Greendale, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Greendale, Wisconsin
Village
Greendale Village Hall
Location of Greendale in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Milwaukee
Area
• Total	5.57 sq mi (14.44 km2)
• Land	5.57 sq mi (14.41 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	738 ft (225 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	14,854
• Estimate  (2021)	14,652
• Density	2,541.42/sq mi (981.16/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	53129
Area code(s)	414
FIPS code	55-31125
GNIS feature ID	1565837

Greendale is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. About 14,854 people lived here in 2020. Greendale is located southwest of the city of Milwaukee. It is part of the larger Milwaukee area. This village was special because it was a "planned community." The U.S. government created it during the Great Depression to help people.

Greendale's Past: A Look at History

Houses in Greendale, 1939

Early Inhabitants: Native American Tribes

Long ago, different Native American tribes lived in the Greendale area. One of these tribes was the Potawatomi. In 1833, a special agreement was made. It was called the 1833 Treaty of Chicago. This treaty meant that the Chippewa, Odawa, and Potawatomi tribes gave up a huge amount of land to the U.S. government. In return, they received money and land west of the Mississippi River.

Building a New Community in the 1930s

Greendale was one of three "Greenbelt" communities built by the U.S. government. This project started in 1936. It was part of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal plan. The goal was to create new towns and jobs during the Great Depression. The other Greenbelt towns were Greenbelt, Maryland, and Greenhills, Ohio.

Greendale officially became a village on November 1, 1938. The people who planned Greendale wanted it to be a model village. It was designed for working-class families. The original downtown area had a village hall, many new homes, and businesses. These homes were often called "Greendale Originals."

The town was planned like a "garden city." This meant people could easily walk to schools, shops, and parks. Many of the "Originals" homes have unique artistic designs on their chimneys.

Growth and Changes Over Time

The U.S. government stopped owning Greendale in 1953. In the late 1950s, Greendale grew a lot. More homes were built as the Milwaukee suburbs expanded.

Southridge Mall opened in Greendale in 1970. It was a big shopping center for the area.

In 1996, the main shopping area in the village center was updated. This brought new restaurants and made the area more popular. Today, over 40,000 flowers are planted there every year. You can see them in hanging baskets and window boxes.

When Greendale was being built, workers called different areas "A section," "B section," and so on. This way of naming stuck! Even now, all streets in each section start with the same letter. For example, the A section has streets like Angle Lane and Apricot Court.

Greendale's Location and Surroundings

Greendale is located at 42°56′15″N 87°59′49″W / 42.937615°N 87.996884°W / 42.937615; -87.996884. The Root River flows through the western part of the village.

Greendale is next to other towns. Greenfield is to the north and east. Hales Corners is to the west. Franklin, Wisconsin is to the south.

The village covers about 5.57 square miles (14.44 square kilometers). Most of this area is land.

Scout Lake is a small lake in Greendale, about 5 acres big. It is 19 feet deep at its deepest point. You can find fish like panfish, largemouth bass, and northern pike here.

Greendale's Weather

Greendale's weather changes with the seasons. It has cold winters and warm summers.

People of Greendale: Demographics

Population in 2010

In 2010, Greendale had 14,046 people living there. There were 6,075 households. About 28% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in Greendale was 45.3 years old.

Population in 2020

By 2020, the population grew to 14,854 people. There were 6,169 households. The average age was 40.9 years. About 25.1% of residents were under 18. Many adults in Greendale have a college degree. The median household income was $78,310.

Greendale's Economy: Shops and Businesses

Southridge Mall

Southridge Mall is a big shopping center in Greendale. It opened in 1970. It is one of the largest malls in Wisconsin.

The downtown village center has many local shops. You can also find several places to eat there.

Arts, Culture, and Fun in Greendale

Greendale Historic District

Community Groups and Organizations

Many people in Greendale are active in local groups. They volunteer their time to help the village. Some of these groups include:

• Greendale Entertainment Association
• Greendale Historical Society
• Greendale Lions Club
• Public Celebrations Committee

Events and Festivals to Enjoy

Greendale hosts many fun events throughout the year:

• "Remember the Fallen" is a special walk on Memorial Day. It honors veterans.
• The Greendale Downtown Market happens on Saturdays from June to October.
• Saturday Night Fun on the Green offers free music concerts in Gazebo Park. These run from mid-June to mid-August.
• Sunday Village Nites on the Green also has free music concerts on Sunday nights.
• The Family Fourth Fest celebrates the Fourth of July with music.
• The Greendale Garden Walk lets you tour beautiful private gardens in July.
• Every August, Greendale celebrates Village Days. This event started in 1939. It's a three-day party with a parade, live music, and food.

Historic Places to Visit

Trimborn Farm

Greendale has several important historic sites:

• The Greendale Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. It became a National Historic Landmark in 2012.
• Trimborn Farm is an old Victorian-era estate. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
• The Jeremiah Curtin House is part of the Trimborn farm complex. It was built in 1846. This unique stone house was the childhood home of a famous linguist and folklorist, Jeremiah Curtin.

Performing Arts and Music

Greendale has a lively arts scene:

• The Greendale Community Theater puts on shows.
• Greendale High School performs a fall play and a spring musical.
• Midwest Vocal Express (MVE) is a male a cappella chorus. They tell stories through song. They sing barbershop, show tunes, and popular music.

Interesting Places to See

• Greendale Public Library: This library has many books and digital items. It is known for its collection of all 322 covers illustrated by Norman Rockwell for The Saturday Evening Post.
• Greendale Veterans Memorial: This memorial honors veterans who served the country. It was dedicated in 2019.
• Historic Greendale Welcome Center: Here you can see displays about Greendale's history. It shows how the village was created and how it has changed.
• Historic Hose Tower: This is a tall structure once used to hang firehoses to dry them.

Parks and Recreation: Outdoor Fun

Whitnall Park is the largest park in Milwaukee County. It borders Greendale on the west. This park offers many fun outdoor activities:

• Whitnall Park Golf Course: An 18-hole golf course with wooded areas and views of Mallard Lake.
• Wehr Nature Center
• Boerner Botanical Gardens
• Many trails for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing.

Part of the Root River Parkway is in Greendale. The village is also connected to the Milwaukee County Park System's Oak Leaf Trail. This is a paved trail system that is 135 miles long. It's great for walking, running, or biking.

The Rock Sports Complex is an athletic park nearby. It has baseball fields, mountain bike trails, and snow play areas. It borders Greendale to the south.

Education: Schools in Greendale

Greendale High School

Greendale has public schools for students of all ages. There is one public high school, one public middle school, and three public elementary schools. These elementary schools are Canterbury, College Park, and Highland View.

Greendale High School has been recognized as one of America's Best High Schools. The Greendale School District was also ranked as a top school system in the Milwaukee area in 2007.

The Greendale High School Marching Band is very successful. They have won many state championships. They were even invited to perform in the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Private Schools in the Village

• Greendale Baptist Academy
• Greendale Playschool (for younger children)
• Martin Luther High School is a private high school.
• St. Alphonsus Catholic School (for children from 3K to 8th grade)

Transportation: Getting Around Greendale

Greendale is about 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. It is also close to major highways like Interstate 94 and Interstate 894. WIS 36 runs through the village. The village also has public transportation provided by the Milwaukee County Transit System.

Notable People from Greendale

Many interesting people have connections to Greendale:

• Stephen Burrows, an actor, writer, and director.
• Jeremiah Curtin, a 19th-century folklorist and linguist. His childhood home is a historic landmark in Greendale.
• Jim Frohna, a cinematographer and director.
• Jim Gruenwald, a Greco-Roman wrestler and former U.S. Olympic team member.
• Ariana Hilborn, a long-distance runner.
• Jane Kaczmarek, an actress.
• Mark Massa, a justice on the Indiana Supreme Court.
• Roy Reiman, who founded Reiman Publications.
• Dave Smith, an American Football League player.
• Gerald Uelmen, an attorney, writer, and academic.

See also

In Spanish: Greendale (Wisconsin) para niños