1959 Map of Hales Corners

About this map

Hales Corners and its neighboring townships in the late 1950s show a transition from agricultural roots to suburban expansion southwest of Milwaukee. The landscape is characterized by its glacial geology, featuring several kettle lakes such as Upper Kelly Lake, Lower Kelly Lake, and the expansive Muskego Lake with its Bass Bay. Local infrastructure at this time included the Hales Corners Airport and the County House of Correction to the southeast. Educational and religious institutions are well-represented, from Holy Apostles Sch in the west to the Sacred Heart Monastery near St Martins. The area also retains evidence of its physical economy through numerous Gravel Pits scattered near the Root River. A Drive-in Theater near the Waukesha county line highlights the mid-century social landscape, while established settlements like Tess Corners and Greendale anchor the residential developments.