Land Use History of Sussex, WI

Sussex, Wisconsin is a village in Waukesha County. It occupies the ancestral land of the Potawatomi. Prior to European settlement, the land was largely used for agriculture, namely corn, beans, and squash. "Wild" land was likely cultivated for sustainable hunting, fishing, and foraging purposes. Two of the most prominent pre-settlement vegetation types in Waukesha County include oak savanna and southern mesic forests.   

The first European settlers arrived in the established Village of Lisbon in 1843 from Sussex, England (hence the village's name). Agriculture and lime stone (often called Lannon lime stone) quarrying were two of the largest industries present early in the town's history. Quarrying in particular has shaped the land around Sussex and its surrounding towns. Multiple defunct quarries have been filled with water and turned into retaining ponds or swimming holes. Large quarrying operations are still present and thriving today. However, much of the existing vegetation was cleared in order to convert the land for agricultural or industrial use, resulting in the loss of much of the savanna and forest habitat.

With a population of 11,750 as of 2022, Sussex in particular has experienced a population boom in recent years. According to the Encyclopedia of Milwaukee, "The population is expected to grow another 50% by 2035." The rapid development of lands for new residential buildings has further contributed to habitat fragmentation and degradation in the town. A small neighborhood forest that I grew up playing in was just recently demolished to make room for a new housing development. Although a few nature preserves exist protecting local forest, savanna, and wetland habitat, the rate of land development in the town is one of its most pressing current issues.

Sources:

https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI8609

https://emke.uwm.edu/entry/waukesha-county/

https://emke.uwm.edu/entry/village-of-sussex/

https://www.villagesussex.org/community/about-sussex/history