Village Profile Home Page | About our Company | Sales Opportunities | Community eStore | vpmobile.us

Muskego History

The history of Muskego is rich and colorful. It offers insight into past forces and trends which continue to influence Muskego’s present and future path.

The original city limits were first home to the Potawatomi tribe, who named it Mus-kee-Guaac, or “sunfish.”

With three lakes, large forests and abundant game, the area supported a large population of Potawatomi.

In 1827, the first European man arrived, establishing a trading post that he maintained for two years. There were no European settlers in the area prior to that time.

In 1833, the Potawatomi ceded their lands in Wisconsin to the U.S. government. Despite being relocated by the federal government in 1850, the Potawatomi continued to return to hunt and fish in and around Muskego’s lakes until the 1870s.

In 1836, the first permanent European settlers, the Luther Parker family, arrived from New Hampshire. Others followed, and soon there were five separate settlements in the Town of Muskego. Staking their claims, the Yankees settled in Muskego center, the English in Durham Hill, the Irish in Denoon, the Germans in Tess Corners and the Norwegians in Lake Denoon. These settlements still live on today. The town’s first school was soon established in 1839, and the first post office was established in 1848.

Agriculture formed the backbone of the early economy, with products being shipped to Milwaukee by wagon over what came to be called the Janesville Plank Road after the completion of its construction in 1849.

While not only providing easy access to Milwaukee for agricultural goods grown in Muskego, the plank road and other improved roads facilitated easy access from Milwaukee to Muskego for city dwellers seeking recreation and relaxation amongst Muskego’s natural beauty.

In 1904, The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Co. opened a trolley line, Milwaukee residents could then take day trips to Muskego to enjoy the lakes. Many resorts emerged during this time, lining the shores of Little Muskego Lake. Due to the increased influence of the automobile, the trolley line ceased operations in 1939. Muskego continued to be a recreation destination with numerous family cottages, beaches and the Muskego Beach Amusement Park, which opened in 1925.

The 1920s began to see the influence of the automobile age, which would cast the mold for today’s Muskego community.

Easy access to Muskego, provided by improved roads such as Janesville and Loomis Roads, allowed Milwaukee residents more frequent exposure to Muskego. This led to dramatic increases in population.

Along with this increase in the number of residents of Muskego, commerce also grew. Businesses, such as grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants, located in Muskego to capitalize on the ever-increasing population base. Industry located to Muskego to escape the congestion and high taxes of Milwaukee and other older cities. As it can be seen, the challenges that face Muskego today are rooted in the past. Muskego is now faced with balancing the attractive attributes of open spaces, abundant natural beauty, pleasant housing and opportunities for active and passive recreation with the strong desire for people and business to relocate to the area.

For more information about Muskego’s history, visit www.muskegohistory.org.