Manitowoc

Manitowoc is a city in Manitowoc County on the western shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Manitowoc River. With a population of around 32,000, it is one of the larger cities on Lake Michigan's Wisconsin shoreline and carries a maritime identity that runs deeper than most lakefront communities can claim. During World War II, Manitowoc Shipbuilding constructed sixteen submarines for the United States Navy, the only freshwater submarine production site in American history. One of those submarines, the USS Cobia, is permanently moored at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum downtown and designated a National Historic Landmark.

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum anchors a downtown that has worked steadily to reinvest in its waterfront and commercial core. The Manitowoc Marina and lakefront park system give residents direct access to Lake Michigan for boating, fishing, and seasonal recreation. The lake effect moderates temperatures relative to inland communities, which extends the shoulder seasons in ways that outdoor-focused residents notice. The Riverwalk connects the downtown corridor to the waterfront and provides a year-round recreational asset within walking distance of the city center.