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Oak Creek, Wisconsin
Official logo
Official logo
Motto(s): 
“Where City Meets the Country”
Location of Oak Creek in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
Location of Oak Creek in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
Country  United States
State  Wisconsin
County Milwaukee
Area
 • Total 28.45 sq mi (73.68 km2)
 • Land 28.45 sq mi (73.68 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
702 ft (214 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 36,497
 • Density 1,276.94/sq mi (493.02/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
53154
Area code(s) 414
FIPS code 55-58800
GNIS feature ID 1570601

Oak Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located in Milwaukee County, it sits on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan and is located immediately south of Milwaukee. The city is one of the fastest growing in Milwaukee County and all of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census the population was 36,497.

The area has experienced an economic boom in recent years, with the addition of large companies such as Amazon, IKEA, and the Astronautics Corporation of America.

History

On January 2, 1838, the territorial legislature divided Milwaukee County into two civil townships: the Town of Milwaukee, encompassing everything north of the present Greenfield Avenue, and the Town of Lake encompassing everything south of the present Greenfield Avenue; "and the polls of election shall be opened at the house of Elisha Higgins, in said town." On March 8, 1839, a new Town of Kinnikennick was created, encompassing the western part of Lake (later the Towns of Greenfield and Franklin); and on August 13, 1840, the south portion of the Town of Lake was split off to form the town of Oak Creek. As of the 1840 census, the population of the Town of Lake (then including Oak Creek) was 418.

In 1955, the Town of Oak Creek, then still semi-rural with a population of 4807 in the 1950 census, was incorporated as a city under the terms of Wisconsin statute 66.0215, also known as "The Oak Creek Law." The Oak Creek Law was crafted by Town Attorney Tony Basile to prevent Oak Creek's annexation by the City of Milwaukee, which by annexations (including the 1954 annexation of the remainder of the Town of Lake) was now bordering Oak Creek and had already annexed one small portion of the town; and was shepherded through the legislature with the help of state Democratic party legislative joint committee chairman Leland McParland, who was the state senator for Oak Creek.

Geography

Oak Creek is located at 42°53′4″N 87°53′57″W / 42.88444°N 87.89917°W / 42.88444; -87.89917 (42.884347, -87.899209).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.45 square miles (73.69 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1960 9,372
1970 13,928 48.6%
1980 16,932 21.6%
1990 19,513 15.2%
2000 28,456 45.8%
2010 34,451 21.1%
2020 36,497 5.9%
Source: U.S. Census

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 34,451 people, 14,064 households and 9,077 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,210.9 per square mile (467.5/km2). There were 14,754 housing units at an average density of 518.6 per square mile (200.2/km2). The racial makeup was 87.7% White, 2.8% African American, 0.7% Native American, 4.5% Asian, 2.1% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.5% of the population.

There were 14,064 households, of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.5% were non-families. Of all households, 28.6% were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median age was 37.4 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

Economy

Midwest Airlines HQ Dec09
Former Midwest Airlines headquarters, now owned by Bucyrus International

Midwest Airlines's headquarters were located in Oak Creek. In January 2010 Republic Airways, the parent company of Midwest, announced that it would move all Republic executives, including Midwest Airlines executives, to Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mining equipment manufacturer Bucyrus International announced June 22, 2010 that it would move headquarters personnel from South Milwaukee to Midwest Airlines' former headquarters space in Oak Creek. Senior management and other personnel would be moving to the new location making room for additional employees at its South Milwaukee facility. Caterpillar Inc. intends to locate the Caterpillar Mining world headquarters there after its acquisition of Bucyrus International.

The Oak Creek Power Plant is in Oak Creek. The city also hosts a number of small companies, with interests ranging from engineering to agriculture, including the locally-famous Black Bear Bottling plant.

The American Society of Anesthesia Technologists & Technicians is also based in Oak Creek.

In May 2018, the first IKEA in Wisconsin opened its doors in Oak Creek. It is a 290,000-square foot site located directly off of I-94.

Education

Oak Creek is part of the Oak Creek Franklin School District.

Elementary schools

  • Carollton Elementary: built 1962
  • Cedar Hills Elementary: built 1962
  • Deerfield Elementary: built 2005
  • Edgewood Elementary: built 1962
  • Forest Ridge Elementary: built 2016
  • Meadowview Elementary: built 1959
  • Shepard Hills Elementary: built 1971
  • Early Learning Academy

Middle schools

  • East Middle School: built 1965, torn down and rebuilt 2008
  • West Middle School: built 1991

High schools

  • 9th Grade Center: built 2017
  • Oak Creek High School: built 1962 and renovated 2002

Private schools

  • Grace Lutheran Church and School
  • Saint Matthew Catholic School

Infrastructure

Transportation and transit

According to Walk Score, Oak Creek is a largely "car dependent" city, with an overall walk score of 21/100 and it has "minimal biking infrastructure", with an overall bike score of 40/100.

Oak Creek is serviced by the Milwaukee County Transit System routes 40, 80, 219 and the PurpleLine.

The city shares a border with General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. In the metro Milwaukee area, three Class 1 railroads deliver freight. For passenger transport, Amtrak’s Hiawatha service connects General Mitchell International Airport to the heart of Chicago.

Healthcare

The Froedtert Drexel Town Square Health Center and Aurora Health Center are located in Oak Creek and provide urgent care. Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital is located in neighboring Franklin.

Public Safety

The Oak Creek Police Department is responsible for the city's law enforcement since September 11, 1956.

Notable people

  • Brian Calhoun, Oak Creek high school athletic star, was on the 2006-2008 Detroit Lions of the National Football League
  • Adin P. Hobart, Wisconsin State Representative and Postmaster of Oak Creek.
  • Mark Honadel, welder, businessman and state representative; grew up in Oak Creek and graduated from OCHS
  • John Matuszak, National Football League player and actor, born and grew up in Oak Creek
  • John Ruan, Irish-born pioneer farmer who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, on the town board of Oak Creek, and as superintendent of schools for Milwaukee County
  • Luke Scanlan, Wisconsin State Representative and chairman of the Oak Creek Town Board, lived in Oak Creek.
  • Cathy Stepp, businesswoman, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, and Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; graduated from OCHS
  • William M. Williams, Jr., Wisconsin State Representative and Postmaster of Oak Creek.

See also

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