Adjacent to the City of Milwaukee, Waukesha (WAW - kih - sha'), Wisconsin - the largest city and county seat of Waukesha County - offers an enviable mix of urban and rural amenities and conveniences.

Prior to 1820, the entire Wisconsin Territory was home to nomadic Native Americans and European fur trappers and traders. Forested wilderness and open prairie land stretched across the territory. However, when Solomon Juneau built his home in what came to be called Milwaukee, the era of settlement for the Territory now called Wisconsin had begun. Beyond the fast-growing "Milwokie" settlement ("gathering place by the waters"), more population centers slowly emerged along the still well-traveled Watertown Plank road connecting the burgeoning metropolis with western parts of what would soon be designated by the U.S. government as "The Wisconsin Territory." On May 7, 1834, Morris Cutler built his home near an American Indian settlement on the Fox River in what is now called Waukesha County. The area began to attract others, and soon the community, then called Prairieville, was born.

Prairieville grew quickly after the territory was opened up in 1836. The next year, Joel Bidwell donated the land to build the first public schoolhouse in the area and within three years, another institution of education was founded. Prairieville Academy, later to be renamed as Carroll College, was built following a donation of land by Bidwell's son William. In 1846, Waukesha County was formed and - as the county seat - Prairieville was renamed as the Village of Waukesha, the native name for an earlier Indian village in this locale; the name meant meaning "burnt land" Historic sites abound throughout Waukesha County and include the very popular "Old World Wisconsin" natural pioneer village near East Troy, the Dousman Stagecoach Inn (Brookfield), Hawks Stagecoach Inn (Delafield) and the Old Muskego Settlement (Muskego).

Its early days were very important in establishing the character of the Waukesha area. Newspapers, mills, hotels, smithies, and quarries sprang up and the population climbed. Shortly before the Civil War, Waukesha came to be known as the "Abolitionist Hole" for the community's adamant support for the freedom of black southern slaves. Waukesha quarry owner Lyman Goodnow was among many locals active in the Underground Railroad by helping young slave girls escape to Canada.

Today, beautiful landscapes, intriguing history and spirited people, quaint shops, friendly people, natural beauty and historic treasurers offer residents continuous rustic and urban venues to explore. Waukesha welcomes residents and visitors year-round to enjoy activities in the heart of the community, including the Fox River Parkway and revitalized downtown. Besides the aforementioned historic attractions, unique natural wonders dot Waukesha County and its Kettle Moraine State Forest and Museum of Natural History. On the eastern edge of Waukesha County, located just east of the City of Waukesha, towns and cities like Brookfield, New Berlin, Butler, Menomonee Falls and Pewaukee form parts of the Greater Milwaukee Metropolitan Area - highly commercial yet semi-rural bedroom communities popular among executives, management and skilled workers employed in either Waukesha or Milwaukee.

The City of Waukesha takes pride in a heritage of prosperity, and a future focused on providing the community with outstanding services for young to old. The community's values - strong employment, leading education, public safety, culture and recreation - support these services.

For more information on activities in and around Waukesha Wisconsin, visit: