Port Washington pierhead light, as viewed from Lake Michigan

Port Washington is a city in and the county seat of Ozaukee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is about 25 miles north of Milwaukee and some 110 miles north of Chicago. In the 2000 census Port Washington had a population of 10,467 people. The ZIP code is 53074.

The city is located within the Town of Port Washington, though it is politically independent.

History

The area that became Port Washington was explored by French explorers in the late 17th century. In 1835, Wooster Harrison became the town's first permanent settler, in what was originally named Wisconsin City. The name was changed to Sauk Washington about 1843 and was incorporated with its present name in 1882.

With a natural harbor at the mouth of Sauk Creek, the city became a port on Lake Michigan, shipping and receiving various goods and materials. Of notable maritime commerce was the Port Washington power plant. The coal-fired plant received shipments of coal primarily by lake boat from its beginning of service in 1935 until 2004 when the coal-fired boilers were taken out of service. The plant is now being converted to generate electricity from natural gas. The conclusion of the receipt of coal also signalled the conclusion of Port Washington as a commercial port. The harbor is now utilized almost exclusively by recreational boaters.

Industries included fishing and manufacture of chairs and school equipment. From 1910 through 1935 Port Washington was the home of Paramount Records and other associated record labels. In 1940 the population was 4,046; in 1950 4,754.

Port Washington has the largest collection of pre-Civil War buildings in Wisconsin several of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Port Washington Visitor Center, is itself a historic building known as the "Pebble House".

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.2 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (10.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.53%) is water.

The city is located at the mouth of the Sauk Creek on Lake Michigan, and includes the 63 acre (250,000 m²) Lake Bluff Park. Its average elevation above sea level is 612 feet (187 m). Downtown Port Washington is close to the level of Lake Michigan (approximately 581 feet above sea level), and adjacent to the marina. The remainder of the city resides somewhat higher, spread across several hills.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 10,467 people, 4,071 households, and 2,756 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,721.5 people per square mile (1,049.7/km²). There were 4,252 housing units at an average density of 1,105.6/sq mi (426.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.97% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.47% Asian, 0.37% Native American, 0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 1.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,071 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,827, and the median income for a family was $62,215. Males had a median income of $42,266 versus $26,532 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,862. About 2.7% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Interstate 43 passes around Port Washington to the city's west and north. WI-32 passes north to south through the city while WI-33 travels from the west before it terminates downtown.

The Ozaukee Interurban Trail, a bike trail which follows the erstwhile interurban rail line, passes through Port Washington as it traverses Ozaukee County.

Economy

Port Washington has one of the largest charter fishing fleets on the Great Lakes. Shoe manufacturer Allen Edmonds as well as lawn and garden equipment producer Simplicity Manufacturing^[2] were founded in Port Washington. Simplicity Manufacturing was bought out by Briggs and Stratton in 2004 and initially claimed the plant would not close. However, in 2007 Briggs and Stratton announced that the Simplicity plant would close October 15th, 2008 in favor of moving jobs to the southern part of the country because of lower wages. This leaves over 300 employees without a job and virtually screwed many employees who have had a long tenure at the plant (25+ years) who were under the age of 60 by only providing 2 months of health insurance after the plant closes.^[3]

Culture

A farmers' market operates in the city on Saturday mornings in the summer, and many Sunday evenings free concerts are offered at the City Bandshell. ^[4] Port Fish Day is the billed as "World's Largest One Day Outdoor Fish Fry", and is held annually on the third Saturday in July.^[5]

In 2007 the Port Washington High School Varsity Boys Basketball team made it to state for this first time since they won in 1936. The team finished 2nd beating Wisconsin Dells in the semi finals, and losing to Monroe in the championship game.

Notable people

• M. Rickert, fantasy fiction writer, was born in Port Washington.
• Dustin Diamond, actor, currently resides in Port Washington.
• Leland Stanford, founder of Stanford college, ran law firm in Port Washington^[6]

References

External links

• Official website
• Port Washington Historical Society
• Port Washington Chamber of Commerce
• Port Washington/Saukville School District
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Article

• Port Washington, Wisconsin is at coordinates 43°23′36″N 87°52′52″W / 43.39325, -87.881053 (Port Washington, Wisconsin)Coordinates: 43°23′36″N 87°52′52″W / 43.39325, -87.881053 (Port Washington, Wisconsin)

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