Racine Sister Cities
What Is a Sister City?
A sister city relationship is a formal partnership between two communities in different countries, established to promote cross-cultural understanding, global cooperation, and lasting people-to-people connections. These relationships support exchanges in education, the arts, economic development, and public service, creating meaningful opportunities for residents, students, and businesses to engage across borders.
Racine is a proud member of Sister Cities International, the nonprofit network founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. At its core, the organization promotes peace and prosperity through citizen diplomacy, empowering local communities to build bridges of understanding through international partnerships. President Eisenhower believed that fostering bonds between everyday citizens could reduce the likelihood of future conflict, and that shared experiences would help people from different cultures celebrate their differences while discovering common ground.
As part of this global network, Racine’s sister city relationships reflect its commitment to global citizenship and international dialogue. Through cultural exchanges, educational collaborations, and civic engagement, these partnerships connect Racine to the world, bringing international perspectives home while sharing our community’s values abroad.
Learn more at: sistercities.org
Racine’s Sister City Planning Commission
Formed in 1957, the Sister City Planning Commission is a citizen-led group dedicated to building and strengthening relationships between Racine and its sister cities. The council promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation.
The council includes up to 18 members, all Racine residents from diverse backgrounds, including educators, business leaders, and students.
Council members are organized into subcommittees for each sister city, along with a public relations committee to support outreach and communication.
To learn more about serving on the commission, visit: boards-and-commissions
The Racine Sister City Planning Council Objectives:
- Promote international understanding through exchanges of ideas and goodwill between the citizens of Racine and its sister cities
- Establish and/or strengthen cultural, educational, and economic ties between Racine and its sister cities
- Act as official hosts to visitors from our sister cities, including organizing home stays
- Promote visits by members of the Racine community, particularly students, to our sister cities.
- Support an internship program either for sister city students to be placed in Racine, or to have Racine students work abroad
- Establish new sister city programs where appropriate
Racine’s Sister Cities
Aalborg, Denmark
Situated in the heart of North Jutland along the peaceful shores of the Liim Fjord, Aalborg is a vibrant and historic city. As Denmark’s fourth-largest city, it is home to nearly 120,000 residents and offers visitors a dynamic blend of old-world charm and modern energy. Known for its lively year-round music scene and festive spirit, Aalborg welcomes guests with warmth both day and night.
One of the city’s most unique traditions is its connection to American Independence Day. Since 1912, the nearby Rebild National Park, just south of Aalborg, has hosted an annual 4th of July celebration to honor the deep ties between Denmark and the United States. The event pays tribute to the more than 300,000 Danish immigrants who made their home in America, celebrating enduring friendship and shared values.
In 1969, Aalborg established a special relationship with the City of Racine, Wisconsin, home to a large Danish-American population. One of the highlights of this partnership has been Racine’s participation in the Aalborg Youth Games, an Olympic-style event held every four years that brings together teenagers from Aalborg’s international sister cities. The week-long games feature a wide range of sports and cultural exchange, and Racine has proudly participated multiple times.
Highlights:
- 1987 – Participation in Aalborg Youth Games begins
- 1987 – Horlick High School student choir visits Aalborg
- 1988 – Aalborg Choir visits Racine; Horlick High School hosts the choir
- 1992 – Racine student art exhibit sent to Aalborg for their Jubilee Celebration
- 1994 – Racine and Aalborg commemorate their Silver Sister City Anniversary in Racine with a visit by Aalborg’s Klarup Children’s Choir. A 7-day visit by Aalborg’s mayor, Kaj Kjaer, concludes the observances
- 1995, 1999 – Racine delegates visit Aalborg
- 1998 – Aalborg Garden Band performs and marches in Racine’s and Kenosha’s 4th of July celebrations
- 2001 – Racine Unified Student Art Exhibition features art of public school students in Aalborg
- 2001, 2003 – Aalborg Police Band visits and performs
- 2003, 2007 – Youth Games
Ōiso, Japan
Racine’s sister city relationship with Ōiso, Japan, was established in 1982, sparked by a business connection initiated by SC Johnson. Since then, it has grown into a vibrant and enduring exchange of friendship and culture.
Ōiso is a scenic coastal town just south of Tokyo, home to approximately 31,000 residents. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean to the east and low mountain ranges to the west, the town offers sweeping natural vistas—including, on clear days, views of the majestic Mount Fuji.
Steeped in history, Ōiso was once a post town along the historic Tōkaidō, the feudal-era highway that connected Kyoto to Edo (modern-day Tokyo). Visitors today can still find traditional inns, ancient shrines and temples, and the towering pine trees that once lined this vital route.
A cornerstone of the Racine–Ōiso partnership is a biennial student exchange program. Every other year, high school students from Ōiso travel to Racine for a two-week cultural immersion, staying with local host families. These exchanges promote global awareness, foster personal growth, and cultivate lasting cross-cultural connections.
Highlights:
- 1983 – Mayor of Ōiso and delegation visit Racine
- 1985 – Mayor of Racine and delegation visit Ōiso
- 1987 – Mayor of Ōiso and 20-member delegation visit Racine; cherry trees are planted at Festival Hall to commemorate the relationship
- 1990 – Racine delegation visit Ōiso
- 1992 – Mayor of Ōiso and a 30-member delegation visit Racine on the 10th Anniversary of the Sister City association
- 1993 – High School student visitation program begins
- 1995 – Racine Ōiso student art exchange displayed at Wustum Museum
- 2003 – Racine delegate visits Ōiso
- 2007 – 8th Ōiso high school student visitation
- 2015, 2017 – Racine High School students visit Ōiso for two weeks
- 2010, 2016, 2018, 2023 – Teens from Ōiso visit Racine on a two-week exchange program
- 2019, 2024 – Racine students travel to Ōiso for exchange program
Montélimar, France
Montélimar, a charming city in southern France renowned as the birthplace of nougat, holds the distinction of being Racine’s first Sister City. The partnership began in 1957 and has since fostered decades of cultural exchange and international friendship. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of this relationship—le jumelage—delegations from both cities visited each other in the summers of 2006 and 2007. One highlight was a fifty-year commemorative gift, a specially commissioned artwork by Racine artist Alex Mandli, presented to the Montélimar delegation in 2006.
Over the years, Racine and Montélimar have welcomed one another’s youth through various exchange programs. The Prairie School hosts teenage students from France, while college-level students intern with Racine-area businesses and stay with local families, deepening the personal and cultural ties that define this enduring Sister City relationship.
Highlights:
- 1957 – Montélimar becomes Racine’s first Sister City
- 1997 – Exchange with Montélimar youth and students from St. Catherine’s and The Prairie School was formed
- 1998 – Mayor of Montélimar participates in Racine’s Sesquicentennial
- 1998 – Racine delegate visits Montélimar to renew relations
- 2000 – French intern program started – business college students intern in Racine annually for six weeks in a local business
- 2003 – Mayor of Montélimar visits Racine to renew relations
- 2006, 2007 – Cities celebrate 50th anniversary as sister cities with exchange of delegations
- 2016, 2018 – Students and chaperones from the Lycée Alain Borne school in Montélimar travel to Racine
- 2017 – Sixteen students with four chaperones from the Chabrillan School in Montélimar, France visited Racine.
- 2017, 2019 – High school students spend spring break in Montélimar, France
Zapotlanejo, Mexico
Zapotlanejo is a municipality located in the eastern region of the Mexican state of Jalisco. According to the most recent estimates, it is home to over 70,000 residents. The local economy is driven primarily by agriculture and textile manufacturing, with Zapotlanejo recognized as one of Mexico’s leading centers for clothing production and fashion distribution.
The city has deep historical roots dating back to the early 1500s. One of its most significant historical landmarks is the Bridge of Calderón, the site of a pivotal battle during Mexico’s War of Independence. There, in 1811, insurgent leader Miguel Hidalgo was defeated by royalist forces under General Félix María Calleja—a moment still commemorated today in regional celebrations.
Zapotlanejo became a sister city of Racine in 2008, a partnership that reflects the strong cultural and familial ties between Racine and the Jalisco region. Many Racine residents trace their heritage to this part of Mexico, making the connection both personal and enduring.
Highlights:
- 2008 – Racine Mayor and delegation visit Zapotlanejo to initiate Sister Cities agreement
Brandtford, Ontario
In July 2025, the City of Racine officially welcomed Brantford, Ontario, as its newest Sister City. This partnership was established to recognize the deep commonalities between the two communities, from their shared industrial heritage and economic resilience to their commitment to inclusivity, education, and environmental stewardship. The connection is further strengthened by the presence of SC Johnson, whose longstanding corporate and civic engagement links both cities across borders.
As members of the Great Lakes Basin and advocates for the region’s environmental and economic future, Racine and Brantford will now collaborate through the Sister Cities International framework. This alliance will promote cultural exchange, educational partnerships, economic development, and people-to-people connections that enhance
understanding and goodwill. A formal Memorandum of Understanding is being developed to guide these efforts, and both cities look forward to engaging residents, institutions, and businesses in meaningful cross-border exchange.
