Milwaukee County is located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At the 2020 census, the population was 939,489, down from 947,735 in 2010. It is both the most populous and most densely populated county in Wisconsin, and the 45th most populous county nationwide; Milwaukee, its eponymous county seat, is also the most populous city in the state. 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-Waukesha–West Allis, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well as of the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI Combined Statistical Area (See Milwaukee metropolitan area).
Uniquely among Wisconsin counties, Milwaukee County is completely incorporated (i.e.: no part of the county has the Town form of local government – see Administrative divisions of Wisconsin#Town). 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 2019 were West Allis (59,890), Wauwatosa (48,118), Greenfield, Wisconsin (37,221), Oak Creek, Wisconsin (36,325), and Franklin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (35,811). The county is home to two major-league professional sports teams, the Milwaukee Bucks and Milwaukee Brewers, and one of the world’s largest music festivals, Summerfest.
| Name: | Milwaukee County |
|---|---|
| FIPS code: | 55-079 |
| State: | Wisconsin |
| Founded: | 1835 |
| Named for: | Milwaukee River |
| Seat: | Milwaukee |
| Largest city: | Milwaukee |
| Total Area: | 1,189 sq mi (3,080 km²) |
| Land Area: | 241 sq mi (620 km²) |
| Total Population: | 939,489 |
| Population Density: | 3,890.5/sq mi (1,502.1/km²) |
Milwaukee County location map. Where is Milwaukee County?
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 (i.e., the northern boundary of Washington and Ozaukee counties), 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.
Milwaukee County Road Map
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,189 square miles (3,080 km), of which 241 square miles (620 km) is land and 948 square miles (2,460 km) (80%) 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
- Ozaukee County – north
- Racine County – south
- Waukesha County – west
- Washington County – northwest
- Ottawa County, Michigan – east (across Lake Michigan)
Climate
Milwaukee County Topographic Map
Milwaukee County Satellite Map
Milwaukee County Outline Map
