Milwaukee

Milwaukee
Nicknames: 
Cream City, Brew City, MKE, City of Festivals, The Mil The 414
Interactive map of Milwaukee
Milwaukee
Milwaukee
Coordinates: 43°03′N 87°57′W / 43.05°N 87.95°W / 43.05; -87.95
Country United States
State Wisconsin
CountiesMilwaukee, Washington, Waukesha
IncorporatedJanuary 31, 1846 (1846-01-31)
Founded bySolomon Juneau, Byron Kilbourn, and George H. Walker
Named afterPotawatomi for "gathering place by the water"
Government
 • TypeStrong mayor-council
 • BodyMilwaukee Common Council
 • MayorCavalier Johnson (D)
Area
 • City
96.82 sq mi (250.75 km2)
 • Land96.19 sq mi (249.12 km2)
 • Water0.63 sq mi (1.63 km2)
Elevation
617 ft (188 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City
577,222
 • Estimate 
(2024)
563,531
 • Rank85th in North America
31st in the United States
1st in Wisconsin
 • Density6,001.1/sq mi (2,317.0/km2)
 • Urban
1,306,795 (US: 38th)
 • Urban density2,818/sq mi (1,088.2/km2)
 • Metro
1,574,731 (US: 40th)
 • CSA
2,049,805 (US: 33rd)
DemonymMilwaukeean
GDP
 • Metro$120.563 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
53172, 532XX
Area code414
FIPS code55-53000
GNIS feature ID1577901
Websitecity.milwaukee.gov

Milwaukee is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan at the confluence of the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic Rivers. Milwaukee is the 31st-most populous city in the United States and the fifth-most populous city in the Midwest, with a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census. The Milwaukee metropolitan area has over 1.57 million residents and ranks as the 40th-largest metropolitan area in the nation. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County.

Present-day Milwaukee was inhabited by various Algonquian peoples. Following the 1833 Treaty of Chicago, European settlers established the city as a hub for trade and industry by capitalizing on its location as a port. Milwaukee was incorporated in 1846. The city attracted immigrants from Germany and elsewhere in Europe, and Milwaukee remains a center of German American culture. In the late-19th and 20th centuries, Milwaukee became known as a national leader in beer production led by the Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz breweries. The city also became known for its strong labor movement.

Milwaukee is an ethnically and culturally diverse city, though it continues to be one of the most racially segregated cities in the U.S. as a result of early-20th century redlining. Its regional GDP was over $130 billion in 2023. The city is home to Fortune 500 companies Northwestern Mutual, Fiserv, ManpowerGroup, Rockwell Automation, and WEC Energy Group. Its cultural institutions include the Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Public Museum, 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).