Historical Essay
De Pere
Origin of De Pere, Wisconsin
The Mission of St. Francis Xavier was established on the east side of the Fox River by Claude-Jean Allouez in 1671. The site became known as "Rapids des Peres" ("rapids of the fathers"). The name was eventually shortened to "De Pere."
Learn More
See more images, essays, newspapers and records about De Pere, Wisconsin.
Dictionary of Wisconsin History
Explore more than 1,600 people, places and events in Wisconsin history.
[Source: Callary, Edward; Place Names of Wisconsin. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2016; pg. 74]