The Milwaukee 7 was formed in September 2005 to create a regional, cooperative economic development platform for the seven counties of southeastern Wisconsin: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Waukesha and Washington. In this series, OnMilwaukee.com profiles each of the counties and highlights their unique attractions and appeal.

Walworth County might have more farm fields left than any other county in the Milwaukee 7 region.

The county was one of the first to take advantage of the Farmland Preservation Act a number of years ago and geared its zoning to preserve farms. Yet, among the fertile fields, you also will find wonderful cities and villages, recreational activities and attractions to keep you on the go.

Whitewater is the largest community in Walworth County and has all the appeal of a classic university town. A tour of UW-Whitewater will reveal a beautiful campus set next to classic Midwestern small town neighborhoods. Downtown Whitewater also offers shops and eateries to satisfy most budgets and appetites.

If you head south down Highway 12 from Whitewater, you'll be heading to the county seat of Elkhorn. Along the way, you might want to stop at the Lauderdale Lakes area, which offers a variety of recreational activities.

Elkhorn itself has a great square, surrounded by shops and other attractions. The Walworth County Visitors Bureau also is in Elkhorn and can offer guides on what to do throughout the county.

The Walworth County Fairgrounds are on the outskirts of Elkhorn. If you are there at fair time, you can take in one of the best county fairs in the state. Other events are held at the fairgrounds during the year. One of the fastest growing is a flea market one Sunday per month during the summer. Hundreds come to browse through the antiques and collectibles and many of them go home with something.

From Elkhorn, you can head north on Highway 12 and east on Highway 20 to East Troy, where you will find the East Troy Electric Railroad Museum and other attractions. East Troy was one of the subjects in a recent OMC "Let's Take A Ride..." column, concentrating on Highway 20.

If you decide to head south from Elkhorn, you'll come to Lake Geneva. This town has long been a playground for visitors from Chicago and elsewhere. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote about the Geneva in some of his books. Mansions and other remnants of Fitzgerald's era can still be found around the lake.

The Geneva Lake Museum also offers a look back at the town's historic past.

The museum's 19th century era stores and businesses, brick street, stagecoach, historic residences and nautical vessels, are but a few of the features to be explored.

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