Mequon, Wisconsin
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Mequon is a city located in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 21,823. The estimated population in 2002 was 23,261. The current mayor is Christine Nuernberg. Her term expires in 2007.
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History
The area was first originally inhabited by members of the Potawatomi and Menomonee Indian tribes. European trappers, explorers and traders used the Milwaukee River through the middle of the current city as a means of transportation. The name "Mequon" is thought to have come a Native-American word "Miguan," meaning ladle. This refers to how the Milwaukee River curves like ladle in the Mequon area. The spelling was undoubtedly influenced by the French in the area at the time.
Between 1834 and 1836, Brink and 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 western Mequon township. The first Luthern church in Wisconsin was built by these families in 1840.
John Henry Thien, an wealthy immigrant from Saxony, travelled north from Milwaukee and settled along the Milwaukee River, where his family made a dam and grist mill. This area, one square mile in the middle of Mequon township, later was incorporated as the village of Thiensville in 1910.
The town of Mequon was incorporated as the City of Mequon in 1957.
Mequon recently become partly developed by sprawl pushing northward from Milwaukee's closer suburbs. The town can now be divided into two sections: The wealthy, newer east side and the rural, less wealthy west side.
Geography
WIMap-doton-Mequon.png
Location of Mequon, Wisconsin
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 121.3 km² (46.8 mi²). 119.6 km² (46.2 mi²) of it is land and 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.35% water.
Mequon is the fourth-largest city in terms of land area in the state of Wisconsin.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 21,823 people, 7,861 households, and 6,406 families residing in the city. The population density is 182.5/km² (472.5/mi²). There are 8,162 housing units at an average density of 68.2/km² (176.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 1.20% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 7,861 households out of which 38.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.8% are married couples living together, 4.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% are non-families. 16.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.75 and the average family size is 3.09.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $90,733, and the median income for a family is $101,793. Males have a median income of $72,762 versus $40,280 for females. The per capita income for the city is $48,333. 1.7% of the population and 1.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.2% of those under the age of 18 and 2.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Colleges and Universities
Milwaukee Area Technical College
External links
Mequon-Thiensville Chamber of Commerce (http://mtchamber.org) City of Mequon Website (http://ci.mequon.wi.us) Early history of Mequon (http://www.rootsweb.com/~wiozauke/histories/Mequon.html)