Mequon, Wisconsin

Mequon 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 23,739 in July 2009. The mayor is Curt Gielow.

In July 2005, CNN's Money Magazine listed Mequon 19th among its 100 Best Small Cities in the United States, ranked jointly with Thiensville, a village surrounded by Mequon.

History
The area was originally inhabited by Native Americans; by the early 19th century, the Potawatomi occupied land west of the Milwaukee River, while the Menominee lived between the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan. 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. 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, a surveyor named Brink, along with his assistant Mr. 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 Weston served as the first postmaster of the Town of Mequon, having settled in present-day Thiensville in 1837. He later sold his holdings to John Henry Thien. Thien, a wealthy immigrant from Saxony, had traveled north from Milwaukee and settled along the Milwaukee River, where his family built a dam and grist mill. Thien hosted the first town meeting for the Town of Mequon in 1846. The area around his estate, 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 43.22417°N, -87.96°W (43.224243, -87.960094).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 46.8 sqmi, of which, 46.2 sqmi of it is land and 0.6 sqmi of it (1.35%) is water. As of 2005, Mequon was the third-largest city in terms of land area in the state of Wisconsin.

Freistadt
Freistadt is a neighborhood of the city of Mequon. The community's name means "free city" in German. Though originally in the Town of Mequon, the area was added to the City of Mequon through annexation.

The community was founded in October 1839 by twenty German families who immigrated to the United States to escape religious persecution. The community was home to the first Lutheran church in Wisconsin. In 1845, the synod later known as the Lutheran Buffalo Synod was organized here. (Through mergers the Buffalo Synod became a part of the American Lutheran Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). The church in Freistadt became a part of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in 1848.

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 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 per square mile (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 ). 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.

Parks and recreation
Mequon contains hundreds of acres of community parks and nature preserves run by the city, and a couple run by the county. The Ozaukee Interurban Trail runs for 5.85 mi south to north through the city. The Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department conducts a variety of classes and programs for children and adults.

City parks Ozaukee County parks:
 * Garrison's Glen: 22 acre Neighborhood park on Pioneer Road near the Milwaukee River. Contains walking trail and canoe launch.
 * Grasslyn Nature Preserve: 15 acre Nature preserve in the southeast of the city. Contains a walking trail and prairie area.
 * Highland Woods: 85 acre Nature preserve on Green Bay Road north of Thiensville. Contains a walking trail and forest.
 * Katherine Kearney Carpenter Park: 35 acre Dog walking park in southeastern Mequon. Contains walking trail.
 * Lemke Park: 41 acre Neighborhood park in southwestern Mequon. Contains playground, picnic tables, archery range, soccer fields, volleyball court, baseball diamond.
 * Lilly Lane Nature Preserve: 12 acre Nature preserve in southern Mequon. Contains walking trail.
 * Little Menomonee Site: 20 acre Nature preserve in western Mequon, along the Little Menomonee River
 * Mequon Community Park: 16 acre Community park just south of Thiensville. Contains swimming pool, baseball diamond, picnic area, playground, and access to the Ozaukee Interurban Trail.
 * Mequon Nature Preserve: 408 acre Nature preserve in southwestern Mequon. Contains walking trails, education centers, woodland, and observation tower.
 * Prinz Site: 10 acre Nature preserve north of Thiensville.
 * River Barn Park: 37 acre Community park in southern Mequon along the Milwaukee River. Contains baseball, soccer, and football fields and a playground.
 * River Forest Nature Preserve: 62 acre Nature preserve in central Mequon along the Milwaukee River. Contains walking trail.
 * Riverview Park: 20 acre Neighborhood park in central Mequon along the Milwaukee River. Contains bridge, canoe launch, playground, walking trail, and baseball diamond.
 * Rotary Park: 75 acre Community park in northern Mequon. Contains basketball court, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, fishing ponds, and walking paths. Also contains Pukaite Woods which contains a handicapped accessible nature trail.
 * Scout Park: 12 acre Nature preserve in eastern Mequon along the Milwaukee River. Contains a walking trail and river access.
 * Settlers Park: 1.2 acre Historical park just south of Thiensville along the Milwaukee River. Contains a historic building and walking trail.
 * Shoreland Nature Preserve: 19 acre Nature preserve in northeastern Mequon along the Milwaukee River. Contains walking trials.
 * Swan Road Prairie: 20 acre Nature preserve in southwestern Mequon.
 * Trinity Creek Wetland Habitat: 35 acre Wetland park in southern Mequon. Contains walking trails and educational facility.
 * Villa Grove Park: 5 acre Community park east of Thiensville along Milwaukee River. Contains picnic tables and boat launch.
 * Willow Bay Nature Preserve: 22 acre Nature preserve in northeastern Mequon along the Milwaukee River.
 * Mee-Kwon Park: County park in northern Mequon. Contains public golf course and sledding hill.
 * Virmond Park: 63 acre County park in eastern Mequon on Lake Michigan. Contains volleyball and tennis courts, baseball diamond, soccer field, picnic area.

Government
Since its incorporation in 1957, Mequon has had a mayor-council form of government. The mayor is elected for a three year term. Aldermen are elected from eight aldermanic districts to the Common Council. The mayor since 2010 has been Curt Gielow.

Education
Almost all of Mequon is served by the Mequon-Thiensville School District, although six square miles in the far northwest is served by the Cedarburg School District. Three elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school, Homestead High School are part of the Mequon-Thiensville School District. Mequon is also home to Concordia University, the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and the northern campus of the Milwaukee Area Technical College

Notable natives and residents

 * Scott Skiles, head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, currently lives in Mequon.
 * Willy Porter, musician, grew up in Mequon, and attended Homestead High School.
 * John Ridley, writer, director, actor, grew up in Mequon, and attended Homestead High School.
 * Mike Dunleavy, Jr., professional basketball player, lived in Mequon and attended Homestead High School.
 * Coby Karl, basketball player who has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, attended Homestead High School.
 * Ronald D. Asmus, grew up in Mequon and graduated from Homestead High School
 * Halle Berry, Academy Award winning actress, and Eric Benet, musician, owned a house in Mequon when they were married.
 * Gregg Steinhafel, CEO of Target Corporation, grew up in Mequon and attended Homestead High School.
 * Peter Goldberg, CEO of Alliance for Children and Families and Families International
 * Carl Kiekhaefer, former owner of Mercury Marine, NASCAR team owner
 * Buzz Williams, head coach of the Marquette University men's basketball team lives in Mequon with his family.
 * Beezie Madden, Equestrian champion, who has won three Olympic medals (two gold, one bronze), is originally from Mequon.
 * Daron Sutton, Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster, lives in Mequon.
 * Balthasar H. Meyer, former United States government official
 * Thomas F. Timlin, former Wisconsin State Assemblyman
 * William H. Timlin, former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice
 * Edward H. Janssen, former Treasurer of Wisconsin
 * Many notable sports figures have lived in Mequon, including Hank Aaron, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ray Allen, Paul Molitor, Quinn Buckner, Sal Bando, George Karl, Peter Mueller, and Bob Lanier.