturing caches of weapons and ammunition. Also in May, NWSDF fighters attacked Rhrinelander. A month later, on 5 June NWSDF forces destroyed a federation armored column in an ambush near Park Falls, killing at least 76 soldiers; in another one, near Sheldon, at least 28 federation troops were killed. Intelligence reported that the NWSDF had improved weapons and more supplies than in previous offensives, and there was speculation from within the Great Lakes Federation that the NWSDF was being supplied and financed by the rival state the Heartland Republic.

As military defeats and growing casualties made the war more and more unpopular in the Great Lakes Federation and as the presidential elections neared, the federation government sought a way out of the conflict. Although carrying on a slow and taxing war, the separatists persisted. The federation even officially declared "victory" in July 1998, after a new temporary ceasefire was reached. While the political leaders were discussing the ceasefire and peace negotiations, military forces continued to conduct combat operations. On 16 July, federation army troops were moved south due to what was planned as their final offensive against remaining separatist strongholds, the NWSDF launched counter-offensives in an attempt to stop federationt troops but had failed to mount any significant resistance.

The planned final offensive against the separatists came to a halt when the Heartland Republic came to an agreement with the government of Northern Wisconsin, pledging military support to the movement should the Great Lakes Federation continue it's offensive. The Great Lakes Federation, fearful of entering a war with the Heartland, stopped the planned offensive just days before it was set to commence. Delgates from Northern Wisconsin, the Heartland Republic and the Great Lakes Federation met for negotiations in Prentice, WI. During eight hours of subsequent talks, the individuals present drafted and signed the Prentice Accord on 4 August. It included: technical aspects of demilitarization, the withdrawal of both sides' forces from respective territories, the creation of a demilitarization zone, the withdrawal of all federal forces from Northern Wisconsin by October 31, and a stipulation that any agreement on the relations between the Republic of Northern Wisconsin and the federation government need not be signed. The Great Lakes Federation, under external pressure from the Heartland Republic and internal pressure to end the war, agreed to the terms. However, the Great Lakes Federation did not recognize the Republic of Northern Wisconsin, and signed no formal peace treaty other than the withdrawl of military in respective territories. After the signing og the Prentice Accord, William Kennard and the republic government returned to Iron Mountain. As provisional President, Kennard ordered general demobilization of the State Defence Force.

Geography

The region that the Republic of Northern Wisconsin encompasses is known as the Northern Highland and was once a mountain range similar to the Alps or Rocky Mountains of today. Over hundreds of millions of years, these mountains were worn and flattened out by erosion and glaciation. The region is mostly a smooth plain, but it remains higher than the rest of the state and some hilly regions continue to exist. Located near the center of the region, Timms Hill in Price County is the highest point in Wisconsin, at an elevation of 1,951 feet (595 m) feet above sea level, where the highest point in the whole republic is Mount Arvon, elevation 1,979 feet (603 m) located in the Upper Peninsula. Other hills such as Rib Mountain also approach this elevation.

Nicolet National Forest, the Pine River.

Whether hilly or flat, most of the republic is covered in woodlands. The most common trees of Northern Wisconsin are the Sugar Maple, Aspen, Basswood, Hemlock, and Yellow Birch, as well as Red and White Pine. A large amount of the forestland in the region is included within the 1,519,800-acre (6,150 km2) Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. State and county forests also cover a significant part of the region, and only a small portion of the land is devoted to agriculture. Despite the absence of large cities, tourism is an important part of the local economy. The region’s numerous lakes and forests make it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts during the summer season. The Upper Peninsula contains 16,377 square miles (42,420 km2). The maximum east–west distance in the Upper Peninsula is about 320 miles (510 km), and the maximum north–south distance is about 125 miles (201 km). It is bounded on the north by Lake Superior, on the east by St. Marys River, on the south by Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and on the west by Wisconsin. It has about 1,700 miles (2,700 km) of continuous shoreline with the Great Lakes. There are about 4,300 inland lakes, the largest of which is Lake Gogebic, and 12,000 miles (19,000 km) of streams.

Wildlife

The wildlife of Northern Wisconsin includes whitetail deer, timber wolves, elk, moose, and bear. The Upper Peninsula contains a larger variety of wildlife. Some of the mammals found in the UP include shrews, moles, mice, white-tailed deer, moose, black bears, cougar, gray and red foxes, wolves, river otters, martens, fishers, muskrats, bobcats, coyotes, snowshoe hares, cotton-tail rabbits, porcupines, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, opossum and bats. There is a large variety of birds, including hawks, osprey, owls, gulls, hummingbirds, chickadees, robins, cardinals (the national bird), woodpeckers, warblers, and bald eagles. In terms of reptiles and amphibians, the UP has common garter snakes, red bellied snakes, pine snakes, northern water snakes, brown snakes, eastern garter snakes, eastern fox snakes, eastern ribbon back snakes, green snakes, northern ringneck snakes, eastern milk snakes (Mackinac and Marquette counties) and eastern hognose snakes (Menominee County only), plus snapping turtles, wood turtles, and painted turtles, green frogs, bullfrogs, northern leopard frogs, and salamanders. Lakes and rivers contain many fish such as walleye, muskie, northern pike, trout, salmon, bullhead catfish, and bass. Invasive species like the alewife and sea lamprey can be found in the Great Lakes. The UP also contains many shellfish, such as clams, aquatic snails, and crayfish. The American Bird Conservancy and the National Audubon Society have designated several locations as internationally Important Bird Areas.

Politics

Dickinson County Courthouse and Jail, the center of government for Northern Wisconsin.

Northern Wisconsin is a presidential republic. The president is directly elected for a maximum of two consecutive 4-year terms. The current President is William Kennard, and Deputy-President is Edwin Mills

The State Council is the unicameral legislature. It has 64 members (2 from each county) who are elected for 2-year terms. Elections take place within a multi-party system and the political landscape is always shifting due to a variety of political parties.

Military

The military of Northern Wisconsin is a collection of militia units from each county (32 units) which are organized into the Northern Wisconsin State Defence Force (NWSDF). Officially, NWSDF consists only of volunteer units. In practice, the President can issue a decree allowing the NWSDF to conscript able bodied individuals in times of national emergency. President William Kinnard had created a legal framework for these local militia companies to organize, drill, and serve as a home guard units capable of handling state emergencies. Each district has one District Commander, who is in charge of recruiting, organizing, training and leading the District Militias. All district militia commanders are subordinate to the NWSDF Command. In times of war, all 32 district militia units and their respective commanders are assembled and placed under direct control of the NWSDF. Reports estimate that around 6,000 to 7,000 individuals are active servicemen, with a reserve force of 13,000 to 15,000. Most servicemen are stationed at strategic locations in Northern Wisconsin including (but not limited to) power plants, airports, harbors, police stations, courts, former Wisconsin National Guard armories, municipal buildings and newspaper and radio stations. The Northern Wisconsin Naval Militia has around 500 volunteers and primarily conducts patrols of the various waterways and coastal areas of the republic. They are responsible for the security of maritime borders and prevention of piracy. The Northern Wisconsin Air Patrol handles the management and security of airfields in the republic, and consists of mostly civilian aircraft with limited combat abilities.

Economy

Northern Wisconsin 50 cent note.

Northern Wisconsin is rich in mineral deposits, including iron, copper, nickel, and silver. Northern Wisconsin's economy is primarily focused on mining, forestry and agricultural activities. Cattle industries are also maintained. A number of industrial facilities exist, particularly around the higher population areas such as Superior and Marquette. Following the war in the 1998-99, Northern Wisconsin has struggled economically. Even the most developed parts of the country are largely rural, and the little industry the country has was largely damaged or destroyed. During the outbreak of the war, many large multi-national companies abandonded the area, leading to a shortage of internet providers, healthcare, electricity and common consumer goods. Though they were state-owned enterprises, companies in Northern Wisconsin became nominally collectively managed by the employees themselves through workers' self-management, albeit with state oversight dictating wage bills and the hiring and firing of managers. Electric distribution became controlled by the government subsidiary called the Northern Wisconsin Public Energy Service, which regulated electric and gas utility and managed the operations of power plants.. Consumer goods had to be imported from the Heartland Republic or produced domestically, which were then distributed to local grocery and hardware stores. Large multi-national corporations such as Wal-Mart, Menards or BP Gas no longer exist in the state, and their buildings have been demolished or repurposed into local variants. Large food processing plants owned by foreign companies were nationalized in order to ensure a steady supply of domestically produced food.

Although allowed to cross the border into the Heartland Republic, citizens in Northern Wisconsin are not able to work abroad, and have since had to find jobs locally in mines, farms or small factories. White collar jobs made up a small portion of the work force and many workers are skilled tradesmen or unskilled laborers. Common jobs include farm-hands, miners, construction workers, factory laborers and stevedores. The Northern Wisconsin authorities created state-run farms run by the CCC alongside private farms to employ workers and boost local production of food items and thus reducing the need for such imports from the Heartland Republic. For this purpose, the area planted with wheat, corn, beans and potatoes. The Northern Wisconsin Department of Agriculture also imported some tractors from the Heartland Republic as no tractors are made domestically, though one factory (the Phillips Tractor Factory) is currently under construction to produce tractors, bulldozers, and other agricultural equipment.

White Rapids Power Plant, a 7MW hydroelectric dam.

To aid with the rebuilding of the republic after the war, the Northern Wisconsin Department of Labor created its own Civilian Conservation Corps as a work relief program. It provided manual labor jobs related to the exploitation and development of natural resources in rural lands owned by national and local governments, the rebuilding of residential and industrial areas affected by the war, and the reconstruction of road and rail infrastructure. The CCC is designed to supply jobs for young men and to relieve families who had difficulty finding jobs during recovery from the war. TThe CCC provides workers with shelter, clothing, and food, together with a monthly wage. The CCC holds the authority to relocate workers wherever needed around the republic, giving valuable manpower to places like mines and factories. The Department of Labor, working with the still young Northern Wisconsin Department of Corrections implimented prison labor, and set able-bodied eligible prisoners to work on hard labor jobs.

Mining

Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula are home to a number of derelict mines that had become unprofitable in the early to mid 1900s. The Department of Mining Industry was quick to survey and re-open mines in order to create revenue from exports to the Heartland Republic. The Flambeau Mine, a major producer of copper, gold and silver was expanded and more workers were relocated to the area. The Quincy Mine near Hancock, UP was reopened for full scale operation for the first time since 1945. This also included the repair and re-opening of the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mills, the Quincy Dredge Number Two, and the Quincy Smeltery. A workforce was also relocated to the area to staff the operation. The Cliffs Shaft Mine, formerly a museum, was refitted and re-opened for the first time since 1967, continuing undergrounds iron mining in the area. The CCC has moved thousands of workers to these mines to avoid staffing issues. While lagging well behind modern standards for saftey and productivity, the mining industry creates valuable exports of raw minerals and provides jobs to many. Silica sand mining business has more than doubled since the war ended because of the need for this particular type of sand, which is used in a process known as hydraulic fracturing. Northern Wisconsin produces 3/5ths of the silica in the former United States. Facing an industrial mining boom, being dubbed the "sand rush" because of the new demand from large oil companies for silica sand, many of which are located in the Heartland Republic.

Forestry

The forest products industry is the number one employer in Florence, Iron, Lincoln, Price, Rusk, and Sawyer counties. In Langlade county alone, lumber generates 422 jobs, 495 indirect jobs and an economic impact of close to $65 million annually. Forestry equipment had proved to be expensive and difficult to acquire, so the industry is also behind on modern standards.

Agriculture

The climate and topography of Northern Wisconsin is favorable to both arable crops and livestock grazing. The nation has a short growing season, but lacks much of the natural disasters that threaten crops. In the Upper Peninsula, agriculture is limited, though potatoes, strawberries and a few other small fruits are grown. In the southern part of the nation, production of corn for silage and snap beans for processing make up a large portion of farming operations. Oats, potatoes, carrots, and sweet corn for processing are also common. Northern Wisconsin is a major exporter of Maple syrup, due to the abundance of maple trees. State-run farms managed by the CCC provide thousands of jobs all over Northern Wisconsin, and are crucial for the production of foodstuffs. Private farms are still common, but the state encourages farmers to hire local workers.

Electricity

As the war ended, the government took control of many critical industries, one of such is energy. The newly created Department of Electric Power Industry re-opened several old or outdated power stations and connected them to the national power grid, including two coal-fired plants. This process took time, as many old power stations rely on old technology or equipment so it's not uncommon to see old power plants in modern operation. Northern Wisconsin generates a total of 621 MW of electricity domestically, with hydroelectric dams providing 38% of all electricity generated at 241 MW. Old or smaller hydroelectric stations are in the process of being modernized or expanded to produce as much power as possible as often as possible. While only having two generating stations, natural gas makes up for 29% at 183 MW. Since natural gas must be constantly imported, the state has planned no new natural gas power plants. The republic hosts three coal-fired power plants, two of which (Shiras Station and Escanaba Generating Station) were previously decomissioned but re-opened shortly after the end of the war due to rising energy shortages. Coal must also be imported, so the Department of Electric Power Industry only maintains the plants until alternatives can be found. Coal makes up for 22% at 141 MW. Biomass, refuse and solar come in last, with an estimated 55 MW being generated. The largest hydroelectric dam is the Edison Sault Power Plant in Sault Ste. Marie on the St. Marys River, generating 27 MW. The second largest is St Croix Falls Hydro in Polk County on the Saint Croix River, generating 23.2 MW. The Department of Electric Power Industry has started construction of a 67 megawatt boiling water nuclear reactor (BWR) in Bayfield similar to that of the Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant with the assistance of engineers from the Heartland Republic. If successful, the department will issue the construction of several more along coastlines in an attempt to replace natural gas and coal power stations.

Since the war Northern Wisconsin and its economy has been critically dependent on the Heartland Republic economic assistance. The estimated per capita income is $31,995 USD.

A trio of Wisconsin Central EMD SD45s on the Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Transportation

Large scale projects to revive the rail industry have been in progress since the end of the war. The Wisconsin Northern Railroad, Wisconsin Central Ltd. and Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad were all nationalized after the war and released as government subsidiaries. The rail service sector has a majority of its activities come from mining (iron, copper and frac sand), forestry (wood, pulp and paper) and agricultural products. The rail service sector has become more profitable since the formation of the republic, as the trucking industry was struggling to import trucks, spare parts and fuel to continue mass road transport. The government has been funding and encouraging the use and construction of railways for passenger and cargo transportation. The rail service employs the use of EMD GP15-1, EMD SD38-2, EMD SD40M-2 and EMD SD40M-2 locomotives, and is in the process of opening a manufacturing center for the construction and development of new locomotives and parts.

The trucking industry declined sharpy after the war. The importation of motor vehicles, especially heavy duty vehicles and tractor-trailers became near impossible. Fuel prices for gasoline and diesel spiked and road transport became very unprofitable and unreliable. Spare parts for vehicles became difficult to acquire. More companies turned to the rail service sector to transport and export their goods, of which almost all were exported to the Heartland Republic.

Maritime Transport remained strong even after the end of the war. Transportation by water plays a vital role in the transport of bulk commodities such as agricultural products, taconite, and forestry products, as well as foreign imports and heavy machinery. Northern Wisconsin ports provide an important transportation alternative that other nations in the former United States simply cannot offer to their manufacturers, shippers, and suppliers. Northern Wisconsin's harbors and ports serve as important hubs of economic activity for manufacturing, shipbuilding, cargo handling, passenger ferry services, transportation logistics, commercial fishing, and as recreational centers. Each year, Northern Wisconsin's ports handle some 29 million tons of cargo worth an estimated value of over $5 billion. Many companies located in the Heartland Republic will ship goods by rail to Northern Wisconsin, and export goods via ports there due to cheaper rates. Northern Wisconsin was forced to lower the price for maritime transport in order to attract business. This has come with some disdain from the Heartland Republic government, but due to fragile relations it has been mostly overlooked.