Shorewood is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 13,763 at the 2000 census. Nestled between the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan, Shorewood is bordered by the City of Milwaukee to the south and west and Whitefish Bay to the north. The Village of Shorewood, Wisconsin has had a colorful history including several different names such as Mechanicsville, Cementville, and East Milwaukee. In 1900, the area was incorporated as East Milwaukee and was officially named Shorewood in 1917. European Pere Jacques Marquette and his companions first saw the present site of Shorewood. They were traveling along the Milwaukee River and passed the bluffs of the area on November 23, 1674, according to the trip's diary. After the United States government purchased the area from the Menominee Indians, the arrival of settlers was not far behind.

In 1834, Dr. Amasa Bigelow built a mill on the east bank of the Milwaukee River. This was the first industrial enterprise in the area. Daniel Bigelow took out a claim and planned the first settlement in the area. Platted March 15, 1836, Mechanicsville had a river, a dam and two sawmills. In 1841, Thomas Bare purchased 90 acres of land just east of the Milwaukee River and north of Capital Drive. He became the area's first permanent settler and the Fox 6 tower currently occupies the area purchased.

Today, Shorewood, Wisconsin, is celebrated for its many 19th-century estates dotting the city between the Milwaukee River and the Lake Michigan shore. The Benjamin Church House (also known as Kilbourntown House) is a one-story Greek Revival house was built in 1844 for his family by Benjamin F. Church, a pioneer builder from New York, on N. Fourth Street in the Kilbourntown settlement. In 1938, after significant preservation efforts, the house was moved from its original site to its present location in Estabrook Park in Shorewood. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Another landmark is Hubbard Park, a wooded, terraced park spanning almost 5 acres along the east bank of the Milwaukee River, has a colorful history. In its earlier years, the site used for Indian hunting grounds, a resort, a series of amusement parks, fishing shanties, to name a few.

The fashionable and eclectic Village of Shorewood is known for its academic prowess, interesting neighborhoods, intriguing people and wonderful architecture. Eclectic shops and restaurants, exceptional schools and access to a truly great lake, Lake Michigan, are all within walking distance in Shorewood. Being right next door to Milwaukee means a short, scenic drive or ride to work, museums, festivals, nightlife or whatever else your heart desires.

Shorewood Homes, Properties and Special Feature Real Estate