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Washington County
Steeped in history
and anchored in nature, Washington County has a distinctively rural
feel. The largest city has just slightly more than 30,000 residents and the
county’s population totals just over 125,000, although it is growing rapidly.
Located just northwest
of Milwaukee, Washington County is home to some of the most beautiful
lakes, hills and natural formations ever carved out by thousand-ton
slabs of ice. It was here that the rims of two glaciers - the Michigan
and Green Bay - collided, creating a huge ridge that extends some 120
miles from southeastern Wisconsin to Lake Winnebago. As a result, it
is an ideal place for people who want to be awed by nature but remain
close to Milwaukee’s man-made excitement.
The county boasts
more than 50 lakes and five rivers. It is home to portions of the
Ice Age Trail, several units of the Kettle Moraine State Forest
and Pike Lake State Park, which features Powder Hill,
a 1,350-foot-high kame that was formed when the glaciers began to melt.
It is the
home of Holy Hill, the National Shrine of Mary, which
attracts hundreds of pilgrims a year who come to pray for good health.
In autumn, there is an almost endless procession of cars heading for
Holy Hill. The twin-spired church offers breathtaking views of fall
colors in the surrounding wilderness.
Washington County
is a county of small communities. Here you can truly appreciate the
solitude of nature and the advantages of small-town living.
West
Bend is the county’s largest community and the county seat. It is
a small city in its own right, but many of the people who live there
commute to Milwaukee so they can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Germantown
is another major community. Located on the fringes of northwest Milwaukee,
this is a rapidly growing village that has proven to be a popular location
for business and industry. It is close to U.S. 41/45, which connects
Milwaukee to the Fox Valley and I-94, which connects Milwaukee with
Chicago and Madison. Due
to the beauty of the scenery throughout the county, choosing a location
in Washington County is truly a challenge.
Germantown
Germantown is a
residential community located just northwest of Milwaukee. It is one
of the largest villages in the state, covering 34 square miles. It has
also been one of the faster growing communities in the state. Since 1990,
its population has doubled. Founded in 1838 by
Germans who were attracted to the heavily wooded areas, the village
still treasures its European heritage. Many of its newer buildings feature
German-style architecture and in May, village residents gather for a
German Maifest celebration. Germantown has a diversified economy
that benefits from one of the largest industrial parks in the state.
The village has two golf courses and several parks, and offers a variety
of homes and subdivisions. Larger lots are typical in the northern part
of the village, while the southern half contains more compact developments.
West
Bend and Kewaskum
West Bend, the
county seat and largest city in Washington County, is nestled in picturesque
farm country that was carved out by glaciers more than 10,000 years
ago. The Milwaukee River winds its way through the downtown,
en route from the hills of the Kettle Moraine to downtown Milwaukee
and Lake Michigan. The surrounding countryside is filled with lakes,
hills and majestic panoramas. Just north of West Bend is Lizard Mound
County Park, which features unusual earthen effigy mounds built
hundreds of years ago. Just
an hour’s drive from downtown Milwaukee, West Bend is home to many Milwaukee
business people who find the commute well worth the trouble. The city
maintains the charm and friendliness of small-town living, yet offers
some big-city amenities, including its own daily newspaper and a quaint
downtown shopping area featuring specialty shops and good restaurants.
Given its location, amenities and small-city charm, it's not surprising
that West Bend and the surrounding communities are some of the more
rapidly developing areas in metropolitan Milwaukee.
Kewaskum
is named after a famous Potawatomi Indian chief. Nestled along the Milwaukee
River, it is known today as the "Gateway to the Kettle Moraine
State Forest." With more than 27,000 acres of beautiful hills,
winding trails and sparkling lakes, the northern unit of the state forest
attracts thousands of people who are interested in swimming, camping,
hiking, horseback riding, skiing, hunting, fishing and studying nature.
Just outside
Kewaskum is the newly developed Ice Age Trail, a hiking path
that winds through the forest. The Ice Age Visitor Center in Dundee
features displays on the glacial movements that formed Washington County.
And in the village of Kewaskum, visitors and residents can shop at the
Regal Ware outlet store, ski the slopes of the Sunburst Ski
Area, or lead a llama on a guided nature hike. The town of Allenton,
which is located on the Rock River west of West Bend, hosts the annual
World Concertina Congress Jamboree Festival on Labor Day weekend.
Newburg,
which straddles the Washington-Ozaukee County line, gives people the
opportunity to slow down their hectic lives. At the Riveredge Nature
Center, trails allow visitors to see a multitude of birds and small
animals in their natural settings. Wellspring is a quiet retreat
that gives people the opportunity to unwind.
 Southern
Washington County
Just west of Germantown
is picturesque Basilica of Holy Hill, a Roman Catholic Church
and monastery. The spires of the hilltop, neo-Romanesque church can
be seen for miles and their observation towers provide a breathtaking
view of the Kettle Moraine countryside. The church was dedicated as
the National Shrine of Mary in 1958 and has since become a pilgrimage
site for hundreds of people who come each year to pray for their health.
In 2006 Holy Hill was dedicated as a minor basilica, one of only two
basilicas in the state (the other is the Basilica of St. Josephat on
the south side of Milwaukee).
Hartford
is a community seemingly lost in time. Tucked in the rolling hills of
the Kettle Moraine, it features a turn-of-the-century main street where
shoppers can find an amazing assortment of handcrafted items, antiques
and fine Wisconsin cheeses. Industry has always played an important
role in the development of the village. The Kissel Kar was manufactured
here in the early 1900s. Models are still on display at the Wisconsin
Automotive Museum.
Slinger
hosts the Washington County Fair every July and is known for
skiing and racing. Slinger Speedway, located at the intersection
of Highways 144 and 41, features late-model stock cars on the world’s
fastest quarter-mile oval. Slinger is also home to Little Switzerland,
which offers 14 different ski runs. Jackson
is a small village noted for its big bargains. Every spring, the village’s
2,000 residents host what is arguably one of the largest rummage sales
in the metropolitan area, drawing people from throughout the region.
The village features several antique and gift shops. Another major attraction
is Cabela's, a sporting and outdoors store located in the Town
of Richfield. Its 165,000-square-foot showroom features museum quality
animal displays, aquariums and trophy animals. The nearby Town
of Erin is known regionally for its annual St. Patrick’s Day
Parade.
Order the Greater Milwaukee Relocation
Handbook for detailed information on schools, communities, home prices, and
more...
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