Appleton (Menominee: Ahkōnemeh) is the county seat of Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States, with small portions extending into Calumet and Winnebago counties. Located on the Fox River north of Lake Winnebago, it is 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles (160 km) north of Milwaukee. The city had a population of 75,644 at the 2020 census, making it the sixth-most populous city in Wisconsin. The Appleton metropolitan statistical area had 243,147 residents. Appleton is part of the broader Fox Cities region. Appleton was founded in the mid-19th century and developed as a prominent industrial and educational hub, notably with the establishment of Lawrence University in 1847. Its economy has historically been anchored in paper manufacturing and has diversified into retail and healthcare, with St. Elizabeth Hospital and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center–Appleton in the city. It is a cultural center of the Fox River Valley, highlighted by institutions such as the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and History Museum at the Castle, which celebrates local heritage and figures like magician Harry Houdini. It also hosts regional events such as Octoberfest and the Mile of Music.