Elkhart Lake is a
village
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...
in northwestern
Sheboygan County, Wisconsin
Sheboygan County () is a county (United States), county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is named after the Sheboygan River. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 118,034. Its county seat is Sheboygan, Wisconsi ...
, United States. The population was 941 at the
2020 census.
It is located within the
Town of Rhine and is included in the
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Sheboygan () is a city in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. The population was 49,929 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Sheboygan Metropolitan statistical area, metropolitan area, which has a pop ...
metropolitan area
A metropolitan area or metro is a region consisting of a densely populated urban area, urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories which share Industry (economics), industries, commercial areas, Transport infrastructure, transport network ...
. Elkhart Lake may be best known for hosting road races on public county roads during the 1950s, later moving to a dedicated race track called
Road America
Road America is a motorsport Road racing, road course located near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 67. It has hosted races since the 1950s and currently hosts races in the IndyCar Series, IMSA SportsCar Championship, Sports Car Club ...
, which is located a few miles south of the village.
History
The area was first inhabited by the
Potawatomi Indians and they named the area “Me-shay-way-odeh-ni-bis”, or Great Elk Heart Lake, because the lake resembles an
elk's heart. Few people traveled to the area until the 1860s when the Mississippi Railroad came to
Glenbeulah, making it possible for them to take a stagecoach the rest of the way to Elkhart. In 1872 the
Milwaukee and Northern Railroad came into Elkhart and brought more travelers. The area was incorporated as Elkhart Lake in 1894.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the village has a total area of , of which, of it is land and is water.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2010, there were 967 people, 457 households, and 286 families living in the village. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
was . There were 706 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 97.7%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 0.2%
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.9%
Native American, 0.8% from
other races, and 0.3% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.
There were 457 households, of which 18.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.4% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.58.
The median age in the village was 48.9 years. 15.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 34.7% were from 45 to 64; and 21.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.
2000 census
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 1,021 people, 436 households, and 292 families living in the village. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
was 790.5 people per square mile (305.6/km
2). There were 599 housing units at an average density of 463.8 per square mile (179.3/km
2). The racial makeup of the village was 98.73%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 0.10%
Asian, 0.39% from
other races, and 0.78% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population.
There were 436 households, out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 18.0% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $56,538, and the median income for a family was $60,694. Males had a median income of $37,708 versus $26,776 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the village was $27,873. About 0.7% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Racing
Racing at Elkhart Lake dates back to the 1950s. The very first races were held on July 23, 1950, on a 3.35 mile road circuit north of the lake. These first races were very successful for the time, drawing a crowd of over 5,000. Races were originally held on a street circuit that ran around the Lake with the start/finish line in the village. In 1951 and 1952, races were held on a new 6.5 mile circuit that circumvented the Lake. The 1951 races drew an estimated crowd of 50,000 spectators and the 1952 races saw an estimated crowd of over 100,000 people. The 1952 races would be the last races held on the open road circuit. Three years later, a new, specially designed track was built south of the village.
Road America
Road America is a motorsport Road racing, road course located near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 67. It has hosted races since the 1950s and currently hosts races in the IndyCar Series, IMSA SportsCar Championship, Sports Car Club ...
was built in 1955 with the first racing being held on September 10 & 11, 1955. Each year, Road America holds over 425 events, one of the most popular being the
Kohler International Challenge in July. The economic impact from the track, its events, and visitors is estimated at $70 million annually.
Arts and culture
Annual cultural events
Every July, during the
Kohler International Challenge, ''
Road & Track
''Road & Track'' (stylized as ''R&T'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine first published 1947. It is owned by Hearst Magazines and is published six times per year. The editorial offices are located in New York City.
History
''Road ...
'' holds a
race car
Race, RACE or The Race may refer to:
* Race (biology), an informal taxonomic classification within a species, generally within a sub-species
* Race (human categorization), classification of humans into groups based on physical traits, and/or s ...
Concours d'Elegance
Concours d'Elegance ( French: ''concours d'élégance'') is a term of French origin that means a "competition of elegance" and refers to an event where prestigious vehicles are displayed and judged. It dates back to 17th-century France, where a ...
in the village. This draws a large crowd as people line the streets from
Road America
Road America is a motorsport Road racing, road course located near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 67. It has hosted races since the 1950s and currently hosts races in the IndyCar Series, IMSA SportsCar Championship, Sports Car Club ...
to the shore of Elkhart Lake watching the cars drive past on their way to downtown Elkhart Lake. The cars park in the streets of Elkhart Lake, mainly on Lake Street, where curious visitors, car enthusiasts, and other racers alike walk up and down the streets looking at the cars. As the concourse comes to a close, ''Road & Track'' announces the winner of various awards including the best-looking car award. The cars return to the track around 7:30 pm, just before the sun sets because many of the cars do not have headlights.
Jazz on the Vine is an annual festival held in May. Jazz musicians from all over the United States come to the festival to perform.
Tourism
There are several museums in Elkhart Lake, including the Elkhart Lake Depot Museum and Henschel's Indian Museum. The Elkhart Lake Depot Museum is a century-old railroad station that has original depot furnishings and local memorabilia. Henschel's Indian Museum is located on an archaeological dig site and has a collection of Indian copper, pottery and artifacts that date back to 8,000 BC.
Parks and recreation
Two parks in the area are Broughton Sheboygan Marsh Park and Fireman's Park and Swimming Beach. Broughton Sheboygan Marsh Park has campsites, fishing, picnic and camping areas and access to a snowmobile trail system. Fireman's Park and Swimming Beach is a seasonal sand beach.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Elkhart Lake is served by the
Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah School District. Schools in the district include Elkhart Lake Elementary/Middle School and
Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah High School.
Public libraries
The Elkhart Lake Public Library was established in 1906 and was originally located in an old hotel. The library serves Elkhart Lake and several communities in the area.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Elkhart Lake is located approximately one mile southeast of the northern terminus of the
Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive. The Scenic Drive was part of the road racing circuit used in the 1950s.
Wisconsin Highway 67 runs north/south through the city. Secondary routes include County Highway A from the northeast. County Highway J runs concurrent with the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive through the city. They enter the city from the northwest, run north/south through the center of the city, and exit to the southwest.
Notable people
*
Leonard Bloomfield
Leonard Bloomfield (April 1, 1887 – April 18, 1949) was an American linguist who led the development of structural linguistics in the United States during the 1930s and the 1940s. He is considered to be the father of American distributionalis ...
, linguist, spent part of his childhood in Elkhart Lake
*
Patrick Geraghty, farmer, schoolteacher and legislator
*
Nicolas Hammann, racing driver
*
Otto A. La Budde, businessman, legislator, and president of the village of Elkhart Lake.
*
Francis E. McGovern, 22nd Governor of Wisconsin, born in Elkhart Lake
References
Further reading
* ''"A Photographic History of Elkhart Lake"'' by Peter Laun, published by Sun Graphics, 2002.
External links
Village of Elkhart LakeElkhart Lake Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Villages in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin
Villages in Wisconsin
1894 establishments in Wisconsin
Populated places established in 1894