Community Snapshot: Nakoma
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Nakoma was recently featured in our monthly e-newsletter, ROOST AROUND TOWN. To learn more about neighborhoods in and around Madison, sign up today!
In 1915, the near-west neighborhood of Nakoma was originally designed as a “picturesque suburb” of Madison, complete with its own private bus service and expansive, rolling parks. Today, the Nakoma neighborhood grown into one of the most distinguished neighborhoods in Madison.
In 1920, a group of 30 Nakoma women formed the Nakoma District Welfare League. The League's mission was “the uplifting of humanity, the relieving of distress, the lending of a helping hand to those in need, be they rich or poor, the giving of ourselves to do for others.”
The Welfare League grew into the The Nakoma League, the neighborhood's social and charitable organization. Residents automatically become members of the League as soon as they move into the neighborhood.
When the League was founded, there were only 26 homes in Nakoma. Today there are close to 700.
Several prominent Madisonians have called the Nakoma neighborhood home, including Thomas Truax, Jr., a WWII pilot whose name now graces Truax Field.
Drive through Nakoma today and you’ll find lush trees, grand architecture, and well-manicured lawns lining the winding residential streets. Neighborhood amenities include the Nakoma Golf Club, Nakoma Park, Thoreau Elementary School, the UW Arboretum, and the Duck Pond. Thanks to the close proximity to the Beltline, Midvale Boulevard, Odana Road, and the popular Southwest Bike Path, residents can navigate to central and western points with ease.
Interested in learning more about your own neighborhood? Want to explore a new neighborhood to call home? The ROOST Neighborhood Page is a great place to start!