Monona Bay is bordered by Regent and Proudfit Streets on the north, Haywood Drive to the south, South Park Street on the west and of course, Monona Bay to the east. While situated just a few blocks south of the University of Wisconsin campus, the demographics are vastly different — marked primarily by a general lack of students. The students that do call Monona Bay home tend to be older or living here with their families.

This neighborhood got its start back in the early 1900s when Sicilian and Italian immigrants made their way to Madison to begin a new life. While the name “Monona Bay” may sound glamorous, it was just a swampy marsh when the newcomers staked their claim to the area. Hard work and hand tools resulted in a filled-in swamp and the emergence of shops and houses. The area eventually became home to as many as 14 varied ethnicities.  While some of those ethnic groups have changed over the years, it’s still an area known for its wide diversity.

The neighborhood offers a mix of single-family and multi-family living, but in an area heavily populated by apartments and condos, just 24% of residents here are homeowners.  Many of the single-family homes (mostly south of West Washington Avenue) date back to the early 1900s and often feature architectural styles with ornate detail typical of the times.

Monona Bay neighbors will tell you that the location is one of the best things about the living here.  Madison’s downtown, the Capitol Square, State Street, and the UW campus are all nearby.  There’s a bike path running right through the neighborhood that connects residents to Brittingham Park. Home of the Brittingham Boathouse, park-goers can fish, kayak, swim or take advantage of the tennis and volleyball courts or have themselves a picnic at the park shelter.