Milwaukee

Milwaukee
Nickname(s): 
Cream City, Brew City, Beer Capital of the World, Miltown, The Mil, MKE, The City of Festivals, The German Athens of America, 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
CountryUnited States
StateWisconsin
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
96.81 sq mi (250.75 km2)
  Land96.18 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
  Density6,000/sq mi (2,300/km2)
  Urban
1,306,795 (US: 38th)
  Urban density2,818.3/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. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it 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 is the 40th-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. with 1.57 million residents. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County.

Founded in the early 19th century and incorporated in 1846, Milwaukee grew rapidly due to its location as a port city. Its history was heavily influenced by German immigrants and it continues to be a center for German-American culture, specifically known for its brewing industry. The city developed as an industrial powerhouse during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Milwaukee is an ethnically and culturally diverse city, however it continues to be one of the most racially segregated cities as a result of early-20th-century redlining.

Milwaukee is rated as a "Sufficiency" city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, with a regional GDP of over $130 billion in 2023. The city is home to the Fortune 500 companies of Northwestern Mutual, Fiserv, WEC Energy Group, Rockwell Automation, and Harley-Davidson. Its cultural institutions include the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Public Museum, Discovery World, and Summerfest, one of the world's largest music festivals. It is home to several higher education institutions, including the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and Marquette University. The city's major league professional sports teams include the Milwaukee Brewers (MLB) and Milwaukee Bucks (NBA).