Williams Bay, Wisconsin
Williams Bay is a village of 2,981 people in Walworth County, Wisconsin.
Why visit Williams Bay
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 12 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Pearce Farm Stand, A. P. Johnson House, Black Point and Birch Grove 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 Williams Bay
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Williams Bay
Williams Bay is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. It is one of three municipalities on Geneva Lake. The population was 2,953 at the 2020 census. On June 22, 2024 the town was hit by an EF-1 tornado, there were no injuries or fatalities, but the storm caused some areas of considerable damage.
From the Wikipedia article Williams Bay, Wisconsin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Pearce Farm Stand
Farm and orchard · 1.8 mi
5740 West North Walworth Road, Walworth
Jul-Oct Mo-Su 09:00-17:30
Museums and landmarks5
A. P. Johnson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Historic house in Wisconsin, United States
Black Point
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Estate on the south shore of Geneva Lake in Wisconsin, United States
Fred B. Jones House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Historic house in Wisconsin, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
Restaurants and cafes12
Café Calamari
Restaurant · Italian, Fine Dining
10 East Geneva Street, Williams Bay
Su-Th 17:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-22:00
Harpoon Willies
Restaurant · Pub, Burger, Pizza
8 East Geneva Street, Williams Bay
Mo-Th 11:30-02:00; Fr 11:30-02:30; Sa 11:00-02:30; Su 11:30-02:00
History
The village was named for Captain Israel Williams of Massachusetts, who, with several of his sons, settled in the area in 1837. Much of the surrounding area was settled in the early 19th century by surveyors plotting roadways from the East.
Williams Bay became a vacation spot for wealthy Chicagoans displaced by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The village continues to attract vacationers from Chicago, Milwaukee and elsewhere.
In 1873, mail jumping was established on Geneva Lake as a means to provide postal service via boat to lakeside homes. The tradition is ongoing. Each year between June 15 and September 15, jumpers deliver mail to piers along the lake on behalf of the US Postal Service.
In 1886, a training camp was established by leaders of the YMCA at Williams Bay. The camp's programs later evolved into George Williams College, an independent institution of higher education based in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago and later in Downers Grove, Illinois. The Williams Bay site continued to be used as a summer training camp. The college was later absorbed by Aurora University.
From the History section of Williams Bay, Wisconsin on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship2
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries15
Healthcare1
Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center–Walworth
Hospital · 1.4 mi
N2950 State Highway 67, Lake Geneva
Map of Williams Bay
50 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 (6 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
Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (JVL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 25 miles away.
- Fontana-on-Geneva Lake 3 mi southwest, about 4 min by car
- Como 4 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Walworth 4 mi southwest, about 7 min by car
- Delavan Lake 4 mi northwest, about 7 min by car
- Delavan 6 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
- Lake Geneva 6 mi east, about 10 min by car
- Elkhorn 6 mi north, about 10 min by car
- Bloomfield 9 mi east, about 15 min by car
- Harvard 11 mi south, about 18 min by car
- Lyons 11 mi northeast, about 17 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
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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
- Williams Bay, Wisconsin 042, Gepard12, Public domain
- Black Point Wisconsin, The original uploader was Teemu08 at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 2.0
- A. p. Johnson House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fred B Jones Estate 3335 S Shore Dr, Ronincmc, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.