Northern Door County

Baileys Harbor, Carlsville, Fish Creek, Jacksonport, Juddville, Egg Harbor, Ellison Bay, Ephraim, Gills Rock, Northport, Rowley’s Bay, Sister Bay and Washington Island

Welcome to Northern Door County!

The Northern Region is defined by shoreline, cherry farms, and small town living. Historic towns grew in between the major highway and shore on both sides of the peninsula. Before the Sturgeon Bay canal was built in 1881, these towns served travelers crossing Death’s Door destined for the fur trade hub in Green Bay.

Washington Island, Door County’s only year-round island community and the largest of Door County’s thirty-four islands, offering over 35 beautiful square miles and over 100 miles of roads to explore and enjoy. Year-round businesses dot the island served by a daily ferry line.

The region is dotted with tourist attractions and many are available in multiple seasons. Residents and visitors enjoy golf, theatre, charter fishing, holiday events, and festivals.

Northern Door County School District

The smallest school in Wisconsin is on Washington Island and offers full programming for 4k – 12. Visitors are welcome to stop in.
Gibraltar Area School District has two school locations one for Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade and the other for 7th grade through High School.

The schools promote experiential learning and focus on preparing students for lifelong learning.

View Door County School Districts Boundary Map

Northern Door County School District

The smallest school in Wisconsin is on Washington Island and offers full programming for 4k – 12. Visitors are welcome to stop in.
Gibraltar Area School District has two school locations one for Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade and the other for 7th grade through High School.

The schools promote experiential learning and focus on preparing students for lifelong learning.

View Door County School Districts Boundary Map

Northern Door County Business

Businesses in Northern Door County operate year-round or seasonally.

Door County Coffee & Tea was founded in 1993 and is now located in Carlsville. Door County Coffee is a small family-owned business with a focus on quality and customer service and an extensive distribution network.

Washington Island Ferry Line offers trips to Washington Island and Rock Island and runs the Cherry Train Tour on Washington Island. The ferry line has four ferries in the fleet including one designed to run every day of the year.

Island Lavender offers a variety of home, personal, and culinary products distributed world-wide. Island Lavender has three retail locations. One is in Ephram just outside Sister Bay, another is on the farm on Washington Island, and a third retail outlet is in South Carolina.

Cherry Farms dot highway 42 heading north to Seaquist Orchards Farm Market in Sister Bay. The cherry season lasts about 3 weeks but the work is year round.

Northern Door County Business

Businesses in Northern Door County operate year-round or seasonally.

Door County Coffee & Tea was founded in 1993 and is now located in Carlsville. Door County Coffee is a small family-owned business with a focus on quality and customer service and an extensive distribution network.

Washington Island Ferry Line offers trips to Washington Island and Rock Island and runs the Cherry Train Tour on Washington Island. The ferry line has four ferries in the fleet including one designed to run every day of the year.

Island Lavender offers a variety of home, personal, and culinary products distributed world-wide. Island Lavender has three retail locations. One is in Ephram just outside Sister Bay, another is on the farm on Washington Island, and a third retail outlet is in South Carolina.

Cherry Farms dot highway 42 heading north to Seaquist Orchards Farm Market in Sister Bay. The cherry season lasts about 3 weeks but the work is year round.

Activity in Northern Door County

The miles of shoreline define activities such as kayaking, charter fishing, shipwreck diving, and swimming. Residents enjoy golf, hiking, exceptional cuisine, ethnic festivals, and small town living. Many artisans are attracted to the area to leverage the high season.

Activity in Northern Door County

The miles of shoreline define activities such as kayaking, charter fishing, shipwreck diving, and swimming. Residents enjoy golf, hiking, exceptional cuisine, ethnic festivals, and small town living. Many artisans are attracted to the area to leverage the high season.

What’s it like to live in Door County?

Here’s what current residents say about living in Door County.

My husband and I chose to relocate to Door County from the Milwaukee area to allow us more time to enjoy the many outdoor activities that Door County offers, we enjoy spending our time outdoors, hiking, biking and fishing, as opposed to sitting in traffic. Additionally, we enjoy the more laid back and relaxed lifestyle and great close knit community that Sturgeon Bay offers.

Andrew & Kelsey Fox

Lydia and I chose to live Door County because of its unique location and experiences. This is a destination where you can have friends and family visit for vacations while we get to enjoy the amenities whenever we want. Door County is also a place where the residents care about their communities and they are passionate to keep it a welcoming place. We hope to enjoy this place for years to come.

Beau Bernhoft & Lydia Semo

I procured a position as a Tooling Design Engineer at WireTech and relocated to Sturgeon Bay from a large metropolitan area. It worked out great for me. I no longer spend hours commuting. Instead I spend that time biking and hiking in the State Park. The clean air and peaceful atmosphere help to keep my mind clear and I feel healthier.

Paul Sund

Northern Door County “Fast Facts”

A vibrant business community nestled within one of the most desirable vacation destinations in the United States, Northern Door County seeks to welcome business and economic development alike.

Washington Island, which lies off the northern tip of the peninsula covers approximately 35 square miles and is home to the second largest Icelandic settlement in North America.

Since its founding in 1853 until 2016, the village of Ephraim prohibited alcohol sales or manufacture and was the only dry municipality in the state of Wisconsin.

Egg Harbor was the 10th organized town in Door County and was established on July 9th, 1861 and received its name after a “battle” left egg shells washed along the shores of the harbor.

Commute time from Egg Harbor to:
Sturgeon Bay: 26 minutes
Brussels: 40 minutes
Washington Island: 1h 35 minutes (includes ferry ride)
Green Bay / Airport: 1 h 15 minutes