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Waukesha, Wisconsin

21 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1892 and the latest in 1991. It stands in Waukesha City. It lies in ZIP code area 53186. The Survey maps it on the Waukesha quadrangle. 71,158 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 889 feet above sea level.

Waukesha within Waukesha County

On record in Waukesha

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 12 of 70 shown

Every listing in Waukesha County

Population over time

2 figures

Waukesha grew from 1,456 to 70,718 between 1860 and 2010. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
18601,456
201070,718

Topographic sheets covering this place

9 surveys from 21 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

In the county-history sources

86,288 words on this township

The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources; an Extensive and Minute Sketch of Its Cities, Towns and Villages--their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Churches, Schools and Societies; Its War Record, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers; the Whole Preceded by a History of Wisconsin, Statistics of the State, and an Abstract of Its Laws and Constitution and of the Constitution of the United States, published 1880 names this settlement in its chapter on Waukesha City. These are the passages that mention it, exactly as the scans read.

The twenty-fifth regular session of the legislature began on the loth of January, with a republican majority in both houses. Daniel Hall was elected speaker of the assembly. The next day the governor delivered to a joint convention of the legislature his first annual message - a lengthy document, setting forth in detail the general condition of State affairs. The recent great conflagrations were referred to, and relief suggested. The work of this session of the Legislature was peculiarly difficult, owing to the many general laws which the last constitutional amendment made necessary. The apportionment of the State into new congressional districts was another perplexing and onerous task. Eight districts were formed instead of six, as at the commencement of the last decade. By this, the fourth congressional apportionment, each district elects one member. The first district consists of the counties of Rock, Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, and Waukesha; the second, of Jefferson, Dane, Sauk, and Columbia ; the thirds of Grant, Iowa, LaFayette, Green, Richland, and Crawford ; the fourth, of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Washington ; the fifth, of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Manitowoc ; the sixth, of Green Lake, Waushara, Waupaca, Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Brown, Kewaunee and Door ; the seventh, of Vernon, La Crosse, Monroe, Jackson, Trempealeau, Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix, Eau Claire, and Clark; the eighth, of Oconto, Shawano, Portage, Wood, Juneau, Adams, Marquette, Marathon, Dunn, Chippewa, Barron, Polk, Burnett, Bayfield, Douglas, and Ashland. To this district have since been added the new counties of Lincoln, Taylor, Price, Marinette and New.

Passage source: The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources; an Extensive and Minute Sketch of Its Cities, Towns and Villages--their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Churches, Schools and Societies; Its War Record, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers; the Whole Preceded by a History of Wisconsin, Statistics of the State, and an Abstract of Its Laws and Constitution and of the Constitution of the United States, published 1880.

After a session of seventy-seven days, the legislature finished its work, adjourning on the twenty-seventh of March. At the ensuing November election, the republican ticket for president and vice president of the United States was successful. The ten electors chosen cast their votes in the electoral college for Grant and Wilson. In the eight congressional districts, six republicans and two democrats were elected to the forty-third congress ; the last mentioned from the fourth and fifth districts. C. G. Williams represented the first district ; G. W. Hazelton the second; J. Allen Barber the third ; Alexander Mitchell the fourth ; C. A. Eldredge the fifth ; Philetus Sawyer the sixth ; J. M. Rusk the seventh ; and A. G. McDill the eighth district.

Passage source: The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources; an Extensive and Minute Sketch of Its Cities, Towns and Villages--their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Churches, Schools and Societies; Its War Record, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers; the Whole Preceded by a History of Wisconsin, Statistics of the State, and an Abstract of Its Laws and Constitution and of the Constitution of the United States, published 1880.

In Wisconsin, throughout the centennial year, those engaged in the various branches of agriculture and other useful avocations, were reasonably prosperous. The crop of wheat and oats was a light yield, and of poor quality ; but the corn crop was the largest ever before raised in the State, and of superior quality. The dairy and hog product was large, and commanded remunerative prices. Fruits were unusually plenty. Trade and business enterprises, however, generally remained depressed.

Passage source: The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources; an Extensive and Minute Sketch of Its Cities, Towns and Villages--their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Churches, Schools and Societies; Its War Record, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers; the Whole Preceded by a History of Wisconsin, Statistics of the State, and an Abstract of Its Laws and Constitution and of the Constitution of the United States, published 1880.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Waukesha City - it names this place 288 more 288 times.

Fires near this place

18 since 2018

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 18 fires within 5 miles of Waukesha between 2018 and 2020, burning about 10 acres in total. None started naturally. 1 was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined11
Debris and open burning5
Arson/incendiarism1
Power generation/transmission/distribution1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
1 July 2018Power generation/transmission/distribution1.0 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resources242
7 May 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural Resources129
29 May 2018Arson/incendiarismunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural Resources1801566
21 May 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural Resources205
18 May 2018Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural Resources456
1 May 2018Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural Resources1800781
1 May 2018Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural Resources1800783
8 April 2018Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreWisconsin Department of Natural Resources1801057

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Waukesha County

Mines and quarries near this place

6 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 6 workings within 5 miles of Waukesha: 3 producers, 2 unknowns, 1 past producer. 3 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Own CrewsStoneUnknown
Waukesha Lime and Stone Co QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Buege Sand and Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
James PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Kohler PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Springdale PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown

Every working recorded in Waukesha County

Storms near this place

38 since 1994

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Waukesha in 38 storm reports between 1994 and 2006: 16 thunderstorm wind, 8 hail, 5 flood, 4 lightning. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 2006LightningWaukesha1 hurtA man was injured and taken to a hospital after lightning struck very close to him. It is unknown where he was in the city of Waukesha, nor is the exact time known. He was treated and released from the hospital.
July 2006Flash FloodWaukesha$3,000,000A 1-in-a-100-year flood occurred in and around the city of Waukesha after a heavy rain of 3 to 5 inches within a 2-hr period. The heavy rains were the result of slow-moving or back-building thunderstorms that essentially sat over the same area. There were no reports of injuries or deaths. Numerous roads and yards were flooded with water depths of 1 to 5 feet. Many vehicles were stalled in the deep waters or were damaged. There were numerous reports of flooded basements of homes or businesses or apartments. The roof of one business in downtown Waukesha collapsed due to the weight of the heavy rains. The Fox River in downtown Waukesha exceeded its 6-foot flood stage by 6 inches, and then quickly subsided. Some nearby farm fields reported washed out sections and crop losses. The Expo Center sustained damage as well to several of its buildings. The basement of the downtown Waukesha Fire Department flooded to the depth of 5 feet. This flooding was the result of a collapsed trench outside the building where a new addition was under construction. At one point, Waukesha city officials warned motorists to stay away from the city, and some officials thought the July 27th flooding was the worst they could remember. WSR-88D Doppler radar rainfall estimates indicated that up to 5 inches fell over the northwest portion of the city of Waukesha, tapering off to 2 inches on the far south side of the city where STH 59 is located. One unofficial rain gage catch was 4.25 inches on the north side of the city, which matched the radar estimate. It is nearly impossible to assess the monetary amount of the flash flood damage, therefore, the amount posted in the header strip of this event is only a rough estimate.
June 1997LightningWaukesha$150,000no account filed
August 2004LightningWaukesha$100,000no account filed
July 2000Thunderstorm WindWaukesha$100,000no account filed
September 2000Flash FloodWaukesha$50,000no account filed
April 1994Thunderstorm WindWaukesha$50,000no account filed
August 2004Thunderstorm WindWaukesha$20,000no account filed
August 2002Flash FloodWaukesha$20,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindWaukesha$15,000no account filed
July 2005Thunderstorm WindWaukesha$10,000Thunderstorm wind gusts of hurricane force caused scattered areas of large tree damage from the Waukesha area northeast to Brookfield.
June 1998LightningWaukesha$6,000Lightning ignited a fire in the attic of a home.
September 2000Thunderstorm WindWaukesha$3,000no account filed
June 1997Thunderstorm WindWaukesha$3,000no account filed
July 2000Thunderstorm WindWaukesha$2,000no account filed
June 1999Thunderstorm WindWaukesha$1,000no account filed
June 1999Thunderstorm WindWaukesha$1,000no account filed
August 2004Dust DevilWaukesha$200no account filed
July 2006Thunderstorm WindWaukesha-Trees down.
April 2006HailWaukesha-no account filed
May 2004HailWaukesha-no account filed
November 2003Heavy RainWaukesha-no account filed
July 2003Thunderstorm WindWaukesha-no account filed
July 2003Thunderstorm WindWaukesha-no account filed
July 2002FloodWaukesha-no account filed
August 2002FloodWaukesha-no account filed
August 2002Thunderstorm WindWaukesha-no account filed
August 2002FloodWaukesha-no account filed
August 2001Thunderstorm WindWaukesha-no account filed
May 2000HailWaukesha-no account filed
May 2000HailWaukesha-no account filed
May 2000HailWaukesha-no account filed
July 2000FloodWaukesha-no account filed
July 1999FloodWaukesha-no account filed
July 1999HailWaukesha-no account filed
September 1998HailWaukesha-no account filed
July 1994Thunderstorm WindWaukesha-no account filed
July 1994HailWaukesha-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Waukesha County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Goerkes Corner3.9 miles21
Duplainville4.6 miles21
Bethesda4.9 miles23
Pewaukee5.0 miles22
Edgewood5.1 miles22
Calhoun5.5 miles21
Prospect6.0 miles18
Guthrie6.2 miles18

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on WaukeshaAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q94919The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1576312. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.