Muskego, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Muskego, Wisconsin
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Location of Muskego in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Waukesha |
| Incorporated | 1964 |
| Area | |
| • City | 35.97 sq mi (93.17 km2) |
| • Land | 31.60 sq mi (81.85 km2) |
| • Water | 4.37 sq mi (11.32 km2) |
| Elevation | 815.90 ft (244 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 25,032 |
| • Density | 795.13/sq mi (307.00/km2) |
| • Metro | Part of Metro Milwaukee |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (Central) |
| ZIP Code |
53150
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| Area code(s) | 414, 262 |
| FIPS code | 55-55275 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1570056 |
| Website | http://www.cityofmuskego.org |
Muskego (pronounced mus-KEE-go) is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, USA. In 2020, about 25,032 people lived there. It is part of the larger Milwaukee metropolitan area.
The name Muskego comes from the Potawatomi Indian word "Mus-kee-Guaac," which means "sunfish." The Potawatomi people were the first to live in this area. Muskego is the fifth-largest community in Waukesha County. It also has a large Norwegian American population. There are three lakes right within the city limits.
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Muskego's Past: From Native Lands to a Modern City
The story of Muskego began with the Potawatomi people. They called the area "Mus-kee-Guaac," meaning "sunfish." The first European visitor arrived in 1827. A few years later, in 1833, the Potawatomi tribe gave their lands in Wisconsin to the United States government. The first permanent settlers were the Luther Parker family, who came from New Hampshire.
Muskego used to be a farming area. It officially became a city in 1964. When it became a city, it included the smaller communities of Durham Hill and Tess Corners. As more houses were built, Muskego grew into a bedroom community for Milwaukee. This means many people live in Muskego but work in Milwaukee.
Muskego Beach Amusement Park: A Place for Fun
The Muskego Beach Amusement Park was a very popular place. It was open from 1861 to 1967. Later, it was called DandiLion Park from 1968 to 1977. This park was located on the south side of Little Muskego Lake. At one point, it was even home to the world's fastest roller coaster.
In 1944, Charles Rose bought the park. He also ran the Wisconsin State Fair Park. After World War II, he reopened Muskego Beach. The park had many rides, games, and hosted musical bands. Charles Rose passed away in 1963. Five years later, Willard Masterson bought the park. He changed its name to "DandiLion Park" and added more rides, like the Tailspin roller coaster. The park closed in 1977.
Muskego's Geography: Lakes and Land
Muskego covers about 35.98 square miles (93.17 square kilometers). About 31.60 square miles (81.85 square kilometers) is land. The remaining 4.38 square miles (11.32 square kilometers) is water.
Muskego has three lakes inside its borders:
- Big Muskego Lake
- Little Muskego Lake
- Lake Denoon
Big Muskego Lake
Big Muskego Lake is a shallow lake in the south-central part of Muskego. It is about 2,260 acres (9.15 square kilometers) in size. Most of the lake is less than four feet deep. Its bottom is mostly made of organic material or muck. The lake is surrounded by cattail wetlands. It also has many islands made of cattail marsh.
Bass Bay is a connected part of Big Muskego Lake. It is about 110 acres (0.45 square kilometers) and is deeper. It is like other lakes in the area formed by glaciers. Bass Bay is up to 23 feet (7 meters) deep. Its bottom is mostly muck, but some areas near the shore are sandy.
Little Muskego Lake
Little Muskego Lake is about 506 acres (2.05 square kilometers) in size. It has many shallow areas but also one deep part. This lake is in the northwest part of the city. It is up to 65 feet (20 meters) deep and averages 14 feet (4 meters) deep. The bottom is mostly silt or muck.
People who live near or visit Little Muskego Lake enjoy many activities. These include boating, water skiing, sailing, and fishing. The Muskego Waterbugs perform a water ski show. They do this in front of Idle Isle Park every Wednesday evening in the summer. The lake has many types of fish. These include largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, and several panfish species. Most of the shores of Little Muskego Lake have houses built on them.
Lake Denoon
Lake Denoon is about 162 acres (0.66 square kilometers) in size. It is in the southwest part of the city. Part of it is also in the Town of Norway, Wisconsin. This lake was also formed by glaciers. It reaches a maximum depth of 55 feet (17 meters). The bottom of the lake has different materials, from sands and gravel to muck.
A stream flows out of the south end of Lake Denoon. It drains into Ke-Nong-Go-Mong (Long) Lake in Racine County. There is an island of cattails and some cattail shoreline on the west side of the lake. Most of the rest of the lake's shore has houses built on it.
Muskego's Climate
Muskego experiences a typical Midwestern climate. Here's a quick look at the average temperatures and rainfall:
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Muskego's Population: How Many People Live Here?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 8,858 | — | |
| 1970 | 11,573 | 30.7% | |
| 1980 | 15,277 | 32.0% | |
| 1990 | 16,813 | 10.1% | |
| 2000 | 21,397 | 27.3% | |
| 2010 | 24,135 | 12.8% | |
| 2020 | 25,032 | 3.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Muskego is the fifth-largest place in Waukesha County. It is smaller than the City of Waukesha, the City of New Berlin, the City of Brookfield, and the Village of Menomonee Falls. This is based on population numbers from 2010 and estimates for 2019.
In 2000, the average income for a household in Muskego was about $64,247. For a family, it was about $69,722. The average income per person in the city was about $26,199. Only a small number of families (1.0%) and people (1.6%) lived below the poverty line.
Muskego's Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 24,135 people living in Muskego. There were 9,068 households and 7,011 families. The city had about 763.8 people per square mile (294.9 per square kilometer). There were 9,431 housing units.
Most of the people in Muskego were White (97.2%). A small percentage were African American (0.3%), Native American (0.2%), or Asian (0.9%). About 2.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 35.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (66.6%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.65 people. The average family had 3.03 people.
The average age of people in Muskego was 42.4 years. About 25.1% of residents were under 18. About 12.9% were 65 years or older. The city had slightly more females (50.7%) than males (49.3%).
Education in Muskego: Schools for All Ages
Muskego has several schools for students of different ages.
Public Schools
These schools are part of the Muskego-Norway School District:
- Bay Lane Elementary School
- Lakeview Elementary School (serves Muskego residents, but is located in the Town of Norway)
- Mill Valley Elementary School
- Muskego Lakes Middle School
- Lake Denoon Middle School
- Muskego High School
Private Schools
These are religious schools in Muskego:
- St. Leonard K–8 Catholic School
- St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Grade School – part of the WELS
Notable People from Muskego
Some well-known people have lived in or are from Muskego:
- Tom Clark, who was the Commissioner of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA).
- Henry Lockney, a Wisconsin State Senator and judge, was born in the town of Muskego.
- Andrija Novakovich, a professional soccer player, was born in Muskego.
- Luther Parker, an early Wisconsin politician and settler, lived in Muskego.
- Howard Schmidt, an expert in cyber security.
- Chuck Wichgers, a Wisconsin State Representative.
See also
In Spanish: Muskego (Wisconsin) para niños
