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1959 Map of Waukesha

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Waukesha
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

Waukesha and the western suburbs of Milwaukee are captured here during a period of rapid mid-century expansion. The map illustrates the transition from rural townships like Lisbon and Mequon into organized suburban centers, with early subdivisions spreading toward Elm Grove and Brookfield. This era is defined by its transit infrastructure, dominated by the Chicago and North Western and Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroads, which share the landscape with the burgeoning Waukesha County Airport and Capitol Drive Airport.

Genealogists and local historians can locate numerous rural anchors, such as the Sunnyside Cem and several country schools like Meeker Sch and Nelson Sch. The presence of the U S Military Reservation near Lannon and the massive State Fair Park in West Allis provides a look at the large-scale land uses of the time. The industrial character of the area is also noted through scattered quarries near Sussex and the Radio Tower (WTMJ) standing in the fields of New Berlin.