Suamico is pronounced (swam ĭ kō). The name Suamico is believed to have come from the Menominee Indians
which means: Mäte
Sue'mako Tusi'niniu, "Great Sand Bar People," on the sand dunes at what is now called Big
Suamico, on Green Bay. Other sources also indicate that the name stands for: beaver tail, yellow beaver, or swan.
Big Suamico was the unofficial name for the river, township, and village called Suamico. It was used to
distinguish themselves from the Little Suamico River and Township immediately north in Oconto County. The Suamico and
Fort Howard Road was the first declared county road in Brown County laid out between Big Suamico and Fort Howard in 1849-50.
It followed a former Indian trail. The Suamico River flows generally eastward through Pittsfield and Suamico Townships
into Green Bay.
Suamico was first established by Legislature on August 2, 1848, from Howard. It was apparently dropped
when Oconto County was established on February 6, 1851. It was then re-established to it's current size by the County
Board on March 16, 1858. Suamico was an excellent farming country and raising stock was profitable. Industry
of the 1850's and 60's was milling and there were large sawmills along the Suamico River. The Suamico Post Office was
established on July 20, 1857, with John Bruce as Postmaster. It was platted by John Bruce in 1873.
Early settlers included: Burdon, Lamb, Davidson, Dickinson, Tremble, and Vickery.
Suamico was incorporated as a village in September 2003. The population is 10,558. It remains a commercial
fishing area today.
Source: Cassidy, F.G. Brown County Wisconsin place names. 1963
