Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Lake Geneva is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, USA. The population was 7,651 at the 2010 census. A resort city located on Geneva Lake, it is popular with vacationers from the Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford and Madison metro areas.

For other uses, see Lake Geneva (disambiguation).

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
City
Clockwise from top: Geneva Lake, Locally owned Popeyes 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
Coordinates: 42°35′33″N 88°26′4″W
Country United States
State Wisconsin
CountyWalworth
Government
 • MayorCharlene Klein
 • AdministratorDavid Nord
 • City CouncilCurrent Council Members
Area
 • Total6.87 sq mi (17.79 km2)
 • Land6.86 sq mi (17.76 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation879 ft (268 m)
Population
 • Total7,651
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
8,105
 • Density1,181.83/sq mi (456.28/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
53147
Area code(s)262
FIPS code55-41450[5]
GNIS feature ID1581223[2]
Websitewww.cityoflakegeneva.com

History

Originally called "Maunk-suck" (Big Foot) for a Potawatomi chief,[6] the city was later named Geneva after the town of Geneva, New York,[7] located on Seneca Lake, to which early settler 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 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 (42.592380, -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]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18601,097—
1870997−9.1%
18801,96997.5%
18902,29716.7%
19002,58512.5%
19103,07919.1%
19202,632−14.5%
19303,07316.8%
19403,2385.4%
19504,30032.8%
19604,92914.6%
19704,890−0.8%
19805,61214.8%
19905,9796.5%
20007,14819.6%
20107,6517.0%
2019 (est.)8,105[4]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%.[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.

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%.[5] 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 Shore Drive near Fontana, 1932 postcard

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
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. The Encyclopedia of Wisconsin, 1990, ISBN 0-403-09907-1
  7. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. p. 179.
  8. Steven A. Simon, "A Half-Century of History", Fifty Years of Excellence: Building Leaders of Character for the Nation, 2004.
  9. "Over 45 Years of Memories - A Bunny Tale".
  10. Rhonda Mix. "R&R at Grand Geneva". McHenry County Living, August 6, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  11. David Young. "Playboy's Former Resort Gets Facelift". The Chicago Tribune, March 14, 1994. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  12. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  13. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  14. "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  15. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  16. "City Government - Lake Geneva". cityoflakegeneva.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.

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.
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