Port Washington, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Port Washington is the county seat
of Ozaukee County in the U.S. state
of Wisconsin
. The city is about 25 miles north of Milwaukee
and 110 miles north of Chicago. In the 2000 census Port Washington had a population of 10,467. The ZIP code
is 53074.
in the late 17th century. In 1835, General Wooster Harrison became the town's first permanent settler, in what he originally named "Wisconsin City". Harrison later renamed the town "Washington". Harrison's wife, Rhoda, was the first white settler to be buried in the town, when she died in 1837. Around 1843 the name was changed to "Sauk Washington". The town of Port Washington was formed in January 1846 and until 1847 included the surrounding areas and what is currently Fredonia
, Saukville, and Belgium
. The City of Port Washington was incorporated with its present name in 1882.
With a natural harbor at the mouth of Sauk Creek, the city became a port on Lake Michigan
. The city exported cord wood, wheat and rye flour, bricks, and fish and hides, among other things.
In 1843 the first religious services were held by the Methodist Episcopal Church
in private homes. The first Catholic Church services were held in a similar manner in 1847. The Washington Democrat, the town's first newspaper, was started in 1847 by Flavius J. Mills. The population reached 2,500 in 1853 and continued to increase, with an influx of immigrants from Germany
and Luxembourg
between 1853 and 1865.
In 1870 the city saw major improvements in transportation. Not only was the railroad approved to extend through Ozaukee County, the harbor was substantially improved. The dredging that occurred resulted in the first man-made harbor in North America.
J. M. Bostwick was instrumental in the opening of the Wisconsin Chair Factory in September 1888, the success of which allowed the town to flourish. The Gilson Manufacturing Company started making garden tractors and tractor lawn mowers in 1894 and soon became the second largest business, after the Wisconsin Chair Factory.
In 1896 Delos and Herbert Smith brought their commercial fishing business to Port Washington as that harbor afforded them the use of a steam powered fish tug. There, the Smith family would call Port Washington home to their family business. Smith Bros., as it was called, grew to a fleet of fishing tugs, fish wholesale, whitefish caviar, burbot oil, fish retail (markets), restaurants, and a hotel.
From 1910 through 1935 Port Washington was the home of Paramount Records
and other associated record labels. In 1940 the population was 4,046; in 1950 4,754.
The Port Washington power plant operated by Wisconsin Electric Power Company, now known as We Energies was established in the area. In 1943 the company stated that the Port Washington Plant was "the most efficient steam power plant in the world." The coal-fired plant received shipments of coal primarily by lake boat from its beginnings in 1935 until 2004 when the coal-fired boilers were taken out of service. The plant has since been converted to generate electricity from natural gas. The conclusion of the receipt of coal also signaled the conclusion of Port Washington as a commercial port. The harbor is now used almost exclusively by recreational boaters.
Port Washington has the largest collection of pre-Civil War buildings in Wisconsin, several of which are on the National Register of Historic Places
. The Port Washington Visitor Center is itself in the historic Dodge House, also known as the "Pebble House." The three-story brick courthouse was built in 1854 and originally served as jail, housing for the jailer, county offices and courtrooms.
, the city has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.2 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (10.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.53%) is water.
The city is located at the mouth of Sauk Creek on Lake Michigan
, and includes the 63-acre (250,000 m²) Lake Bluff Park, where Possibility Playground
is located. Its average elevation above sea level
is 612 feet (187 m). Downtown Port Washington is close to the level of Lake Michigan (approximately 581 feet above sea level) and adjacent to the marina. The remainder of the city resides somewhat higher, spread across seven hills.
of 2000, there were 10,467 people residing in Port Washington. The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 0.7% Black or African American
, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races
, and 0.89% from two or more races. 1.5% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 3,244 families and 4,763 households, of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.9% were non-families. The householder lives alone in 26.3% of all households and 10.5% of householders were aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 6.6% under the age of 5, 74.2% aged 18 and over, and 13.2% 65 years and over. The median age was 36.7 years. The population is 50.4% female and 49.6% male.
In 1999 the median income for a family was $62,557. The per capita income
for the city was $24,770. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line.
passes around Port Washington to the city's west and north. WI-32
passes north to south through the city while WI-33
travels from the west before it terminates downtown.
The Ozaukee Interurban Trail
, a cycling trail that follows the former interurban rail line, passes through Port Washington as it traverses Ozaukee County.
The TransPORT taxi service is available within the city and surrounding two-mile radius.
, as well as lawn and garden equipment producer, Simplicity Manufacturing Company
, were founded in Port Washington. Simplicity was purchased by Briggs & Stratton
in 2004, who closed its doors on October 15, 2008.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Ozaukee County in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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 city is about 25 miles north of Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and 110 miles north of Chicago. In the 2000 census Port Washington had a population of 10,467. The ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
is 53074.
History
The area that became Port Washington was originally inhabited by the Sauk tribe of Native Americans, and later explored by the FrenchFrench people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
in the late 17th century. In 1835, General Wooster Harrison became the town's first permanent settler, in what he originally named "Wisconsin City". Harrison later renamed the town "Washington". Harrison's wife, Rhoda, was the first white settler to be buried in the town, when she died in 1837. Around 1843 the name was changed to "Sauk Washington". The town of Port Washington was formed in January 1846 and until 1847 included the surrounding areas and what is currently Fredonia
Fredonia, Wisconsin
Fredonia is a village in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,934. The village identifies itself as the birthplace of Flag Day, and is the home of the National Flag Day Foundation.-Geography:...
, Saukville, and Belgium
Belgium, Wisconsin
Belgium is a village located in the Town of Belgium in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,678 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. The City of Port Washington was incorporated with its present name in 1882.
With a natural harbor at the mouth of Sauk Creek, the city became a port on Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. The city exported cord wood, wheat and rye flour, bricks, and fish and hides, among other things.
In 1843 the first religious services were held by the Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
in private homes. The first Catholic Church services were held in a similar manner in 1847. The Washington Democrat, the town's first newspaper, was started in 1847 by Flavius J. Mills. The population reached 2,500 in 1853 and continued to increase, with an influx of immigrants from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
between 1853 and 1865.
In 1870 the city saw major improvements in transportation. Not only was the railroad approved to extend through Ozaukee County, the harbor was substantially improved. The dredging that occurred resulted in the first man-made harbor in North America.
J. M. Bostwick was instrumental in the opening of the Wisconsin Chair Factory in September 1888, the success of which allowed the town to flourish. The Gilson Manufacturing Company started making garden tractors and tractor lawn mowers in 1894 and soon became the second largest business, after the Wisconsin Chair Factory.
In 1896 Delos and Herbert Smith brought their commercial fishing business to Port Washington as that harbor afforded them the use of a steam powered fish tug. There, the Smith family would call Port Washington home to their family business. Smith Bros., as it was called, grew to a fleet of fishing tugs, fish wholesale, whitefish caviar, burbot oil, fish retail (markets), restaurants, and a hotel.
From 1910 through 1935 Port Washington was the home of Paramount Records
Paramount Records
Paramount Records was an American record label, best known for its recordings of African-American jazz and blues in the 1920s and early 1930s, including such artists as Ma Rainey and Blind Lemon Jefferson.-Early years:...
and other associated record labels. In 1940 the population was 4,046; in 1950 4,754.
The Port Washington power plant operated by Wisconsin Electric Power Company, now known as We Energies was established in the area. In 1943 the company stated that the Port Washington Plant was "the most efficient steam power plant in the world." The coal-fired plant received shipments of coal primarily by lake boat from its beginnings in 1935 until 2004 when the coal-fired boilers were taken out of service. The plant has since been converted to generate electricity from natural gas. The conclusion of the receipt of coal also signaled the conclusion of Port Washington as a commercial port. The harbor is now used almost exclusively by recreational boaters.
Port Washington has the largest collection of pre-Civil War buildings in Wisconsin, several of which are on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The Port Washington Visitor Center is itself in the historic Dodge House, also known as the "Pebble House." The three-story brick courthouse was built in 1854 and originally served as jail, housing for the jailer, county offices and courtrooms.
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 4.0 square miles (10.2 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (10.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.53%) is water.
The city is located at the mouth of Sauk Creek on Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
, and includes the 63-acre (250,000 m²) Lake Bluff Park, where Possibility Playground
Possibility Playground
Possibility Playground is a playground in Port Washington, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin built for children with special needs. The playground was the brainchild of Mardy McGarry, a special education teacher at Lincoln Elementary School....
is located. Its average elevation above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
is 612 feet (187 m). Downtown Port Washington is close to the level of Lake Michigan (approximately 581 feet above sea level) and adjacent to the marina. The remainder of the city resides somewhat higher, spread across seven hills.
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 2000, there were 10,467 people residing in Port Washington. The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 0.7% Black or African American
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...
, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% 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 0.89% from two or more races. 1.5% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 3,244 families and 4,763 households, of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% 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, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.9% were non-families. The householder lives alone in 26.3% of all households and 10.5% of householders were aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 6.6% under the age of 5, 74.2% aged 18 and over, and 13.2% 65 years and over. The median age was 36.7 years. The population is 50.4% female and 49.6% male.
In 1999 the median income for a family was $62,557. 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 $24,770. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line.
Transportation
Interstate 43Interstate 43
Interstate 43 is a intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Wisconsin, connecting Interstate 39 and Interstate 90 in Beloit with Milwaukee and U.S. Route 41 and U.S. Route 141 in Green Bay. I-43 is the 5th longest intrastate Interstate Highway of the Interstate...
passes around Port Washington to the city's west and north. WI-32
Highway 32 (Wisconsin)
State Trunk Highway 32 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin that runs north–south in eastern Wisconsin. It runs from the Illinois border north to the Michigan border . It is named the 32nd Division Memorial Highway after the U.S...
passes north to south through the city while WI-33
Highway 33 (Wisconsin)
State Trunk Highway 33 is a Wisconsin state highway running east–west across central Wisconsin. It is in length.-Termini:...
travels from the west before it terminates downtown.
The Ozaukee Interurban Trail
Ozaukee Interurban Trail
The Ozaukee - Sheboygan Interurban Trail is a roughly long rail trail in Ozaukee, and Sheboygan Counties, in Wisconsin. The south end of the trail is in Milwaukee County but only runs 1 mile through the county....
, a cycling trail that follows the former interurban rail line, passes through Port Washington as it traverses Ozaukee County.
The TransPORT taxi service is available within the city and surrounding two-mile radius.
Economy
Port Washington has one of the largest charter fishing fleets on the Great Lakes. Shoe manufacturer Allen EdmondsAllen Edmonds
Allen Edmonds is a shoe manufacturing and retail company based in Port Washington, Wisconsin. The company was established in Belgium, Wisconsin in 1922. Allen Edmonds operates 32 retail stores in 17 states...
, as well as lawn and garden equipment producer, Simplicity Manufacturing Company
Simplicity Outdoor
Simplicity Manufacturing Company is a company based in Port Washington, Wisconsin that builds lawn and garden equipment under various brands. It was founded by William J. Niederkorn in 1922, and started building riding garden tractors in 1939...
, were founded in Port Washington. Simplicity was purchased by Briggs & Stratton
Briggs & Stratton
Briggs & Stratton is the world's largest manufacturer of air-cooled gasoline engines primarily for outdoor power equipment. Current production averages 11 million engines per year.-History:...
in 2004, who closed its doors on October 15, 2008.
Events/festivals
- The Maritime Heritage Festival celebrates the town's nautical history.
- The Lion's Fest & Fish Derby is an annual fishing competition.
- Pirate Festival is a newer addition to the city's summer entertainment.
- Fish Day, billed as the "World's Largest One Day Outdoor Fish Fry", has been held annually since 1964 on the third Saturday in July.
Notable people
- A. Manette AnsayA. Manette AnsayA. Manette Ansay is an American author, born in Lapeer, Michigan.-Fiction:*Vinegar Hill *Read This and Tell Me What It Says *Sister *River Angel *Midnight Champagne *Blue Water...
, fiction writer, grew up in Port Washington - Vernon BieverVernon BieverVernon Joseph Biever was an American photographer, most notably with the Green Bay Packers.Biever covered his first Packers game in 1941 for The Milwaukee Sentinel while a student at St. Norbert College. He was the official team photographer from 1946 until his retirement in 2006...
, an award-winning photographer for the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
football team since 1946, was born in and resided in Port Washington. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame in July 2002. - Alice ClausingAlice Clausing-Biography:Clausing was born on June 7, 1944 in Port Washington, Wisconsin. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Clausing is married with two children.-Career:...
, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin 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...
State Senator - John "Thumper" DeMeritJohn DeMeritJohn Stephen "Thumper" DeMerit is a former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder over parts of 5 seasons with the Milwaukee Braves and New York Mets. DeMerit was a member of the 1957 World Series champion Braves...
, former professional baseball player with the Milwaukee Braves and New York Mets. - Peter V. DeusterPeter V. DeusterPeter Victor Deuster was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.Born in Thum, near Aix la Chapelle, Rhenish Prussia, Deuster pursued an academic course....
, U.S. diplomat and politician - Janine P. GeskeJanine P. GeskeJanine P. Geske was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1993 to 1998. She is a distinguished professor of law at Marquette University Law School and director of the school's Restorative Justice Initiative. She served as interim dean of the law school from 2002 to 2003.Geske was born in...
, Justice of the WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin 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...
Supreme Court - Adolph F. HeidkampAdolph F. Heidkamp-Biography:Heidkamp was born in Port Washington, Wisconsin. He would become a banker.-Political career:Heidkamp was a member of the Senate from 1929 to 1936. Previously, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Senate in 1924 and 1926 and was one again in 1938 and 1940. He was a Republican....
, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
State Senator - Beany JacobsonBeany JacobsonAlbert Leonard Jacobson [born Albin Leonard Jacobson] was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three different teams between and . Listed at 6' 0", 170 lb., he batted and threw left-handed....
, MLB player - Mitch JacobyMitch JacobyMitchel Ray Jacoby is a former tight end in the National Football League. He played two seasons with the St. Louis Rams before playing his final season with the Kansas City Chiefs.-References:...
, NFL player - M. RickertM. RickertMary Rickert, known as M. Rickert , is an American writer of fantasy fiction. Many of her stories have been published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Her first collection, Map of Dreams, was published by Golden Gryphon Press in 2006; her second collection, Holiday, appeared in 2010...
, fantasy fiction writer, was born in Port Washington. - Mike SeifertMike SeifertMike Seifert was a player in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns in 1974 as a defensive end. Seifert was drafted in the thirteenth round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Browns. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.-Biography:Seifert was born...
, NFL player. - Leland StanfordLeland StanfordAmasa Leland Stanford was an American tycoon, industrialist, robber baron, politician and founder of Stanford University.-Early years:...
, founder of Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, operated a law firm in Port Washington. - Rich StrengerRich StrengerRichard Gene Strenger is a former All-Big Ten American football offensive tackle who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines and Detroit Lions . He is now working as a lawyer in Lake Orion, Michigan....
, professional football player for the Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
from 1983–1987, was born in Port Washington. - Al WicklandAl WicklandAl Wickland was an outfielder in Major League Baseball.-Teams:* Cincinnati Reds 1913* Chicago Whales 1914-1915 * Pittsburgh Rebels 1915 * Boston Braves 1918...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player. - Albert J. WilkeAlbert J. Wilke-Biography:Wilke was born on December 31, 1895 in Port Washington, Wisconsin. He passed away on July 29, 1977 in Iron Mountain, Michigan.-Career:Wilke was a member of the Senate from 1949 to 1950. Previously, he was Register of Deeds of Dickinson County, Michigan from 1935 to 1946 and a delegate to...
, Wisconsin State Senator - Josh Gasser, Wisconsin Badgers Basketball.
Popular culture
- Step by Step, the sitcom was set in Port Washington, but the City does not have a roller coaster and the Letterman Jackets are green not maroon as seen in the show.