Walloon in Wisconsin

Belgian immigration to the Door Peninsula started in 1853. Both Flemish and Walloon Belgians came from small villages on the border of Flanders and Wallonia. The highest concentration of Belgians settled in the yellow area of the Belgian Settlement Map. Walloon was spoken as the first language in many homes for almost 100 years after the first immigrants arrived.

Still today, this area is the largest Walloon settlement in the United States.  This protected peninsular location helped the language survive within a closely-knit community.