Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

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Oconomowoc is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. Oconomowoc was derived from Coo-no-mo-wauk. This was the Pottawatomie term for distinguishing a waterfall in the vicinity. The population was 12,382 at the 2000 census. The city is located partially within the Oconomowoc township. There is also the nearby Village of Oconomowoc Lake and Town of Oconomowoc.

The pioneering and developing of Oconomowoc began in 1837 when the first white man, Charles Sheldon, came to this area to build his log cabin. He found that the Potowatomi Indians had already laid the foundation of what they called Coo-No-Mo-Wauk (where the waters meet, or river of lakes), which in time would become Oconomowoc, pronounced [oˈkɑnəməˌwɔk].

As the town grew and word of its beauty and natural wealth spread, tradesmen began to arrive. One such early settler was a young man by the name of John S. Rockwell. He built the grist mill, owned the first store and hotel, and donated sites to all the churches. He started the fire department, the library, the elementary school and a young ladies seminary called Bord du Lac. His stout heartedness and ingenuity earned him the title "Father of Oconomowoc."

Fueled by its growing reputation, Oconomowoc entered a new era marked by the title "Newport of the West." This era began in the 1870s and continued into the 1930s. Lured by Oconomowoc's great beauty, families of wealth from Chicago, St. Louis and Milwaukee crowded its lake shores with palatial, colonnaded country mansions and lavish landscapes. At one time, Lake Road was referred to as Presidents' Avenue since Taft, Grant, Cleveland, Coolidge, McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt had visited and enjoyed famous Draper Hall and the hospitality of its wealthy residents.

Today the summer mansions have become year-round homes and thriving industries help support what was once primarily heralded as a vacation destination. The largely intact, late 19th century downtown and many stately historic houses are reminders of those years. Historic walking tours around Fowler Lake, either guided or self-guided, provide a snapshot of the grandeur of yesterday.

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[edit] Geography

Location of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

Oconomowoc is located at 43°6′31″N, 88°29′49″W (43.108814, -88.497019)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.6 km² (7.2 mi²). 17.4 km² (6.7 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (6.81%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 12,382 people, 4,968 households, and 3,293 families residing in the city. The population density was 712.5/km² (1,845.5/mi²). There were 5,239 housing units at an average density of 301.5/km² (780.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.71% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 1.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,968 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $51,250, and the median income for a family was $62,950. Males had a median income of $42,683 versus $29,057 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,716. About 0.8% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Schools

Oconomowoc is home to Oconomowoc High School (known colloquially as "Cooney" which is a reference to the school's raccoon mascot). It is a member of the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference. The school sits on 53-acres and includes sports complex. Over 1,400 students attended Oconomowoc High School in the 2005-2006 school year.

[edit] Trivia

  • Oconomowoc is home to Olympia Resort and Spa, so named since there are five O's in Oconomowoc, the same number as rings in the Olympic Games logo.

[edit] External links

 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin		 Flag of Wisconsin
Surrounding municipalities
(over 10,000 inhabitants)

Brookfield | Brown Deer | Caledonia | Cedarburg | Cudahy | Delafield | Franklin | Germantown | Glendale | Grafton | Greendale | Greenfield | Menomonee Falls | Mequon | Muskego | New Berlin | Oak Creek | Oconomowoc | Pewaukee | Richfield | Shorewood | South Milwaukee | Waukesha | Wauwatosa | West Allis | Whitefish Bay |
(less than 10,000 inhabitants)

Bayside | Big Bend | Butler | Chenequa | Dousman | Elm Grove | Fox Point | Genesee | Hales Corners | Hartland | Ixonia | Lac La Belle | Lannon | Lisbon | Merton | Nashotah | North Prairie | Pewaukee | Oconomowoc Lake | Okauchee Lake | Ottawa | River Hills | Saukville | Saint Francis | Summit | Sussex | Thiensville | Vernon | Wales | West Milwaukee |
Counties

Jefferson | Milwaukee | Ozaukee | Racine | Washington | Waukesha |
*town ‡village °city §CDP
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