MANITOOWOC,a thriving post-village, capital of Manitoowoc county, Wisconsin, on the W. shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the river of its own name, 93 miles N. by E. from Milwaukee. It has a good harbor, contains 3 or 4 churches, 12 stores, 2 steam mills, and 2 ship-yards, and carries on an active trade in pine lumber. A newspaper is issued here. Population in 1853, estimated at 2500. (Baldwin's New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States..., 1854)
MANITOWOC, P. V., is beautifully situated at the mouth of the Manitowoc river, on Lake Michigan, 90 miles below Milwaukee. Its present population is about 2,000, and is rapidly increasing. Its harbor, the best natural one on the lake west, is being improved through an appropriation by Congress. The county seat of the county has been lately located here, and an appropriation made for the erection of county buildings. It has 1 pier, .4 warehouses, 12 stores, 2 steam saw mills, 6 blacksmith and waggon, 3 shoe, and 3 tailor's shops; 2 ship yards, at which ship building is carried on to considerable extent; 4 hotels, and 2 school houses; it has Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Catholic congregations— the first has built a fine church, and the others have arranged for suitable sites, and will soon erect churches. Large quantities of lumber, manufactured on the river above, are sold and shipped here every year, from which considerable revenue is derived yearly. As soon as the plank road, which is being built between this place and Menasha, is finished, Manitowoc will become the depot of considerable trade of the Fox River Valley, and a place of importance as a commercial point. The rail roads projected from this place north and west, connecting with roads in the interior, will undoubtedly be built. (John Warren Hunt, Wisconsin Gazetteer..., Madison, 1853)