[7] In the early 19th century when the first White settlers arrived in Southeastern Wisconsin, the Potawatomi and Menominee Indians inhabited the land now occupied by the City of West Bend.

[9][10] While many Native people moved west of the Mississippi River to Kansas, some chose to remain, and were referred to as "strolling Potawatomi" in contemporary documents because many of them were migrants who subsisted by squatting on their ancestral lands, which were now owned by settlers.

[11] In the mid-1800s, there was a large Native American village on the shore of Silver Lake, southwest of the modern-day City of West Bend.

In 1845, the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature authorized the construction of a road to connect Fond du Lac and Milwaukee with a new settlement near the halfway point to provide provisions and overnight accommodations for travelers.

[13] By the end of 1845, they had purchased eight eighty-acre tracts of land along the river, and invited local landowner E. N. Higgins to join their venture as well.

[14] In 1845, land surveyor and early settler Barton Salisbury built a sawmill on the river north of West Bend.

Additional sawmills and gristmills sprang up on the river in the community's early years, and by 1855, Barton's population was over 1,000, making it larger than neighboring West Bend.

West Bend, Cedarburg, and Grafton vied for position of Washington County seat and the material advantages it would entail.

[18][19] On November 25, 1853, the County Board of Supervisors attempted to change the name of West Bend to Lamartine City.

[20] In November 1862 during the American Civil War, the draft was unpopular with some Washington County residents, including German immigrants who had experienced or fled conscription in their homelands.

On November 22, 1862, the commissioner returned to West Bend with six companies of the 30th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment to prevent further disruptions.

[23] railroad station was constructed in West Bend in 1873, bringing new residents, businesses and economic connections into the community.

[13][24] In the 1890s, West Bend's economy began to transition from a rural market town to an industrial community.

[15] During World War II, West Bend experienced labor shortages because many local men had been conscripted into the military.

[13][27] West Bend experienced dramatic population growth during the post–World War II economic expansion.

Specifically, we request faith-based and/or ex-gay books affirming traditional heterosexual perspectives be added to the library."

The West Bend Common Council refused to reappoint four library trustees whose terms were ending.

[39][40] Four Wisconsin men belonging to the Christian Civil Liberties Union filed a claim against the West Bend library, asking for $30,000 apiece for "emotional distress", and that Francesca Lia Block's book Baby Be-Bop be "burned or destroyed.

"[41][42][43][44] The Washington County Historical Society operates four distinct museums located in West Bend.

[45] Buildings and sites that have been deemed historic by official bodies include: Downtown West Bend has a movie theater which originally opened in 1929.

Although many current residents of West Bend work in neighboring communities, the city's economy has been historically based in manufacturing and financial services.

In 1949, the printing company Serigraph, Inc. was founded in a garage in West Bend and went on to employ people all over the world.

[58] The Army National Guard operates an armory near the airport, at 125 Chopper Drive, West Bend.

[60] This facility includes scenic bike/pedestrian trails, a canoe launch, three softball fields with two concession stands, and a children's play area.

It includes entertainment from various sources and boasts over 65 vendors, selling produce, fruits, meats, eggs, maple syrup, bakery items, spices, soaps, herbal products, prepared foods and more.

The street in Downtown West Bend is closed to traffic and a different band takes the stage at Old Settler's Park each week.

The reasoning for his resignation was because of an upcoming development where he had a current business relationship with the people involved for over 15 years, and Sadownikow was concerned he would have a bias regarding it.

This proved to be a controversial decision as the vote to appoint her was blocked when Aldermen Allen Carter, Terry Vrana, and Scott Frederick walked out.

Post-secondary schools in West Bend include University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Washington County (UWM-WC) and Moraine Park Technical College.

[112] The options for public transportation within West Bend include the city and county taxi programs.