Mequon

Mequon, Wisconsin
Location of Mequon, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 43°13′27″N 87°57′36″W / 43.22417°N 87.96°W / 43.22417; -87.96
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Ozaukee
Incorporation as city	1957
Government
- Type	Mayor-council
- Mayor	Christine Nuernburg, since 1997
Area
- Total	46.8 sq mi (121.3 km2)
- Land	46.2 sq mi (119.6 km2)
- Water	0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)
Elevation [1]	669 ft (204 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	21,823
- Density	472.5/sq mi (182.4/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	53092 and 53097
Area code(s)	262
FIPS code	55-51150[2]
GNIS feature ID	1569354[1]

Mequon (MEK-wan) is a city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It had a population of 21,823 at the 2000 census, and an estimated population of 23,820 in 2006. The mayor is Christine Nuernberg.

In July 2005, listed Mequon 19th among its 100 Best Small Cities in the United States, ranked jointly with Thiensville, a village completely surrounded by Mequon.^[3]

History

The area was originally inhabited by the Potawatomi and Menominee Indians. European trappers, explorers and traders used the Milwaukee River through the middle of what is now Mequon as a means of transportation. The name "Mequon" is thought to have come from the Native-American word "Emikwaan" or "Miguan," meaning ladle.^[4] This refers to how the Milwaukee River curves like a ladle in the Mequon area. The spelling was undoubtedly influenced by the French in the area at the time.

Between 1834 and 1836, Brink and Follett surveyed the land to create the town of Mequon. Around this time, settlers came from New York and England, soon followed by German and Irish immigrants. In 1839, a group of immigrants from Saxony settled near the Milwaukee River. In the same year, twenty families from Pomerania founded Freistadt (German Free place) in the western part of the Town of Mequon. The first Lutheran church in Wisconsin was built by these families in 1840.

John Henry Thien, a wealthy immigrant from Saxony, traveled north from Milwaukee and settled along the Milwaukee River, where his family built a dam and grist mill. This area, one square mile in the middle of Mequon township, was later incorporated as the village of Thiensville in 1910. The Town of Mequon was incorporated as a city in 1957.

Geography

Mequon is located at 43°13′27″N 87°57′36″W / 43.22417°N 87.96°W / 43.22417; -87.96 (43.224243, -87.960094)^[5].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 46.8 square miles (121.3 km²), of which, 46.2 square miles (119.6 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.35%) is water. Mequon is the fifth-largest city in terms of land area in the state of Wisconsin.^{[citation needed]}

Climate

The climate of Mequon is much like that of other midwestern cities in the United States. The city experiences four distinct seasons, with variation in precipitation and temperature being very wide. The overall climate of the city is moderated by nearby Lake Michigan, which causes temperatures to be cooler in summer and especially spring, and which keeps overnight temperatures warmer in winter. In March and April, the temperature in Mequon can be 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (5 to 8 degrees Celsius) cooler than temperatures in towns just 15 miles (25 kilometers) further from the lake. In December and January, the effect is reversed, with temperatures in inland towns falling much lower.

In Mequon, the warmest month of the year is July, when the high temperature averages 78°F (25°C), with overnight low temperatures of approximately 58°F (15°C). July is also the wettest month of the year, with the majority of rain falling in short-lived thunderstorms. January is the coldest month in Mequon, with afternoon high temperature averaging only 26°F (-4°C), and overnight lows averaging 11°F (-12°C). February is the driest month, and almost all precipitation falls in the form of snow during that time. In an average winter, 47.0 in (1.3m) of snow falls. The city's proximity to Lake Michigan often increases the snow received by the city. Most of the city's snowfall comes from systems such as Alberta Clippers and Panhandle Hooks.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Mequon was 105°F (41°C) on July 24, 1935, and again on July 17, 1995. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was -40°F (-40°C), on January 17, 1982, also known as Cold Sunday.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 21,823 people, 7,861 households, and 6,406 families residing in the city. The population density was 472.5 people per square mile (182.5/km²). There were 8,162 housing units at an average density of 176.7/sq mi (68.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.16% White, 2.25% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.

There were 7,861 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.8% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $90,733, and the median income for a family was $101,793 (These figures had risen to $97,797 and $113,265, respectively, as of a 2007 estimate^[6]). Males had a median income of $72,762 versus $40,280 for females. The per capita income for the city was $48,333. About 1.3% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents and natives

• Willy Porter, musician, grew up in Mequon, and attended Homestead High School (Mequon, Wisconsin).
• John Ridley, writer, director, actor, grew up in Mequon, and attended Homestead High School (Mequon, Wisconsin).
• Coby Karl, basketball player who has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, was born in Mequon.
• Halle Berry, Academy Award winning actress, and Eric Benet, musician, owned a house in Mequon when they were married.
• Many notable sports figures have lived in Mequon, including Hank Aaron, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ray Allen, Paul Molitor, Quinn Buckner, Bob Lanier and George Karl.

Education

• Mequon-Thiensville School District
• Concordia University
• Milwaukee Area Technical College
• Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
• Mequon Jewish Preschool[1]
• University School of Milwaukee

References

External links

• City of Mequon Website
• Mequon-Thiensville Chamber of Commerce
• Early history of Mequon
• Mequon-Thiensville School District

• Mequon, Wisconsin is at coordinates 43°13′27″N 87°57′36″W / 43.224243°N 87.960094°W / 43.224243; -87.960094 (Mequon, Wisconsin)Coordinates: 43°13′27″N 87°57′36″W / 43.224243°N 87.960094°W / 43.224243; -87.960094 (Mequon, Wisconsin)

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