Located 50 miles southwest of Milwaukee and less than 10 miles north of the Illinois border, Lake Geneva is a small town fronting the namesake Geneva Lake. While it's located in Wisconsin, many settlers from Illinois helped turn the city into what it is today. "I moved [here] from Chicago, which is kind of typical," says Peg Esposito, an alderperson and resident of more than 30 years. "Lake Geneva is like Chicago's playground."
Originally called Kish-Way-Kee-Tow, which means clear water, Potawatomi and Oneota Indians inhabited the land until the mid-1830s. After a flurry of treaties, both tribes were fully pushed out by 1836, and the area was renamed and repurposed to house Chicago's elites. With land selling for just $1.25 per acre, settlers came from across the country to capitalize on the undeveloped land. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, more troves of Chicago's wealthiest residents settled in Lake Geneva.
This population growth trend continues upward as more people look to escape bigger cities such as Milwaukee and Chicago. "When I moved up here, just driving into the area, you can feel the release of tension, of the speed, of hassle and congestion and all those people," Esposito says. "You get here, and it's just much more open. It's quite a way to live." This city is still, however, much smaller than surrounding cities, so many buyers are drawn to the slower pace of living. Its home to only around 9,000 permanent residents, but the number of inhabitants tends to skyrocket in the summer months as tourists pass through and seasonal vacationers settle in.
Traditional two-story homes line the streets in Bohners Lake.
Residents of Bohners Lake are often out on the water fishing, paddle boarding, and boating.
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Endless options for outdoor recreation
Dozens of beaches, including Lake Geneva Public Beach, surround Geneva Lake. A paved walking trail stretches the entire lake's circumference of over 25 miles. "If you ever want to see Geneva Lake, it's a beautiful walk," says Linda Frame, an alderperson and lifelong Lake Geneva resident. "They really frown upon bikes because it can be slippery, but it's great for walking." Docks around the water offer places for residents to park their boats, and mansions around the waterfront showcase the city's history.
The city also has public and private golf courses, wildlife reserves, forests and a ski resort. Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures stretches over 100 acres and allows visitors to zipline through a forest. This city is also home to Big Foot Beach State Park, one of Wisconsin’s many state parks. Sprawling over 250 acres and butting up to the lake’s edge, the park features campsites, a beach and more.
Browns Lake Golf Course has gorgeous fairways that expand for 6,449 yards.
Residents can be spotted enjoying the water year-round in Bohners Lake.
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Downtown Lake Geneva and big box stores
Downtown Lake Geneva is built around the intersection of Main Street and Broad Street. It's packed with on-of-a-kind locally owned establishments, attracting tourists to its walkable streets. "Locals all kind of stay around from downtown during the summer, but after Labor Day, we all sort of breathe a sigh of relief," jokes Esposito. "Not that we don't love our tourists, we absolutely do, but it does get busy."
Big Box stores sit on the outskirts, near the interchange where Wisconsin state Route 50 and U.S. Highway 12 meet. "For a person who's moving here, we have the normal facilities like your library and grocery stores and things, so it makes it easy to live here, but typically, people who come from a big city may end up traveling to get things that we don't always have," Esposito says.
Residents can grab caffeinated drinks and breakfast at The Coffee House.
Locals can grab essentials at the community grocery store, Beachview Grocery.
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Festivities for every temperature
As a city that experiences all four seasons, Lake Geneva offers year-round events that allow residents to explore the great outdoors despite the weather. Maxwell Street Days happens every summer and boasts the slogan "Hot Deal for Those Hot Summer Days." During this week, business owners offer bargains on various goods and services. There's also live music to celebrate the end of summer. Fall sees the Dragon Days – Lake Geneva was the home of the creator of Dungeons & Dragons and celebrates this annually with a three-day festival that draws fans from across the country.
The Winter Fest draws artists from across the country to Rivera Plaza and Flat Iron Park. This major event is home to America's Snow Sculpting Invitational, where artists create intricate pieces that often stand taller than 6 feet. There's a Downtown Ice Sculpture Walk, bonfires on the beach, live music and more.
The Market at Wehmhoff Square occurs every Thursday in the summer.
Visitors shop from local vendors while enjoying the live music at the Market at Wehmhoff Square.
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A wide variety of home options
Lake Geneva offers a wide selection of home options, from historic waterfront mansions to modern subdivisions. Waterfront homes are hard to come by as they hardly hit the market, but there is a wide selection of inland options as planned communities continue to be developed. Homes with land can be found towards the city's outskirts, hidden in forested areas. The median home price is about $450,000, slightly higher than the US median. On average, houses spend 57 days on the market, compared to the US average of 44 days.
Larger homes away from the lake start around $200,000 in Bohners Lake.
Homes by the water can sell as high as $740,000 in Bohners Lake.
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Two highly rated school districts
Lake Geneva Joint 1 School District serves about 1,800 pre-k through 8th-grade students between four elementary and two middle schools. It has a B-plus rating on Niche. Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union High School District has an A-minus rating and is ranked the best school district in Walworth County. It serves about 1,350 high school students.
Winkler Elementary has 122 students and an overall A- grade according to Niche.
Dr. E. G. Dyer School serves grades PK and K-6 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1.
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Commuting into nearby cities
An interchange on the city's east side connects Highway 12 and Route 50, making it easy to get around. Tourism drives Lake Geneva's economy, and there aren't many big employers, so most residents work from home or commute to bigger cities. The nearest 24-hour medical facility, Mercyhealth Hospital, is 6 miles west of the town. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is 45 miles east.
Low crime rates, moderate natural disaster risk
According to the FBI crime data explorer, the City of Lake Geneva Police Department reported 73% fewer violent crimes and 25% fewer property crimes, both below the United States averages for the year.
Wisconsin is prone to tornadoes, and Lake Geneva is not exempt. The city has experienced tornadoes, including an EF-1 tornado in 2018. The state of Wisconsin is also prone to wildfires and flooding.
Written By
Kaitlin Davis
Video By
Ennis Warlick
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