View source for Kewaunee, Wisconsin

{{distinguish|Kiwanis}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Kewaunee, Wisconsin
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = "Spirit of the Lakeshore"

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Kewaunee skyline.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Looking east to the Kewaunee harbor and Lake Michigan
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = File:Kewaunee County Wisconsin Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Kewaunee Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Kewaunee in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.
|pushpin_map              = Wisconsin#USA
|pushpin_label            = Kewaunee
|pushpin_relief           = yes

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Wisconsin}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Wisconsin|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Kewaunee County, Wisconsin|Kewaunee]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = Municipality
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Jeff Vollenweider<ref name="s215">{{cite web | title=Common Council – City of Kewaunee | website=City of Kewaunee – Wisconsin | url=https://cityofkewauneewi.gov/common-council/ | access-date=September 17, 2025}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_55.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 9.66
|area_land_km2            = 9.15
|area_water_km2           = 0.52
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.73
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.53
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.20

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 2837
|population_density_sq_mi = 803.5
|population_density_km2   = 310.2
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020-census-5539350" />
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        =

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|elevation_m              = 186
|elevation_ft             = 610
|coordinates              = {{coord|44|27|32|N|87|30|34|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 54216
|area_code                = [[Area code 920|920]]  
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 55-39350<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1567445<ref name="GR3" />
|website                  = {{URL|cityofkewauneewi.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Kewaunee''' is a city in [[Kewaunee County, Wisconsin]], United States. The population was 2,837 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020-census-5539350" /> Located on the northwestern shore of [[Lake Michigan]], the city is the [[county seat]] of Kewaunee County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }}</ref> Its [[Menominee]] name is ''Kewāneh'', an archaic name for a species of duck.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www4.uwsp.edu/museum/menomineeClans/places/chart.aspx|title=Menominee Place Names in Wisconsin|last=Hoffman|first=Mike|website=The Menominee Clans Story|access-date=2018-10-05}}</ref> Kewaunee is part of the [[Green Bay metropolitan area]].

==History==
Kewaunee was the site of a [[Potawatomi]] village at the time of European contact in the seventeenth century.<ref name="brief">{{cite web |title=A Brief History of Kewaunee |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2425 |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society |access-date=9 August 2022 |language=en |date=27 July 2012}}</ref> French [[Jesuit]] missionary [[Jacques Marquette]] celebrated [[All Saints Day]] at the Potawatomi village in 1674.<ref name="brief" /><ref name="wmhss">{{Cite journal| issn = 0043-6534| volume = 7| issue = 3| title = The Society and the State| journal = The Wisconsin Magazine of History|  date = 1924 }}</ref>{{rp|371–372}} Later, French explorer [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle]] visited the village in 1679,<ref name="kellogg1925">{{Cite book| publisher = State Historical Society of Wisconsin; printed by G. Banta| last = Kellogg| first = Louise Phelps| title = The French regime in Wisconsin and the Northwest| location = Madison| date = 1925}}</ref>{{rp|215}} and Canadian Jesuit [[Jean-François Buisson de Saint-Cosme]] stopped in September 1698.{{r|kellogg1925|p=262}} The Potawatomis moved south and east along [[Lake Michigan]] in the eighteenth century,<ref>{{cite web |title=Potawatomi History |url=https://www.mpm.edu/educators/wirp/nations/potawatomi/history |website=www.mpm.edu |publisher=Milwaukee Public Museum}}</ref> and the area was reclaimed by [[Menominee]] people. Trader [[Jacques Vieau]] established a short lived trading post for the [[North West Company]] in the area of Kewaunee in 1795.<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = Democrat Printing Company| volume = 11| editor = Reuben Gold Thwaites| last = Vieau| first = Andrew| title = Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin| chapter = Narrative of Andrew J. Vieau, Sr.| location = Madison| date = 1888| lccn = 28015093| url=https://lccn.loc.gov/28015093}}</ref>{{rp|220}} The United States acquired the land from the Menominee nation in the [[Treaty of Washington, with Menominee (1831)|1831 Treaty of Washington]].<ref name="royce">{{Cite book| publisher = Washington : U. S. Govt. Print. Off.| volume = 18 pt 2| last = Royce| first = Charles C.| title = Indian Land Cessions in the United States| series = Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution | accessdate = 2022-08-09| date = 1895| url = http://archive.org/details/annualreportofbu218smit | pages = [https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbu218smit/page/728/mode/2up 728-729], [https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbu218smit/page/n725/mode/2up plate CLXXI]}}</ref>
 
The current settlement at Kewaunee began in 1836, when false rumors of gold deposits in the [[Kewaunee River]] triggered a minor [[gold rush]] of [[Yankee]] settlers. Land speculator Joshua Hathaway surveyed and platted the settlement. When no gold was found, the settlers who remained established a sawmill and developed the local harbor for the lumber industry.<ref name="HNW">{{Cite book| publisher = Western Historical Company| place = Chicago| title = History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc. ..| accessdate = 2022-08-09| date = 1881| url = http://archive.org/details/historyofnorther00west}}</ref>{{rp|427–428}} Kewaunee became the county seat of [[Kewaunee County]] at the time of the county's formation in 1852. In the late nineteenth century, the community attracted many [[Czech Americans|Czech]] and [[German Americans|German]] immigrants.<ref name="brief" />

==Geography==
Kewaunee is located at {{coord|44|27|32|N|87|30|34|W|type:city}} (44.458758, -87.509496).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.73|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|3.53|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="gaz2020">{{cite web|title=2020 Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.2020.html |website=census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=9 August 2022}}</ref>

===Highways===
* [[Image:WIS 42.svg|25px]] [[WIS 42]] Northbound travels to [[Algoma, Wisconsin]]. South it continues into [[Two Rivers, Wisconsin|Two Rivers]] and [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin]].
* [[Image:WIS 29.svg|25px]] [[WIS 29]] connects with [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]] westbound.

===Climate===
{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
| location    = Kewaunee, Wisconsin (1991–2020)
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =26.1
| Feb high F  =28.8
| Mar high F  =37.7
| Apr high F  =48.4
| May high F  =59.8
| Jun high F  =70.2
| Jul high F  =76.3
| Aug high F  =75.3
| Sep high F  =68.1
| Oct high F  =55.3
| Nov high F  =42.8
| Dec high F  =31.5
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =19.3
| Feb mean F  =21.3
| Mar mean F  =30.4
| Apr mean F  =41.3
| May mean F  =52.0
| Jun mean F  =62.3
| Jul mean F  =68.2
| Aug mean F  =67.6
| Sep mean F  =60.1
| Oct mean F  =48.2
| Nov mean F  =36.2
| Dec mean F  =25.4
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =12.4
| Feb low F  =13.8
| Mar low F  =23.2
| Apr low F  =34.2
| May low F  =44.1
| Jun low F  =54.4
| Jul low F  =60.2
| Aug low F  =59.8
| Sep low F  =52.1
| Oct low F  =41.0
| Nov low F  =29.5
| Dec low F  =19.3
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =1.48
| Feb precipitation inch  =1.05
| Mar precipitation inch  =1.66
| Apr precipitation inch  =2.98
| May precipitation inch  =3.30
| Jun precipitation inch  =3.77
| Jul precipitation inch  =3.60
| Aug precipitation inch  =3.42
| Sep precipitation inch  =3.10
| Oct precipitation inch  =2.91
| Nov precipitation inch  =2.17
| Dec precipitation inch  =1.64
<!-- Snowfall -->
| Jan snow inch  =13.5
| Feb snow inch  =12.6
| Mar snow inch  =6.2
| Apr snow inch  =2.4
| May snow inch  =0.0
| Jun snow inch  =0.0
| Jul snow inch  =0.0
| Aug snow inch  =0.0
| Sep snow inch  =0.0
| Oct snow inch  =0.2
| Nov snow inch  =2.2
| Dec snow inch  =11.0
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
| source = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00474195 |title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2025-04-05 }}</ref>
}}<!-- Infobox ends -->

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 1050
|1890= 1216
|1900= 1773
|1910= 1839
|1920= 1865
|1930= 2409
|1940= 2533
|1950= 2583
|1960= 2772
|1970= 2901
|1980= 2801
|1990= 2750
|2000= 2806
|2010= 2952
|2020=2837
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|census of 2020]],<ref name="2020-census-5539350">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Kewaunee city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5539350&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=9 August 2022}}</ref> the population was 2,837. The [[population density]] was {{convert|803.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,416 housing units at an average density of {{convert|401.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.9% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 5.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 4.2% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-11-18}}</ref> of 2010, there were 2,952 people, 1,278 households, and 733 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|833.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,462 housing units at an average density of {{convert|413.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.8% of the population

There were 1,278 households, of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.6% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.81.

The median age in the city was 45.8 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 28.5% were from 45 to 64; and 22.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,806 people, 1,149 households, and 736 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was 807.7 people per square mile (312.2/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,237 housing units at an average density of 356.1 per square mile (137.6/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 98.25% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.36% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.39% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.21% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.14% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.64% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.57% of the population.<ref name="GR2" />

There were 1,149 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.97.<ref name="GR2" />

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.<ref name="GR2" />

The median income for a household in the city was $36,420, and the median income for a family was $45,643. Males had a median income of $32,292 versus $20,544 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,384. About 11.2% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 18.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="GR2" />

==Economy==
* The [[Kewaunee Nuclear Generating Station]] is in [[Carlton, Wisconsin|Carlton]] in Kewaunee County. The Kewaunee Power Station was decommissioned on May 7, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Clough|first=Christopher|title=Closed Kewaunee County nuclear power plant to be decommissioned in 10 years instead of 50 after sale|url=https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/kewaunee-county/2021/05/12/kewaunee-county-nuclear-plant-decommissioned-quicker-after-sale/5064374001/|access-date=2022-01-25|website=Green Bay Press-Gazette|language=en-US}}</ref>

Kewaunee Fabrications is the successor to the Kewaunee Shipbuilding and Engineering, a shipbuilder operating from 1941 to 1945.

== Healthcare ==
Kewaunee is home to two primary care clinics and one [[urgent care center]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bellin Health Kewaunee - Kewaunee, WI - 54216 |url=https://care.bellin.org/location/bellin-health-kewaunee-kewaunee-54216 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=care.bellin.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 16, 2022 |title=Prevea Kewaunee Health Center |url=https://www.prevea.com/locations/Kewaunee |website=Prevea}}</ref> The area is in both a [[mental health]] and primary care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find Shortage Areas by Address |url=https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/by-address |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=data.hrsa.gov}}</ref> qualifying the area as a [[Medical deserts in the United States|medical desert]]. There are 7 primary care providers per 100,000 population in Kewaunee compared to the statewide average of 75.6.<ref name="Reports">{{Cite web |title=Reports |url=https://www.wcmew.org/reports |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=WCMEW |language=en-US}}</ref> By 2035, the area is expected to have a 93.7% deficit in physicians, the largest deficit in Wisconsin.<ref name="Reports"/> There are no behavior health professionals in Kewaunee.<ref name="Reports"/>

==Attractions==
[[File:Kewaunee Lighthouse.JPG|thumb|Kewaunee Lighthouse]]
* [[Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse]]
* [[Kewaunee Marshland Walk]]
* [[Tallest Grandfather Clock]]
* [[Tug Ludington]]
* [[Ahnapee State Trail]]

==Notable people==
{{div col}}
* [[Jerry Augustine]], [[MLB]] player, head coach of the [[UW-Milwaukee Panthers baseball|University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers]] baseball team
* [[Henry Baetz]], Treasurer of Wisconsin
* [[Colin Cochart]], NFL player
* [[Joseph E. Darbellay]], Wisconsin State Representative
* Art Fiala, the last surviving World War I veteran from Wisconsin
* [[George Grimmer]], Wisconsin State Senator
* [[Terry Jorgensen]], MLB player
* [[John C. Karel]], Wisconsin State Representative
* [[L. Albert Karel]], Wisconsin State Representative
* [[Thomas F. Konop]], U.S. Representative
* [[Stan Kuick]], [[NFL]] player
* [[Ransom Asa Moore]], professor
* [[Robert E. Minahan]], Mayor of [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]]
* [[Jack Novak]], NFL player
* [[Alvin E. O'Konski]], U.S. Representative
* [[John Milton Read]], Wisconsin legislator and newspaper editor<ref>'Wisconsin Blue Book 1874,' Biographical Sketch of John Milton Read, pg. 488</ref>
* [[Dena A. Smith]], Wisconsin State Treasurer
* [[Joseph Stika]], [[U.S. Coast Guard]] Vice Admiral
{{div col end}}

== Gallery ==
{{gallery|mode=packed|align=center|width=135|height=135
|File:KewauneeNuclearGeneratingStationAug2009.jpg|[[Kewaunee Nuclear Generating Station]]
|File:Kewaunee Wisconsin sign.jpg|Sign at the city limits at the south of the city along Highway 42
|Image:KewauneeWisconsin.jpg|Traveling south on [[Highway 42 (Wisconsin)|Highway 42]]
|Image:WIS29EastTerminus.jpg|East terminus of [[Highway 29 (Wisconsin)|Highway 29]] in downtown Kewaunee
|File:Sign for the east terminus of Wisconsin Highway 29 in Kewaunee Wisconsin.jpg|Sign for the east terminus of Wisconsin Highway 29, looking the other way on Highway 42
|File:Kewaunee Harbor.jpg|Kewaunee Harbor and mouth of the [[Kewaunee River]]
|File:Kewaunee Wisconsin aerial view.webm|Aerial view
|File:Birdseye view of Kewaunee, Wis. LCCN2013646927.tif|Birdseye view of Kewuanee, from a postcard circa 1909
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.cityofkewaunee.org City of Kewaunee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824140006/http://www.cityofkewaunee.org/ |date=2013-08-24 }}
* Sanborn fire insurance maps: [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/6375 1885] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/6379 1892] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/6383 1898] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/6388 1905] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/6394 1911]

{{Adjacent communities|title=Control Cities adjacent to Kewaunee|South=[[File:WIS 42.svg|25px|link=WIS 42]] [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin|Manitowoc]], [[Two Rivers, Wisconsin|Two Rivers]]|Center=Kewaunee|North=[[File:WIS 42.svg|25px|link=WIS 42]] [[Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin|Sturgeon Bay]], [[Algoma, Wisconsin|Algoma]]|West=[[File:WIS 29.svg|25px|link=WIS 29]] [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]]}}

{{Kewaunee County, Wisconsin}}
{{Wisconsin county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Cities in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:County seats in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Wisconsin populated places on Lake Michigan]]
[[Category:Green Bay metropolitan area]]