1960 Map of Silver Lake

About this map

The Richard Bong Air Force Base (Abandoned) dominates the center of this Kenosha County landscape, representing a significant Cold War era project that was halted before completion. This 1960s perspective captures the region’s evolution from agricultural roots to a mix of recreational and institutional uses. To the east, the Great Lakes Dragway and Southern Wisconsin Colony and Training Sch mark the social fabric of the time, while the southern reaches near Wilmot feature the Wilmot Hills Raceway. Numerous lakeside communities such as Eagle Lake Manor, Paddock Lake, and Camp Lake show the density of mid-century development around the area's glacial waters. Older rural patterns are preserved in labels like the English Settlement Sch and Salem Mound Cem, offering a deep look at the local history of Salem, Bristol, and Union Grove before the expansion of the modern interstate system changed the character of these crossroads.