Sheboygan County Historical Research Center

Sheboygan (Images of America) Sheboygan County Historical Research Center

Ideally situated on the western shore of Lake Michigan, Sheboygan was once known as the City of Chairs, Churches, Cheese, and Children for its abundance of each. Over time, the citys claim to fame has changed. It is now celebrated for bratwurst and hard rolls, great surfing on Lake Michigan, speedy cycling on its city streets, unparalleled sportfishing, and miles of sandy beaches and beautiful dunes in family-friendly parks. A fanciful tale often told to explain the meaning of the name Sheboygan involves an Indian chief who had many sons but no daughters; when his wife presented him with yet another boy, she was rumored to have lamented, She a boy again. In reality, most authorities agree that Sheboygan is a Chippewa word, but the meaning remains elusive. Some say it refers to a passageway near water, while others say it documents a great river disappearing underground.