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Belgic Luxembourgers -- from the part of old Luxembourg annexed by Belgium--settled
in the area of the present Township and Village of Belgium, Wisconsin,
in the middle of the 19th century. Descendants of the original families
still live in the area today, and preserve their heritage.
The bright green hearts seen above the village’s welcome signs symbolize
the community’s Luxembourg heritage. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is known
as the “Green Heart of Europe” and the province of Luxembourg exits in the
country of Belgium, Europe. While the first immigrants came from Luxembourg,
neighboring settlers referred to this as “the Belgium area” because at
that time much of Luxembourg was ruled by Belgium. The current residents
still celebrate their heritage throughout the year.
The people of Belgium, Wisconsin invite you to share a unique combination:
old world charm and the natural scenic beauty of rolling terrain to the
shore of Lake Michigan.
At the turn of the century, limestone was quarried on the site presently
occupied by Harrington Beach State Park. A whole company town existed along
the shore of Lake Michigan. Several of the company houses were moved west
to the Village of Belgium and can be seen there today. The remains of the
pier at which ships loaded can still be seen from the park. Where the quarry
was in the early 1900s, today there is a serene lake. Hikers can follow
a nature trail around it. Besides nature trails, the park offers lakeside
beaches and picnic areas and a winding road through woods for cyclists.
Harrington Beach State Park is also a wildlife preserve and offers a protected
habitat for many species. Deer dwell in its woods and can be seen quietly
browsing or gracefully leaping across its fields in morning or evening
twilight.
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Belgium,
The Village with a Heart
