Nature, lakes and a small community define Palmyra
Palmyra is a village in Jefferson County with a small community, quiet streets and serene surroundings. Kettle Moraine State Forest borders the eastern and southern ends of the village, and some homes are along its peaceful lakes. The area has a few employers, a compact school district and a downtown area with local shops. Its close connection with nature keeps born-and-raised residents around and attracts homebuyers looking for a quiet place off the beaten path.
Home prices range widely, but the median stays below nearby areas
The area's homes were predominantly built in the early to mid-1900s, although styles from the latter half of the century are around the lakes. Cape Cods, bungalows and simple cottages are on the village's gridded streets, around the schools and small downtown area. They range from $230,000 to $350,000. Ranch-style, split-level and bi-level homes near Spring Lake are slightly more expensive, selling between $325,000 and $400,000. Blue Spring Lake is bordered by the nearby state forest. Homes around the lake's perimeter fetch higher prices, with some recent sales between $310,000 and $880,000. Despite the occasional high price tags, Palmyra's median sale price of $315,000 is lower than other villages or cities nearby. "It's a good spot for those wanting to be in Jefferson County but close to Oconomowoc and Waukesha, where homes are more expensive," says Leah Thorp, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Elite.
Fishing on the lakes and hiking in the state forest
According to local history, Blue Spring Lake was made using water from the Great Geyer Spring, a natural spring with crystal clear water. Three nearby farms were purchased and flooded to create the lake, and a community formed shortly thereafter. There are some rules: no boat speeds over eight miles per hour, no businesses or marinas along the shores, no rental properties and no second homes on lots. These rules led to a fully residential and calm lake, where fishing and lounging are the main attractions. Anglers fish for northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish. Spring Lake has the same fish, a public beach and a swimming area.
Kettle Moraine State Forest spans more than 56,000 acres in southeastern Wisconsin. The stretch near Palmyra has hiking and mountain biking trails, observation centers and campgrounds. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a 1,200-mile-long trail through the forest that passes by the village.
A shared district with electric vehicles and a free Montessori option
Palmyra-Eagle School District unites Palmyra and the Village of Eagle with three shared traditional schools. "There used to be one elementary school in both Eagle and Palmyra, but they combined them because the district and class sizes were so small," Thorp says. Eagle Elementary School and Palmyra-Eagle Middle School are rated C-plus by Niche, while Palmyra-Eagle High School earns a B. The middle school and high school share one building, and the district is the first in Wisconsin with a fully electric fleet of school buses and transportation. Palmyra-Eagle Montessori School is an elective school that teaches prekindergarten through third grade at no extra cost to residents.
Most residents commute, with highways linking to nearby cities
Standard Process Inc. is a nutritional supplement and food-based product supplier that employs people in the community. Other employers include suppliers and material manufacturers. "Most people living in Palmyra, however, commute outside the area for work," Thorp says. "It's a bit removed from the interstate. So, it's not as convenient to get to Madison and Milwaukee, but smaller cities are nearby." Wisconsin Highway 59 and Wisconsin Highway 106 meet in the middle of the village. Highway 59 heads about 23 miles to Waukesha, and Milwaukee is 44 miles northeast. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is about 40 miles east, and the nearest hospital, ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital-Mukwonago, is about 16 miles east.
Small shops and restaurants anchor the village’s Main Street
Palmyra's little downtown area along Main Street has specialty shops, clothing stores, a library and family owned restaurants. Main Street Family Restaurant, Hot Rods Bar-N-Grill and Genoa Pizza are on the main strip, and Nite Cap Inn is a short walk away. "They have a fantastic fish fry," Thorp says. Jim & Judy's Food Market and Dollar General are in the village, and Walmart and Aldi are 11 miles west in Whitewater.
Written By
Heather Haggerty
