Milwaukee County, Wisconsin facts for kids

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This page is about the county. For the city, see Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Milwaukee County

U.S. county

Milwaukee County Courthouse

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin

Wisconsin's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Wisconsin

Founded

1835

Largest city

Milwaukee

Area

• Total

1,189 sq mi (3,080 km²)

• Land

241 sq mi (620 km²)

• Water

948 sq mi (2,460 km²) 80%

Population

(2020)

• Total

939,489

• Estimate

(2023)

916,205

• Density

3,890.5/sq mi (1,502.1/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional districts

1st, 4th, 5th

Milwaukee County (/mɪlˈwɔːki/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At the 2020 census, the population was 939,489, down from 947,735 in 2010. It is both the most populous and most densely populated county in Wisconsin, and the 45th most populous county nationwide; Milwaukee, its eponymous county seat, is also the most populous city in the state. The county was created in 1834 as part of Michigan Territory and organized the following year.

Milwaukee County is the most populous county of the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well as of the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI Combined Statistical Area (See Milwaukee metropolitan area).

Uniquely among Wisconsin counties, Milwaukee County is completely incorporated (i.e.: no part of the county has the Town form of local government - see Administrative divisions of Wisconsin#Town). There are 19 municipalities in Milwaukee County, 10 incorporated as cities and 9 incorporated as villages. After the city of Milwaukee, the most populous in 2019 were West Allis (59,890), Wauwatosa (48,118), Greenfield (37,221), Oak Creek (36,325), and Franklin (35,811). The county is home to two major-league professional sports teams, the Milwaukee Bucks and Milwaukee Brewers, and the world's largest music festival, Summerfest.

History

Portions of what is now Milwaukee County are known to have been inhabited by a number of Native American tribes, including the Sauk, Meskwaki or "Fox", Menomonee, Ojibwe and Potawotami, with elements of other tribes attested as well.

In 1818, when the land later to be Wisconsin was made part of Michigan Territory, territorial governor Lewis Cass created Brown County, which at that time included all the land now part of Milwaukee County. It remained a part of Brown county until 1834, when Milwaukee County was created, including the area south of the line between townships eleven and twelve north (i.e., the northern boundary of Washington and Ozaukee counties), west of Lake Michigan, north of Illinois, and east of the line which now separates Green and Rock counties. This territory encompassed all of what are now Milwaukee, Jefferson, Kenosha, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha counties, as well as large parts of the present-day Columbia, Dane and Dodge counties.

Milwaukee County remained attached to Brown County for judicial purposes until August. 25, 1835, when an act was passed by the Michigan territorial legislature giving it an independent organization. In 1836, the legislature divided the area south and east of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers into counties, as a consequence reducing Milwaukee County's extent to what is now Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. In 1846 Waukesha County was created by taking from Milwaukee all of the territory west of range 21, reducing Milwaukee County to its present boundaries.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,189 square miles (3,080 km²), of which 241 square miles (620 km²) is land and 948 square miles (2,460 km²) (80%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in Wisconsin by land area. It is watered by the Milwaukee, Menomonee, Kinnickinnic, and Root Rivers. The surface is undulating, and the soil calcareous and fertile.

The city at the center is Milwaukee. The photo was taken at 11:23:40 PM CDT in 2012 during Expedition 30 at the International Space Station. Due to the angle of the photo, north points rightwards, and west upwards.

Adjacent counties

Racine County - south
Waukesha County - west
Washington County - northwest
Ozaukee County - north
Muskegon County, Michigan - northeast (across Lake Michigan)
Ottawa County, Michigan - east (across Lake Michigan)

Climate

Weather chart for Milwaukee County

-4

-6

101

-6

-11

-5

165

111

138

100

-3

temperatures in °C
precipitation totals in mm

Imperial conversion

J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
3.8 25 21	4 21 12	2.7 39 23	6.5 52 37	4.4 52 37	5.4 59 48	3.9 72 61	3.7 75 57	2.6 66 57	3.6 57 46	2.5 46 36	3.1 36 27
temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches

Demographics

Birth related statistics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	31,077	—
1860	62,518	101.2%
1870	89,930	43.8%
1880	138,537	54.0%
1890	236,101	70.4%
1900	330,017	39.8%
1910	433,187	31.3%
1920	539,449	24.5%
1930	725,263	34.4%
1940	766,885	5.7%
1950	871,047	13.6%
1960	1,036,041	18.9%
1970	1,054,063	1.7%
1980	964,988	−8.5%
1990	959,275	−0.6%
2000	940,164	−2.0%
2010	947,735	0.8%
2020	939,489	−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 2020 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Milwaukee County

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 939,489. The population density was 3,890.5 people per square mile (1,502.1 people/km²). There were 424,191 housing units at an average density of 1,756.6 units per square mile (678.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 52.0% White, 26.2% Black or African American, 4.9% Asian, 0.8% Native American, 6.8% from other races, and 9.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 16.3% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 947,735 people, 383,591 households, and 221,019 families residing in the county. The population density was 3,932 people per square mile (1,518 people/km²). There were 418,053 housing units at an average density of 1,734 units per square mile (670 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 60.6% White, 26.8% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 3.4% Asian, 0.003% Pacific Islander, 5.4% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. 13.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 383,591 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county, the age distribution was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

Religious statistics

In 2010 statistics, the largest religious group in Milwaukee County was the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, with 199,153 Catholics worshipping at 80 parishes, followed by 32,340 non-denominational adherents with 126 congregations, 28,274 Missouri Synod Lutherans with 44 congregations, 23,043 ELCA Lutherans with 50 congregations, 20,416 Wisconsin Synod Lutherans with 45 congregations, 18,127 NBC Baptists with 27 congregations, 12,191 CoGiC Pentecostals with 28 congregations, 12,121 SBC Baptists with 32 congregations, 10,960 AoG Pentecostals with 20 congregations, and an estimated 9,156 Muslims with 8 congregations. Altogether, 46.4% of the population was claimed as members by religious congregations, although members of historically African-American denominations were underrepresented due to incomplete information. In 2014, Milwaukee County had 483 religious organizations, the 48th most out of all 3,141 US counties.

Transportation

Bus service in Milwaukee County is provided by the Milwaukee County Transit System, which operates almost 370 buses. The city of Milwaukee also operates The Hop tram system in the downtown area.

Airports

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (KMKE) is located in Milwaukee and serves the entire metropolitan area. It has scheduled service to cities across the United States as well as Canada and Mexico.
Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport (KMWC) also serves the county and surrounding communities.