MILWAUKEE, WI

Milwaukee^[a] is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it had a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, making it the 31st-most populous city in the United States and the fifth-most populous city in the Midwest. The Milwaukee metropolitan area has over 1.57 million residents and ranks as the 40th-largest metropolitan area in the nation. The city is the county seat of Milwaukee County.^[12]

Lying at the confluence of the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic rivers, present-day Milwaukee was inhabited by various Algonquian peoples before European and American settlement. Milwaukee developed as an inland port following the 1833 Treaty of Chicago and was incorporated in 1846. Industrialization attracted waves of immigrants and migrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Milwaukee became a center of German American culture. During this period, the city became known for being a national leader in beer production and for its sewer socialism movement.

The regional GDP of Milwaukee was over $130 billion in 2023.^[13] The city is home to the headquarters of Fortune 500 companies Northwestern Mutual, Fiserv, ManpowerGroup, Rockwell Automation, and WEC Energy Group.^[14] Historically, the production of beer in Milwaukee was led by the Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz breweries; Miller products are still brewed in the city today. Motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson is also headquartered in the city and operates the Harley-Davidson Museum downtown.

Milwaukee is an ethnically and culturally diverse city,^[15] though it continues to be one of the most racially segregated cities in the U.S. as a result of early-20th century redlining.^[16] Its cultural institutions include the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Public Museum, Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, and Summerfest, one of the world’s largest music festivals. It is home to several institutions of higher education, including Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. The city’s major professional sports teams are the Milwaukee Brewers (MLB) and Milwaukee Bucks (NBA).