Door County

Door County is a peninsula in eastern Wisconsin extending between Green Bay and Lake Michigan. The landscape features limestone cliffs and a shoreline that stretches for hundreds of miles along both bodies of water.

The area was established in 1851 and took its name from the dangerous strait called Death's Door connecting Green Bay to Lake Michigan. Belgian immigrants founded communities during the 19th century and brought European farming methods to the region.

Belgian immigrants established strong communities in the 19th century, introducing European agricultural methods and architectural styles still visible in the Namur Historic District.

Six state parks and over fifty lighthouses provide access to the shorelines and landscapes across the peninsula. Numerous public beaches can be found along both the Green Bay side and the Lake Michigan side.

During winter the bay freezes solid enough to support temporary fishing cabins built directly on the ice surface. The Namur Historic District still shows 19th-century European architectural styles brought by early settlers.

Location: Wisconsin

Inception: 1851

Capital city: Sturgeon Bay

Shares border with: Kewaunee County, Oconto County, Marinette County, Menominee County, Delta County, Leelanau County, Benzie County, Brown County

Website: https://co.door.wi.gov

GPS coordinates: 45.02000,-87.01000

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:40