Racine County
A New Engine of Economic Growth
Racine County has something to offer everyone – from luxury condominiums overlooking a modern marina, to a quiet lake lot reminiscent of Scandinavia. It is home to family-run dairy farms and major national corporations, including CNH Industrial, Modine Manufacturing and SC Johnson. It’s also the home of Foxconn’s research and manufacturing campus and the new Microsoft Data Center currently under construction in the Foxconn Science + Technology Park with a plan to be operational in late 2026. There’s a lot of history in the county – along the many rustic country roads first trod by buffalo, in the Victorian homes of Burlington, and at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wingspread Conference Center in Wind Point, a National Historic Landmark. The first electric refrigerator was built in Racine and telling tall tales first became an art form in Burlington. Racine County is an outdoor lover’s paradise. In addition to the fishing opportunities offered by Lake Michigan, the county has established nearly 120 miles of bike trails on lightly traveled roads. There are also four off-road trails that connect with trails in Milwaukee and Kenosha counties. Quarry Lake Park is considered a scuba diver’s dream, while the 80-acre River Bend Nature Center offers hiking, birdwatching, nature studies and canoeing. The Racine Zoo is located on 32 acres of Lake Michigan shoreline. The arts have strong roots in Racine County. The Racine Symphony Orchestra is one of the state’s oldest continuously performing orchestras, established in 1932. In the same year, The Haylofters, one of Wisconsin’s oldest community theater troupes, was formed and performs to this day at Burlington’s historic Malt House Theatre. Visual art lovers will want to explore the Racine Art Museum and Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts.
Racine
An economic center of its own, Racine developed independently – and sometimes in competition with – the early industrial centers of Milwaukee and Chicago. Today it is home to several prominent companies, including SC Johnson, CNH Industrial and Modine Manufacturing. Few Lake Michigan communities have capitalized on their location as well as Racine. North Beach, located just north of the downtown, offers swimmers, joggers and sun worshippers more than one mile of clean, sandy beach. Racine’s Reefpoint Marina is one of the largest recreational boat facilities on Lake Michigan with just over 920 boat slips. Adjacent to the marina is Festival Park, which hosts many of Racine’s ethnic festivals.
Wind Point/North Bay
Located just north of Racine, these two lakeshore communities boast some of the finest homes, boutiques and shops in the county. One of the earliest settlements, Wind Point sits on a small peninsula that juts into Lake Michigan. The Wind Point Lighthouse, built in 1880, is considered to be the oldest and tallest lighthouse still operating on the Great Lakes. The area has long been a preferred residential area for many of Racine’s civic leaders. Located here is Wingspread. Built by Frank Lloyd Wright for Herbert and Jane Johnson in 1938, it is the last of Wright’s Prairie homes and is now used as a conference center.
Eastern Racine County: Mount Pleasant • Sturtevant • Elmwood Park
Located southwest of Racine along Highway 11 (Durand Avenue), these communities boast relaxed living and easy access to the urban comforts of Racine, Milwaukee and northern Illinois. Mount Pleasant is the largest of the three communities, covering much of the land between I-94 and Racine. Mount Pleasant is the second-most populous community in the county. Sturtevant is a village surrounded by Mount Pleasant that is the home of InSinkErator and also a stopping point for Amtrak, which makes it an easy commute to either Chicago or Milwaukee. Elmwood Park is a small, upscale community located just southwest of Racine.
Caledonia/Raymond
Located at the northern end of Racine County, the villages of Caledonia and Raymond offer a rural setting that is midway between Racine and Milwaukee. Caledonia is one of the largest villages in the state with just over 25,000 residents. Covering all of eastern Racine County between Racine and the Milwaukee County line, it is a rapidly developing area because of its proximity to Milwaukee and the interstate. Raymond, the site of much recent development, is conveniently located west of I-94 between Highway K and the Milwaukee County line. It is home to the bustling 7 Mile Fair, a year-round event that is promoted as the “granddaddy of flea markets” and offers a plethora of items from farm-fresh produce to home and garden decor to hobby items.
Rochester/Waterford
Waterford and Rochester are growing communities located along the Fox River between the Tichigan Lake area to the north and Burlington to the south. Both offer easy commutes to Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha and Lake Geneva. Waterford is situated at the intersection of highways 36 and 20 on the southern edge of 279-acre Tichigan Lake, with Rochester located just to its south.
Western Racine County: Dover • Norway • Union Grove • Yorkville
Life is relaxed in rural Racine County, where there is a wealth of recreational opportunities for people of all ages. Bucolic in nature, it is only a half-hour drive from downtown Milwaukee and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. Union Grove, at the intersection of U.S. 45 and Hwy. 11, is home of Great Lakes Dragaway, a popular quarter-mile track for drag racing.
Burlington
This fun-loving city has an international reputation – if you can trust anyone who tells you about it! The city, home of the Burlington Liars Club, has been “Fibbing for Fun and Folly” since 1929. Annually, the club bestows upon one person the dubious honor of being the world champion tallest-tale teller, with the famous Fibber McGee taking the prize in 1935. Truth be told, Burlington has a lot to offer. Located at the junction of the White and Fox rivers, historic Burlington has long been a crossroads of commerce and is the Midwest home of Nestlé USA. It also is surrounded by natural beauty, boasting more designated “Rustic Roads” than any other county in the state. Lake Geneva, a popular resort town on the shores of the deep, spring-fed waters of Geneva Lake, is relatively nearby, offering a gateway to the state’s Southern Lakes region.