FOND DU LAC

city, seat (1836) of Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, U.S. It lies at the southern end of Lake Winnebago, 55 miles (89 km) north-northwest of Milwaukee. It originated in 1785 as a French trading post, named for its location at the farther end of the lake. Laid out by speculators in 1835, the town attracted many German immigrants. The economy was originally based on lumbering but is now diversified and depends primarily on dairy farming and manufacturing (machine tools, dairy equipment, leather, auto ignition parts, and outboard motors). The Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul has wood carvings from Oberammergau, Ger. Marian College of Fond du Lac was established in 1936, and the University of Wisconsin centre at Fond du Lac in 1968. Inc. village, 1847; city, 1952. Pop. (1990) 37,757.