During the early 1800s, Two Rivers was well located as an outlet for trade to the rest of the nation. In the beginning, commerce was trading furs with the Indians, followed by fishing, logging and saw mill operations and the manufacturing of products which added value to the basic raw materials.

Among the first Indians to collaborate with the "pale face" was Chief Waumegesko (the Wampum), nicknamed "Mexico." He received a medal from the government for settling disputes between various Indian groups located in our area. His lodge was located on the south side of Two Rivers. The south side was then referred to as the "Mexico" side of town in honor of the Chief.

Neshotah is the Chippewa name for Two Rivers, which means "a junction of two rivers." Those rivers were called Neshoto (West Twin) - flowing from what is now Shoto, and the Mishicot (East Twin) - flowing from what is now Mishicot. Manitowoc is interpreted as "the place of the spirits." Memee (a nearby village), is interpreted as "pigeon."

In 1835, the first parcel of land was transferred from the federal government to D. Wells of Milwaukee, Morgan Martin of Green Bay and S.W. Beal of Fond du Lac. On July 4, 1837 the original town plat was recorded. At that time, the population of Two Rivers stood at 40. The economic mainstay began with commercial fishing and a sawmill.

In 1835, Colonel Hawathay of the Corps of U.S. Engineers purchased land along the waterway in Kewaunee, Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Milwaukee, believing that these waterway areas would be settled first and in hopes that these parcels would have value. All were disposed of except the Two Rivers site called the "Pines" which is now known as Neshotah Park. After Colonel Hawathay died, his estate tried to sell the entire parcel with very little luck. However, A.H. Lohman made a proposal to the City that purchase the Pines at the public auction for public recreational use. Dr. Curnans, then mayor of Two Rivers, bid $12,000. Part of this parcel is known today as the Hawathay Subdivision.

In 1847 and 1848, political unrest in Germany brought a variety of cultural groups. Other nationalities were also present - such as French, Bohemians, Norwegians, Polish, Irish, Belgium, Danish, Swedish, and others.

In 1840, the population of Manitowoc County was only 240. In 1848, The population of Two Rivers was 200 people. In 1850, the population of Two Rivers was 924 and Manitowoc County had a population of 3,702. During that year, an outbreak of cholera claimed 50 lives in seven days, with the total being 100 stricken during that epidemic.

On March 31, 1858, the Village of Two Rivers was granted a charter. The Village was then divided into two wards separated by Washington Street.

During and shortly after the Civil War, when counterfeit money drove all real money out of circulation and for the convenience of dealing with employees, manufacturers issued paper script money called "shin plasters." The scripts were of small denominations and they were redeemable only in merchandise at the Company Store. The script was outlawed in 1875.

During the post-Civil War, most Wisconsin lumbering towns were hurt economically except Two Rivers, because of its transformation from raw materials lumber processor to a woodenware manufacturer.

In 1857, membership began in a recreation organization mostly composed of young German men called Turn Verien - or commonly known as "turners." These "turners" competed against one another, with the most graceful being dubbed the "title of turnwald." Today, this would be known as gymnastics. This sport became so popular that a building was constructed in the area of the U.S. Post Office called Turner Hall. However, by the late 1880s, the "turners" popularity had diminished and the building was sold.

On March 18, 1878, the City of Two Rivers was granted a charter and divided into three wards. Each ward had a vote on the County Board.

In 1869, the population of Two Rivers was at 1,300. In 1880, it was 2,052 and in 1885, 2,564 people resided in Two Rivers. In 1895, the population reached 3,593. This population growth came from the Polish which were being oppressed by the Russians, along with a poor crop harvest which caused the Bohemians to settle in our area.

1895 was the beginning of the City's sewer system with Monroe Street being the first.

In 1900, the Civil War monument now located in Central Park was erected on behalf of the Civil War and the war with Spain. The population of Two Rivers was then 3,784. Five years later, it was 4,602.

In 1922, the Washington High School was completed. It cost of $600,000. The original portion of the high school was earmarked by the reddish brick and tall window openings. (Washington High School was demolished after a new high school was built and opened on the east side of the city in 2002).

On October 28, 1919, Congress passed the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act. Prohibition began January 1, 1920. That year, Two Rivers had a population of 7,305.

About 1920, the city water system was changed from one of wells with the construction of a water intake in Lake Michigan. This change was due in part to the fire which consumed the pail factory. The existing wells did not have enough pressure to fight the fire, which threatened the entire community on that windy day. A deep well had failed to significantly increase the water supply thereafter and in 1922, the Lake Michigan intake was constructed.

In 1927, a book by Elmer Frederick Beth, entitled "History and Survey of Two Rivers," explained the change from the Mayor form of government to the City Manager form of government.

"The City had known and borne all the inefficiencies and evils which are inherent in the council-mayor form of government. Although the City had never suffered from flagrant political corruption, it paid the price of the inefficiency which results when a body of popularity elected officials act in both legislative and executive capacity, as in the case in the council-mayor form. The present council-city manager plan was established in Two Rivers on May 1, 1925 after active campaign in local papers had been run for more than six months.

"The voters of the City elect at large the nine councilmen who are elected for a period of two years. Five of the councilmen are elected one year, and four the next. Electing them at large instead of by wards eliminates the faults of provincialism - or narrowness of outlook - and encourages the election of the best men in the City.

The council itself elects the president of the council who conducts the meetings and who represents the City government at public functions in the same capacity as the mayor formerly did."

The council hires a city manager who has charge of all administrative duties. The city manager is responsible for carrying out the policies and directions of the City Council, the legislation branch of the city government. Purchasing, the hiring and discharging of city employees, the management of the City Utilities and all routine administration are in his hands.

The first city manager was Richard Biehl, then age 39, who came from Westerville, Ohio as their city manager and was paid an initial salary of $5,000.