Milwaukee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Milwaukee
City
Downtown Milwaukee Hilton Milwaukee City Center Milwaukee City Hall Milwaukee Riverwalk Milwaukee Art Museum American Family Field Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory
Flag Seal Logo
Nickname(s):  Cream City, Brew City, Beer Capital of the World, Miltown, The Mil, MKE, The City of Festivals, The German Athens of America, The 414
Milwaukee Location in Wisconsin Show map of Wisconsin Milwaukee Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Counties	Milwaukee, Washington, Waukesha
Incorporated	January 31, 1846; 179 years ago (1846-01-31)
Founded by	Solomon Juneau, Byron Kilbourn, and George H. Walker
Named for	Potawatomi for "gathering place by the water"
Government
• Type	Strong mayor-council
• Body	Milwaukee Common Council
Area
• City	96.81 sq mi (250.75 km2)
• Land	96.18 sq mi (249.12 km2)
• Water	0.63 sq mi (1.63 km2)
Elevation	617 ft (188 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	577,222
• Estimate  (2024)	577,385
• Rank	85th in North America 31st in the United States 1st in Wisconsin
• Density	5,962.42/sq mi (2,301.98/km2)
• Urban	1,306,795 (US: 38th)
• Urban density	2,818.3/sq mi (1,088.2/km2)
• Metro	1,574,731 (US: 40th)
• CSA	2,049,805 (US: 33rd)
Demonym(s)	Milwaukeean
GDP
• Metro	$120.563 billion (2022)
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	53172, 532XX 53172, 53201–53216, 53218–53228, 53233–53234, 53237, 53259, 53263, 53267–53268, 53274, 53278, 53288, 53290, 53293, 53295
Area code(s)	414
FIPS code	55-53000
GNIS feature ID	1577901

Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin, a state in the United States. It is also the main city of Milwaukee County. In 2020, about 577,222 people lived there. This makes Milwaukee the 31st biggest city in the U.S. and the fifth largest in the Midwest. It's the center of a larger area called the Milwaukee metropolitan area, which has over 1.5 million people.

Milwaukee is known for its many different cultures. Its history was greatly shaped by German immigrants in the 1800s. Because of this, it's still a big center for German-American culture, especially famous for its beer brewing. The city has been growing with new projects like the Wisconsin Center and Fiserv Forum.

Milwaukee is also home to big companies like Northwestern Mutual and Harley-Davidson. It has several colleges, including Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Sports fans will know Milwaukee for its professional teams: the Milwaukee Bucks (basketball) and the Milwaukee Brewers (baseball). Since 1968, Milwaukee has hosted Summerfest, one of the world's largest music festivals.

Milwaukee's Past: A Look at its History

What's in a Name? The Origin of Milwaukee

The exact meaning of the name Milwaukee is a bit of a mystery. Some experts say it comes from the Ojibwe word mino-akking, which means "good land." Other ideas suggest it comes from Algonquian words meaning "gathering place." The city itself says the name comes from mahn-ah-wauk, a Potawatomi word for "council grounds."

Before 1844, people spelled Milwaukee in many ways. Those living west of the Milwaukee River used the spelling we know today. People on the east side often spelled it Milwaukie. The local newspaper, the Milwaukee Sentinel, used Milwaukie until November 30, 1844, when it switched to Milwaukee.

Native American Communities in Milwaukee

For thousands of years, different Native American tribes lived along the rivers in the Milwaukee area. The first tribes recorded here were the Menominee, Fox, Mascouten, Sauk, Potawatomi, and Ojibwe. The Ho-Chunk tribe also lived here. Many of these tribes moved to Milwaukee from the Green Bay area around the time Europeans first arrived.

In the late 1700s, Native Americans near Milwaukee were involved in major wars on the American continent. They fought alongside the French in the French and Indian War. During the American Revolutionary War, some tribes in Milwaukee even sided with the American rebels.

After these wars, Native Americans fought the United States in the Northwest Indian War. In 1812, they met in Milwaukee and decided to attack Chicago. This led to the Battle of Fort Dearborn, the only known armed conflict in Chicago. After another conflict in 1832, the Native Americans in Milwaukee signed a treaty in 1833. They gave up their lands in the area for money and land west of the Mississippi River.

European Settlers and How Milwaukee Grew

Europeans started arriving in Milwaukee before the 1833 treaty. French traders and missionaries visited the area in the late 1600s and 1700s. Alexis Laframboise set up a trading post in 1785. He is thought to be the first European settler in the Milwaukee region.

Milwaukee had three main "founding fathers": Solomon Juneau, Byron Kilbourn, and George H. Walker. Solomon Juneau arrived in 1818 and founded a town called Juneautown. Byron Kilbourn started Kilbourntown west of the Milwaukee River. He even made sure the roads in his town didn't connect to those on the east side. This is why many angled bridges still exist in Milwaukee today. George H. Walker claimed land south of the Milwaukee River, which became known as Walker's Point.

Many new settlers started coming to Milwaukee in 1835. They were mostly from New England and other eastern states. By 1840, the three towns had grown, but they also had strong rivalries. This led to the Milwaukee Bridge War in 1845. After the war, on January 31, 1846, the towns joined together to form the City of Milwaukee. Solomon Juneau became Milwaukee's first mayor.

Milwaukee grew quickly as many immigrants, especially from Germany, arrived in the 1840s and 1850s. By 1900, 34% of Milwaukee's population had German roots. Milwaukee became known as the most German city in America. This was not just because of the large number of Germans, but also because they built a strong community. They created German-language clubs for singing and gymnastics. They also influenced American schools by introducing ideas like Kindergarten and sports programs.

Milwaukee still celebrates its German heritage today. The city hosts a German Fest in July and an Oktoberfest in October. You can also find German restaurants and a traditional German beer hall.

After the Civil War, other groups also came to Milwaukee. Many Polish immigrants arrived, looking for jobs and a better life. Milwaukee became one of the largest Polish settlements in the USA. The South Side of Milwaukee is still known for its Polish community. They built many churches, like St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and the Basilica of St. Josaphat. Milwaukee has the fifth-largest Polish population in the U.S. and hosts Polish Fest every year.

Many other European immigrants came to Milwaukee, including people from Lithuania, Italy, Ireland, France, Russia, and Sweden. By 1910, Milwaukee had one of the highest percentages of foreign-born residents in the United States. The city also saw a small number of African Americans move from the South during the Great Migration. They formed a community called Bronzeville.

In the mid-1900s, more African Americans moved to Milwaukee. Many Hispanic people, mostly from Puerto Rico and Mexico, also settled on the south side of the city.

For the first 60 years of the 1900s, Milwaukee was a major city where the Socialist Party of America had strong support. Milwaukee elected three mayors from the Socialist Party: Emil Seidel (1910–1912), Daniel Hoan (1916–1940), and Frank Zeidler (1948–1960). They were known for their practical approach to government.

Milwaukee's Historic Neighborhoods and Growth

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, several nearby towns became part of Milwaukee's "inner-ring" suburbs. These included Whitefish Bay, South Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Cudahy, and Shorewood.

By 1960, Milwaukee had grown to be one of the largest cities in the U.S., with a population of over 741,000. However, in the late 1960s, people started moving to the suburbs. This was made easier by new highways, and suburbs offered newer homes and lower taxes. Despite this, Milwaukee avoided the big population drops seen in some other "Rust Belt" cities.

Since the 1980s, Milwaukee has worked hard to improve its economy and neighborhoods. Areas like the Historic Third Ward, Lincoln Village, and Bay View have been revitalized. These efforts have helped slow the population decline and made many parts of Milwaukee stronger.

Milwaukee's European history is still very clear today. Because of its efforts to save its history, Milwaukee was named one of the "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2006. You can take walking tours to see Milwaukee's historic areas and learn about its architecture.

Milwaukee's Location and Environment

Milwaukee is located along the shores of Lake Michigan. Three rivers meet here: the Menomonee, the Kinnickinnic, and the Milwaukee. Smaller rivers like the Root River also flow through the city.

The land in Milwaukee was shaped by glaciers long ago. There are steep bluffs along Lake Michigan, about a mile north of downtown. The city covers about 96.8 square miles, with most of it being land and a small part being water.

Milwaukee's City Layout

In Milwaukee, streets running north-south are usually numbered. Streets running east-west are named. However, some north-south streets east of 1st Street are also named. This numbering system is also used in nearby towns.

Major highways like Interstate 43 and Interstate 94 cross through Milwaukee. They meet downtown at the Marquette Interchange. There are also bypass highways like Interstate 894 and Interstate 794.

One special feature of Milwaukee's homes is the "Polish flat". These are two-family homes with separate entrances, where one unit is stacked on top of the other. This allowed families to own a home and also have a rental unit.

The tallest building in Milwaukee is the U.S. Bank Center, built in 1973.

Milwaukee's Climate and Weather

Milwaukee's weather changes quickly because it's in the Great Lakes Region. It has cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers. July is the warmest month, and January is the coldest.

Because Milwaukee is close to Lake Michigan, a "lake breeze" often forms. This brings cooler temperatures inland during the day, especially from March to July. As the sun sets, a "land breeze" can form, bringing warmer temperatures to the lakeshore. The lake also helps keep the lakeshore warmer during cold winter days.

Thunderstorms can be strong, bringing hail and high winds. Sometimes, a tornado can even occur. Most summer rain comes from these storms. In spring and fall, longer, lighter rains bring most of the moisture. Snow usually covers the ground for many winter days.

Milwaukee typically has about nine days a year where temperatures reach 90°F (32°C) or higher. It also has about six or seven nights where temperatures drop to 0°F (-18°C) or lower. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 105°F (41°C) in 1934. The coldest was -26°F (-32°C) in 1982 and 1996.

How Climate Change Affects Milwaukee

The Environmental Protection Agency says that climate change is a threat to Milwaukee. This includes hotter heat waves, concerns about Lake Michigan's water quality, and more floods from heavy rain. In 2018, Milwaukee's mayor said the city would follow the Paris Agreement goals. The city aims to get a quarter of its electricity from renewable energy by 2025. This includes more solar power and a wind turbine near the Port of Milwaukee.

Milwaukee's Water Quality Efforts

In the 1990s and 2000s, Lake Michigan had large algae blooms, which can harm aquatic life. To help with this, Milwaukee joined the Global Compact Cities Program in 2009. The Milwaukee Water Council was also created to understand freshwater systems better. They work to balance protecting and using freshwater. This approach helped Milwaukee win the US Water Alliance's 2012 US Water Prize. The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences was also started in 2009. It's the first graduate school in the U.S. focused on the study of freshwater.

As of 2021, some drinking fountains in Milwaukee Public Schools had high lead levels. The city is working to lower these levels.

Who Lives in Milwaukee? Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	1,700		—
1850	20,061		1,080.1%
1860	45,246		125.5%
1870	71,440		57.9%
1880	115,587		61.8%
1890	204,468		76.9%
1900	285,315		39.5%
1910	373,857		31.0%
1920	457,147		22.3%
1930	578,249		26.5%
1940	587,472		1.6%
1950	637,392		8.5%
1960	741,324		16.3%
1970	717,099		−3.3%
1980	636,212		−11.3%
1990	628,088		−1.3%
2000	596,974		−5.0%
2010	594,833		−0.4%
2020	577,222		−3.0%
2023 (est.)	561,385		−5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 2010–2020

Milwaukee is the 31st most populated city in the United States. Its population has decreased slightly since 1970.

Milwaukee's Population in 2020

In 2020, Milwaukee had 577,222 people. The city's population density was about 6,001 people per square mile.

• 38.6% of the population was Black or African American.
• 36.1% was White.
• 20.1% was Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
• 5.2% was Asian.
• 0.9% was Native American.

The average household income in Milwaukee was $43,125. About 24.6% of the population lived below the poverty line. Most adults (84.4%) had a high school diploma or higher. About 24.6% had a college degree or higher.

Diverse Ethnic Groups in Milwaukee

Racial and ethnic composition as of the 2020 census

Race or Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Race Alone		Total
Black or African American (NH)	37.8%	37.8	40.1%	40.1
White (NH)	32.3%	32.3	35.4%	35.4
Hispanic or Latino	—		20.1%	20.1
Asian (NH)	5.2%	5.2	5.8%	5.8
Native American (NH)	0.4%	0.4	1.4%	1.4
Pacific Islander (NH)	0.03%	0.03	0.10%	0.1
Other	0.5%	0.5	1.0%	1

In 2010, 44.8% of Milwaukee's population was White, and 40.0% was Black or African American. About 17.3% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background.

Milwaukee has a large German population, making up about 16% of the city. Other large groups include Polish, Irish, and Italian. The city also has growing communities of Hmong, Mexicans, and Serbians.

Milwaukee has been noted for its racial separation in the past. However, people in Milwaukee are working to improve understanding and reduce tensions between different groups.

Religious Life in Milwaukee

Many people in Milwaukee attend religious services regularly. The largest groups are Catholics and Lutherans. Milwaukee also has a long history of Jewish immigration.

The main Catholic and Episcopal churches for the area are in Milwaukee. Several religious groups, like the Jesuits, also have a strong presence. The St. Joan of Arc Chapel, the oldest church building in Milwaukee, is on the Marquette University campus.

Milwaukee is also home to several Lutheran church groups. The St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral is an important landmark for the Serbian community.

Milwaukee's Economy: How the City Makes Money

Milwaukee's Early Economy

Milwaukee was a port city, meaning it was important for shipping goods. In the mid-1800s, Wisconsin farmers grew a lot of wheat. Railroads were built to bring this wheat to Milwaukee's harbor. By 1860, Wisconsin was a major wheat producer.

Milwaukee competed with Chicago for trade. Chicago eventually became a bigger trade center. But Milwaukee still became the main business city in Wisconsin.

The Menomonee Valley in Milwaukee was a hub for factories, shipping, and other heavy industries. This was because it had easy access to Lake Michigan and other waterways.

• Byron Kilbourn, one of the city's founders, built railroads to bring farm products to the port.
• By 1862, Milwaukee was the biggest shipper of wheat in the world.
• With many German immigrants, breweries started to appear.
• Many tanneries (places that make leather) were built. The Pfister & Vogel tannery became the largest in America.

In 1843, George Burnham and his brother opened a brickyard. They made a special cream-colored brick from the local clay. Many city buildings were built with this brick, giving Milwaukee the nickname "Cream City." By 1881, Burnham's brickyard was the largest in the world.

Milwaukee's Brewing History

Milwaukee became famous for its beer because of the many German immigrants who loved to brew. By 1856, there were over two dozen breweries, mostly owned by Germans. People in Milwaukee loved drinking the beer made in their city. In 1843, there were 138 taverns, about one for every 40 people! Today, there are still many beer halls and taverns. Only one of the major breweries, Miller, is still in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee was once home to four of the world's biggest breweries: Schlitz, Blatz, Pabst, and Miller. For many years, it was the number one beer-producing city in the world. Even though some breweries closed, Miller Brewing Company is still a big employer. Because Miller is the second-largest beer maker in the U.S., Milwaukee is still known as a "beer town." Many smaller craft breweries are also opening in the city.

The historic Miller Brewery in "Miller Valley" is the oldest major brewery still working in the United States.

Milwaukee's Economy Today

Milwaukee is home to the main offices of seven large companies listed in the Fortune 500. These include Johnson Controls, Northwestern Mutual, Fiserv, Manpower, Rockwell Automation, Harley-Davidson, and WEC Energy Group. Other well-known companies based here are Briggs & Stratton and Master Lock. Milwaukee has many financial service companies and publishing companies too.

Jobs in services and management are growing fastest in Milwaukee. Health care jobs make up 27% of all jobs in the city.

Milwaukee's Culture and Fun Things to Do

Milwaukee is a great place for sailing, boating, and kayaking on Lake Michigan. It's also known for its diverse food and many cultural festivals. People often call Milwaukee the "City of Festivals" because of the many events held at Henry Maier Festival Park during the summer. Museums and cultural events, like Jazz in the Park, happen weekly in downtown parks. In 2018, Vogue magazine called Milwaukee "The Coolest City in the Midwest."

Exploring Milwaukee's Museums

The Milwaukee Art Museum is a very famous building, especially its wing designed by Santiago Calatrava. This part of the museum has a moving sunscreen that opens like a bird's wing. The Grohmann Museum has a huge collection of art showing how people have worked throughout history. The Milwaukee Public Museum is a natural history and human history museum with over 150,000 square feet of exhibits. You can see dinosaurs, a tropical rainforest, and even a street from Old Milwaukee. It also has an IMAX theater and a planetarium.

Discovery World is Milwaukee's biggest science museum, located by the lake. It has high-tech, hands-on exhibits, aquariums, and digital theaters. The S/V Dennis Sullivan Schooner Ship, docked at Discovery World, teaches visitors about the Great Lakes. The Betty Brinn Children's Museum is perfect for younger kids, with hands-on exhibits that encourage learning through play.

The Pabst Mansion was built in 1892 by beer maker Frederick Pabst. It has been restored with old furniture to look like a real Victorian mansion. The Harley-Davidson Museum, opened in 2008, celebrates Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Milwaukee's Performing Arts and Venues

Milwaukee has many places for performing arts:

• Bel Canto Chorus
• First Stage Children's Theater
• Florentine Opera
• Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
• Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
• Milwaukee Ballet
• Milwaukee Repertory Theater
• Pabst Theater
• Riverside Theater
• Skylight Music Theatre
• Fiserv Forum (for sports and concerts)
• UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena

• 

  The Rave/Eagles Ballroom

• 

  Milwaukee Youth Arts Center

• 

  Turner Hall

• 

  Marcus Center for the Performing Arts

Public Art and Monuments in Milwaukee

Milwaukee has about 75 sculptures that honor important people and events in the city's history. Some famous monuments include:

• Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
• Tadeusz Kościuszko
• Solomon Juneau
• Abraham Lincoln
• George Washington
• Bronze Fonz (a popular statue from the TV show Happy Days)
• Pope John Paul II
• Martin Luther King Jr.

• 

  The Calling I-beams.

• 

  Leif Ericson monument.

• 

  Tadeusz Kościuszko monument in Kosciuszko Park.

Milwaukee also has many murals and street art. Black Cat Alley is a well-known spot for street art on the East Side.

Milwaukee's Festivals: A City of Celebrations

The city hosts an annual music festival called Summerfest. It's listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest music festival in the world. In 2017, over 830,000 people attended. The nearby city of West Allis hosts the Wisconsin State Fair every year.

Milwaukee also has many ethnic festivals during the summer, usually at the Henry Maier Festival Park. These festivals celebrate Milwaukee's diverse history:

• LGBT (PrideFest) and Polish (Polish Fest) communities in June.
• French (Bastille Days), Greek, Italian (Festa Italiana), and German (German Fest) festivals in July.
• African, Arab, Irish (Irish Fest), Mexican, and American Indian events from August to September.

Milwaukee's Delicious Cuisine

Milwaukee offers many types of ethnic foods, including German, Italian, Russian, Hmong, French, Serbian, Polish, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Turkish, Middle Eastern, and Ethiopian.

Many ethnic festivals in Milwaukee, like Irish Fest and Polish Fest, also feature delicious food from those cultures.

Milwaukee's Music Scene

Milwaukee has a long history of music. The first organized music group, the "Milwaukee Beethoven Society," formed in 1843. The many German and European immigrants helped shape the city's musical style.

Famous musicians like guitarist Les Paul and pianist Liberace started their careers in Milwaukee. Hal Leonard Corporation, one of the world's largest music publishers, is based here. Milwaukee is also known for its rock, hip hop, jazz, soul, blues, and punk bands.

The most famous music venue is Summerfest. It features hundreds of live music acts on 12 stages over 11 days. The largest venue at Summerfest is the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, which can hold 23,000 people.

Other venues like the Pabst Theater and Riverside Theater often host famous international performers. "Jazz in the Park" is a popular weekly jazz show held in downtown Cathedral Square Park during the summer.

Sports in Milwaukee

Milwaukee has two major professional sports teams:

• The Milwaukee Bucks (basketball) play in the NBA.
• The Milwaukee Brewers (baseball) play in Major League Baseball.

Other sports teams in Milwaukee include:

Club	Sport	Founded	Current League	Stadium
Milwaukee Bavarians	Soccer	1929	United Premier Soccer League	Heartland Value Fund Stadium
Marquette Golden Eagles	Basketball	1916	Big East Conference (NCAA)	Fiserv Forum
Milwaukee Panthers	Basketball	1956	Horizon League (NCAA)	UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena
Milwaukee Admirals	Hockey	1970	American Hockey League	UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena
Milwaukee Wave	Indoor soccer	1984	Major Arena Soccer League	UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena
Brewcity Bruisers	Roller Derby	2006	WFTDA	UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena
Milwaukee Milkmen	Baseball	2018	American Association of Independent Professional Baseball	Franklin Field
USL Milwaukee	Soccer	2022	USL Championship	Iron District Stadium
FC Milwaukee Torrent	Soccer	2015	National Premier Soccer League (Men) Women's Premier Soccer League (Women)	Hart Park

Milwaukee also has a long history of nonprofessional sports. Abraham Lincoln even watched a cricket game in Milwaukee in 1849!

Parks and Outdoor Fun in Milwaukee

Milwaukee County is famous for its great park system. The "Grand Necklace of Parks" was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York's Central Park. These parks offer places for sunbathing, picnics, grilling, disc golf, and ice skating. Milwaukee has over 140 parks, covering more than 15,000 acres. In 2013, Milwaukee's park system was ranked 19th best among the 50 largest U.S. cities.

Nature Centers in Milwaukee

The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory is a special place with three large domes. These domes display many different plants and birds. They have a Tropical Dome, an Arid Dome, and a Show Dome that hosts seasonal exhibits.

Milwaukee's parks also have several nature centers. The Urban Ecology Center offers programs for all ages at its three locations. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources runs a nature center at Havenwoods State Forest.

The Monarch Trail in Wauwatosa is a 1.25-mile trail that highlights the fall migration of monarch butterflies. During the summer, "Jazz in the Park" is held at Cathedral Park downtown on Thursday nights.

Milwaukee's Markets

The Milwaukee Public Market, in the Third Ward neighborhood, is an indoor market. It sells fresh produce, seafood, meats, cheeses, and flowers from local businesses.

Milwaukee County Farmers Markets are held seasonally. They sell fresh produce, meats, cheeses, jams, and plants. These markets also feature local artists and craftspeople.

Learning in Milwaukee: Education

Schools for Kids in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) is the largest school district in Wisconsin. It has many schools that focus on different subjects, like academics or the arts. Some of these special schools include Washington High School and Milwaukee High School of the Arts.

Milwaukee also has many private high schools and elementary schools. In 1990, Milwaukee was the first city in the U.S. to offer a school voucher program. This program helps families pay for private school tuition.

Most adults in Milwaukee (89.2%) have a high school diploma. About 32.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Colleges and Universities in Milwaukee

Milwaukee has many colleges and universities:

• Alverno College
• Carroll University (in Waukesha)
• Concordia University Wisconsin
• Marquette University
• Medical College of Wisconsin (in Wauwatosa)
• Milwaukee Area Technical College
• Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
• Milwaukee School of Engineering
• Mount Mary University
• University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
• Wisconsin Lutheran College

Milwaukee in the News: Media

Milwaukee's main daily newspaper is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The city also has free alternative publications like Shepherd Express. Other local magazines and online news sites cover Milwaukee's politics, real estate, and cultural events.

Milwaukee has several major TV channels, including WTMJ (NBC), WITI (Fox), WISN (ABC), and WDJT (CBS). There are also Spanish-language channels and public broadcasting stations. Many radio stations broadcast throughout Milwaukee and the surrounding area.

Getting Around Milwaukee: Transportation

Airports in Milwaukee

Milwaukee has two airports. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (KMKE) handles commercial flights. It has about 240 daily flights to around 90 cities. It's the largest airport in Wisconsin. Since 2005, you can reach Mitchell International by the Amtrak Hiawatha train. Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport (KMWC) is a smaller airport on the northwest side.

Trains and Buses for Traveling Between Cities

Milwaukee's Amtrak train station, the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, was updated in 2007. It's near downtown Milwaukee. Amtrak's Hiawatha train runs up to seven times a day between Milwaukee and Chicago Union Station. The Borealis train also offers daily service to Chicago and Saint Paul, Minnesota. The long-distance Empire Builder train connects Milwaukee to Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington.

In the future, there are plans for new train routes from Milwaukee to Madison and Green Bay. Many bus companies also offer rides between Milwaukee and other cities.

Local Transportation in Milwaukee

The Milwaukee County Transit System provides bus services throughout Milwaukee County. A new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line is being built to connect downtown with the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center.

Milwaukee also has a modern streetcar system called The Hop. It connects the Intermodal Station, downtown, and the Lower East Side. The first part of The Hop opened in 2018.

Highways in Milwaukee

Three of Wisconsin's Interstate highways meet in Milwaukee.

• Interstate 94 (I-94) comes from Chicago and goes west to Madison.
• I-43 enters Milwaukee from the southwest and goes north along Lake Michigan to Green Bay.
• Interstate 41 follows I-94 north before turning west and then north to Green Bay.

Milwaukee also has two shorter Interstate Highways, I-894 and I-794. I-894 goes around downtown Milwaukee. I-794 goes east from downtown over the Hoan Bridge towards the airport.

In 2010, Forbes magazine ranked Milwaukee as the 4th best city for people who commute to work.

Water Travel in Milwaukee

Milwaukee's main port, Port of Milwaukee, handles millions of tons of cargo each year, including steel and salt.

You can also take the Lake Express high-speed ferry from Milwaukee to Muskegon, Michigan, across Lake Michigan. This ferry carries both cars and passengers.

Biking in Milwaukee

As of 2022, Milwaukee has 195 miles of bike lanes and trails. The city plans to greatly increase its protected bicycle lanes by 2026. In 2019, Milwaukee earned a silver-level status from the League of American Bicyclists for being a bike-friendly city.

The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin holds an annual Bike to Work Week in May. The city has also installed over 700 bike racks. Since 2018, Milwaukee has a "Complete Streets" policy, which means they consider adding bike facilities to roads when new projects are planned.

In 2009, the Milwaukee County Transit System started putting bike racks on the front of county buses. In 2014, Milwaukee launched Bublr Bikes, a bicycle sharing system. As of 2023, it has over 100 stations in Milwaukee and nearby towns.

Walking in Milwaukee

In 2015, Milwaukee was ranked the 15th most walkable city out of the 50 largest U.S. cities. The city as a whole has a walk score of 62 out of 100. Some downtown neighborhoods have much higher scores, like Juneautown (95) and the Lower East Side (91). These areas are considered "Walker's Paradise" or "Very Walkable."

Most people in Milwaukee get to work by driving alone (66%). About 4.5% use public transportation, and 4.3% walk.

Milwaukee's City Development

On February 10, 2015, the city approved a streetcar system called The Hop. It connects the Milwaukee Intermodal Station with the Lower East Side. Construction began in 2017, and it opened in 2018 as a free transit system.

The Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons is a tall building in Milwaukee, standing 550 feet high with 32 stories.

Fiserv Forum is a new sports arena that opened in 2018. It is home to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Marquette Golden Eagles. It also hosts hockey games and concerts. The arena is part of a larger "live block" area with shops and homes.

Famous People from Milwaukee

Milwaukee's Sister Cities

Milwaukee has several sister cities around the world:

• Abuja, Nigeria
• Bomet, Kenya
• Daegu, South Korea
• Galway, Ireland
• Irpin, Ukraine
• Kragujevac, Serbia
• Tarime District, Tanzania
• Zadar, Croatia

Friendship Cities

• Ningbo, China

See also

In Spanish: Milwaukee para niños