Delavan is a city in central, western Walworth County, in Southeast Wisconsin. Delavan is home to Lake Delavan and Comus Lakes, and to Lake Lawn Resort.
The Delavan area was inhabited by Native Americans as early as 1000 BC, including the original mound builders and later by the Potawatomi. When Wisconsin became a state in 1848, development began and the City was home to roughly 26 circus companies between 1847 and 1894. This rich circus history is reflected across the city in statues and murals.
After the circus companies closed or moved on, the city's tourism industry picked up with Lake Lawn Resort as a major attraction. Though Lake Lawn had some difficult years, it is open and is again popular with vacationers.
More recently, Delavan's Hispanic population has grown and constitutes roughly 30% of the population according to the 2010 Census. The exceptional diversity of the community is reflected in the downtown, where English and Spanish businesses stand beside each other.
Delavan is accessible via Interstate 43 and is within 5 miles of US Route 14. Routes 50 and 11 are the primary east-west thoroughfares.
Delavan can be traveled by car or on foot. WI 11 and 50 provide access to the vast majority of the city.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division