As you might expect, Waterford, Wisconsin is located right along the waterfront. Waterford got its name because it's situated at a shallow area of the Fox River where horse-drawn covered wagons once crossed.
Established in 1836, Waterford has been called home by a number of professional athletes over the years. Charlie Ganzel, a major league baseball player, was born in Waterford, and John Navarre, former NFL and University of Michigan quarterback, called Waterford home as well. The town of Waterford, Wisconsin has been around for over 175 years, and it prides itself on being a wonderful place to come home to. It's located in Racine County, in Southern Wisconsin, and covers approximately 2.68 square miles. Families settled in this area in the mid-1800s because of its prime location along the Fox River, which helped facilitate a dam, sawmill, and flour mill. In 2000, Waterford annexed land from the Town of Waterford to create a 79-acre business park, anchored by the Runzheimer International headquarters building, which opened in the fall of 2001 at the intersection of highways 36 and 164. There are three public elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school located in town. Waterford is located close to nearby Chicago and Milwaukee, without being too close either. Approximately 5,368 people call Waterford home today, and water recreational activities are some of the most popular pastimes among locals. Waterford has attracted a variety of large chain businesses, small business entrepreneurs, and franchises for decades. So much so that it's known throughout the region as being a great place to start a new business and recruit quality employees.
Moving to Waterford
Renting an Apartment or House
Waterford has a nice mix of single family homes and apartment buildings for you to choose from. Whether you're looking for an apartment rental or 3 bedroom houses for rent, you can probably find what you're looking for in this riverfront town. If you're worried about how to find an apartment on your own, contact a real estate agent in the area for suggestions and guidance. House rental is definitely an option for you too.
When to Start Shopping
When October rolls around, Waterford becomes downright chilly. And that chilliness barely lifts by March. Do yourself a favor and start shopping for an apartment between May and August. Snow is common in this area, and you'll probably want to get settled before the first blizzard hits.
How to be Prepared
Waterford is like most other small Midwestern towns when it comes to shopping for serviced apartments, pet friendly apartments, and rental homes. As you begin to find apartment options in the area, make sure you have all your necessary documents in order. This includes a copy of your ID, your credit report, bank statements, pay stubs, letter of employment, references, and any other information your landlord tips you off about.
Waterford Neighborhoods
Wind Lake: The median house value in Wind Lake is slightly more than anywhere else in Waterford. Don't be surprised if rental rates are higher here too. This neighborhood doesn't have many apartments, and is mostly comprised of single-family homes and townhomes. This area is also populated by a diverse range of people and families. This is a quaint neighborhood that is friendly, close to the schools, and low in crime. Pretty much everyone in this neighborhood uses a car to get around town.
Raynor Avenue/North Cape Street: Like Tichigan, the Rayor Avenue/North Cape Street Neighborhood is mid-range, as far as Waterford properties go. Raynor is a fairly rural neighborhood in Waterford that is mostly made up of medium and large size single-family homes with three-to-five bedrooms each. The average commuter living in this neighborhood drives about 30 minutes to work.
Tichigan: The Tichigan neighborhood is more rural than the other neighborhoods listed here. It is mostly made up of single-family homes and townhomes, rather than apartments. Tichigan has lower vacancy rates than other neighborhoods in the area, so you may find it difficult to find a home available to move into. Tichigan also has low crime rates and is very safe and friendly.
Milwaukee Avenue/East Main Street: The Milwaukee Avenue/East Main Street neighborhood is one of the more affordable neighborhoods in Waterford. Most rental prices are lower than other parts of town, but still more than many other areas of Wisconsin. This neighborhood is mostly made up of single family homes and small apartment buildings, and most of the buildings were built between 1970 and 1999.
Living in Waterford
If you love experiencing all four seasons, then Waterford is a great place for you. This town experiences a very distinctive Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, with wide variations in temperature and precipitation. According to the 2013 Waterford Market Analysis, there are lots of opportunities to find a job or start a new business in Waterford. The neighboring towns of Burlington, East Troy, Mukwonago, Big Bend, Union Grove, and Muskego also provide substantial employment opportunities. One of place to look if you're in need of a job is the Waterford Industrial Park, which is home to about 28 businesses, 17 of which are major employers in the manufacturing industry. The WesTerra Business Campus, WesTerra Retail Center, and Fairview Marketplace are also great locations to seek out a new gig. Waterford has an even mix of blue-collar and white-collar jobs, full of office workers, service providers, and sales professionals. The Waterford School District offers a comprehensive K-8 curriculum, which is aligned with the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards. Football, cross country, boys and girls basketball, volleyball, academic competitions, forensics, music and student council are popular extracurricular activities for youth living in Waterford. Waterford High School has an enrollment of over 1,000 students and a low student-to-teacher ratio. Some of the most popular town events are the Waterford Hot Air Balloon Festival in July, the Full Moon 4 Miler Run/Walk in August, and the Waterford Fall Harvest Festival in mid-October. The town provides plenty of opportunities for fun and recreation for its residents. You will need a car to get around town though, since there is no public transportation system nearby. Most commuters have a 30-45 minute commute ahead of them on workdays.