Peshtigo, Administrative division in Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States.
Peshtigo is a small town in Marinette County, Wisconsin, situated near the Peshtigo River. The area contains both land and water, positioned along waterways that shape the local landscape.
In 1871, the Peshtigo Fire killed between 1,200 and 2,500 people and burned 1.5 million acres. This remains the deadliest fire in American history and shaped the region's collective memory.
The name Peshtigo comes from Native American languages and may mean river of wild geese in Ojibwe or snapping turtle in Menominee. This connection to local wildlife remains part of how people think about the place today.
Peshtigo has a continental climate with significant seasonal swings. Visitors should prepare for very hot summers and intensely cold winters with substantial temperature variations.
The 1871 Peshtigo Fire happened on the same day as the famous Chicago Fire and was long overshadowed by it. Despite killing more people, this local disaster received far less national attention for many years.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
