North Prairie, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2008, the population was 380,629. Its county seat is Waukesha.-History:The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County now occupies was a part of Michigan when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834. On July 4, 1836, the...
, Wisconsin
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...
. It is located in the Town of Genesee
Genesee, Wisconsin
Genesee is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,284 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Genesee Depot and Saylesville are located in Genesee.-Landmarks:...
, near the town's southwestern corner. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 1,571.
History
Three prospectors from MukwonagoMukwonago, Wisconsin
-Geography:Mukwonago is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 4.8 square miles , of which, 4.7 square miles of it is land and 0.1 square miles of it is water.It is situated at the southwestern flank of the sprawling Vernon...
named the village in 1826. Blacksmiths from Eagle
Eagle, Wisconsin
Eagle is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,707 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Eagle.-Museums:...
, Chas. Raynaus and Mr. Denny, were the first settlers to arrive that following year, although the first claim came from Stillman Smith. Farmers began to settle the North Prairie in the 1830s to raise their prize livestock and grain. The population grew and in 1840 Raynaus began the first school from his house.
By 1850 the village had a general store and post office. The Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad went through in 1852, but the village remained mostly rural. North Prairie would later become one of the area's more noted residential centers. A rumor of oil in 1866 enabled the North Prairie Petroleum Company to fund $50,000 "to dig a hole & extract oil or minerals," but this venture was a failure.
St. John's Lutheran Church was built in 1877 and North Prairie later incorporated in 1919. Morey Milk Condensery opened a plant in 1917 and by 1920 North Prairie saw a jump in growth due to this industry. Morey Milk employed over 200 people and became a primary source of income to more than 85% of the village households. The plant was sold in 1924 and is no longer in operation.
In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It is the primary newspaper in Milwaukee, the largest newspaper in Wisconsin and is distributed widely throughout the state...
in 2003, the previous owners of Bill's Self-Service and Mini-Mart, Bill and Avis McKenzie, described how the village boomed in the 1940s and 1950s. "We had three grocery stores, a hardware store, a mill, a granary, a post office, a drug store with eating counter, a few taverns with eating space, and three service stations, which at that time all had garages for car repair... One by one, they left town. Now we have one tavern, two service stations, one diner - and Bill's Service."
Geography
North Prairie is located at 42°55'59" North, 88°24'4" West (42.933087, -88.401050).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 village has a total area of 2.7 square miles (6.9 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (6.9 km²) of it is land and 0.38% is water.
Industry
Located in Waukesha County, North Prairie was in the center of a world-leading region of dairyDairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
production. With the decline of local dairy production due to urban sprawl
Urban sprawl
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
, North Prairie has become a bedroom community for commuters to Milwaukee, Waukesha, and surrounding communities. Local industry now includes manufacturing, with firms such as Aquarius Systems, which develops and manufactures surface water management equipment including aquatic weed harvesters and marine trash skimmers , and Zero Zone, Inc. which manufactures reach-in refrigerated and freezer display cases. Smaller companies include KirbyBuilt Quality Products, which manufactures useful items from recycled wood.
Demographics
In 1980 there were 938 people, which increased to 1,322 with the 1990 Census.As of the census
Census
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 2000, there were 1,571 people, 531 households, and 449 families residing in the village. 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 592.4 people per square mile (228.9/km²). There were 544 housing units at an average density of 205.1 per square mile (79.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.17% White, 0.00% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 531 households out of which 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.6% 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, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.4% were non-families. 11.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the village the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 5.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $67,596, and the median income for a family was $70,781. Males had a median income of $41,977 versus $27,250 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 village was $24,470. 2.1% of the population and 1.3% of families were below the poverty line. 2.0% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Government
Under the direction of Village President Joseph Hoelkinger, the Village Board oversees the functions of the Board of Review, Clerk/Treasurer, Zoning Board of Appeals, Trustees, North Prairie CDA, Finance Committee, Emergency Board, Public SafetyPublic Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
and Protective Services, Public Works - Building and Grounds, Municipal Court, Planning Commission, and Police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
Department.
Parks and recreation
- Veterans Park located off Highway 59 contains a garden area with historic stone houses that have been restored in the past ten years. It also maintains a pavilion, tennis courts, a children's play area and other amenities. In Veterans Park, the restoration and creation of garden was by Donald T. Beranek, husband of the clerk/treasurer of North Prairie.
- Village Park, located on Karin Drive, features a pavilion, softball diamond, soccer fields and a children's play area.
- Broadlands Golf Club, located off Highway 59, opened to the public in August 2000. The golf course has 18 championship style holes and has a driving range. The golf club also features a club house, which has a banquet hall.
Education
Prairie View Elementary SchoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
is located on Highway E, set into the gently rolling hills and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
of the kettle moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
area of Wisconsin
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...
. The elementary school is a part of the Mukwonago School District. There are three kindergarten classes and three teachers in every grade.
Notable people
- Katie Crabb, Winner of Cheverlet's 2007 Super Bowl advertising contest
- Arthur Oliver Smith, industrial magnate and founder of the A.O. Smith Corporation
- Gorman Thomas, former MLB player