Waunakee, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waunakee, Wisconsin
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Village
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Downtown Waunakee on Wisconsin Highway 19
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| Motto(s):
The Only Waunakee in the World
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Location of Waunakee in Dane County, Wisconsin
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Dane |
| Government | |
| • Type | Village Board |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.17 sq mi (18.58 km2) |
| • Land | 7.17 sq mi (18.57 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 928 ft (283 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 14,879 |
| • Density | 1,959.83/sq mi (756.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
53597
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| Area code(s) | 608 |
| FIPS code | 55-84350 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1576318 |
Waunakee (pronounced waw-nuh-KEE) is a village located in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. A village is a small community, usually smaller than a city. In 2020, about 14,879 people lived there. Waunakee is a suburb of Madison, which means it's a town close to a bigger city. Waunakee is special because it calls itself "The Only Waunakee in the World."
Contents
Waunakee's Story: A Look Back
The village of Waunakee began to grow when the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad wanted to build a train line from Madison to Saint Paul. The railroad needed land for its tracks. Two local settlers, Louis Baker and George Fish, offered their land for a new village.
In exchange for land and money, the railroad agreed to move a train station to this new community. Waunakee was started in 1871 and officially became a village in 1893.
How Waunakee Got Its Name
Louis Baker and George Fish didn't want to name the new community themselves. They asked Simeon Mills and Mr. Hill from Madison for ideas. The name "Waunakee" has a Native American origin. It is thought to mean "fair and pleasant valley."
Another idea for the name comes from the Wisconsin Historical Society. They suggest it came from the Chippewa name "Waunaki." This name meant "a friendly Indian" who lived in the area, and it means "he lives in peace."
Famous Visitors to Waunakee
Over the years, some well-known people have visited Waunakee.
- In February 1960, Robert F. Kennedy came to the village. He was campaigning for his brother, John, who was running for president.
- In October 2000, former First Lady Barbara Bush visited Waunakee. She was campaigning for her son, George, who was also running for president.
The Historic Railroad Depot
The old Waunakee Railroad Depot is a famous building in the center of town. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. Today, this building is home to the Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce offices.
Waunakee's Location and Landscape
Waunakee is located in Wisconsin. The village covers an area of about 7.17 square miles (18.58 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small amount of water.
The village is surrounded by other towns and areas:
- To the south and east, it borders Westport.
- To the north, it borders Vienna.
- To the northwest, it borders Dane.
- To the west, it borders Springfield.
A main waterway called Six Mile Creek flows through Waunakee. It runs from west to east and then turns south, heading towards Lake Mendota.
People of Waunakee
The population of Waunakee has grown a lot over the years. Here's how the number of people living in the village has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 279 | — | |
| 1890 | 312 | 11.8% | |
| 1900 | 443 | 42.0% | |
| 1910 | 550 | 24.2% | |
| 1920 | 560 | 1.8% | |
| 1930 | 640 | 14.3% | |
| 1940 | 773 | 20.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,042 | 34.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,611 | 54.6% | |
| 1970 | 2,181 | 35.4% | |
| 1980 | 3,866 | 77.3% | |
| 1990 | 5,897 | 52.5% | |
| 2000 | 8,995 | 52.5% | |
| 2010 | 12,097 | 34.5% | |
| 2020 | 14,879 | 23.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 16,165 | 33.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Waunakee in 2010
In 2010, about 12,097 people lived in Waunakee. There were 4,344 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. Most people in Waunakee were White (95.8%). Other groups included African American, Native American, and Asian people. About 2.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (45.3%) had children under 18 living with them. The average age in the village was 37.9 years old. About 31.6% of residents were under 18.
Waunakee's Economy and Community
Waunakee has a local Village Center that opened in 2006. This center is like a main hub for the community. It has a fitness center, a senior center, meeting rooms, and a gymnasium.
The Waunakee Business Park is a large area, about 160 acres, where many businesses operate. In recent years, Main Street and Century Avenue have been updated with new buildings and street designs. There's also a mural on the Waunakee Furniture building and public art displays each year.
Major Employers in Waunakee
As of 2018, these were some of the largest employers in Waunakee:
| # | Employer | Full-time employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waunakee Community School District | 575 |
| 2 | NORD Gear | 310 |
| 3 | Uniek Plastics | 300 |
| 4 | Octopi Brewing | 250 |
| 5 | Suttle-Straus, Inc. | 200 |
| 6 | Scientific Protein Laboratories | 198 |
| 7 | Waunakee Manor, HCC | 158 |
| 8 | Piggly Wiggly | 145 |
| 9 | GFL Environmental | 115 |
| 10 | Dane Manufacturing | 100 |
Getting Around Waunakee
Waunakee is connected by several important roads and has local transportation options.
Main Roads
- Interstate 39/90/94: These major highways run together and have an exit for Waunakee at Wisconsin Highway 19.
- US Highway 12: This highway is about 4 miles west of Waunakee and can be reached using Wisconsin Highway 19.
- Wisconsin Highway 19: This road goes west to places like Springfield Corners and Mazomanie. It goes east to the Interstates and Sun Prairie.
- Wisconsin Highway 113: This road goes north to towns like Dane and Baraboo. It goes south to Madison.
Airports
The Waunakee Airport (FAA ID 6P3) is a private airport for small planes. It's located about 1 mile south of the village center. Some homes near the runway even have hangars for planes, making it an "airpark." For bigger flights, people use the Dane County Regional Airport.
Railroads
A Wisconsin and Southern railroad line runs through Waunakee. It connects to towns like Dane, Lodi, and Baraboo. The old Waunakee Railroad Depot used to serve passengers until 1963.
Schools in Waunakee
Waunakee is served by the Waunakee Community School District. This district includes several schools for different age groups:
- Arboretum Elementary School (for students in the eastern and southeastern parts of the district)
- Heritage Elementary School (for students in the southern and central parts of the district)
- Prairie Elementary School (for students in the northern and western parts of the district)
- Waunakee Intermediate School (for 5th and 6th graders)
- Waunakee Community Middle School (for 7th and 8th graders)
- Waunakee Community High School (for 9th through 12th graders)
There are also private schools in the area, such as St. John the Baptist Catholic School and Madison Country Day School.
Warrior Stadium is the home field for the high school's lacrosse, football, and track teams. It has a special synthetic turf field.
People from Waunakee
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Waunakee:
- Martha Bablitch: A judge for the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
- John Bennett: Won a silver medal in the long jump at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
- Ernest J. Briskey: Was a Vice President at Campbell Soup Company and a Dean at Oregon State University.
- Ron Dayne: A famous college football player who won the Heisman Trophy in 1999 and played in the NFL.
- Bernice Fitz-Gibbon: An important advertising executive.
- Edward E. Fitzgibbon: A Wisconsin State Representative.
- Pat Ford: An ice hockey player.
- Lawrence Johnson: An NFL cornerback.
- Kenneth A. Koon: An Army National Guard general.
- Mike Moh: A martial artist and actor.
- David D. O'Malley: A Wisconsin State Representative.
- Cy Pieh: A Major League Baseball player.
- Robert Campbell Reeve: The person who started Reeve Aleutian Airways.
- Jack Salzwedel: The chairman and CEO of American Family Insurance.
- Kelly Sheffield: The coach for the Wisconsin Badgers women's volleyball team.
- Georgia Thompson: A civil servant.
- J.B. Van Hollen: A former Attorney General of Wisconsin.
Images for kids
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Welcome sign for Waunakee
See also
In Spanish: Waunakee (Wisconsin) para niños
