Ulao, Wisconsin

Ulao, Wisconsin
Unincorporated community

Looking east at Ulao
Ulao, Wisconsin
Ulao, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 43°19′14″N 87°54′59″W / 43.32056°N 87.91639°W / 43.32056; -87.91639Coordinates: 43°19′14″N 87°54′59″W / 43.32056°N 87.91639°W / 43.32056; -87.91639
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County Ozaukee
Elevation 689 ft (210 m)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s) 262
GNIS feature ID 1577866[1]

Ulao, Wisconsin (/juːˈleɪˌoʊ/ yoo-LAY-oh)[2] is an unincorporated community in the Town of Grafton in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.[1] It is located at the intersection of Ulao Road and the old Chicago and Northwestern railroad running from Milwaukee to Green Bay. Today, I-43 runs a few hundred feet to the west of the town. Ulao Creek runs through the community.

History

Just to the east of Ulao, on the shore of Lake Michigan, was the hamlet of Port Ulao, which was founded in 1847 by James T. Gifford, an investor from Elgin, Illinois. Gifford began a business of selling wood to steamships heading down the lake, and built a 1000-foot wooden pier into the lake for ships to dock. He then constructed a chute down the side of a steep bluff to transport logs that farmers in the area produced while clearing land.[3]

The same year, Gifford was granted a charter by the territorial legislature to build a plank road from Port Ulao west to the Wisconsin River. Only three miles of it were actually built, but this turnpike, now known as Ulao Road, became the basis of today's Highway 60.[3]

Ulao contained a post office from 1850 until 1864.[4] The origin of the name Ulao is obscure; some say it was named for a Native American chieftain, while others believe it is a corruption of a French name.[5]

In 1856, eight members of the Latter Day Saints were forced to leave their home on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan and moved to Ulao.[6][7]

Landmarks

Notable residents

References

  1. 1 2 "Ulao, Wisconsin". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ History and origin of Port "Ulao"; Jill Hewitt; Retrieved October 7, 2016
  3. 1 2 Early History of Grafton is Recalled in Talk by Ralph Zaun
  4. ↑ "Ozaukee County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "Play the Name Game in Ozaukee". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 4 September 1967. pp. Part 5, Page 1. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  6. ↑ 'Early History of Ozaukee County, Wisconsin,' 1965, Port Ulao, pg. 61-62
  7. ↑ Town of Grafton Comprehensive Plan 2036, Issues and Opportunities, History of the Town, pg. 2-3
  8. ↑ History and origin of Port "Ulao"; Jill Hewitt; Retrieved October 5, 2007


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