South Milwaukee is a city in Milwaukee County,

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

, United States. The population was 20,795 at the 2020 census.

History

South Milwaukee was laid out in 1891 by the South Milwaukee company within the

Town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an o ...

of Oak Creek, with the purpose of serving as a rival industrial suburb of the

City A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee i ...

, and was named from its location south of Milwaukee. South Milwaukee was incorporated as a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred ...

in 1892. South Milwaukee has a rich immigrant history, as immigrants from

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

and

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...

made up a large portion of the population in the early 1900s.

Geography

South Milwaukee is located at (42.911016, −87.864030). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...

, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2010, there were 21,156 people, 9,043 households, and 5,475 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...

was . There were 9,722 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 91.6%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 2.0%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.8% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 2.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 8.0% of the population. There were 9,043 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.5% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age in the city was 40.3 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26% were from 25 to 44; 28.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 21,256 people, 8,694 households, and 5,616 families living in the city. The

was 4,447.5 people per square mile (1,716.9/km²). There were 9,122 housing units at an average density of 1,908.6 per square mile (736.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.81%

, 1.04%

, 0.58% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.04%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 1.36% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 4.01% of the population. There were 8,694 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $44,197, and the median income for a family was $54,474. Males had a median income of $38,146 versus $27,121 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $20,925. About 4.5% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

South Milwaukee was the headquarters of Bucyrus International, formerly Bucyrus-Erie, which is known for constructing large shovels and dragline excavators, including Big Muskie, the world's largest mobile earth-moving machine. Bucyrus shovels were used in the construction of the

Panama Canal The Panama Canal ( es, Canal de Panamá, link=no) is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and divides North and South America. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a condui ...

. In November 2012 Caterpillar Mining bought Bucyrus International for $8.6 billion and will make a goal to become a "one-stop shop" for mining companies worldwide."Cat will acquire mining equipment company for 8.6 billion"
Journal Star. Retrieved December 10, 2015

Recreation

Within South Milwaukee's borders is Grant Park, part of the

Milwaukee County Park System Most parks in Milwaukee are owned and maintained by Milwaukee County as part of a county-wide system. However, some parks are administered by other entities, such as the state of Wisconsin, the city of Milwaukee, or neighborhood organizations. Pa ...

. Grant Park features the Oak Leaf Bike trail, tennis courts, a swimming beach, an 18-hole golf course and the Seven Bridges Hiking Trail along the shore of Lake Michigan. In 2005, the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center was built adjacent to the new

South Milwaukee High School South Milwaukee High School, "Home of the Rockets," is a high school located in the city of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, a suburb of Milwaukee. Approximately 1,000 students attend the high school. The school is operated by the School ...

. This Performing Arts Center, which is open to the public, hosts a variety of entertainment.

Transportation

South Milwaukee was served by passenger rail until 1971, via the South Milwaukee Passenger Station. Today, the former depot is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

. Freight railroad services are provided by the

Union Pacific Railroad The Union Pacific Railroad , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and often called simply Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Paci ...

Notable people

* William P. Atkinson, member of the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, e ...

* Greg Brower, member of the

Nevada State Senate The Nevada Senate is the upper house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of U.S. state of Nevada, the lower house being the Nevada Assembly. It currently (2012–2021) consists of 21 members from single-member districts. In the previ ...

and former U.S. Attorney, born in South Milwaukee *

Jerry Dreva Jerry Dreva (1945–1997) was an artist, writer, performer, activist, and teacher from South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a principal proponent of Mail art. His efforts were concentrated in the areas of self-documentation and performance, often e ...

, avant-garde artist and leader of 1970s glam-rock group Les Petite Bon Bons *

John W. Grobschmidt John William Grobschmidt (January 3, 1896 – September 6, 1939) was an American businessman and politician. Biography Born in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Grobschmidt went to South Milwaukee High School and Marquette Academy. He was in the in ...

, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly *

Richard Grobschmidt Richard Grobschmidt (May 3, 1948July 23, 2016) was an American educator and former Democratic politician from South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served five terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1985–1995) and parts of three terms in the Wisconsi ...

, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and Wisconsin State Senate, lived in South Milwaukee, graduated from South Milwaukee High School *

Roger Sherman Hoar Roger Sherman Hoar (April 8, 1887 – October 10, 1963) was an American state senator and assistant Attorney General, for the state of Massachusetts. He wrote and published science fiction under the pseudonym of Ralph Milne Farley. Family Hoar wa ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

State Senator and author who lived in South Milwaukee *

Jackie Kashian Jackie Kashian (born July 20, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian. Early life and career Kashian, who is of Armenian and Irish descent, was born in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised by her father, Elliot, and her stepmother, Nancy, along ...

, comedian born in South Milwaukee and graduated from South Milwaukee High School * Reginald Lisowski, American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "The Crusher" * Kurt Nimphius, NBA player born in South Milwaukee and graduated from South Milwaukee High School * Jeff Plale, Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner and former legislator *

Phil Sobocinski Phillip Lee Sobocinski (born December 6, 1945) is a former American football center in the National Football League. He played six games for the Atlanta Falcons in 1968. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Wisconsin–Madison ...

, NFL player, was born in South Milwaukee * George Sokolowski, Wisconsin State Representative, was born in South Milwaukee *

Gary George Wetzel Gary George Wetzel (born September 29, 1947) is a former United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War. Military career Wetzel joined the ...

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of val ...

recipient, was born in South Milwaukee * Chester Yorton, former Mr. America and Mr. Universe, grew up in South Milwaukee * Chuck Zehner, former host of the PBS series ''

Tracks Ahead ''Tracks Ahead'' is a television series about railroading, produced by Milwaukee PBS, originally solely for their station WMVS, then syndicated to public television stations, starting in 1990. In general, the series examines all aspects of rail ...

'', lived in South Milwaukee

References

External links

City of South Milwaukee
{{Authority control Cities in Wisconsin Cities in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Articles containing video clips Wisconsin populated places on Lake Michigan 1891 establishments in Wisconsin