History of Milwaukee in Timeline
Milwaukee is the most populous city in Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. According to the 2020 census, the city had a population of 577,222, making it the 31st-most populous city in the United States and the fifth-most populous in the Midwest. Milwaukee serves as the central city of its metropolitan area, which is the 40th-most populous in the U.S., with a population of 1.57 million.
1900: German population
By 1900, 34 percent of Milwaukee's population was of German background.
1900: East Milwaukee incorporated
In 1900, East Milwaukee, later known as Shorewood, was incorporated.
1902: West Allis Added
In 1902, West Allis was added as a suburb of Milwaukee.
1906: West Milwaukee Added
In 1906, West Milwaukee was added as a suburb of Milwaukee.
1910: German immigration
By 1910, 90 percent of Germans who had left German lands between 1835 and 1910 had gone to the United States.
1910: Foreign born residents
By 1910, Milwaukee shared the distinction with New York City of having the largest percentage of foreign-born residents in the United States. In 1910, European descendants represented 99.7% of the city's total population.
1910: Emil Seidel mayor
In 1910, Emil Seidel began his term as mayor of Milwaukee after running on the ticket of the Socialist Party.
1912: Emil Seidel end of term
In 1912, Emil Seidel's term as mayor of Milwaukee came to an end.
1915: Milwaukee Polish population
By 1915, Milwaukee County's Polish population had risen to 100,000.
1916: Daniel Hoan mayor
In 1916, Daniel Hoan began his term as mayor of Milwaukee after running on the ticket of the Socialist Party.
1919: Ogren Production Begins
In 1919, Ogren, a pioneer brass era automobile maker, began production in Milwaukee.
1922: Badgers Founded
From 1922 to 1926, Milwaukee was home to the NFL's Badgers.
1922: Ogren Production Ends
In 1922, Ogren, a pioneer brass era automobile maker in Milwaukee, stopped production.
1925: Mexican Population
By 1925, around 9,000 Mexicans lived in Milwaukee.
1933: Packers Split Home Schedule Begins
From 1933 to 1994, the Green Bay Packers split their home schedule between Green Bay and Milwaukee.
July 24, 1934: Highest temperature
On July 24, 1934, Milwaukee recorded its highest temperature of 105 °F (41 °C).
1940: Daniel Hoan end of term
In 1940, Daniel Hoan's term as mayor of Milwaukee came to an end.
1947: Hal Leonard Corporation Founded
Hal Leonard Corporation, one of the world's largest music print publishers, was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Milwaukee.
1948: Frank Zeidler mayor
In 1948, Frank Zeidler began his term as mayor of Milwaukee after running on the ticket of the Socialist Party.
1952: Start of Kentenich Exile
Milwaukee, became the center for the Schoenstatt Movement in the US when Joseph Kentenich was exiled there for 14 years from 1952.
1954: End of Republican Representation
In 1954, Charles J. Kersten, the Republican representative, lost his seat in Congress to Democrat Henry S. Reuss, marking the end of significant Republican representation in Milwaukee.
1955: Replacement of the Milwaukee Conservatory
In 1955, the original Milwaukee Conservatory, which had been standing since 1898, was replaced by the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory.
1960: Segregation
In 1960, African-American residents made up 15 percent of Milwaukee's population, yet the city was still among the most segregated of that time.
1960: Frank Zeidler end of term
In 1960, Frank Zeidler's term as mayor of Milwaukee came to an end.
1964: Segregation Index Usage
Milwaukee was cited in a Jet Magazine article as the most segregated city in the U.S., based on a segregation index developed in the mid-1950s and used since 1964.
1965: End of Kentenich Exile
Joseph Kentenich's exile in Milwaukee ended in 1965.
1968: Summerfest Started
Since 1968, Milwaukee has been home to Summerfest, a large music festival.
1970: Population decrease
Since 1970, the city's population has dropped at every census count.
1973: U.S. Bank Center completed
In 1973, the U.S. Bank Center, the tallest building in Milwaukee, was completed.
1981: Brewing Capacity
As late as 1981, Milwaukee had the greatest brewing capacity in the world.
January 17, 1982: Cold Sunday
On January 17, 1982, Milwaukee recorded a low of −26 °F (−32 °C).
1988: Henry Maier's Retirement
In 1988, 28-year incumbent Henry Maier retired as mayor of Milwaukee, holding the record for the longest term of service for a city of Milwaukee's size.
1988: Adoption of Cabinet Government
In 1988, with the election of Mayor John O. Norquist, Milwaukee adopted a cabinet form of government, giving the mayor greater control over department heads.
1990: School Voucher Program
In 1990, Milwaukee became the first city in the United States to offer a school voucher program.
1991: Packers Revenue Disparity
By 1991, the Packers claimed that revenue from the Milwaukee games were 60% of the revenue generated from the Green Bay games.
1992: Wayne's World
In 1992, the "good land" theory about the origin of the name Milwaukee, was popularized by a line by Alice Cooper in the comedy film Wayne's World.
1994: Packers End Split Home Schedule
In 1994, the Green Bay Packers ended their split home schedule between Green Bay and Milwaukee.
February 4, 1996: Lowest temperature
On February 4, 1996, Milwaukee recorded a low of −26 °F (−32 °C).
1999: Summerfest Listed in Guinness Book of World Records
In 1999, Summerfest was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest music festival in the world.
2001: Ranked Among Most Dangerous Cities
In 2001, Milwaukee was ranked among the ten most dangerous large cities in the United States.
2002: Segregation Citation
In 2002, Milwaukee was cited in a Jet Magazine article as the most segregated city in the U.S., based on a segregation index developed in the mid-1950s and used since 1964.
2003: University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Study
In 2003, a non-peer-reviewed study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee claimed Milwaukee was the 43rd most integrated city in America.
2004: Hmong American Peace Academy Opened
In 2004, the Hmong American Peace Academy/International Peace Academy, a K–12 school system in Milwaukee centered on the Hmong community, opened.
2004: Gang Unit Reactivation
In 2004, the Milwaukee Police Department's Gang Unit was reactivated after Nannette Hegerty was sworn in as chief.
2005: Amtrak Connection
Since 2005, Mitchell International Airport has been connected by the Amtrak Hiawatha train service.
2006: American Community Survey
According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey, 38.3% of Milwaukee's residents reported having African American ancestry.
2006: MPS Employment
As of 2006, Milwaukee Public Schools employed 11,100 full-time and substitute teachers.
2006: Holy Hill Basilica Designation
Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, northwest of Milwaukee, was made a basilica in 2006.
2006: Gang Unit Charges
In 2006, 4,000 charges were brought against suspects through Milwaukee's Gang Unit.
2006: Bronze-Level Status
In 2006, Milwaukee obtained bronze-level status from the League of American Bicyclists.
2006: Dozen Distinctive Destinations
In 2006, Milwaukee was named one of the "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
2006: Asbestos Lawsuit Settlement
In 2006, the installation of bicycle racks on buses was part of a settlement of an asbestos lawsuit filed by the state against the county.
2007: MPS Enrollment
As of 2007, Milwaukee Public Schools had an enrollment of 89,912 students.
2007: Ranked Among Most Dangerous Cities
In 2007, Milwaukee was again ranked among the ten most dangerous large cities in the United States.
2007: Milwaukee Intermodal Station Renovation
In 2007, Milwaukee's Amtrak station was renovated to create Milwaukee Intermodal Station.
2008: American Community Survey
According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey, 38.3% of Milwaukee's residents reported having African American ancestry.
2008: Presidential Election Result
In 2008, Barack Obama won Milwaukee with 77% of the vote, demonstrating the city's Democratic leanings.
2008: Coors Brewing in Miller Valley
In 2008, Coors beer also began to be brewed in Miller Valley in Milwaukee.
2008: MillerCoors Joint Venture
In 2008, MillerCoors, a joint venture, was formed by Milwaukee-based Miller Brewing Co. and Golden, Colorado-based Molson Coors Brewing Company.
2008: Bike Lane Planning
In 2008, the city of Milwaukee identified over 250 miles of streets for bike lanes and prioritized 145 miles for immediate implementation.
2008: Harley-Davidson Museum Opening
The Harley-Davidson Museum, opened in 2008, pays tribute to Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
2009: Beer Makers List
In 2009, MillerCoors ranked No. 2, Minhas Craft Brewery ranked No. 14, and New Glarus Brewing Company ranked No. 32 on the list of the 50 largest beermakers in the United States.
2009: Innovating City
In 2009, Milwaukee became an "Innovating City" in the Global Compact Cities Program.
2009: Bicycle Racks on Buses
In 2009, the Milwaukee County Transit System began installing bicycle racks to the front of county buses.
2010: Segregation Levels
According to research by demographer William H. Frey using data from the 2010 United States Census, Milwaukee had the highest level of black-white segregation of any of the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.
2010: Census Data
According to the 2010 Census, 44.8% of Milwaukee's population was White and 40.0% was Black or African American. 17.3% of the population was of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.
2010: Hispanic Backgrounds
According to the 2010 United States census, the largest Hispanic backgrounds in Milwaukee were: Mexican (69,680), Puerto Rican (24,672), among others.
2010: Religious Affiliation
As of 2010, approximately 51.8% of residents in the Milwaukee area said they regularly attended religious services.
2010: Milwaukee Population
By 2010, Milwaukee had a population of 594,833.
2010: High-Speed Rail Funds Rejected
In 2010, $800 million in federal funds allocated to high-speed rail links from Milwaukee to Chicago and Madison were rejected by Wisconsin governor Scott Walker.
2010: BMO Harris Bank Acquisition
Marshall & Ilsley was acquired by BMO Harris Bank in 2010.
2011: Walkability Ranking
A 2011 study by Walk Score ranked Milwaukee 15th most walkable of fifty largest U.S. cities.
2012: Gamma city
In 2012, Milwaukee was listed as a gamma city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.
2013: Hmong Population Shift
In 2013, Mark Pfeifer, the editor of the Hmong Studies Journal, stated Hmong in Milwaukee had recently been moving to the northwest side of Milwaukee.
2013: ParkScore Ranking
In 2013, Milwaukee's park system was ranked as the 19th best among the 50 most populous U.S. cities by The Trust for Public Land.
August 2014: Bublr Bikes Debut
In August 2014, Milwaukee debuted a bicycle sharing system called Bublr Bikes, in partnership with Midwest Bike Share.
2014: Port of Milwaukee Cargo
In 2014, Milwaukee's main port, Port of Milwaukee, handled 2.4 million metric tons of cargo through its municipal port.
February 10, 2015: Streetcar Approved
On February 10, 2015, the Milwaukee Common Council approved a streetcar connecting the Milwaukee Intermodal Station with the Lower East Side, allocating a $124 million capital budget.
May 2015: Interstate 41
As of May 2015, Interstate 894 also contains Interstate 41.
July 2015: Passengers Served
In July 2015, Mitchell International Airport served 610,271 passengers.
November 2015: Fiserv Forum Construction Begins
Construction on the $524 million Fiserv Forum project began in November 2015.
2015: Walk Score Ranking
A 2015 study by Walk Score ranked Milwaukee as the 15th most walkable out of the 50 largest U.S. cities, with an overall score of 62 out of 100.
2015: Households Without a Car
In 2015, 17.9% of city of Milwaukee households were without a car.
2015: Interstate 41 Approval
In 2015, Interstate 41 was approved, following I-94 north from the state line before turning west at the Mitchell Interchange.
2015: Journal Communications Split
In 2015, Journal Communications was split into the Journal Media Group for publishing, while the television and radio stations went to the E. W. Scripps Company.
2015: Rated "Worst City for Black Americans"
In 2015, Milwaukee was rated as the "worst city for black Americans" due to disparities in employment and income levels, high levels of incarceration, and a severe educational achievement gap.
2015: Craft Brewing Companies Established
Since 2015, nearly two dozen craft brewing companies have been established in Milwaukee.
2016: American Community Survey Estimates
According to the American Community Survey estimates for 2016-2020, the median household income in Milwaukee was $43,125. 24.6% of the population was below the poverty line.
2016: Poverty Ranking
As of 2016, Milwaukee ranked as the second poorest U.S. city with over 500,000 residents, falling behind only Detroit.
2016: Households Without a Car
In 2016, 18.7% of city of Milwaukee households were without a car, compared to a national average of 8.7%.
2016: Journal Media Group Merger
In 2016, Journal Media Group merged with Gannett.
2016: Amtrak Hiawatha Upgrade Studies
In 2016, WisDOT and IDOT conducted studies to upgrade service on the Amtrak Hiawatha line from seven to ten times daily between downtown Milwaukee and downtown Chicago.
March 2017: Milwaukee Streetcar Construction Begins
Construction on the Milwaukee Streetcar began in March 2017, with the anticipation of initial operation by mid-2018.
2017: Summerfest Attendance
In 2017, Summerfest attracted 831,769 attendees.
August 26, 2018: Fiserv Forum Opens
On August 26, 2018, Fiserv Forum, a new multipurpose arena, opened to the public, intended as the focal point of a live block zone.
October 2018: Complete Streets Policy
Since October 2018, when Milwaukee enacted a Complete Streets policy, the city continuously considers the addition of bicycle facilities to roadways as part of new road projects.
November 2, 2018: The Hop M-Line Opens
On November 2, 2018, the initial M-Line of Milwaukee's modern streetcar system, The Hop, opened for service.
2018: Paris Agreement
In 2018, Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett announced that the city would uphold its obligations under the Paris Agreement, despite the United States' withdrawal.
2018: Ranked as Most Dangerous City
In 2018, Milwaukee was ranked the eighth most dangerous city in the US.
2018: "Coolest City in the Midwest"
In 2018, Milwaukee was voted "The Coolest City in the Midwest" by Vogue.
2018: Scripps Radio Stations Sold
In 2018, Scripps sold the radio stations to Good Karma Brands, effectively splitting off the monopoly completely.
2018: Initial Streetcar Operation
In 2018, the Milwaukee Streetcar project, later named The Hop, was expected to begin initial operation as a free transit system.
2018: Fiserv Forum opening
In late 2018, Fiserv Forum opened in Milwaukee, hosting sporting events and concerts.
2019: Racial integration
As of 2019, at least three out of four black residents in Milwaukee would have to move to create racially integrated neighborhoods.
2019: Silver-Level Status
In 2019, Milwaukee obtained silver-level status from the League of American Bicyclists.
2019: Children lead levels
In 2019, more than 10% of children tested positive for dangerous lead levels in their blood.
2019: Lakefront Service
The Lakefront service for The Hop was expected to start operation by 2019.
2020: American Community Survey Estimates
According to the American Community Survey estimates for 2016-2020, the median household income in Milwaukee was $43,125. 24.6% of the population was below the poverty line.
2020: Population Statistics
In 2020, Milwaukee had a population of 577,222, with a density of 6,001.2 inhabitants per square mile. There were 257,723 housing units, and the population was ethnically diverse, including 20.1% Hispanic or Latino.
2020: Regional GDP
In 2020, Milwaukee had a regional GDP of over $102 billion.
2020: Milwaukee population
In 2020, the census recorded Milwaukee's population as 577,222, making it the 31st-most populous city in the United States.
2020: Census Details
In the 2020 census, the population of Milwaukee included 1,198 people incarcerated in adult correctional facilities and 9,625 people in university student housing.
January 2021: American Serb Hall For Sale
In January 2021, the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral put the American Serb hall up for sale due to financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: Infrastructure Bill
As a result of the 2021 infrastructure bill and the "Amtrak Connects Us" initiative, the Milwaukee Intermodal Station is again projected to serve passenger trains to Madison and Green Bay.
2021: Lead levels in schools
As of 2021, there were more than 3,000 drinking fountains in the Milwaukee Public School District, and 183 had lead levels above 15 parts per billion (ppb).
2021: Tom Barrett's Retirement
In 2021, Tom Barrett retired as mayor, becoming the longest-serving mayor of any of the United States' 50 largest cities.
2022: American Community Survey
According to the 2022 American Community Survey, 66% of working city of Milwaukee residents commuted by driving alone.
2022: Bicycle Facilities
As of 2022, Milwaukee had 195 miles (314 km) of on-street bicycle facilities.
2022: Homeless Population Estimate
As of 2022, the estimated number of homeless people on Milwaukee's streets had reduced to 832.
2022: German American Population
Per the 2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the German American population was 87,601.
2022: Hmong Population
Per the 2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the Hmong American population was 11,469, the largest Hmong population in Wisconsin.
August 2023: Bublr Bikes System
As of August 2023, the Bublr Bikes system operates over 100 stations in Milwaukee, West Allis and Wauwatosa.
October 29, 2023: The Hop L-Line Opens
On October 29, 2023, service to the lakefront, through the Couture, on the L-Line of Milwaukee's streetcar system The Hop, opened.
2023: Mexican American Population
Per the 2023 American Community Survey one-year estimates, the Mexican American population was 82,845 comprising over 60% of the Latino population.
2024: Milwaukee Skyline
In 2024, Architectural Digest rated Milwaukee's skyline as the 15th most beautiful skyline in the world.
2025: Electricity sources
By 2025, Milwaukee set a goal of moving a quarter of the city's electricity sources to renewable energy.
2026: Goal for Protected Bicycle Lanes
By 2026, Milwaukee set a goal of increasing their protected bicycle lanes from 2.6 miles (4.2 km) to 50 miles (80 km).
2035: New Routes Operational Goal
The goal is for the new passenger train routes to Madison and Green Bay, served by the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, to be operational by 2035.
