Goerke's Corners, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Goerke's Corners, Wisconsin
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Former unincorporated community
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 Goerke's Corners, Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
Goerke's Corners, Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Waukesha |
| Elevation | 265 m (869 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 262 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1577616 |
Goerke's Corners is a place in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the United States. It used to be a small, unofficial community. Today, it is a very busy intersection of major roads. It is also where people can park their cars and catch a bus.
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A Place with Many Names
Goerke's Corners has had a few different names over time!
Early Settlers and Names
The area was first called Storyville. This name came from Augustus Story, who settled there around 1837. Later, it was known as Blodgett or Blodgett's Corners. This name likely came from Chester Blodgett, who arrived in 1843.
Roads and New Names
From 1848 to 1854, the Watertown Plank Road was built through this area. This road connected Milwaukee and Watertown. A smaller road to Waukesha was added in 1850. The name Goerke's Corners came from Frederick Goerke. He was a blacksmith, wagon maker, and innkeeper in the 1870s. There was even a post office here from 1885 to 1895, called Blodgett. Frederick Goerke was the postmaster.
Goerke's Corners Today
In 1958, the first part of Interstate 94 opened through this area. By the late 1900s, this spot became one of the busiest intersections in southeastern Wisconsin. It connects Wisconsin Highway 164, U.S. Route 18, and Interstate 94. It is often mentioned in local traffic reports.
A Busy Hub
Today, Goerke's Corners is a major waypoint for travelers. It has a park-and-ride lot where people can leave their cars. They can then take buses like the Badger Bus or the Milwaukee County Transit System. The old settlement area is now filled with shopping centers, office buildings, hotels, and apartments. Even though the area looks very different, people still call it "Goerke's Corners."
Pop Culture Moment
Goerke's Corners even had a moment of fame in a movie! In the 1949 film It's a Great Feeling, a character named Judy Adams, played by Doris Day, proudly says she grew up there. The place is mentioned several times in the movie. Judy eventually returns to Goerke's Corners and the film ends with her marrying her old sweetheart there.
