Muskego, Wisconsin

Muskego is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 21,397. Its 2006-2008 estimated population was 22,851. Muskego is the fifth largest community in Waukesha County. The name Muskego is derived from the Potawatomi Indian name for the area, "Mus-kee-Guaac", meaning sunfish. The Potawatomi were the original inhabitants of Muskego. There are three lakes within the city's boundaries.

History
Once an agricultural area, Muskego was incorporated as a city in 1964. When it became a city it included the unincorporated communities of Tess Corners and Durham Hill. With an increase in housing developments in the city, it has become a bedroom community for Milwaukee.

Muskego Beach Amusement Park
Muskego Beach Amusement Park (1861–1967), later known as DandeLion Park (1968–1977), was a popular amusement park located on the southern bank of Little Muskego Lake. It was at some point home of the world's fastest roller coaster.

Charles Rose, operator of Wisconsin State Fair Park purchased Muskego Beach Amusement Park from Mrs. William Boszhardt in 1944. After World War II he reopened it. The park included rides, games of chance and was a venue for musical bands. Charles Rose died in 1963 and five years later, Willard Masterson purchased the park. He renamed it, "DandiLion Park" and added more amusement rides including the Tailspin roller coaster. In 1974 an eleven year old boy fell from the ferris wheel and died.

When Marriott's Great America (now Six Flags Great America) opened in 1976, it lured people away from Muskego, and into Gurnee, Illinois. The park was later closed and demolished, and the land developed into housing.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.9 square miles (92.9 km²). 31.2 square miles (80.9 km²) of it is land and 4.7 square miles (12.1 km²) of it (12.99%) is water.

Muskego contains three lakes within its borders: Big Muskego Lake, Little Muskego Lake, and Lake Denoon.

Big Muskego Lake is a shallow 2260 acre flow-through lake in south-central Muskego. Most of the lake is less than four feet deep with a generally organic or muck bottom. Big Muskego Lake is fringed with cattail-dominated wetlands and encompasses numerous islands of cattail marsh. Bass Bay is a 110 acre connected embayment of Big Muskego Lake that has a deeper basin typical of other glacially formed kettle lakes in the region. Bass Bay has a maximum depth of 23 ft and has a bottom substrate of predominantly muck with some isolated sandy shoreline areas.

Little Muskego Lake is a 506 acre flow-through lake with extensive shallow margins and a single deep basin. Located in the northwestern quadrant of the city, the lake has a maximum depth of 65 ft and averages 14 ft deep. The bottom substrate predominantly consists of silt or muck. Residents and visitors to Little Muskego Lake enjoy a variety of lake-related recreational activities, including boating, skiing, sailing, and fishing. The Muskego Waterbugs perform a water ski show in front of Idle Isle Park each Wednesday evening throughout the summer. The lake contains many fish species including: largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, and several panfish species. Most of the shores of Little Muskego Lake are developed with residential housing.

Lake Denoon is a 162 acre lake in the southwestern portion of the city and is also partially located in the Town of Norway, Wisconsin. The lake has a glacially formed kettle basin that reaches a maximum depth of 55 ft with bottom substrates varying from sands and gravel to muck. An outlet stream on the south end drains to Ke-Nong-Go-Mong (Long) Lake in Racine County. A cattail island and an extent of cattail shoreline are found on the lake's west end. The remaining lakeshore is mostly developed with residential housing.

Demographics
As of the census of 2005, there were 22,817 people, 7,533 households, and 6,109 families residing in the city. The population density was 685.2 people per square mile (264.5/km²). There were 7,699 housing units at an average density of 246.6 per square mile (95.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.11% White, 0.16% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.91% of the population.

There were 7,533 households out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.4% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $64,247, and the median income for a family was $69,722. Males had a median income of $49,386 versus $30,714 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,199. About 1.0% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government
The first Mayor of the city was Jerome Gottfried, elected in 1964. He was followed by Donald Wieselmann, Wayne Salentine, David DeAngelis, Mark Slocomb, Charles Damaske, and John Johnson.

Muskego is served by the Tess Corners Fire Department.

Education
Public schools: Muskego-Norway School District:
 * Country Meadows Elementary
 * Lakeview Elementary (serves Muskego residents, but located in the Town of Norway)
 * Mill Valley Elementary
 * Muskego Elementary
 * Tess Corners Elementary
 * Bay Lane Middle School
 * Lake Denoon Middle School
 * Muskego High School

Parochial schools:
 * St. Leonard K-8 Catholic School
 * St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Grade School - WELS