Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Lake Geneva is a city of 8,521 people in Walworth County, Wisconsin.
Why visit Lake Geneva
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 16 parks and trails, 49 places to eat, 13 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Emagine Geneva Lakes, Geneva Lake Museum, Horticultural Hall and Big Foot Beach State Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 15°F, and about 40 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Lake Geneva
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. Situated on Geneva Lake, the population was 8,277 at the 2020 census. It is located 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Milwaukee and 75 miles (121 km) northwest of Chicago.
From the Wikipedia article Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Emagine Geneva Lakes
Cinema and theater · 2.2 mi
2565 State Highway 120, Lake Geneva
Museums and landmarks8
Horticultural Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Building in Wisconsin, United States of America
Main Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic district in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, United States
Maple Park Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic district in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Meyerhofer Cobblestone House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic house in Wisconsin, United States
Redwood Cottage
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Building in Wisconsin, United States
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The Riviera
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Marina and mixed-use meeting hall at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds16
Four Seasons Nature Preserve
Hiking and trails · 2.0 mi
1875 County Highway H
dawn-dusk
4 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes49
Clock Tower Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza, Burger, Regional, Sandwich · 0.8 mi
272 Broad Street
Su 11:00-17:00; Mo,We-Th 11:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-20:00
Joni's Diner
Restaurant · Coffee Shop, American · 0.6 mi
111 South Wells Street, Lake Geneva
We-Su 07:00-15:00
Mama Cimino's
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.6 mi
131 North Wells Street, Lake Geneva
Su-Th 16:00-01:00; Fr-Sa 16:00-03:00
Sabai Sabai
Restaurant · Thai · 0.8 mi
306 Center Street
Tu-Fr 11:30-14:30, 16:00-21:00; Sa 12:00-14:30, 15:30-21:30
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.7 mi
685 Main Street, Lake Geneva
Mo-Fr 05:00-20:00; Sa,Su 05:30-20:00
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.0 mi
281 North Edwards Boulevard, Lake Geneva
Mo-Fr 05:00-21:00; Sa, Su 05:30-21:00
Barrique Bistro and Wine Bar
Bar and pub · 0.8 mi
835 Wrigley Drive, Lake Geneva
Tu-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-20:00; PH off
Geneva Tap House
Bar and pub · 0.8 mi
244 Broad Street, Lake Geneva
Su-Th 12:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-23:00
37 more on the map.
History
Originally called "Maunk-suck" (Big Foot)" after the man who led the local band of the Potawatomi in the first half of the 19th century, the city was later named Geneva after the town of Geneva, New York, which government surveyor John Brink thought it resembled. To avoid confusion with the nearby town of Geneva, Wisconsin, it was later renamed "Lake Geneva".
After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, a number of wealthy and prominent Chicago industrialists fled to the shores of Geneva Lake—then a popular summer camp destination—by train. Many of the families built palatial summer homes on the lake, which led it to be nicknamed the "Newport of the West." Lake Geneva remains a popular summer tourism destination for boating, water sports, and viewing the mansions, which can be seen from the public Geneva Lake Shore Path. Two historic Lake Geneva mansions are open to the public: the Baker House, built in 1885, now a bed-and-breakfast; and Black Point, the lakefront summer estate built for beer baron Conrad Seipp in 1888 in the nearby town of Linn, now a Wisconsin Historical Society museum. Other famous residents who built or have owned mansions on Geneva Lake include the Wrigleys, the Schwinns, Otto Young, and Richard Driehaus.
In 1954, Lake Geneva was one of the three finalists for the location of the new United States Air Force Academy, but lost to Colorado Springs, Colorado.
From the History section of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay13
Grand Geneva Resort and Spa
Motel and hotel · 2.2 mi
7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva
T C Smith Historic Inn Bed & Breakfast
Motel and hotel · 1.0 mi
834 Dodge Street, Lake Geneva
Churches and places of worship3
Shopping12
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries17
Healthcare4
DaVita Dialysis
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.3 mi
650 North Edwards Boulevard, Lake Geneva
Map of Lake Geneva
128 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 15°F | 1.9 in | 13.9 in |
| Feb | 34°F | 17°F | 1.9 in | 8.1 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 26°F | 2.3 in | 4.8 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 3.5 in | 2.6 in |
| May | 72°F | 48°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 81°F | 58°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 61°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 54°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 42°F | 3.0 in | 0.2 in |
| Nov | 47°F | 31°F | 2.5 in | 3.4 in |
| Dec | 35°F | 20°F | 2.3 in | 7.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lake Geneva Wwtp (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Walworth County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for snowstorms.
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2011-04-05: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2008-06-14: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2008-03-19: Record Snow And Near Record Snow (Snowstorm)
- 2005-09-13: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 25 miles away.
- Como 4 mi northwest, about 6 min by car
- Bloomfield 4 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- Lyons 6 mi northeast, about 9 min by car
- Powers Lake 7 mi southeast, about 11 min by car
- Genoa City 8 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- Elkhorn 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Bohners Lake 8 mi east, about 13 min by car
- Fontana-on-Geneva Lake 8 mi west, about 12 min by car
- Burlington 10 mi northeast, about 16 min by car
- Delavan Lake 10 mi west, about 16 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Main Street Historic District Lake Geneva, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Geneva, WI 53147, USA - panoramio (3), RSchulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Geneva, WI 53147, USA - panoramio (6), RSchulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Geneva Tower 3 - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Lake Geneva, WI 53147, USA - panoramio (4), RSchulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Geneva, WI 53147, USA - panoramio (5), RSchulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Geneva WI - panoramio, bogdanstepniak, CC BY 3.0
- Lake Geneva, WI 53147, USA - panoramio (1), RSchulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Riviera in Downtown Lake Geneva, WI - panoramio, RSchulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Geneva April 2025 18 (Geneva Lake Museum), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lake Geneva, WI Boating Tours - panoramio, RSchulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lake Geneva Cruise Line boat tour April 2025 03, Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lake Geneva Cruise Line boat tour April 2025 01 (Riviera Beach), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 24 (The Wizard of Lake Geneva), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 25 (The Wizard of Lake Geneva), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lake Geneva Cruise Line boat tour April 2025 02 (Riviera Beach), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Riviera, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Horticultural Hall, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Meyerhofer Cobblestone House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Redwood Cottage, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Maple Park Historic District, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Younglands (7399353582), Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Andygump, Hussardigital, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 14 (Main Street), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 21 (Dale Buelter Gallery--classroom), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 16 (1880 kitchen), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 10 (1880 general store), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 18 (Dale Buelter Gallery--Davidson Hall), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 19 (Dale Buelter Gallery--Ceylon Court), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 04 (Main Street), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 17 (Military Room), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 06 (1840s blacksmith), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 01 (1880 bedroom), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 09 (1910 Edwardian dining room), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 05 (1840s farming), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 03 (Main Street), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 08 (1931 Ford Model A), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 23 (1831 Potawatomi village), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 02 (1880 Victorian parlor), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geneva Lake Museum April 2025 13 (1887 fire station), Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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