Stone Bank, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Stone Bank is a small, unincorporated community located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin
, contained within the Towns of Oconomowoc
and Merton
, United States
. It is home to between 1000 and 3000 people; as no legally-defined boundaries exist for what is truly "Stone Bank", there is no precise population data. It once was incorporated and had its own post office. It does, however, maintain its own volunteer fire services and has its own kindergarten through 8th grade school which is a part of the Arrowhead Union School District.
city center along Waukesha County Highways K and C. It is on the north shore of Okauchee Lake and also has extensive shorelines with Moose Lake
.
The surface geology of the Oconomowoc region as a whole is glacial, part of the Kettle Moraine
region of Southeastern Wisconsin. Okauchee and Moose lakes are both kettle lakes as are all nearby lakes.
The soil is, therefore, very rich with clays and organics, suitable for farming. Much of the farming done in Stone Bank is corn
, or alfalfa
. Because of the urban encroachment from Milwaukee, much of this farmland is being subdivided for neighborhoods including much of what was once the Becker Farm and is now Stone Bank Estates.
One prominent feature in the area is the large ridge between Moose Lake and Okauchee Lake. County Highway C runs along this ridge between Nashotah
and its termination at the TYME OUT Retreat Center. Downtown is bordered on the East side by this formation and on the west side by another hill that stretches between the new development on Highway K and the Stone Bank Estates. This hill terminates at Breezy Point, a small point in Okauchee Lake. At the base of the east hill lies the Stone Bank River, a small stream that runs from North Lake and meets Okauchee Lake in a small marsh between the east hill and Lakeview Drive, Stone Bank Estates' lake front property.
Stone Bank's holds an annual 4th of July
parade beginning at Stone Bank Elementary and ending at the Stone Bank Lion's Park. The parade has grown from about 20 minutes during the 1970s to almost an hour and a half as of July 2005.
The Stone Bank Lions' Festival takes place the evening of July 3 and then starts right after the parade on July 4, typically around 11:00 a.m.
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2008, the population was 380,629. Its county seat is Waukesha.-History:The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County now occupies was a part of Michigan when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834. On July 4, 1836, the...
, contained within the Towns of Oconomowoc
Oconomowoc (town), Wisconsin
Oconomowoc is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,451 at the 2000 census. The City of Oconomowoc and the Village of Lac La Belle are located partially in the town...
and Merton
Merton (town), Wisconsin
Merton is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,988 at the 2000 census. The Village of Merton is located partially within the town. To local residents, the town of Merton is not called Merton, but is rather split up into the smaller unincorporated communities of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is home to between 1000 and 3000 people; as no legally-defined boundaries exist for what is truly "Stone Bank", there is no precise population data. It once was incorporated and had its own post office. It does, however, maintain its own volunteer fire services and has its own kindergarten through 8th grade school which is a part of the Arrowhead Union School District.
Geography
Stone Bank is situated about 4.5 miles northeast of the OconomowocOconomowoc, Wisconsin
Oconomowoc is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The name was derived from Coo-no-mo-wauk, the Potawatomi term for "waterfall." The population was 12,382 at the 2000 census. The city is partially adjacent to the Town of Oconomowoc and near the Village of Oconomowoc...
city center along Waukesha County Highways K and C. It is on the north shore of Okauchee Lake and also has extensive shorelines with Moose Lake
Moose Lake
Moose Lake may refer to:In Canada:* Moose Lake, Manitoba* Moose Lake * Moose Lake In the United States:* Moose Lake, Minnesota* Moose Lake Township, Carlton County, Minnesota...
.
The surface geology of the Oconomowoc region as a whole is glacial, part of the Kettle Moraine
Kettle Moraine
Kettle Moraine is a large moraine in the state of Wisconsin stretching from Walworth County in the south to Kewaunee County in the north. It has also been referred to as the Kettle Range and, in geological texts, as the Kettle Interlobate Moraine....
region of Southeastern Wisconsin. Okauchee and Moose lakes are both kettle lakes as are all nearby lakes.
The soil is, therefore, very rich with clays and organics, suitable for farming. Much of the farming done in Stone Bank is corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, or alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
. Because of the urban encroachment from Milwaukee, much of this farmland is being subdivided for neighborhoods including much of what was once the Becker Farm and is now Stone Bank Estates.
One prominent feature in the area is the large ridge between Moose Lake and Okauchee Lake. County Highway C runs along this ridge between Nashotah
Nashotah, Wisconsin
Nashotah is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,266 at the 2000 census.-Education:Nashotah House, a seminary of The Episcopal Church, is in Nashotah.-Geography:...
and its termination at the TYME OUT Retreat Center. Downtown is bordered on the East side by this formation and on the west side by another hill that stretches between the new development on Highway K and the Stone Bank Estates. This hill terminates at Breezy Point, a small point in Okauchee Lake. At the base of the east hill lies the Stone Bank River, a small stream that runs from North Lake and meets Okauchee Lake in a small marsh between the east hill and Lakeview Drive, Stone Bank Estates' lake front property.
Events
The annual Stone Bank Firemen's Festival takes place on the evenings of the second Friday and Saturday of June. Local bands play live, many types of food and drink are sold, and there are activities for children. This event often attracts large crowds and the money raised is given to help fund the town's volunteer fire department.Stone Bank's holds an annual 4th of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
parade beginning at Stone Bank Elementary and ending at the Stone Bank Lion's Park. The parade has grown from about 20 minutes during the 1970s to almost an hour and a half as of July 2005.
The Stone Bank Lions' Festival takes place the evening of July 3 and then starts right after the parade on July 4, typically around 11:00 a.m.