Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin is your door to Door County. While an authentic working city, it still offers plenty of lodging, dining, and attractions for tourists. Any trip to Door County calls for time spent in Sturgeon Bay.
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Sturgeon Bay Lodging
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Best Hotels in Sturgeon Bay
These best hotels in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin will serve as a great home base for your Door County vacation . . .
Search for Sturgeon Bay Lodging
HelloDoorCounty.com has teamed up with some of the best Sturgeon Bay hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfasts to help you find the best Sturgeon Bay lodging at the best price. Search for the best lodging in Sturgeon Bay for you:
Posts about Sturgeon Bay Lodging
Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort | Review
Sherwood Point Lighthouse
Door County Camping Ultimate Guide 2024
Holiday Music Motel | Review
10 Best Door County Hotels
5 Best Hotels in Sturgeon Bay [2024]
7 Amazing Door County Hotels on the Water
Posts About Dining in Sturgeon Bay
Check out our posts to learn more about Sturgeon Bay’s best restaurants, breweries, supper clubs, bars, and food trucks.
15 Best Door County Fish Fry Restaurants [2024]
7 Best Restaurants for Walleye in Door County
8 Best Door County Fish Boils in 2024
5 Best Lunch Restaurants in Sturgeon Bay, WI
9 Best Door County Supper Clubs
29 Best Door County Restaurants
5 Best Sturgeon Bay Fish Fry Restaurants [2024]
Donny’s Glidden Lodge Restaurant | Review
The Nightingale Supper Club | Review
Kitty O’Reilly’s | Review
21 Best Restaurants in Sturgeon Bay
Posts About Sturgeon Bay Attractions and Things To Do
Check out our posts on things to do in Sturgeon Bay to learn more about Sturgeon Bay attractions, museums, sights, parks, and more.
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve Beach
Sunset Park Beach
Portage Park Beach
Door County Cherry Blossoms
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse
Door County Maritime Museum Sturgeon Bay: Review [Pics]
The Farm in Door County [Review, Pics & Tips]
136 Amazing Door County Parks and Preserves
51 Best Things To Do in Door County
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse
Door County Fall Festivals 2023
30 Best Things To Do in Winter in Door County
Free Things To Do In Door County Wisconsin [2024]
Sturgeon Bay Lighthouse Guide
24 Best Door County Beaches in 2024
Door County Events
Door County Cherry Picking
27 Best Things To Do In Door County With Kids
Door County Lighthouse Festival
Door County Lighthouses Ultimate Guide [Infographic & Map]
Otumba Park and Beach
20 Best Things To Do In Sturgeon Bay [2024]
Sherwood Point Lighthouse
Door County Winter Festivals & Events
All Posts about Sturgeon Bay, WI
7 Best Restaurants for Walleye in Door County
136 Amazing Door County Parks and Preserves
8 Best Door County Fish Boils in 2024
Airports Near Door County, Wisconsin
7 Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Door County
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve Beach
51 Best Things To Do in Door County
Door County Winter Festivals & Events
Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort | Review
Door County Events
Wisconsin Coastal Towns: Ten To Visit Instead of Florida
The Farm in Door County [Review, Pics & Tips]
Door County Cherry Picking
Door County Cherry Blossoms
Kitty O’Reilly’s | Review
29 Best Door County Restaurants
Portage Park Beach
Door County Lighthouses Ultimate Guide [Infographic & Map]
5 Best Hotels in Sturgeon Bay [2024]
Door County Maritime Museum Sturgeon Bay: Review [Pics]
5 Best Sturgeon Bay Fish Fry Restaurants [2024]
Sturgeon Bay Lighthouse Guide
10 Best Door County Hotels
Is Wisconsin a State or a City?
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse
20 Best Things To Do In Sturgeon Bay [2024]
Otumba Park and Beach
Door County in a Day
15 Best Door County Fish Fry Restaurants [2024]
9 Best Door County Supper Clubs
The Nightingale Supper Club | Review
Door County Lighthouse Festival
21 Best Restaurants in Sturgeon Bay
Is Wisconsin in Canada?
Holiday Music Motel | Review
7 Amazing Door County Hotels on the Water
30 Best Things To Do in Winter in Door County
Sunset Park Beach
Donny’s Glidden Lodge Restaurant | Review
Free Things To Do In Door County Wisconsin [2024]
24 Best Door County Beaches in 2024
27 Best Things To Do In Door County With Kids
5 Best Lunch Restaurants in Sturgeon Bay, WI
What Is the Best Town to Stay in Door County? [2024]
Door County Fall Festivals 2023
10 Best Wisconsin Beach Towns
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse
About Sturgeon Bay, WI
Differentiation
“Sturgeon Bay” can refer either to the bay of Sturgeon Bay, the City of Sturgeon Bay, or the Town of Sturgeon Bay.
The Bay of Sturgeon Bay
The bay of Sturgeon Bay is an arm off of Green Bay, which is itself an arm off of Lake Michigan. It is located on the Door Peninsula, which is a peninsula separating Green Bay from Lake Michigan.
In its natural state, Sturgeon Bay was only connected to the main body of Lake Michigan via Green Bay. However, in 1878 the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal joined the waters of Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michigan.
The Bay of Sturgeon Bay is a popular location for fishing, sailing, and pleasure boating.
The City of Sturgeon Bay
The City of Sturgeon Bay is named after the Bay of Sturgeon Bay. The City of Sturgeon Bay is the only city in Door County, and it is the county seat.
At the 2020 census, the City of Sturgeon Bay had a population of 9, 646 people. It has an elevation of 581 feet. Sturgeon Bay was incorporated as a village in 1874 and a city in 1883.
The Town of Sturgeon Bay
The Town of Sturgeon Bay is located to the northeast and southeast of the City of Sturgeon Bay. It may be hard to understand why there would be both a “City” and a “Town” of Sturgeon Bay, but this is explainable by Wisconsin State Law.
The legal definition of a town in the State of Wisconsin is different than the common definition of town that many people use. Many people think of towns as having an urban or suburban pattern of settlement. However, according to Wisconsin State Law, any land that is not covered by a municipality like a city or a village is part of a town.
Towns in Wisconsin have historically had a rural character. However, this is not always the case. Some towns have experienced much growth and have suburban and even urban settlement patterns.
Town populations can range from 40 residents to over 22,000 residents.
Towns are general-purpose units of local government that perform and provide various kinds of municipal functions and services.
Sturgeon Bay Industries
Major industries in Sturgeon Bay include:
- Shipbuilding
- Tourism and Recreation
- Manufacturing
Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay is home to the largest shipyard in the Great Lakes: Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. This shipyard constructs and maintains large ships including 1,000-foot bulk freighters. The busiest time of year for the shipyard is in the middle of winter. This is because ports in the Great Lake become icebound in the winter. This makes it a good time for the ships to receive maintenance.
Tourism and Recreation in Sturgeon Bay
Door County is a tourism and recreation powerhouse, and Sturgeon Bay is a major provider of services to tourists and recreation seekers.
Multiple hotels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts host tourists to Sturgeon Bay.
Popular events that bring tourists to Sturgeon Bay include the Fire and Ice Festival, fishing tournaments, and the Door County Classic and Wooden Boat festival.
Tourists to Sturgeon Bay enjoy activities that include:
- shopping
- dining
- fishing
- going to the beach
- visiting lighthouses
- sailing and powerboating
Manufacturing in Sturgeon Bay
Sturgeon Bay is home to many manufacturing plants. Major manufacturers in Sturgeon Bay include:
- Hatco – manufacturer of commercial kitchen heating equipment
- Therma-Tron-X – an industrial equipment supplier
- Wiretech Fabricators – steel component manufacturers
- Marine Travellift – manufacturer of boat handling equipment