Racine

Racine is a county seat on the shore of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, where the Root River flows into the water. The city sits between Milwaukee to the north and the Illinois border to the south, stretching along several miles of lakefront with parks and harbor area.

The first French trading post was established here in the late 17th century at the river, which gave Europeans access to the interior. Between the 1840s and 1920s the place transformed into a center for agricultural machinery and tool production.

The name comes from the French word for root, referring to the Root River that flows into the lake here. Today the city is known for its Danish bakery tradition, visible in the many pastry shops and the annual kringle festival.

Most public facilities sit in the compact downtown between the lake and the freeway, making much of it walkable. Visitors do best coming to the center in the morning when shops and offices are open and parking is easier to find.

The harbor still holds preserved lighthouses from the 19th century that once guided ships through the dangerous shallows of Lake Michigan. Today they serve as landmarks for walkers along the waterfront promenade.

Location: Racine County

Inception: 1699

Elevation above the sea: 188 m

Shares border with: Wind Point, Caledonia, North Bay, Mount Pleasant, Elmwood Park

Website: http://cityofracine.org

GPS coordinates: 42.72611,-87.80583

Latest update: December 12, 2025 22:11