Lake Geneva, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
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| Motto(s):
"Where Memories are Born and Reborn"
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Location of Lake Geneva in Walworth County, Wisconsin.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Walworth |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.87 sq mi (17.79 km2) |
| • Land | 6.86 sq mi (17.76 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 879 ft (268 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,277 |
| • Density | 1,181.83/sq mi (456.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
53147
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| Area code(s) | 262 |
| FIPS code | 55-41450 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1581223 |
| Website | www.cityoflakegeneva.com |
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Lake Geneva is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located in Walworth County and situated on Geneva Lake, it was home to 8,277 people as of the 2020 census, up from 7,651 at the 2010 census. It is located 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Milwaukee and 65 miles (105 km) northwest of Chicago.
Given its relative proximity to the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas, Lake Geneva has become a popular resort town that thrives on tourism. Since the late 19th century, it has been home to numerous lakefront mansions owned by wealthy Chicagoans as second homes, leading it to be nicknamed the "Newport of the West."
Contents
History
Originally called "Muck-Suck" (Big Foot) for a Potawatomi chief, the city was later named Geneva after the town of Geneva, New York, located on Seneca Lake, to which early settler John Brink saw a resemblance. Geneva, to avoid confusion with the nearby town of Geneva, Illinois, was renamed Lake Geneva; the abutting lake is named Geneva Lake.
Railroad access from Chicago made the area a popular summer retreat for the barons of wealth in lumber, cattle, oil, steel, cement, manufacturing, and durable goods (e.g., Morton Salt, Wrigley Chewing Gum), with mansions and large homes such as Stone Manor and Black Point built on the lake from the 1850s, through the heyday of the Roaring 20s, and up to the present day. The city was then known as "The Newport of the West." In the early automobile era, the city hosted the first modern drive-in motel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and later during Prohibition smaller lake towns around the area became a haven for Al Capone and other mobsters.
In 1954, Lake Geneva was one of the three finalists for the location of the new United States Air Force Academy, but ultimately lost to Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Royal Records (formerly Shade Tree Studios) was a Lake Geneva music recording studio where artists such as Ministry, Cheap Trick, Queensrÿche, Crash Test Dummies, Iron Maiden, Nine Inch Nails and Skid Row have recorded albums.
Geography
Lake Geneva is located at 42°35′33″N 88°26′4″W / 42.59250°N 88.43444°W (42.592380, -88.434424). The city is situated on the northeast bay of Geneva Lake on relatively flat ground, with some steep hills and bluffs.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.55 square miles (16.96 km2), of which, 6.54 square miles (16.94 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.
Climate
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Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,097 | — | |
| 1870 | 997 | −9.1% | |
| 1880 | 1,969 | 97.5% | |
| 1890 | 2,297 | 16.7% | |
| 1900 | 2,585 | 12.5% | |
| 1910 | 3,079 | 19.1% | |
| 1920 | 2,632 | −14.5% | |
| 1930 | 3,073 | 16.8% | |
| 1940 | 3,238 | 5.4% | |
| 1950 | 4,300 | 32.8% | |
| 1960 | 4,929 | 14.6% | |
| 1970 | 4,890 | −0.8% | |
| 1980 | 5,612 | 14.8% | |
| 1990 | 5,979 | 6.5% | |
| 2000 | 7,148 | 19.6% | |
| 2010 | 7,651 | 7.0% | |
| 2020 | 8,277 | 8.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 7,651 people, 3,323 households, and 1,879 families living in the city. The population density was 1,169.9 inhabitants per square mile (451.7/km2). There were 4,225 housing units at an average density of 646.0 per square mile (249.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 0.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 8.5% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.3%.
Of the 3,323 households 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.5% were non-families. 36.6% of households were one person and 15.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 3.02.
The median age was 39.8 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.8% were from 45 to 64; and 16.7% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.
2020 Census
At the 2020 census the population was 8,277.
Media
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Lake Geneva's main newspaper is the Lake Geneva Regional News, a Lee Enterprises-owned weekly newspaper that has served the Lake Geneva area since 1872. It is published every Thursday.
WLKG (96.1 FM) is a hot adult contemporary-formatted radio station licensed to Lake Geneva.
Parks and Recreation
Flatiron Park in Lake Geneva has the Lake Geneva Visitor Center inside its boundaries, while Seminary Park is the former site of the Lake Geneva Seminary. There is also a public beach on the shore of Geneva Lake.
Transportation
Lake Geneva is served by U.S. Route 12, as well as two Wisconsin state highways; Wisconsin Highway 50 and Wisconsin Highway 120.
Notable people
- Margaret H. Bair - U.S. Air National Guard general
- Robert H. Baker - Wisconsin legislator, Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin
- Hiram Barber, Jr. - U.S. Representative from Illinois
- S. Carey - musician, member of Bon Iver
- Bobby Cook - NBA player
- Gary Gygax - writer and game designer; co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons ; co-founder of Lake Geneva-based company TSR, Inc.
- M. W. Kalaher - Wisconsin legislator
- John Brayshaw Kaye - poet and politician
- Mary L. Kirchoff - author of Dragonlance novels
- Kerwin Mathews - actor
- Ryan Mathews - NASCAR driver
- Buddy Melges - Olympic gold medalist, member of the America's Cup Hall of Fame
- John R. Powers - author
- Ralph Townsend - author
- William Trinke - Wisconsin legislator
- Margaret Weis - author of Dragonlance novels
- Edwin A. Williams - Wisconsin legislator
See also
In Spanish: Lake Geneva (Wisconsin) para niños
