Milwaukee

Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Situated on the western shore of Lake Michigan at the confluence of the Milwaukee River, Menomonee River, and Kinnickinnic River (Milwaukee River), it had a population of 577,222 at the 2020 United States census, making it one of the largest cities in the Midwest. The Milwaukee metropolitan area has more than 1.5 million residents.

The area was originally inhabited by Algonquian peoples, and the city’s name likely comes from an Algonkin word meaning “meeting place by the water.” After the 1833 Treaty of Chicago, European and American settlers developed Milwaukee as a port and commercial center. It was incorporated in 1846, and in the 19th century it drew large numbers of immigrants, especially from Germany, helping establish it as a major center of German American culture.

Milwaukee became nationally known for its brewing industry, led by companies such as the Miller Brewing Company, Pabst Brewing Company, and Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, and for its strong labor movement and tradition of Sewer socialism. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the city has also been noted for its ethnically diverse population, though it remains one of the most racially segregated cities in the United States.

Today, Milwaukee is a major economic and cultural center, home to companies including Northwestern Mutual, Fiserv, ManpowerGroup, Rockwell Automation, and WEC Energy Group. Its institutions include the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Public Museum, the Harley-Davidson Museum, and Summerfest, one of the world’s largest music festivals. Higher education institutions include Marquette University, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Major professional sports teams include the Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks.