1959 Map of West Bend

About this map

The Milwaukee River meanders through the heart of Washington County, anchoring the urban center of West Bend and the northern settlement of Barton. During this mid-century period, the area exhibits a transition from its industrial and milling roots at Young America to post-war residential expansion, noted by the purple-shaded growth reaching toward Silver Lake and Lucas Lake. The Chicago and North Western railroad provides a vertical axis for the town, passing by numerous Gravel Pits that suggest a landscape defined by glacial deposits. This geology is further preserved in the Kettle Moraine State Forest and the archaeological site at Lizard Mound State Park. Educational and religious life is well-documented through several parochial institutions like Old St Marys Ch and Holy Angels Sch, while the County Hospital and its associated County Hospital Cem reflect the region's public infrastructure.