Townapedia
Whitewater Wisconsin Downtown Looking East
Whitewater Wisconsin Downtown Looking East · I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it..., CC BY-SA 3.0
Whitewater Post Office 1
Whitewater Post Office 1 · Sa magnuson33, CC BY-SA 3.0
Whitewater Post Office 4
Whitewater Post Office 4 · Sa magnuson33, CC BY-SA 3.0
Whitewater Tower 2 - panoramio
Whitewater Tower 2 - panoramio · Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
Whitewater Town Hall in Walworth County, Wisconsin
Whitewater Town Hall in Walworth County, Wisconsin · Wikideas1, CC0
Whitewater Wisconsin Passenger Depot
Whitewater Wisconsin Passenger Depot · Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0

Whitewater, Wisconsin

Whitewater is a city of 15,807 people in Jefferson County, Wisconsin.

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Population15,807 +7.4% since 2019
Elevation823 ft 251 m
Land area8.9 sq mi
ZIP code53190
Nearest airportSouthern Wisconsin Regional Airport (JVL) 22 mi

Why visit Whitewater

Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 22 parks and trails, 26 places to eat, 4 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Whitewater Cinemas, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, Halverson Log Cabin and Main Street Historic District.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 12°F, and about 34 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Whitewater

Whitewater is a city in Walworth and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 14,889 at the 2020 census. Whitewater is located near the southern portion of the Kettle Moraine State Forest and is home to the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.

From the Wikipedia article Whitewater, Wisconsin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do4

Whitewater Cinemas

Cinema and theater · 1.6 mi

151 Pearson Lane, Whitewater

Open in Google Maps · +1-262-472-2221

University of Wisconsin–Whitewater

School · 0.5 mi

University in the University of Wisconsin system

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Barnett Theater

Cinema and theater · 0.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

Young Auditorium

Cinema and theater · 0.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks8

Halverson Log Cabin

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi

Building in Wisconsin, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Main Street Historic District

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Historic district in Whitewater, Wisconsin

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Whitewater Hotel

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi

Hotel in Wisconsin, United States of America

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Whitewater Passenger Depot

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi

Railway station in Whitewater, Wisconsin

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Indian Mounds Park

Monument and historic site · 1.6 mi

United States historic place

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Little Red Schoolhouse

Monument and historic site · 0.5 mi

This building is a 145-year-old little red schoolhouse, built as the Granville School in 1866 at the corner of West Bradley and North...

243 North Prince Street

Open in Google Maps

Little Log Cabin

Monument and historic site · 0.5 mi

830 West Main Street

Open in Google Maps

Old Depot

Museum · 0.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

Parks, trails and playgrounds22

Trippe Lake Park

Park · 1.0 mi

06:00-24:00

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Perkins Stadium

Sports field and stadium · 0.9 mi

Home field of the Warhawks

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Willow Brook Golf Course

Golf course · 1.7 mi

N9035 Highway 89 South, Whitewater

Open in Google Maps · +1-262-473-3305

Starin Park

Park

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Campus Memory Garden

Park · 0.5 mi

Inspired by the unexpected death of Dean of Students Mary Beth Mackin on Nov. 7, 2015. As the campus loses other members of the Warhawk...

Open in Google Maps

Campus Organic Garden

Park · 0.4 mi

The campus organic garden (yet to be named formally) was established by students and advisors. The campus garden serves the Whitewater...

Open in Google Maps

Meadowstreet Park

Park · 1.3 mi

County Road N

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Turtle Mound Park

Park · 1.5 mi

Pea Gravel Playground and Grass Area

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William Carter Mall

Park · 0.5 mi

Lots of benches, walk ways, displays of old architecture, and a observatory.

Open in Google Maps

Big Brick Park

Park · 0.4 mi

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Birge Fountain Park

Park

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Brewery Hill Park

Park

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10 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes26

China House

Restaurant · Asian · 0.8 mi

West Main Street, Whitewater

Su-Mo, We-Fr 10:30-22:00; Sa 10:30-21:30

Open in Google Maps · +1-262-473-9788

Cozumel Mexican Restaurant

Restaurant · Mexican · 0.9 mi

1139 West Main Street, Whitewater

Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-262-472-0131

Rick's Eastside Pub

Diner · American · 0.8 mi

561 East Milwaukee Street, Whitewater

Open in Google Maps · +1-262-473-9879

841 Brewhouse

Restaurant · 1.1 mi

841 East Milwaukee Street, Whitewater

Open in Google Maps · +1-262-473-8000

SweetSpot Bakehouse

Bakery · 0.9 mi

1185 West Main Street, Whitewater

Open in Google Maps · +1-262-473-5080

The Sweet Spot Cafe

Cafe · 0.4 mi

226 West Whitewater Street

Mo-Th, Fr, Sa-Su 06:00-21:00, 06:00-19:00, 07:00-19:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-262-473-5080

BaristaCats Café

Cafe

135 West Center Street, Whitewater

Open in Google Maps

Rocky Rococo

Restaurant · Pizza · 1.0 mi

1210 West Main Street, Whitewater

Open in Google Maps · +12624732105

Second Salem Brewing Company

Bar and pub

111 West Whitewater Street, Whitewater

Open in Google Maps

Starbucks

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.1 mi

1280 West Main Street, Whitewater

Open in Google Maps · +12627310839

Cordio's Beer Here

Bar and pub · 0.8 mi

617 East Milwaukee Street, Whitewater

Open in Google Maps · +1 262-472-9088

Karina's Mexican Restaraunt

Restaurant · Mexican · 0.9 mi

1170 West Main Street, Whitewater

Open in Google Maps

14 more on the map.

History

Whitewater was founded at the confluence of Whitewater Creek and Spring Brook, and named for the white sand in their beds. A gristmill was built on Whitewater creek, the resulting pond now called Cravath Lake. The town grew quickly when the first railroad line in Wisconsin passed through in 1853, but struggled when the two largest employers left town.

From the History section of Whitewater, Wisconsin on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay4

Churches and places of worship5

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Shopping3

Gas and EV charging5

Schools, colleges and libraries13

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Healthcare6

Map of Whitewater

96 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 1.6 in of rainFebruary: 1.5 in of rainMarch: 1.9 in of rainApril: 3.5 in of rainMay: 4.2 in of rainJune: 5.0 in of rainJuly: 3.8 in of rainAugust: 4.3 in of rainSeptember: 3.5 in of rainOctober: 3.0 in of rainNovember: 2.2 in of rainDecember: 1.8 in of rainJanuary: 27°FFebruary: 31°FMarch: 43°FApril: 56°FMay: 69°FJune: 78°FJuly: 82°FAugust: 80°FSeptember: 74°FOctober: 61°FNovember: 46°FDecember: 33°FJanuary: 12°FFebruary: 15°FMarch: 25°FApril: 35°FMay: 47°FJune: 57°FJuly: 61°FAugust: 59°FSeptember: 50°FOctober: 40°FNovember: 29°FDecember: 18°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan27°F12°F1.6 in8.5 in
Feb31°F15°F1.5 in9.9 in
Mar43°F25°F1.9 in4.4 in
Apr56°F35°F3.5 in0.7 in
May69°F47°F4.2 in0.1 in
Jun78°F57°F5.0 in0.0 in
Jul82°F61°F3.8 in0.0 in
Aug80°F59°F4.3 in0.0 in
Sep74°F50°F3.5 in0.0 in
Oct61°F40°F3.0 in0.1 in
Nov46°F29°F2.2 in1.2 in
Dec33°F18°F1.8 in9.0 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Whitewater (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$54,969median household income
$229,400median home value
$1,041median monthly rent
22.1median age
35.2%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
31.8%of homes are owner-occupied
17.0 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1811%18 to 3460%35 to 6419%65 and over10%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Jefferson County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.

  • 2026-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
  • 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2008-06-14: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2008-03-19: Record Snow And Near Record Snow (Snowstorm)
  • 2007-08-26: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (JVL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 miles away.

  • Fort Atkinson 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
  • Elkhorn 15 mi southeast, about 25 min by car
  • Janesville 18 mi southwest, about 28 min by car
  • Oconomowoc 22 mi northeast, about 35 min by car
  • Watertown 24 mi north, about 39 min by car
  • Stoughton 25 mi west, about 41 min by car
  • Beloit 26 mi southwest, about 42 min by car
  • Burlington 26 mi southeast, about 42 min by car
  • Waukesha 27 mi northeast, about 44 min by car
  • Pewaukee 29 mi northeast, about 47 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.