Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
City
Clockwise from top: Geneva Lake, locally-owned Popeye's Restaurant, downtown Lake Geneva, The Riviera
Motto(s):  "Where Memories are Born and Reborn"
Location of Lake Geneva in Walworth County, Wisconsin.
Lake Geneva Location of Lake Geneva in Wisconsin Lake Geneva Location of Lake Geneva in the USA Show map of WisconsinShow map of the United StatesShow all
Coordinates: 42°35′33″N 88°26′4″W / 42.59250°N 88.43444°W / 42.59250; -88.43444Coordinates: 42°35′33″N 88°26′4″W / 42.59250°N 88.43444°W / 42.59250; -88.43444
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Walworth
Government
• Mayor	Charlene Klein
• Administrator	David Nord
• City Council	Current Council Members
Area [1]
• 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 [3]	879 ft (268 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	7,651
• Estimate  (2019)[5]	8,105
• Density	1,181.83/sq mi (456.28/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	53147
Area code(s)	262
FIPS code	55-41450[4]
GNIS feature ID	1581223[3]
Website	www.cityoflakegeneva.com

Lake Geneva is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located in Walworth County and situated on Geneva Lake, it is home to an estimated 8,105 people as of 2019, up from 7,651 at the 2010 census. It is located about 50 miles southwest of Milwaukee and 80 miles northwest of Chicago.

Given its relative proximity to both the Chicago metropolitan and Milwaukee metropolitan areas, it has become a popular resort city that thrives on tourism.

History[]

Originally called "Maunk-suck" (Big Foot) for the Potawatomi leader who lived on the lake in the first half of the 19th Century,^[6] the city was later named Geneva after the town of Geneva, New York,^[7] located on Seneca Lake, to which government surveyor John Brink saw a resemblance. To avoid confusion with the nearby town of Geneva, Illinois, it was renamed Lake Geneva. The abutting lake is named Geneva Lake.

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.^[8]

In 1968, the late Hugh Hefner built his first Playboy resort in Lake Geneva.^[9] The club closed in 1981 and in 1982 was converted into the Americana Resort, and in 1993 to the present Grand Geneva Resort.^[10][11]

Royal Recorders (formerly Shade Tree Studios) was a Lake Geneva music recording studio where artists such as from Blue Island, Illinois, Ministry from Chicago, Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs album '92; Cheap Trick from Rockford, Illinois, Standing on the Edge album '85; Queensrÿche, Empire 1990; Crash Test Dummies "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" in '93; Iron Maiden, Nine Inch Nails from Cleveland Broken (Nine Inch Nails EP) in '92; 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 / 42.59250; -88.43444 (42.592380, -88.434424).^[12] The city is situated on the northeast bay of Geneva Lake on relatively flat ground, with some steep hills and bluffs. The White River flows out of Geneva Lake for 19 miles into Burlington, Wisconsin.

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.^[13]

Climate[]

Lake Geneva Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     102     −8 −12     96     −4 −13     69     6 −6     160     18 2     102     21 8     148     25 14     95     25 16     105     25 15     70     23 12     95     16 5     66     6 −1     79     −4 −11 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: [14] showImperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     4     18 10     3.8     25 9     2.7     43 21     6.3     64 36     4     70 46     5.8     77 57     3.7     77 61     4.1     77 59     2.8     73 54     3.7     61 41     2.6     43 30     3.1     25 12 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

Demographics[]

Historical population
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%
2019 (est.)	8,105	[5]	5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

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%.^[2]

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.

2000 census[]

At the 2000 census there were 7,148 people, 3,053 households, and 1,801 families living in the city. The population density was 1,425.1 people per square mile (549.8/km²). There were 3,757 housing units at an average density of 749.0 per square mile (289.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.81% White, 0.90% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.08% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 5.16% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.75%.^[4] At the 2010 census there were 7,651 people for a population growth of 7.04% from the 2000 United States Census to the 2010 United States Census.

Of the 3,053 households 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% were non-families. 33.0% of households were one person and 12.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.01.

The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median household income was $40,924 and the median family income was $54,543. Males had a median income of $38,930 versus $25,671 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,536. About 4.7% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Media[]

Lake Geneva's main newspaper is the Lake Geneva Regional News, a Lee Enterprises-owned weekly (published Thursdays) newspaper that has served the Lake Geneva area since 1872.

WLKG (96.1 FM) is a hot adult contemporary-formatted radio station licensed to Lake Geneva.

Government[]

The city of Lake Geneva operates under a mayor-council form of government. The city has four aldermanic districts with two representatives per district. It is managed by a full-time City Administrator. The city has an elected attorney, judge, and a full-time Treasurer.^[16]

Notable people[]

References[]

Further reading[]

• Fogle, Phil. Grassroots—Lake Geneva: An Illustrated History of the Geneva Lake Area (The Centennial Book). Williams Bay, Wis.: Big Foot Publishing Company, 1986.
• Simmons, James. Annals of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. 1835-1897. Lake Geneva, Wis.: The Herald, 1897.

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

• City of Lake Geneva
• Geneva Lake Museum of History
• Images of Lake Geneva : Historic photographs and postcards, at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Sanborn fire insurance maps: 1892 1900 1912