West Bend

West Bend is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Wisconsin, United States in southeastern Wisconsin. The population was estimated to be 29,894 in 2008. The city has a strong German heritage.

Before the arrival of European settlers in southeastern Wisconsin, the Potawatomi and Menominee Indians inhabited the land now occupied by the city of West Bend.

In 1845, the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature authorized the building of a road to connect Fond du Lac and Milwaukee. Byron Kilbourn, one of the highway commissioners, and Jasper Vliet, a surveyor, were put in charge of determining the route the road would take and of identifying a good halfway point for travelers. The path they chose is now U.S. Route 45 and the rest stop is present-day West Bend.

Although many current residents of West Bend work in neighboring communities, the city's economy has been historically based in manufacturing and financial services. West Bend Mutual Insurance Company was founded in the city in 1894 and West Bend Savings Bank (now Westbury Bank) in 1926. The West Bend Aluminum Company (later the West Bend Company) was founded in 1911 by Bernhardt C. Ziegler, and remained in West Bend until 2003. Ziegler had previously founded the securities brokerage company B.C. Ziegler & Co. in 1902.

Activities include visiting historic downtown West Bend or going for a ride in Wisconsin's first indoor go-kart track (Stockys). A theater, an ice skating rink, a locally-owned 1950s styled custard stand (Toucans) and numerous coffee shops round out some of the entertainment options available. West Bend is also home of the Museum of Wisconsin Art, an art museum dedicated to showing the works of Wisconsin artists. The Old Courthouse and Old Jailhouse Museums and the new West Bend Co./Regal Ware Museum attract visitors, as well.