Muskego, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Muskego is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin
, United States
. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 21,397. Its 2006-2008 estimated population was 22,851. Muskego is the fifth largest community in Waukesha County. The name Muskego is derived from the Potawatomi Indian name for the area, "Mus-kee-Guaac", meaning sunfish
. The Potawatomi were the original inhabitants of Muskego. There are three lakes within the city's boundaries.
.
Charles Rose, operator of Wisconsin State Fair Park purchased Muskego Beach Amusement Park from Mrs. William Boszhardt in 1944. After World War II he reopened it. The park included rides, games of chance and was a venue for musical bands. Charles Rose died in 1963 and five years later, Willard Masterson purchased the park. He renamed it, "DandiLion Park" and added more amusement rides including the Tailspin roller coaster. In 1974 an eleven year old boy fell from the ferris wheel and died.
When Marriott's Great America (now Six Flags Great America
) opened in 1976, it lured people away from Muskego, and into Gurnee, Illinois
. The park was later closed and demolished, and the land developed into housing.
, the city has a total area of 35.9 square miles (92.9 km²). 31.2 square miles (80.9 km²) of it is land and 4.7 square miles (12.1 km²) of it (12.99%) is water.
Muskego contains three lakes within its borders: Big Muskego Lake, Little Muskego Lake, and Lake Denoon.
Big Muskego Lake is a shallow 2260 acres (9.1 km²) flow-through lake in south-central Muskego. Most of the lake is less than four feet deep with a generally organic or muck
bottom. Big Muskego Lake is fringed with cattail-dominated wetland
s and encompasses numerous islands of cattail marsh
. Bass Bay is a 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) connected embayment of Big Muskego Lake that has a deeper basin typical of other glacially formed kettle lakes in the region. Bass Bay has a maximum depth of 23 feet (7 m) and has a bottom substrate
of predominantly muck with some isolated sandy shoreline areas.
Little Muskego Lake is a 506 acres (2 km²) flow-through lake with extensive shallow margins and a single deep basin. Located in the northwestern quadrant of the city, the lake has a maximum depth of 65 feet (19.8 m) and averages 14 feet (4.3 m) deep. The bottom substrate predominantly consists of silt
or muck. Residents and visitors to Little Muskego Lake enjoy a variety of lake-related recreational activities, including boating, skiing, sailing, and fishing. The Muskego Waterbugs perform a water ski show in front of Idle Isle Park each Wednesday evening throughout the summer. The lake contains many fish species including: largemouth bass
, northern pike
, walleye
, and several panfish
species. Most of the shores of Little Muskego Lake are developed with residential housing.
Lake Denoon is a 162 acre (0.65559132 km²) lake in the southwestern portion of the city and is also partially located in the Town of Norway, Wisconsin
. The lake has a glacially formed kettle basin that reaches a maximum depth of 55 feet (16.8 m) with bottom substrates varying from sands and gravel
to muck. An outlet stream on the south end drains to Ke-Nong-Go-Mong (Long) Lake in Racine County. A cattail island and an extent of cattail shoreline are found on the lake's west end. The remaining lakeshore is mostly developed with residential housing.
of 2005, there were 22,817 people, 7,533 households, and 6,109 families residing in the city. The population density
was 685.2 people per square mile (264.5/km²). There were 7,699 housing units at an average density of 246.6 per square mile (95.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.11% White, 0.16% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races
, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.91% of the population.
There were 7,533 households out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.4% were married couples
living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $64,247, and the median income for a family was $69,722. Males had a median income of $49,386 versus $30,714 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $26,199. About 1.0% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.
Muskego is served by the Tess Corners Fire Department
.
Muskego-Norway School District
:
Parochial schools:
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 21,397. Its 2006-2008 estimated population was 22,851. Muskego is the fifth largest community in Waukesha County. The name Muskego is derived from the Potawatomi Indian name for the area, "Mus-kee-Guaac", meaning sunfish
Centrarchidae
The sunfishes are a family of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes. The type genus is Centrarchus . The family's 27 species includes many fishes familiar to North Americans, including the rock bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and crappies...
. The Potawatomi were the original inhabitants of Muskego. There are three lakes within the city's boundaries.
History
Once an agricultural area, Muskego was incorporated as a city in 1964. When it became a city it included the unincorporated communities of Tess Corners and Durham Hill. With an increase in housing developments in the city, it has become a bedroom community for Milwaukee.Muskego Beach Amusement Park
Muskego Beach Amusement Park (1861–1967), later known as DandeLion Park(1968–1977), was a popular amusement park located on the southern bank of Little Muskego Lake. It was at some point home of the world's fastest roller coasterRoller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
.
Charles Rose, operator of Wisconsin State Fair Park purchased Muskego Beach Amusement Park from Mrs. William Boszhardt in 1944. After World War II he reopened it. The park included rides, games of chance and was a venue for musical bands. Charles Rose died in 1963 and five years later, Willard Masterson purchased the park. He renamed it, "DandiLion Park" and added more amusement rides including the Tailspin roller coaster. In 1974 an eleven year old boy fell from the ferris wheel and died.
When Marriott's Great America (now Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
) opened in 1976, it lured people away from Muskego, and into Gurnee, Illinois
Gurnee, Illinois
Gurnee is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 28,834 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 30,772 in 2005. The village borders the city of Waukegan and is considered a part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Gurnee is perhaps best known for being the location of...
. The park was later closed and demolished, and the land developed into housing.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 35.9 square miles (92.9 km²). 31.2 square miles (80.9 km²) of it is land and 4.7 square miles (12.1 km²) of it (12.99%) is water.
Muskego contains three lakes within its borders: Big Muskego Lake, Little Muskego Lake, and Lake Denoon.
Big Muskego Lake is a shallow 2260 acres (9.1 km²) flow-through lake in south-central Muskego. Most of the lake is less than four feet deep with a generally organic or muck
Muck (soil)
Muck is a soil made up primarily of humus from drained swampland. It is known as black soil in The Fens of eastern England, where it was originally mainly fen and bog. It is used there, as in the United States, for growing specialty crops such as onions, carrots, celery, and potatoes...
bottom. Big Muskego Lake is fringed with cattail-dominated wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s and encompasses numerous islands of cattail marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
. Bass Bay is a 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) connected embayment of Big Muskego Lake that has a deeper basin typical of other glacially formed kettle lakes in the region. Bass Bay has a maximum depth of 23 feet (7 m) and has a bottom substrate
Substrate (marine biology)
Stream substrate is the material that rests at the bottom of a stream. There are several classification guides. One is:*Mud – silt and clay.*Sand – Particles between 0.06 and 2 mm in diameter.*Granule – Between 2 and 4 mm in diameter....
of predominantly muck with some isolated sandy shoreline areas.
Little Muskego Lake is a 506 acres (2 km²) flow-through lake with extensive shallow margins and a single deep basin. Located in the northwestern quadrant of the city, the lake has a maximum depth of 65 feet (19.8 m) and averages 14 feet (4.3 m) deep. The bottom substrate predominantly consists of silt
Silt
Silt is granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
or muck. Residents and visitors to Little Muskego Lake enjoy a variety of lake-related recreational activities, including boating, skiing, sailing, and fishing. The Muskego Waterbugs perform a water ski show in front of Idle Isle Park each Wednesday evening throughout the summer. The lake contains many fish species including: largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
, northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
, and several panfish
Panfish
A panfish, also spelled pan-fish or pan fish, is an edible game fish that usually doesn't outgrow the size of a frying pan. The term is also commonly used by anglers to refer to any small catch that will fit in a pan, but is large enough to be legal. However its definition and usage varies with...
species. Most of the shores of Little Muskego Lake are developed with residential housing.
Lake Denoon is a 162 acre (0.65559132 km²) lake in the southwestern portion of the city and is also partially located in the Town of Norway, Wisconsin
Norway, Wisconsin
Norway is a town in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,600 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Wind Lake, Wisconsin is in the town of Norway...
. The lake has a glacially formed kettle basin that reaches a maximum depth of 55 feet (16.8 m) with bottom substrates varying from sands and gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
to muck. An outlet stream on the south end drains to Ke-Nong-Go-Mong (Long) Lake in Racine County. A cattail island and an extent of cattail shoreline are found on the lake's west end. The remaining lakeshore is mostly developed with residential housing.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2005, there were 22,817 people, 7,533 households, and 6,109 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 685.2 people per square mile (264.5/km²). There were 7,699 housing units at an average density of 246.6 per square mile (95.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.11% White, 0.16% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.91% of the population.
There were 7,533 households out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $64,247, and the median income for a family was $69,722. Males had a median income of $49,386 versus $30,714 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $26,199. About 1.0% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The first Mayor of the city was Jerome Gottfried, elected in 1964. He was followed by Donald Wieselmann, Wayne Salentine, David DeAngelis, Mark Slocomb, Charles Damaske, and John Johnson.Muskego is served by the Tess Corners Fire Department
Tess Corners Fire Department
The Tess Corners Volunteer Fire Department is the fire protection, prevention and emergency medical service for the city of Muskego, Wisconsin....
.
Education
Public schools:Muskego-Norway School District
Muskego-Norway School District
The Muskego-Norway School District is a school district that serves students in the Waukesha County suburb of Muskego, part of Norway, and a small part of New Berlin, and most of Wind Lake in southeastern Wisconsin...
:
- Country Meadows Elementary
- Lakeview Elementary (serves Muskego residents, but located in the Town of NorwayNorway, WisconsinNorway is a town in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,600 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Wind Lake, Wisconsin is in the town of Norway...
) - Mill Valley Elementary
- Muskego Elementary
- Tess Corners Elementary
- Bay Lane Middle School
- Lake Denoon Middle School
- Muskego High SchoolMuskego High SchoolMuskego High School is a comprehensive secondary school located in Muskego, Wisconsin. The school, administered by the Muskego-Norway School District, lies in southeast Waukesha County. The district stretches through the city of Muskego and nearby Norway in Racine County.- History :Muskego High...
Parochial schools:
- St. Leonard K-8 Catholic School
- St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Grade School - WELS