[2] Brown County is part of the Green Bay, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

It originally spanned the entire eastern half of the state when formed by the Michigan Territorial legislature in 1818.

[citation needed] It was named for Major General Jacob Brown, a military leader during the War of 1812.

In 1837, a public referendum relocated the county seat to De Pere.

The location was put up for the popular vote again in 1854, resulting in the establishment of the present county seat at Green Bay.

[5] The oldest known tree in Wisconsin, a 1,300 year-old cedar growing on the Niagara Escarpment, was found in Brown County.

Each member represents a single district and serves a two-year term, with elections held in the spring of even-numbered years.

The executive appoints department heads with the approval of the County Board.

To the left of Appleton and across the northern edge of Lake Winnebago is Brillion in Calumet County.

The village directly to the left of Green Bay and its immediate suburbs is Denmark, in Brown County.

The smaller communities above and slightly to the left of Denmark (including Cooperstown, Maribel, and Kellnersville) are in Manitowoc County.

Since 1968, Brown County has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in all but two elections, 1996 and 2008.

Democratic strength is concentrated in the city of Green Bay, while the suburban and rural areas typically vote Republican.