Geneva Lake
Encyclopedia
Geneva Lake is a body of freshwater in southeastern Wisconsin
in Walworth
county. On its shores are the city of Lake Geneva
, and the villages of Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake
, and Williams Bay
.
Commonly known as the iceboat capital of the world, locals sailed the frozen lake 32 days in 2009.
Lakeshore attractions include Big Foot Beach State Park
, Lake Geneva Yacht Club
, Chuck's Tavern, Aurora University
, George Williams campus, and the Yerkes Observatory
. Owned by the University of Chicago and used only as a teaching observatory, the university planned to sell it to a developer. When controversy developed, the university suspended those plans and established a study group to plan regional center for science education at the observatory.
The lake covers an area of approximately 8.14 square miles (21.1 km²), has a maximum length of 7.5 miles (12 km), mean depth of 62.7 feet (19.1 m) and a maximum depth of 144 feet (44 m). Geologists believe that it is a filled-in kettle
formed from a receding glacier.
The lake and town were originally named after the town of Geneva, New York
, located on Seneca Lake, in which government surveyor 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 only the first for the city.
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...
in Walworth
Walworth
-Places:United Kingdom* Walworth, County DurhamUnited States* Walworth County, South Dakota* Walworth County, Wisconsin* Walworth, New York* Walworth, Wisconsin, a village* Walworth , Wisconsin, a town...
county. On its shores are the city of Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
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.-History:...
, and the villages of Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake
Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, Wisconsin
Fontana-on-Geneva Lake is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,754 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fontana-on-Geneva Lake is located at ....
, and Williams Bay
Williams Bay, Wisconsin
Williams Bay is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,415 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Williams Bay is located at ....
.
Commonly known as the iceboat capital of the world, locals sailed the frozen lake 32 days in 2009.
Lakeshore attractions include Big Foot Beach State Park
Big Foot Beach State Park
Big Foot Beach State Park is a Wisconsin state park on Geneva Lake. The park is used primarily for swimming, camping, and fishing.The beach and park are named for Chief Big Foot , an early Potawatomi leader in the area until forcibly relocated in 1836...
, Lake Geneva Yacht Club
Lake Geneva Yacht Club
Lake Geneva Yacht Club, is a yacht club in Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1874, it is one of the oldest and most internationally renowned Inland Lake Yachting Association Clubs...
, Chuck's Tavern, Aurora University
Aurora University
Aurora University is a private, not-for-profit, co-educational liberal arts college located in Aurora, Illinois, 40 miles west of Chicago, Illinois. Additional university locations include the George Williams College campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin and the Woodstock Center in Woodstock, Illinois...
, George Williams campus, and the Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory is an astronomical observatory operated by the University of Chicago in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The observatory, which calls itself "the birthplace of modern astrophysics," was founded in 1897 by George Ellery Hale and financed by Charles T. Yerkes...
. Owned by the University of Chicago and used only as a teaching observatory, the university planned to sell it to a developer. When controversy developed, the university suspended those plans and established a study group to plan regional center for science education at the observatory.
The lake covers an area of approximately 8.14 square miles (21.1 km²), has a maximum length of 7.5 miles (12 km), mean depth of 62.7 feet (19.1 m) and a maximum depth of 144 feet (44 m). Geologists believe that it is a filled-in kettle
Kettle
A kettle, sometimes called a tea kettle or teakettle, is a small kitchen appliance used for boiling water. Kettles can be heated either by placing on a stove, or by their own electric heating element.- Stovetop kettles :...
formed from a receding glacier.
The lake and town were originally named after the town of Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
, located on Seneca Lake, in which government surveyor John Brink saw a resemblance. Geneva, to avoid confusion with the nearby town Geneva, Illinois
Geneva, Illinois
Geneva is the county seat of Kane County, Illinois. It is located on the western fringe of the Chicago suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 26,652. Geneva is part of a tri-city area, along with St. Charles and Batavia...
, was renamed Lake Geneva; later the lake was renamed Geneva Lake. In practice both forms are used for the lake, but only the first for the city.
External links
- Geneva Lake West Chamber of Commerce, report by USGS with history and environmental info.
- My Rambles in The Enchanted Summer Land, 1881