Welcome to the City of Mequon
Mission Statement
The City of Mequon’s overall mission is the provision of quality public services and adoption of thoughtful policies that serve to enhance and maintain the unique quality of life of our community.
Through the judicious use of community resources, the City is committed to managing growth, efficiently using tax dollars and making wise investments in our future. Our success depends on our ability to offer quality and value to our taxpayers with the highest standards of accountability, responsiveness, economy and integrity.
Yesterday
The early settlers who came to the Mequon area in the 1830's were Yankees from New York state and English, followed by Germans and Irish. These new settlers found a very different place from the Mequon of today. The entire area was covered with dense forest. The Milwaukee River, which runs through Mequon, was fast flowing, with falls and rapids and underground water courses, offering never failing-fresh-water springs. The only type of road available through the area was the Green Bay Trail, which wound its way due north and was barely passable by the settler's wagons. The word "Mequon" is said to have come from an Indian word "Miguan" which means "ladle" because the river in Mequon was shaped like an Indian ladle.
During 1839, the first of the German settlers were Saxon-Germans from Saxony, who purchased a large tract of land along Wauwatosa Road. Then came the Pomeranian Germans, from the Prussian state of Pomerania, who bought more than 1,000 acres to the north and west of the Saxons.
That same year, 43 families, all members of a Lutheran congregation, came from Northern Germany and settled in the western part of Mequon. They named their tiny colony, Freistadt, loosely translated as "free city." These people came in search of religious freedom and held their initial church service that same year.
The first census taken in 1840 listed 343 residents as the population of the entire Washington County almost all of whom lived in what is now Mequon. The Township of Mequon was created in 1846 and became a part of Ozaukee County in 1853 when Ozaukee County separated from Washington County.
There were a number of memorable events in the Town of Mequon’s intervening 111 years. Farmers mortgaged their farms to invest in the railroad and as a result of the railroad bankruptcy in 1857 many lost their farms. Tracks were laid from Milwaukee as far as Brown Deer, but the trains never ran. The Civil War created hard times for farmers when the farm laborers were drafted to fight in the war.
Beginning around 1907 the automobile made it possible for workers and business people to build homes in Mequon and work at their jobs in Milwaukee. That same year the Milwaukee Northern Electric Railroad added to the commuter traffic between Milwaukee and the suburbs.
In 1956 the Town Chairman, Werner Mueller, appointed a committee to look into incorporating the entire Town of Mequon as a city. After numerous meetings of the committee and public informational meetings, a recommendation was made to the Board of Supervisors to petition the State Legislature to grant to Mequon status as a City. The 23rd day of May 1957 was set for the referendum and the results were 1,536 in favor and 265 against. Mequon received official status as a city on Friday, May 24, 1957.
Today
Mequon has a population of over 25,000 and is known for its majestic bluffs, stately homes, lush farmland and expansive open space. The community enjoys many parks, five golf courses, the winding Milwaukee River and easy access to the interstate for a convenient commute to Milwaukee. Mequon's rural heritage is preserved by high development standards and low-density zoning regulations. Fifty percent of the land within the City is undeveloped and still mostly farmed.
Mequon has one of the lowest crime rates and one of the lowest tax rates in the Metropolitan Milwaukee area. The K-12 school system is ranked one of the best in Wisconsin. Concordia University Wisconsin and the North Campus of the Milwaukee Area Technical College offer a broad range of programs. Prime healthcare facilities and services are readily available throughout the City and include Columbia St. Mary's Hospital. Mequon currently has over 1,000 businesses and two business parks with small and mid-sized firms.
Tomorrow
In 1999, the Wisconsin Legislature enacted a new comprehensive planning law, set forth in Section 66.1001 of the Wisconsin Statutes. The new requirements supplement earlier provisions in the Statutes for the preparation of county development plans (Section 59.69(3) of the Statutes) and local master plans (Section 62.23 of the Statutes). The new requirements, which are often referred to as the “Smart Growth” law, provide a new framework for the development, adoption, and implementation of comprehensive plans in Wisconsin. The intent of the comprehensive planning law is to require that comprehensive plans be completed and adopted by the governing bodies of counties, cities, villages, and towns prior to January 1, 2010.
On April 20, 2009 the Common Council adopted its Comprehensive 2035 plan. The City of Mequon’s vision statement, in Chapter IV, Issues and Opportunities Element of the plan, is an element of its planning efforts and is shared among its community members including residents, business owners, policy makers and city staff. It portrays the city’s values and inspires community spirit and pride. The statement is a desired vision for the future of the City of Mequon.
“Mequon is a city rich in rural heritage and natural beauty. It offers a government that advocates for its community members, promotes civic participation and enjoys a healthy economic base. In Mequon, our community protects the natural environment and values the high quality neighborhoods, safe community, public gathering spaces and strong educational and medical facilities, all of which create an exceptional quality of life.”
In 2021, the City of Mequon embarked upon a comprehensive long-range strategic planning process to assess current efforts and status, build upon successes and partnerships, continue momentum in positive growth and economic development, and to solidify a united path to further progress within the community. The deliverables included a full Strategic Plan document with a Vision, Mission, Values, Strategic Goals, Outcomes and Key Focus Areas. On July 10, 2022, the Common Council adopted the City's Strategic Plan for 2022 - 2025.
