New Prairie

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New Prairie
City
New Prairie's downtown skyline
A photo of downtown New Prairie along the river.
Flag of New Prairie
Flag
Official seal of New Prairie
Seal
Motto(s): 
"Ex Cineribus, Progressus" (Latin), "Out of the Ashes, Progress"
Map of New Prairie (2025)
Current map of New Prairie's city limits
Country United States
State Wisconsin
CountyBrown
Settled1634
Incorporated (town)October 1, 1854
Incorporated (city)April 13, 1918
Founded byNucci Balfone (at time of City status)
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
Area
 • City
144.9 km2 (55.96 sq mi)
 • Land117.8 km2 (45.47 sq mi)
Elevation
177 m (581 ft)
Population
 (2023)
 • City
206,177
 • Density883.6/km2 (2,288.5/sq mi)
 • Urban
237,180
 • Metro
322,489
Zip Code
54301
Area code920

New Prairie is a city within the state of Wisconsin. It is located in a sub-basin of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Berchioli River. New Prairie is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2023 U.S. census, the city had a population of 206,177, making it the third-largest city in Wisconsin.

New Prairie is home to numerous high-profile companies, including the national headquarters of JP Loans (financial properties), Hazdon Industries (chemicals and science), and Haast Enterprises (scientific research).

History

Fur Trading & Fishing Origins

The mouth of the sub-basin attracted many travelers and visitors from all over. The first commissioned explorer, Jean Nicolet, set foot on the shoreline that would eventually become New Prairie in 1634 while en route to make peace treaties with Native American tribes. For the next 200 years, the area was home to numerous travelers, explorers, and both the Menominee and Ho-Chunk Tribes, but it never grew beyond a simple outpost for selling goods.

A key element of the natural landscape that helped attract travelers by serving as a natural landmark for directions was the giant (and out-of-place) Cambiare Rock. Originally called Tanka He (Sioux for "Big Mountain"), the unnaturally large mountain was easy to spot from miles away in any direction, standing high above the rolling hills of the surrounding area. Stranger still was that at the base of the mountain (and what would eventually become the land New Prairie sits on) lay a large, flattened chunk of land. The Algonquian tribes found this part of the state unsettling and rarely stayed long, claiming there was a dark and angry presence nearby.

It wasn't until 1844 that more permanent structures began to appear along the banks of the lake, the first of which was called McCleod's Pier. Over the next 10 years, additional businesses and trades began to settle and open shops of their own, including a barber, a dry goods store, and, of course, a saloon. With a steadily growing population, the land known as New Prairie officially became the Town of New Prairie in 1854.

As the Town grew and new professions came in, new roads and homes were built slowly expanding away from the water. The first Church built in the town, St. Murphy’s Church was completed in 1851 and stood on its spot until its collapse in 1911 (later to be rebuilt at its new location, just a few blocks away at the foot of Cambiare Rock.

A Melting Pot of Cultures

Because of its prime location and easily accessible docks for travelers, many cultures and nationalities would pass through the town of New Prairie. Native Americans traveling north would stop in; Canadian-French families would travel south looking for jobs; and both Italian and Scottish families found themselves leaving Milwaukee in the late 1800's to escape the slowly growing troubles of the big city.

Infrastructure

Transit (The "Cream City Lines")

The transit system operates a central bus line radiating outward from the Downtown Core Grid. Route 18 (The Corporate Express) runs straight down the Lakeshore Drive arterial, looping directly through the pedestrian plaza of the Derelli Towers. Route 40 (The Outskirts Loop), is a dark, infrequently serviced line that travels down the two-lane blacktops of the county highways toward the western edge, dropping off near Oak Park Cemetery before looping back before dark.

Water & Civil Engineering

The deep municipal water lines and sewer infrastructure are entirely localized, branching intensely beneath the oldest brick-and-mortar sectors of town. The modern subterranean utility blueprints and maintenance corridors for the towers structurally connect directly to forgotten turn-of-the-century transit tunnels.

Government

New Prairie has had numerous mayors over it's 100+ year's of being a city. Many of them have been tied to some of the city's most memorable historic moments.

Education

Schools

Major Streets

  • Codington Road
    • Located on the northwest bank of the river.
    • Welks High School's address is 525 Codington Rd.
  • Corrotto Lane
  • Fortuna Lane
  • Henson Road
    • Road runs northwest to southeast off of Morboso Ave on the south side. From Morboso Ave going east, it takes you to the location of Hazdon. Going northwest leads you past the Martini Farm and eventually to The Hollow.
  • Hubeto
  • Morboso Ave
    • Previously County Road JJ. Only road that goes from the south side, straight through to the north side of New Prairie.
  • Morte Ave
    • Original road stretched from southeast to northwest in New Prairie until the Burning of New Prairie and subsequent reconstruction of the downtown area split the road in two. Only six blocks of it exist now on the eastern side (East Morte), while the western part (West Morte) consists of 12 blocks of residential area that ends at Whistler Ave.
    • The Derelli Towers' address is 1 Morte Ave (being neither West or East).
    • Talks With Cheez Pizzeria's address is 459 West Morte Ave.
  • Naufragio Ave
    • On northwest bank of the river, cuts through a major subdivision built after the fire of 1976.
  • Oklahoma Ave
    • South East of the river, running out near Hazdon Industries and parallel to Henson Road.
  • Perdita
    • North to south road that lasted 8 blocks until the great fire. After that, it’s length has been cut in half due to the reconstruction of the downtown area. Part of the intersection where the great fire started.
  • Quinto Ave
  • Shonash Lane
    • Curving road located in the Ferterelli Estates.
  • Southport/Southporth Bridge
    • One of the major bridges that cross the river.
  • Wilson Street

Additional Streets

  • 9th Street
  • Madison Ave
  • Stenson Ave
  • Waynewood St
  • Whistler Ave

Surrounding Area

  • Lake Potowotominimac is located 30 miles northwest of New Prairie. On the lake Perk's Pine Lodge Resort is a popular tourist spot for visitors.
  • Haddonfield, Il, home to serial killer Michael Myers, is located 200 miles southwest from the city.
  • Springwood, OH, home to the nightmare killer Freddy Krueger.
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