Walworth County, located in southeastern Wisconsin, is one of the oldest and wealthiest counties in the state. The diversified topography has rolling hills, forests, prairies, marshes, meadows, and winding streams. It is a perfect square in shape, containing 576 square miles (368,640 acres). There are 24 lakes, the largest being Geneva Lake which is nine miles long, from one to three miles wide, with water supplied by fresh springs.

The growth of the county has been steady and permanent. In 1836, 27 families lived in the county in log houses, and by 1990 the population has grown to 57,000. The first residents of Walworth County came principally from New York State. Other states represented were Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Illinois. Of those that came early to the wilderness, the English were predominant. Norwegians purchased land here after 1838, the Irish came after the famine of 1847, and the Germans arrived after the revolution of 1848. It was only after many hardships of the early pioneers that Walworth County became a "place of peace, comfort, and security."