Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

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For the lake in Wisconsin, see Geneva Lake.
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Road sign at Lake Geneva
Road sign at Lake Geneva
Location of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Location of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 42°35′33″N 88°26′4″W / 42.5925, -88.43444
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County Walworth
Area
 - Total 5.8 sq mi (15.1 km²)
 - Land 5.0 sq mi (13.0 km²)
 - Water 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km²)
Elevation [1] 879 ft (268 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 7,148
 - Density 1,425.1/sq mi (550.2/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
FIPS code 55-41450[2]
GNIS feature ID 1581223[1]

Lake Geneva is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,148 at the 2000 census. A resort city located on Geneva Lake, it is southwest of Milwaukee, and popular with tourists from metropolitan Chicago and Milwaukee.

The city operates under a mayor-council form of government. The city has recently annexed a large tract that will expand it around the south shore of Geneva Lake.

The lake and town were originally named after the town of Geneva, New York, located on Seneca Lake, in which early settler John Brink saw a resemblance. Geneva, to avoid confusion with the nearby town Geneva, Illinois, was renamed Lake Geneva; later the lake was renamed Geneva Lake. In practice both forms are used for the lake, but never for the city.

Railroad access from Chicago made the area a popular summer resort, with many large summer homes such as Black Point built on the lake. The city was then known as "The Newport of the West". The city is also known today as "The Hamptons of the Midwest". In the automobile era the city's fortunes at first declined and it became a haven for Al Capone and other mobsters. In recent times, Guns N' Roses lead singer, Axl Rose owned property on the southwest side of Lake Geneva from 1988 until 1998. [1][2] It was also the home to Dungeons and Dragons creator Gary Gygax until his death in 2008.

Contents

[edit] Events

  • The hobby game company TSR was founded here and held its gaming convention Gencon (named for the city for Geneva Convention) here, giving Lake Geneva the sobriquet "The Mecca of Roleplaying Games".
  • Lake Geneva is host to the United States National Snow Sculpting Competition. The competition takes place during the town's annual Winterfest weekend.
  • Just outside the city to the east is the Grand Geneva Resort, a former Playboy Club.
  • Lake Geneva hosted various types of races at the Lake Geneva Raceway from 1963 to 2006.
  • Lake Geneva is home to the Lake Geneva Community Orchestra, one of the largest fully volunteer symphony orchestras in the state of Wisconsin.
  • The 1996 film Chain Reaction starring Keanu Reeves was filmed in Lake Geneva in fall of 1994 [3]
  • Located on the south shore of the lake was Majestic Ski Area[4], home of the Majestic Ski school under the direction of Tom Bergman, that in 1982 was rated #1 in the Midwest by SKI Magazine...Majestic Ski Area burnt down in March 1988. Celebrity ski school customers include William Wrigley, Bill Bell (Young & Restless, Bold & Beautiful), and more.

[edit] Geography

Lake Geneva is located at 42°35′33″N, 88°26′4″W (42.592380, -88.434424)[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.8 square miles (15.0 km²), of which, 5.0 square miles (13.0 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (13.77%) is water. R+R= LOVE T+Z=LOVE G+F=LOVE L+P=LOVE

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 7,148 people, 3,053 households, and 1,801 families residing 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/sq mi (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% of the population.

There were 3,053 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the city was $40,924, and the median income for a family 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.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
Walworth County, Wisconsin
County seat: Elkhorn
Cities

Burlington | Delavan | Elkhorn | Lake Geneva | Whitewater
Towns
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Unincorporated
communities