Waunakee, Wisconsin

Village in Wisconsin, United States

Waunakee, Wisconsin

Village

Downtown Waunakee on Wisconsin Highway 19

Motto:

The Only Waunakee in the World

Location of Waunakee in Dane County, Wisconsin

Coordinates: 43°11′14″N 89°27′8″W﻿ / ﻿43.18722°N 89.45222°W﻿ / 43.18722; -89.45222
Country|  United States
State|  Wisconsin
County| Dane
Government

• Type| Village Board
• Village President| Kristin Runge[1]
• Village Board Trustees|

Trustees

* \- Tricia Braun
* \- Nila Frye
* \- Sam Kaufmann
* \- Robert McPherson
* \- Erin Moran
* \- Joe Zitzelsberger

Area

[2]

• Total| 7.17 sq mi (18.58 km2)
• Land| 7.17 sq mi (18.57 km2)
• Water| 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation

[3]

| 928 ft (283 m)
Population

(2020)[4]

• Total| 14,879
• Density| 1,959.83/sq mi (756.74/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code|

53597

Area code| 608
FIPS code| 55-84350[5]
GNIS feature ID| 1576318[3]
Website| www.vil.waunakee.wi.us
Welcome sign for Waunakee

Waunakee (/ˌwɔːnəˈkiː/)[6] is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was estimated at 16,165 in 2023. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area. Waunakee bills itself as "The Only Waunakee in the World".

## History[edit]

When the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad wanted to expand its line from Madison to Saint Paul, a door was opened for development of a town. The original location of the village was intended to be at Packham's Mill, about where Mill Road crosses the railroad track today two miles southeast of today's downtown Waunakee. However, two local settlers, Louis Baker and George Fish, platted a village on their land two miles further northwest along the railroad. Railroad officials agreed to moving a train depot to the new community in exchange for $1,500 and two miles of right of way.[7] The village was founded in 1871 and formally incorporated in 1893.[8] Baker and Fish did not want to take credit for naming the community, so they asked Simeon Mills and Mr. Hill of Madison to come up with a list. The name "Waunakee" has a Native American origin meaning "fair and pleasant valley."

Robert F. Kennedy visited the village to campaign for his brother John for president in February 1960.[9]

Former First Lady Barbara Bush visited the village to campaign for her son George for president in October 2000.[10]

The landmark Waunakee Railroad Depot located in the central part of town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It now houses the Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce offices.

## Geography[edit]

Waunakee is located at 43°11′14″N 89°27′8″W﻿ / ﻿43.18722°N 89.45222°W﻿ / 43.18722; -89.45222 (43.187253, −89.452244).[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 6.39 square miles (16.55 km2), of which, 6.38 square miles (16.52 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[12]

The village is bordered on the south and east by the town of Westport, the north by the town of Vienna, the northwest by the town of Dane, and to the west by the town of Springfield.

Six Mile Creek, the main waterway through the community, runs west to east before making a southerly turn through the village on its way to Lake Mendota.

## Demographics[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 279| | —
1890| 312| | 11.8%
1900| 443| | 42.0%
1910| 550| | 24.2%
1920| 560| | 1.8%
1930| 640| | 14.3%
1940| 773| | 20.8%
1950| 1,042| | 34.8%
1960| 1,611| | 54.6%
1970| 2,181| | 35.4%
1980| 3,866| | 77.3%
1990| 5,897| | 52.5%
2000| 8,995| | 52.5%
2010| 12,097| | 34.5%
2020| 14,879| | 23.0%
2023 (est.)| 16,165| | 8.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

### 2010 census[edit]

As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 12,097 people, 4,344 households, and 3,316 families living in the village. The population density was 1,896.1 inhabitants per square mile (732.1/km2). There were 4,483 housing units at an average density of 702.7 per square mile (271.3/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.8% White, 1.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 4,344 households, of which 45.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 23.7% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.20.

The median age in the village was 37.9 years. 31.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 9.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

### 2000 census[edit]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 8,995 people, 3,203 households, and 2,379 families living in the village. The population density was 1,509.9 people per square mile (582.7/km2). There were 3,295 housing units at an average density of 553.1 per square mile (213.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 98.07% White, 0.36% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 3,203 households, out of which 46.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 32.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $59,225, and the median income for a family was $67,894. Males had a median income of $45,053 versus $30,163 for females. The per capita income for the village was $25,952. About 0.4% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.4% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.

## Government[edit]

Waunakee is governed by a board consisting of a president and six trustees. The president and trustees are elected to two-year terms during spring elections.[14] The Village President of Waunakee since April 2023 is Kristin Runge.[15] The current village trustees are Tricia Braun (since 2023), Nila Frye (since 2020), Sam Kaufmann (since 2021), Robert McPherson (since 2023), Erin Moran (since 2018), and Joe Zitzelsberger (2018–2020; since 2022).

The village is represented in the Wisconsin State Assembly by Alex Joers (D-Madison) and in the State Senate by Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton).[16] The village's representative on the Dane County Board is Tim Kiefer.[17]

Waunakee Village Presidents[15] Village President  | Tenure

|

Henry Heller  | 1893–1899
Jacob Buhlman  | 1900–1901
Lawrence Freney  | 1901–1904
Henry Heller  | 1904–1906
J.P. O'Malley  | 1906–1908
George E. Lester  | 1908–1909
Almon W. Cameron  | 1909–1914
Herman J. Doll  | 1914–1924
J.H. Koltes  | 1924–1927
Roy W. Cameron  | 1927–1931
Julius Diederich  | 1931–1934
Herman J. Doll  | 1934–1941
Julius Diederich  | 1941–1947
Roy W. Cameron  | 1947–1951
Harvey Solveson  | 1951–1953
Francis Bowles  | 1953–1955
Roy W. Cameron  | 1955–1957
Joseph Hellenbrand  | 1957–1965
Peter Barbian  | 1965–1967
Ed Hellenbrand  | 1967–1973
Allan Dittman  | 1973–1975
Ann Helt  | 1975–1981
Math Laufenberg  | 1981–1987
Tom Marx  | 1987–1990
Maureen O'Malley  | 1990–1995
Tom Marx  | 1995–1997
Tim Nixon  | 1997–2001
Rich Murphy  | 2001–2003
John Laubmeier  | 2003–2015
Chris Zellner  | 2015–2023
Kristin Runge  | 2023-

### Election results[edit]

Waunakee village vote
by party in presidential elections  Year  | Democratic | Republican | Third parties

|
|
|

2020[18] | 63.10% 5,952 | 35.20% 3,324 | 1.70% 159
2016[19] | 56.50% 4,354 | 36.90% 2,842 | 6.60% 512
2012[20] | 55.50% 4,059 | 43.82% 3,202
2008[21] | 58.75% 3,880 | 40.14% 2,651
2004[22] | 50.33% 2,988 | 49.00% 2,909 |
2000[23] | 57.08% 2,659 | 40.62% 1,892 | 2.30% 107
1996[24] | 50.93% 1,725 | 41.30% 1,399 | 7.76% 263
1992[25] | 42.97% 1,411 | 38.67% 1,270 | 18.36% 603
1988[26] | 50.53% 1,234 | 49.47% 1,208
1984[27] | 45.99% 946 | 54.01% 1,111
1980[28] | 55.65% 960 | 44.35% 765
1976[29] | 56.32% 815 | 43.68% 632
1972[30] | 54.26% 630 | 45.74% 531
1968[31] | 62.60% 539 | 37.40% 322
1964[32] | 80.79% 656 | 19.21% 156
1960[33] | 69.44% 500 | 30.56% 220
1956[34] | 42.81% 247 | 56.67% 327
1952[35] | 41.80% 232 | 58.20% 323
1948[36] | 60.55% 264 | 38.30% 167
1940[37] | 61.32% 241 | 38.68% 152
1936[38] | 73.35% 256 | 24.07% 167
1928[39] | 76.20% 269 | 23.80% 84

## Economy[edit]

Waunakee added a local Village Center in 2006 that acts as a central nucleus for the community by offering a fitness center, senior center, meeting rooms, and a gymnasium. The Waunakee Business Park is a 160-acre (0.65 km2) business park development that hosts large and small business operations. Recent years have seen two redevelopments and two new apartment buildings on Main Street, a reconstruction and new streetscape on both Main Street and Century Avenue, a mural on the Waunakee Furniture building, and annual public art displays.[40]

### Top employers[edit]

As of 2018[41] the top employers in the village are:

#  | Employer  | Full-time employees

|
|

1  | Waunakee Community School District  | 575
2  | NORD Gear  | 310
3  | Uniek Plastics  | 300
4  | Octopi Brewing  | 250
5  | Suttle-Straus, Inc.  | 200
6  | Scientific Protein Laboratories | 198
7  | Waunakee Manor, HCC  | 158
8  | Piggly Wiggly  | 145
9  | GFL Environmental | 115
10  | Dane Manufacturing  | 100

## Transportation[edit]

### Major highways[edit]

* Interstate 39/90/94 (concurrently) – has an exit for Waunakee at Wisconsin Highway 19, east of the city
* US Highway 12 – runs 4 miles west of Waunakee, with a connection via WIS-19
* Wisconsin Highway 19 – heads west to Springfield Corners, U.S. 12, and Mazomanie; east to I-39/90/94 and Sun Prairie
* Wisconsin Highway 113 – heads north to Dane, Lodi, Merrimac Ferry, and Baraboo; south to Madison

### Airport[edit]

The Waunakee Airport (FAA ID 6P3) is a privately owned general aviation airport 1-mile (1.6 km) south of the village center. A number of homes are located along the runway, and many have hangars, allowing the airport to function as an airpark.

Commercial air service is provided by Dane County Regional Airport.

### Railroad[edit]

A Wisconsin and Southern railroad line runs through town en route to Dane, Lodi, Baraboo, and Reedsburg.[42]

Waunakee Railroad Depot previously served passengers until 1963.

## Education[edit]

Waunakee is served by the Waunakee Community School District, whose schools include:

* Arboretum Elementary School (serves eastern/southeastern part of school district)
* Heritage Elementary School (serves southern and central part of school district)
* Prairie Elementary School (serves northern and western part of school district)
* Waunakee Intermediate School
* Waunakee Community Middle School
* Waunakee Community High School

The three public elementary schools serve students from kindergarten through 4th grade, the intermediate school 5th and 6th grades, the middle school 7th and 8th grades, and the high school grades 9 through 12.

Private schools include St. John the Baptist Catholic School and Madison Country Day School.

Warrior Stadium is the home of the high school lacrosse, football and track teams. It consists of a synthetic turf field.

## Notable people[edit]

* Martha Bablitch, Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals; lived in Waunakee
* John Bennett, 1956 Summer Olympics long jump silver medalist; lived in Waunakee
* Ernest J. Briskey, Vice President, Technical and Administration of Campbell Soup Company; Dean of Agricultural Science of Oregon State University; lived in Waunakee
* Ron Dayne, Heisman Trophy winner (1999), College Football Hall of Famer, NFL player; lived in Waunakee
* Bernice Fitz-Gibbon, advertising executive; born outside of Waunakee
* Edward E. Fitzgibbon, Wisconsin State Representative; born and lived outside of Waunakee
* Pat Ford, ice hockey player; lives in Waunakee
* Lawrence Johnson, NFL cornerback; lives in Waunakee
* Kenneth A. Koon, Army National Guard general; native of Waunakee
* Mike Moh, martial artist/actor; lives in Waunakee
* David D. O'Malley, Wisconsin State Representative; lived in Waunakee
* Cy Pieh, Major League Baseball player; born in Waunakee
* Robert Campbell Reeve, founder of Reeve Aleutian Airways; born in Waunakee
* Jack Salzwedel, chairman and CEO of American Family Insurance; lives in Waunakee
* Kelly Sheffield, Wisconsin Badgers women's volleyball coach; lives in Waunakee
* Georgia Thompson, civil servant; lived in Waunakee
* J.B. Van Hollen, former Attorney General of Wisconsin; lives in Waunakee

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Board of Trustees". Village of Waunakee. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
3. ^ a b "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
5. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. ^ 'Miss Pronouncer: Wisconsin's Pronunciation Guide: Waunakee, Wisconsin
7. ^ "History of Waunakee". Village of Waunakee. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
8. ^ "Village of Waunakee History". Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
9. ^ "Around Town". The Waunakee Tribune. March 3, 1960. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
10. ^ Baumann, Roberta (April 26, 2018). "Barbara Bush touched hearts in Waunakee, too". The Waunakee Tribune. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
11. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
12. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
13. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
14. ^ Waunakee Board of Trustees Overview
15. ^ a b Village Presidents by date
16. ^ "Find Your Legislator". Wisconsin Legislative Districts Interactive Map. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
17. ^ "Supervisory District 25 Map" (PDF). Dane County. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
18. ^ Dane County Elections. "2020 General Election Results". Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
19. ^ Dane County Elections. "2016 General Election Results". Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
20. ^ Dane County Elections. "2012 General Election Results". Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
21. ^ Dane County Elections. "2008 General Election Results". Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
22. ^ Dane County Elections. "2004 General Election Results". Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
23. ^ Dane County Elections. "2000 General Election Results". Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
24. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1996 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
25. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1992 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
26. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1988 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
27. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1984 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
28. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1980 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
29. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1976 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
30. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1972 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
31. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1968 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
32. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1964 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
33. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1960 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
34. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1956 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
35. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1956 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
36. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1948 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
37. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1940 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
38. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1936 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
39. ^ Waunakee Election Results. "1928 General Election Results". Retrieved June 20, 2021.
40. ^ "Mutts on Main - 2019 | Waunakee, WI - Official Website". waunakee.com. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
41. ^ "Waunakee Community Economic Profile". Village of Waunakee. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
42. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 18, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

## External links[edit]

* Village of Waunakee
* Waunakee Tribune newspaper
* Sanborn fire insurance map: 1894

* v
* t
* e

City of Madison and metropolitan area

Surrounding
communities|

| (over 10,000)|

* DeForest‡
* Fitchburg°
* Middleton°
* Monroe°
* Oregon‡
* Portage°
* Stoughton°
* Sun Prairie°
* Verona°
* Waunakee‡

|

(under 10,000)|

* Albany‡
* Arena‡
* Arlington‡
* Ashton†
* Avoca‡
* Belleville‡
* Blanchardville‡
* Blooming Grove*
* Barneveld‡
* Bristol*
* Brodhead°
* Brooklyn‡
* Browntown‡
* Burke*
* Cambria‡
* Cobb‡
* Columbus‡
* Cottage Grove‡
* Dunkirk*
* Dodgeville°
* Doylestown‡
* Dunn*
* Fall River‡
* Friesland‡
* Highland‡
* Hope†
* Hollandale‡
* Juda§
* Linden‡
* Livingston‡
* Lodi‡
* Lake Wisconsin§
* Maple Bluff‡
* McFarland‡
* Mineral Point°
* Mt Horeb‡
* Monona°
* Montfort‡
* Monticello‡
* Montrose*
* Muscoda‡
* New Glarus‡
* Pardeville‡
* Pleasant Springs*
* Poynette‡
* Randolph‡
* Rewey‡
* Ridgeway‡
* Rio‡
* Shorewood Hills‡
* Springfield*
* Westport*
* Wisconsin Dells°
* Windsor‡
* Wyocena‡

Counties|

* Columbia
* Dane
* Green
* Iowa

Geographic regions|

* Central Plain
* Driftless Area
* Eastern Ridges and Lowlands
* Western Upland

Reservation lands|

* Ho-Chunk Reservation

*town ‡village °city §CDP †unincorporated community

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Dane County, Wisconsin, United States

County seat: Madison

Cities|

* Edgerton‡
* Fitchburg
* Madison
* Middleton
* Monona
* Stoughton
* Sun Prairie
* Verona

Villages|

* Belleville‡
* Black Earth
* Blue Mounds
* Brooklyn‡
* Cambridge‡
* Cottage Grove
* Cross Plains
* Dane
* Deerfield
* DeForest
* Maple Bluff
* Marshall
* Mazomanie
* McFarland
* Mount Horeb
* Oregon
* Rockdale
* Shorewood Hills
* Waunakee
* Windsor

Towns|

* Albion
* Berry
* Black Earth
* Blooming Grove
* Blue Mounds
* Bristol
* Burke
* Christiana
* Cottage Grove
* Cross Plains
* Dane
* Deerfield
* Dunkirk
* Dunn
* Madison
* Mazomanie
* Medina
* Middleton
* Montrose
* Oregon
* Perry
* Pleasant Springs
* Primrose
* Roxbury
* Rutland
* Springdale
* Springfield
* Sun Prairie
* Vermont
* Verona
* Vienna
* Westport
* York

Unincorporated
communities|

* Albion
* Aldens Corners
* Ashton
* Basco
* Burke
* Daleyville
* Deansville
* Door Creek
* Dunkirk
* East Bristol
* Elvers
* Five Points
* Forward
* Hanerville
* Highwood
* Hillside
* Hoffman Corners
* Hope
* Indian Heights
* Kegonsa
* Kingsley Corners
* Klevenville
* London‡
* Lutheran Hill
* Martinsville
* Marxville
* Middleton Junction
* Morrisonville
* Montrose
* Mount Vernon
* Nora
* Norway Grove
* Old Deerfield
* Paoli
* Pierceville
* Pine Bluff
* Primrose
* Riley
* Roxbury
* Rutland
* Seminary Springs
* Springfield Corners
* Stone
* Token Creek
* Utica
* Vermont
* Vilas
* West Middleton
* York Center

Neighborhoods|

* Fitchburg Center
* Lake Windsor
* Oak Hall

Indian
reservation|

* Ho-Chunk Indian Reservation‡

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Wisconsin portal
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Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

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*[%±]: Percent change
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