COMMUNITY
Our home in Southern Wisconsin
Whitewater is a place full of passionate people, creativity, and entrepreneurship. We are a cozy university town with the perfect mix of tradition and progress. Downtown is just a 15-minute walk from campus along Main Street, lined with historic homes, the iconic Birge fountain and our thriving Cultural Arts Center, home to the Whitewater Arts Alliance. Cravath Lakefront Park hosts the July 4th Celebration, the vibrant Whitewater City Market, and weekly concerts during the summer.
Our Rock County campus, located in Janesville — known for its acres of tranquil parkland and miles of peaceful trails — is a 40-minute drive from the Whitewater campus.
Explore. Learn. Play
Located within minutes of the Kettle Moraine State Forest and access points to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, there’s no shortage of year-round outdoor recreation, including world-class mountain biking, hiking, fishing and cross-country skiing. Bike trails connect the city and the Whitewater Lake Recreational Area and the many rustic roads and charming towns to be discovered. The beautiful resort community of Lake Geneva is a 40-minute drive away, while you’ll be in Madison or Milwaukee in less than an hour.
Whitewater by the numbers
15,000 people live here
22 parks to explore
12 historic places on the national registry
Strong connections
Campus connects to the community in Whitewater in a way that other college towns don’t. From internships at the Whitewater University Innovation Center to hands-on experiences at Fairhaven Senior Services or one of the five schools in the Whitewater Unified School District, faculty, staff and students are deeply involved in business and civic affairs. Some of our most popular restaurants, shops and community organizations were established by Warhawks.
Mascot on Main
Join University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Chancellor Corey King and Willie Warhawk as they visit vibrant community partners through our Mascot on Main series.
Safe and welcoming
A safe, walkable and bikeable city where everything you need — from the historic post office to numerous shops and restaurants — is at your fingertips. As a campus community, Whitewater has long welcomed new residents from around the world, leaving the city with diverse shops and a friendly mindset.
Things to do
With its dozens of restaurants, vintage clothing stores, unique bookstore, cat café and craft breweries, everyone will find a way to fill an afternoon — or a weekend — in Whitewater. Don’t forget The Young, the 1,300-seat venue on campus where you might catch Charlie Behrens on his next stop. Or our movie theatre, art galleries and libraries.