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West Bend, WI

Frequently asked questions

West Bend, WI

West Bend is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,752. It is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area.

Northeastern Washington County's earliest known inhabitants were pre-Columbian Mound Builders, who constructed effigy mounds in the area sometime between 650 CE and 1300 CE. They were semi-nomadic and survived by hunting, fishing, and gathering wild plants. They made pottery and constructed tools from bone, wood, stone, and occasionally copper. They built effigy mounds shaped like mammals, reptiles, birds, and other creatures, both real and mythical, as well as conical, oval, and linear mounds, some of which contain human burials. Some mounds in the West Bend area were destroyed by settlers to create farm fields, but several dozen survive and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Washington County "Island" Effigy Mound District, which includes the Lizard Mound County Park site in nearby Farmington as well as several privately owned sites.

In the early 19th century when the first White settlers arrived in Southeastern Wisconsin, the Potawatomi and Menominee Indians inhabited the land now occupied by the City of West Bend. In 1831, the Menominee surrendered their claims to the land to the United States Federal Government through the Treaty of Washington. The Potawatomi surrendered their land claims in 1833 through the 1833 Treaty of Chicago, which (after being ratified in 1835) required them to leave the area by 1838. While many Native people moved west of the Mississippi River to Kansas, some chose to remain and were referred to as "strolling Potawatomi" in contemporary documents because many of them were migrants who subsisted by squatting on their ancestral lands, which were now owned by settlers. In the mid-1800s, there was a large Native American village on the shore of Silver Lake, southwest of the modern-day City of West Bend. Eventually, the Potawatomi who evaded forced removal gathered in northern Wisconsin, where they formed the Forest County Potawatomi Community.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.72 square miles (38.12 km²), of which, 14.57 square miles (37.74 km²) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.39 km²) is water. West Bend is in the Kettle Moraine region, and its topography is varied. The glacial activity has formed many kettles and hills throughout the region.

Health and wellness are paramount in West Bend, with the city offering various amenities and services to support the well-being of its residents. The Aurora Health Center is a cornerstone in providing comprehensive healthcare services to the community. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the West Bend Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include THE GYM WB, A1 Health and Fitness, and Anytime Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around West Bend, such as the Fox Hill Loop and Big Cedar Lake Trails. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in West Bend, WI are Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend Riverwalk, and Shalom Wildlife Zoo.

Population: 32,149 (2024). ZIP codes: 53090, 53095, 53096. Area code: 262. Elevation: 921 feet (281 m). Area: 14.27 square miles (36.98 km²).

FAQs

What is the median household income in West Bend, WI?

The median household income in West Bend, WI is $66,980. In 2021, the place with the highest median household income in West Bend, WI was Census Tract 4001.04 with a value of $91,661, followed by Census Tract 4001.02 and Census Tract 4201.04, with respective values of $88,897 and $81,806.

What is West Bend, WI famous for?

West Bend is known for the production of small kitchen appliances and cookware. Insurance and the manufacture of agricultural equipment and plastic graphics are also important to the city's economy. West Bend is the seat of the two-year University of Wisconsin–Washington County (1968) and a campus of the Moraine Park Technical College. 

Why is West Bend, WI called West Bend?

West Bend is located northwest of Milwaukee in Washington County. Surveyors came to the area in the 1840s seeking a halfway point to accommodate travelers on the road between Fond du Lac and Milwaukee. On November 17, 1845, they decided that the ideal spot was on the westward bend of the Milwaukee River, hence the name of the town, West Bend.  

Sources

Wikipedia

Washington County

Aurora Health Center 

West Bend Parks and Recreation Department 

THE GYM WB

A1 Health and Fitness 

Anytime Fitness

Fox Hill Loop 

Big Cedar Lake Trails

Data USA

Britannica

Wisconsin History

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