Kenosha, WI

As the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin, Kenosha boasts a population of approximately 96,000 residents. It is situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, roughly 32 miles south of Milwaukee. With its shoreline views and close proximity to Milwaukee and Chicago, Kenosha is regarded by many to be an ideal commuter city. In 2005, Money magazine named Kenosha one of the top 100 best places to live in the United States.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Kenosha accommodates more than 36,000 homes, of which more than 34,500 are occupied. Roughly 38 percent of occupants are renters.

The city's most affluent neighborhood is southwest of downtown Kenosha, in the vicinity of Green Bay Road and 85th Street. More affordable homes are in the heart of downtown around 63rd Street and 18th Avenue.

GETTING AROUND

Residents and visitors to Kenosha can access the city using Interstate 94, which runs along the city's west side. Other busy roads include Highway 142, which traverses the city from east to west, and Highway 32, which runs along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, straight into Kenosha's downtown.

Kenosha is the only city in Wisconsin that is served by the Illinois-based Metra Rail system. Amtrak's Hiawatha line also stops in Kenosha.

The Kenosha Airport is located on 52nd Street and offers private airplane rides off its runways. Although it does not have scheduled passenger service, there are three companies that offer flight lessons at the airport.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Many of Kenosha's residents commute to jobs outside of the city limits, but tourism is on the rise and is a solid provider of both area revenue and full-time jobs. Other major industries include educational and health services and manufacturing.

Several major companies employ the residents of Kenosha, including:

• Abbott Laboratories, a pharmaceuticals company. It has a 500-acre facility located southwest of Kenosha and is the largest private employer in the area.
• Snap-on, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of automotive mechanics tools and equipment
• DaimlerChrysler has an automotive engine plant in Kenosha

FAMILY FUN

• Dairyland Greyhound Park: Located at the intersection of Interstate 94 and Highway 158, the dog racing track offers daily live greyhound races. At the same time, gamblers and spectators can view horse and greyhound races on numerous televisions, as they are simulcast from around the country.
• Electric Streetcar Circular: Kenosha's electric streetcar transports visitors on a roughly two-mile loop, providing scenic views of the downtown business district and the Lake Michigan shoreline.
• Jelly Belly Center: Located in the southern neighborhood of Pleasant Prairie, the factory offers free tours on an indoor train for visitors young and old.

FOR VISITORS

• Kenosha Public Museum: Established in 1933, this museum's collection contains tens of thousands of individual pieces from around the world, ranging from fine art to cultural artifacts.
• Kenosha History Center: The campus of this center is comprised of a lighthouse that dates back to the 1860s and a utility pumping station, which houses the actual history center. Inside the center are exhibit galleries, the main offices of the historical society, and the historical archives. The entire campus is situated directly off the shores of Lake Michigan on 51st Place.
• Civil War Museum: This approximately 15,000-square-foot museum is dedicated to the Civil War, and the various people who played key roles in the conflict. Located on First Avenue, the museum contains permanent and revolving exhibitions, and frequently enlists volunteers to participate in various Civil War reenactments.
• Dinosaur Discovery Museum: This museum displays fossils that demonstrate the connection between birds and prehistoric meat-eating dinosaurs. Several of the fossils are unique to the museum. The museum also houses the Carthage Institute of Paleontology, which is dedicated to preserving dinosaur fossils.

EVENTS

The largest one-day, alcohol-free sporting event in Kenosha, Food, Folks, and Spokes occurs annually at the end of July in Library Park. This festival attracts more than 20,000 spectators who watch the International Cycling Classic Pro-Am bike races, enjoy the numerous food options, or simply enjoy the entertainment.

EDUCATION

• University of Wisconsin-Parkside is a state university with a sizeable student body. UW-Parkside offers a wide range of undergraduate majors, as well as several pre-professional courses of study, including programs in the dental, law, medical, and veterinary medicine fields. It also offers graduate programs in business administration, applied molecular biology, and computer and informational science. Its athletic programs are part of the NCAA Division II, making it the only Division II university in the state. The school also belongs to the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
• Carthage College is a private liberal arts and sciences college that is associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Serving both full- and part-time students, Carthage offers numerous fields of study. Its athletic teams participate in the NCAA Division III athletics in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
• Gateway Technical College is a community college with three major campuses, one of which is in Kenosha; the other two are in nearby Racine and Elkhorn. Gateway specializes in commuter learning, allowing students to learn in the comforts of their own homes. Thousands of students sign up for online classes annually, with many of them enrolled full-time in one of the college's numerous career-training programs.

LOCAL MEDIA

Kenosha residents stay up-to-date on community news with the daily Kenosha News newspaper and the Daily Kenoshan online community.