Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Milwaukee County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 939,489 at the 2020 census. It is both the most populous and most densely populated county in Wisconsin, containing about 15% of the state's population; it is also the 62nd-most populous county nationwide. The county seat is Milwaukee, the most populous city in Wisconsin. Named after the Milwaukee River, the county was created in 1834 as part of Michigan Territory and organized the following year. Milwaukee County is the most populous county of the Milwaukee metropolitan area, as well as of the Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha combined statistical area.
Uniquely among Wisconsin counties, Milwaukee County is completely incorporated. There are 19 municipalities in Milwaukee County; 10 incorporated as cities and 9 incorporated as villages. After the city of Milwaukee, the most populous in 2020 were West Allis, Wauwatosa, Greenfield, Oak Creek, and Franklin. The county is home to two major-league professional sports teams, the Milwaukee Bucks and Milwaukee Brewers, and the world's largest music festival, Summerfest.
History
Portions of what is now Milwaukee County are known to have been inhabited by a number of Native American tribes, including the Sauk, Meskwaki or "Fox", Menomonee, Ojibwe and Potawotami, with elements of other tribes attested as well.In 1818, when the land later to be Wisconsin was made part of Michigan Territory, territorial governor Lewis Cass created Brown County, which at that time included all the land now part of Milwaukee County. It remained a part of Brown county until 1834, when Milwaukee County was created, including the area south of the line between townships eleven and twelve north, west of Lake Michigan, north of Illinois, and east of the line which now separates Green and Rock counties. This territory encompassed all of what are now Milwaukee, Jefferson, Kenosha, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha counties, as well as large parts of the present-day Columbia, Dane and Dodge counties.
Milwaukee County remained attached to Brown County for judicial purposes until August 25, 1835, when an act was passed by the Michigan territorial legislature giving it an independent organization. In 1836, the legislature divided the area south and east of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers into counties, as a consequence reducing Milwaukee County's extent to what is now Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. In 1846 Waukesha County was created by taking from Milwaukee all of the territory west of range 21, reducing Milwaukee County to its present boundaries.
The county peaked in its relative importance in Wisconsin in the 1930s–1960s, when about 25% of the state's population resided in Milwaukee County. Its population has been shrinking since 1970.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the third-smallest county in Wisconsin by land area. It is watered by the Milwaukee, Menomonee, Kinnickinnic, and Root Rivers. The surface is undulating, and the soil calcareous and fertile.Adjacent counties
- Racine County – south
- Waukesha County – west
- Washington County – northwest
- Ozaukee County – north
- Muskegon County, Michigan – northeast
- Ottawa County, Michigan – east
Climate
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 939,489. The population density was. There were 424,191 housing units at an average density of. 99.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.3% lived in rural areas.The median age was 35.3 years, with 23.3% of residents under 18 and 14.3% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.8 males age 18 and over.
There were 393,601 households in the county, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 32.9% were married-couple households, 23.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present.
Of the 424,191 housing units, 7.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 47.9% were owner-occupied and 52.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.4%.
The racial makeup of the county was 52.0% White, 26.2% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.9% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.8% from some other race, and 9.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 16.3% of the population.
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | % 2000 | % 2010 | ||
| White alone | 583,481 | 514,958 | 456,520 | 62.06% | 54.34% | 48.59% |
| Black or African American alone | 228,471 | 248,794 | 240,416 | 24.30% | 26.25% | 25.59% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone | 5,735 | 5,212 | 3,878 | 0.61% | 0.55% | 0.41% |
| Asian alone | 23,879 | 32,007 | 45,989 | 2.54% | 3.38% | 4.90% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone | 324 | 296 | 262 | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Other race alone | 1,259 | 1,139 | 4,227 | 0.13% | 0.12% | 0.45% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial | 14,609 | 19,290 | 35,180 | 1.55% | 2.04% | 3.74% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 82,406 | 126,039 | 153,017 | 8.77% | 13.30% | 16.29% |
| Total | 940,164 | 947,735 | 939,489 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 947,735 people, 383,591 households, and 221,019 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 418,053 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 60.6% White, 26.8% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 3.4% Asian, 0.003% Pacific Islander, 5.4% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. 13.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 383,591 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the county, the age distribution was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 940,164 people, 377,729 households and 225,126 families resided in the county. The population density was. There were 400,093 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 65.6% White, 24.6% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.2% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 8.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.0% were of German, 10.9% Polish and 5.3% Irish ancestry.There were 377,729 households, of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the county, the age distribution was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, from 1980 to 2000, the residential pattern of Blacks versus Whites in Milwaukee County was the most segregated in the country.