Jones Island

The Lost Kashubian Village

State: Wisconsin County: Milwaukee County Founded: 1870s Abandoned: 1940s (evicted) Peak Population: 1,500

Jones Island was once home to a tight-knit community of Kaszube fishermen from Poland who squatted on the land. They lived in a unique, isolated village until the city evicted them in the 1920s and 40s to expand the industrial port.

Plan Your Visit

Best Time: Summer (Kaszubian Park)

Difficulty: Easy

Time Needed: 30 mins

Quick Facts

  • Settled by Kashubian immigrants
  • Had Wisconsin's smallest public park
  • Now a sewage treatment/port area

Location

Address: Jones Island, Milwaukee, WI

Coordinates: 43.0234, -87.8965