OZAUKEE COUNTY
County Offices
121 West Main Street
Port Washington
262-238-6400
www.co.ozaukee.wi.us
Chamber of Commerce
126 East Grand Avenue
Port Washington
262-284-0900
www.visitportwashington.com/chamber/
Services
Just 15 minutes north of downtown Milwaukee along the route to Green Bay lies the picturesque rural county of Ozaukee. Although the largest city has only 25,000 residents, close proximity to metropolitan Milwaukee combines with historic charm and close-knit small communities to offer an outstanding quality of life. In addition to the leading hospitals, medical centers, and specialty clinics in Milwaukee, Ozaukee County supports a full-service hospital within its boundaries. St. Mary’s Ozaukee in Mequon is part of the Columbia-St. Mary’s Healthy System, an organization that encompasses four hospitals, 24 clinics, a college of nursing, a partnership with the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin, and several children’s schools. The modern St. Mary’s campus was built in 1994 and designed around the needs of the community to balance advanced technology with compassionate, personalized care. A physician officer tower occupies part of the campus for added convenience.
Quality public school districts serve the area with a strong core curriculum, abundant extracurricular activities, favorable pupil-teacher ratios, and special programs for the gifted and challenged. The opportunities for higher education within a reasonable commute include a graduate-degree-granting public university, community and technical colleges, and several private colleges and universities. Closer to home, the Waukesha County Technical College serves residents of Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties with campuses in Menomonee Falls, Pewaukee, and Waukesha. This newly expanded institution serves as a student learning centered college with more than 60 technical diplomas and associate of applied science degrees in business, industry, service, and health careers. Smaller classes, more affordable tuition, and fast-track career programs equip students of all ages with the skills and knowledge needed in a highly competitive and constantly changing world.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to the grand east-coast county of Ozaukee will discover some of the most charming and friendly small towns in the metropolitan region. The entire area is filled with treasures from yesterday, picturesque waterfront scenes, and the pleasure of country living. The county recently dedicated the Ozaukee Interurban Trail, a multi-purpose commuter and recreational trail that follows the former interurban electric railway that ran from downtown Milwaukee to downtown Sheboygan. Walkers, bikers, in-line skaters, cross-country skiers, birdwatchers, and non-motor vehicle users can all enjoy this exceptional pathway. Other common pastimes in Ozaukee County include golfing, nature hikes, shopping in unique districts, and excellent opportunities for fine and casual dining.
Lake Michigan and Wisconsin’s unique geological formation from the lakefront bluffs to ravines and hollows offer a recreational paradise for outdoor activity and enjoyment. More than 50 lakes and five rivers combine with Lake Michigan to support every imaginable water sport. Port Washington’s marina is considered by many to be the finest along the West Shore, graced by the picturesque Art Deco 1930s lighthouse at the end of the breakwater. Shoreline fishing, charter fishing, swimming off the beach, boating, sailing, and water sports are all popular. Just a few miles inland, horseback riding opportunities abound. Sauk Creek Nature Preserve offers walking paths and great fishing, while the Lion’s Den Gorge preserves a diverse coastal ecosystem surrounded by urbanization. Riveredge Nature Center west of Port Washington and is distinguished as one of the largest nature centers in southeastern Wisconsin. Harrington Beach State Park is a favored site for swimming, hiking, fishing, and picnicking.
Small-town intimacy, quaint boardwalks, historic jewels, serene countryside, and a kaleidoscope of attractive housing continue to draw new residents to Ozaukee County. Attractions in this corner of the metropolitan region include art galleries and studios, a University of Wisconsin Research Station, fine museums, the Cedarburg Cultural Center, the Cedar Creek Winery, Covered Bridge Park, the National Flag Day Foundation Americanism Center, and Harrington Beach State Park. Unique octagon barns, the last covered bridge in Wisconsin, wonderful produce stands and u-pick orchards, Port Washington Marina and Harbor, and the living museum of Pioneer Village are just a few of the highlights that give Ozaukee County such undeniable appeal.
Belgium
Village Hall
262-285-7931
www.village.belgium.wi.us
Chamber of Commerce
262-284-0900
www.visitportwashington.com/chamber/
Proud of it unique heritage associated with the country of Luxembourg, the Village of Belgium is featured on the Wisconsin Ethnic Settlement Trail route. The Luxembourg Heritage Museum is located in nearby Dacada. The community also celebrates the Luxembourg Fest each August, heralded by the Antique Farm Tractor Parade. Enjoying a prime location off Interstate 43, Belgium is west of beautiful Harrington Beach State Park for exceptional recreational opportunities around the four seasons. The Quarry Lake walk with its historic markers, wonderful golf courses, vintage homes, and magnificent old churches are points of pride. While this charming community offers a warm and friendly hometown to its residents, it attracts many visitors from Europe who appreciate Belgium’s rich history, genealogy, and quiet beauty.
Cedarburg
City Hall
262-375-7600
www.ci.cedarburg.wi.us
Chamber of Commerce
262-377-5856
www.cedarburg.org
Graced by the beauty of Cedar Creek, the quaint city of Cedarburg is recognized for its natural beauty, fine antique shopping, cozy restaurants, fascinating museums, and gracious historic inns. The community fills the calendar with festivals, celebrations, and special events for a family friend atmosphere. Many of the original limestone and cream city brick buildings date back 150 years, and landmark preservation is a community priority. The downtown Washington Avenue corridor is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, showcasing more than 100 grand structures. Located 20 minutes north of Milwaukee, the city also features part of the Ozaukee Interurban Trail and the award-winning Cedar Creek Winery as local attractions.
Fredonia, Waubeka
Village Hall
262-692-9125
http://www.co.ozaukee.wi.us/
www.nationalflagday.com
Chamber of Commerce
262-284-0900
www.visitportwashington.com/
Nestled between Highway 57 and the Milwaukee River, the village of Fredonia covers rolling hills with a variety of housing that ranges from 1880s vintage architecture to contemporary styling. Offering a small-town atmosphere, the village encompasses the famous Waubeka area, the birthplace of National Flag Day. Other major attractions in this area include Ozaukee County Pioneer Village, Waubedoonia Park, the National Flag Day Foundation Americanism Center, Fredonia Park, tennis courts, Hawthorne Hills Golf Course, wonderful festivals, and opportunities for fishing and canoeing. Several factories and an industrial park complement the major economic activity of agriculture. Rural charm graces homes that range from country estates and mini-farms for horses and hobby farming to renovated colonials and contemporary ranch houses.
Grafton
Village Hall
262-375-5300
www.village.grafton.wi.us
Town Hall
262-377-8500
www.village.grafton.wi.us
Chamber of Commerce
262-377-1650
www.grafton-wi.org
Located in the heart of southeastern Wisconsin’s panoramic lake country, the Grafton area boasts small-town charm and a friendly, relaxed setting. Outstanding schools, handsome churches, lovely homes, superb medical facilities, fine restaurants, and abundant opportunities for shopping create a self-contained community. Interstate 43 provides a quick commute to regional destinations. Family farms, challenging golf courses, outdoor ice-skating rinks, and the Ozaukee Interurban Trail combine with fishing and water sports on the Milwaukee River to fill leisure hours with relaxation and activity. Diverse stores, shops, and services add to the convenience of daily living. Wonderful festivals, parades, and summer concerts in the park add to the appeal of
this growing community.
Mequon, Thiensville
Mequon City Hall
262-242-3100
https://www.ci.mequon.wi.us/
Thiensville City Hall
262-242-3720
www.village.thiensville.wi.us
Chamber of Commerce
262-512-9358
www.mtchamber.org
Sharing a chamber of commerce, the closely aligned communities of Mequon and Thiensville attract newcomers to an atmosphere of country charm and urban convenience on the western shores of Lake Michigan. The city of Mequon actually surrounds the centerpiece village of Thiensville, covering just one square mile. Residential and suburban in character, this area features highly rated public schools, fine homes, historic districts and sites, outstanding shopping, popular golf courses, wonderful restaurants, and colorful community events,. Mequon covers nearly 50 square miles just 20 minutes from Milwaukee, encompassing majestic lake bluffs, lush farmland, expansive open space, and many stately homes. Other highlights include the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, St. Mary’s Hospital-Ozaukee, the Ozaukee Interurban Trail, and the Frank L. Weyenberg Library of Mequon-Thiensville.
Port Washington
City Hall
262-284-5585
http://www.cityofportwashington.com
Chamber of Commerce
262-284-0900
www.visitportwashington.com/chamber/
Melding all the charm and picturesque wonder of a New England fishing village with Midwestern friendliness, Port Washington is the home of “Fish Day” and the “World’s Largest One Day Outdoor Fish Fry.” Drawing crowds to one of the state’s largest parades, the event features multiple stages of live entertainment and an elaborate arts and crafts show. This natural harbor and paradise for anglers, boaters, and sports enthusiasts features some of the region’s finest seafood restaurants. The new marina crowns spectacular waterfront activities and enhances the quaint appeal of the community. Homes in this area range from custom properties perched on bluffs overlooking the lake to bungalows and grand older homes shaded by ancient trees. Highlights include miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, more than 112 acres of parks with playgrounds, and easy access to Milwaukee via Interstate 43.
Saukville
Village Hall
262-284-9423
www.village.saukville.wi.us
Chamber of Commerce
262-268-1970
www.village.saukville.wi.us
One of the fastest-growing communities in the state, Saukville nestled in the panoramic countryside north of Milwaukee. Deep woods contrast with sparkling waters to create a backdrop of breathtaking scenery for this serene small town that serves as an important link on Wisconsin’s Ethnic Settlement Trail. The quaint downtown park has been beautifully restored with old-fashioned streetlights, curving brick walks, and a turn-of-the-century bandstand. More than 30 historical buildings and sites dot the community. Colorful celebrations include Saukville in September, the Crossroads Rendezvous in May, and spectacular July Fourth festivities with an old-fashioned parade. Riveredge Nature Center provides a peaceful retreat for nature study, hiking, and relaxation. The Bog offers the challenge of an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, while Pioneer Village draws visitors to a living history museum.
