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Milwaukee County
Milwaukee
is a county of extremes. It is one of the state’s smallest counties geographically
– and its most populous. Its mood ranges from the hustle and bustle of Milwaukee’s
downtown to the rural quietness of River Hills, Hales Corners and Franklin.
There
is the nightlife revelry along Water Street and the quiet serenity of the 15,000-acre
Milwaukee County park system. There’s the majestic fury of Lake Michigan on a
blustery November day and the quiet gurgling of the Kinnickinnic River. There
are the stately lakefront mansions along the county’s North Shore and the South
Side’s modest bungalows. It is a county of cities and villages – from the sprawling
city of Milwaukee to the quiet village of Greendale, a "Greenbelt" community
designed and built around public parks. There really is something for everyone
in Milwaukee County. No matter where you live in this dynamic county, you will
never be far from the action.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the
hub of the metropolitan area. The 22nd-largest city in the nation, it
is known for its cleanliness, beauty and diverse population. It is a
community with a big city soul and a small town heart. Milwaukee is
both accessible and affordable. Home prices have appreciated conservatively,
but steadily, avoiding the wild swings that have plagued other housing
markets. Because of Milwaukee’s "melting pot" heritage, there
is a variety of neighborhoods to choose from, each with its own distinctive
flavor. These quiet, residential neighborhoods are scattered throughout
the city, often distinguished by parks and small commercial districts.
 Downtown
Living
Downtown Milwaukee
is one of the hottest residential areas in the metropolitan area. The
city's investment in a new riverwalk coupled with the growing demand
for urban professionals to be "near the action," has spawned
a multitude of upscale apartment and condominium projects. These new
homes are located throughout the downtown area - in the city's central
business district; just north of downtown in Brewer's Hill, one of Milwaukee's
oldest neighborhoods; and in the trendy Third and Fifth wards, located
just south of downtown.
The "East
Side" is a densely settled neck of land squeezed between the
Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan. Its "official" boundaries
run from the Milwaukee River east to Lake Michigan and from the city
limits south to Ogden Avenue. Though only one mile wide and three miles
long, it is crammed with dozens of neighborhoods, scores of specialty
stores and a population that is extremely diverse. This is the "hip"
side of Milwaukee and it is as exciting as it is complex. The 26,000
students who attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee keep
the area energized. The East Side’s commercial districts are probably
the busiest in the city and parking spots can be difficult to find.
East Side homes are as diverse as the people who live there. The streets
are lined with modest bungalows, luxurious Victorian homes, condominiums
and apartment complexes. Lake Drive features stately mansions
and older row homes, while the Brady Street area is known for
its inexpensive flats.
Prospect
Avenue has always been one of the city’s premier residential addresses. In
the late 1800s, it boasted some of the finest Victorian mansions in the Midwest.
Some of these homes remain as residences, but others have been converted into
offices, museums and schools. In addition, some of the homes have been torn down
to make way for new condominium and apartment developments. These apartments,
which provide quick access to both Lake Michigan and the downtown, are a favorite
among young professionals who want to stay close to the action.
Milwaukee’s
West Side dates back to the days of Kilbourntown, when the city’s movers
and shakers – including the Plankintons, Mitchells, Pabsts and Brumders – built
imposing mansions on what is now West Wisconsin Avenue. Story Hill is the
oldest neighborhood in the area. Located just north and east of Calvary Cemetery,
it has one of the highest concentrations of brick, stone and stucco homes in the
city.
North
Side
The original home
of Milwaukee’s German population, the North Side is now home to much
of the city’s African-American population.
Riverwest,
which is bordered by Holton Street on the west, Capitol Drive on the
north and the Milwaukee River on the east, is one of the city’s most
ethnically diverse neighborhoods and is home to a large artist population.
The Northwest Side
boasts the greatest abundance of single-family homes in Milwaukee. Sherman
Park, which is located east of Sherman Boulevard and north of North
Avenue, is known for the beautiful brick and Lannon-stone homes that
sit majestically on wide, quiet streets. Bungalows are also common in
this ethnically diverse neighborhood. Lindsay Park is home to
the blue-domed Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, which is located
at 92nd and Congress streets. The last major project designed by Frank
Lloyd Wright, it combines two Christian symbols – the circle and
the cross – into a stunning monument. The far Northwest Side, located
where the city abuts the village of Menomonee Falls, features the city's
newer single-family subdivisions.
South
Side
Settled by Polish
and Italian immigrants, the South Side has a rich, Catholic flavor.
It is home to kielbasa and pierogies, to church festivals and working
class families. It is also home to Alverno College, a nationally
acclaimed women’s college, and to Serb Hall, which is known for
its Friday night fish fries; and some of the city's most beautiful churches.
Bay
View is located on the South Side’s eastern edge, along the shores
of Lake Michigan and south of the Hoan Bridge. Started as a company
town in 1868, it remained an independent suburb for several decades
before it was swept up by Milwaukee’s march southward. To this day,
it remains a staunchly independent community. It also is one of the
most desirable places to live with its mix of bungalows and expansive
lakefront homes. South Kinnickinnic Avenue is Bay View’s primary
commercial street but there are many businesses and specialty shops
tucked along the community’s side streets. In recent years, young professionals
have flocked to Bayview, attracted by its community atmosphere and proximity
to the lake. Jackson Park, located southwest of Layton Park,
is one of the most attractive and secluded residential areas of the
city. Beautiful ranch-style homes grace the tree-lined streets that
wind along the Kinnickinnic River parkway.
Brown
Deer
Think golf and
you’ll think of Brown Deer, which is located just north of Milwaukee
and a short drive from downtown. Here you will find the Brown Deer
Golf Course, an 18-hole course that was ranked one of the five best
public courses in the nation. There are also several private country clubs in this area.
Brown Deer is a modern community located just west of the exclusive
village of River Hills. Incorporated in 1955, it developed rapidly after
World War II and remains home to a diverse mix of professional families.
North
Shore
Nestled among large
stately trees and bordering the shimmering Lake Michigan coastline are
the North Shore suburbs. Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Fox Point and Bayside.
The palatial homes along scenic Lake Drive provide an impressive example
of affluent living. Here you will find some of the nicest homes in Milwaukee
County. The average home price in these communities ranges from $350,000
to more than $2 million for lakefront property. All five villages
feature a mixture of homes - from elegant, turn-of-the-century mansions
to modest, newer homes owned by young families. Residents can stroll
through the quaint shops and restaurants located in the downtown areas
of Shorewood and Whitefish Bay or relax in the peaceful solitude of
Fox Point, Bayside and River Hills, which are known for their large
lots.
Whitefish
Bay is a former resort town and retains much of that charm. The
East Silver Spring Drive shopping district is filled with a delightful
array of specialty shops and boutiques. Here you'll find spacious lots,
stately shade trees and beautiful examples of Colonial and Early American
architecture. Shorewood is the most urban
- and affordable - of the North Shore suburbs. Located just north of
the city of Milwaukee, it blends in with the city’s Upper East Side
neighborhoods and the bustling campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
A popular community for young professionals, its residents have a median
age of 36.5 years, the lowest of the North Shore suburbs.
Glendale,
which is located along the Milwaukee River, has a blend of smaller
manufacturers, retailers and international business headquarters. The
city has embarked on an extensive development near Silver Spring Drive
that includes the Bayshore Town Center, an open-air retail mall and
will soon include new office and residential developments. Fox
Point and Bayside, located on the northern
fringes of Milwaukee County, offer more rural living in homes that are
often called "estates." Fox Point is primarily a residential
community but features several small commercial districts that cater
to the many business and civic leaders who live here. The Schlitz
Audubon Center, which was once the grazing area for the Joseph Schlitz
Brewing Company horses, features 187 acres of meadows, ponds, woods
and lakefront coastline. Bayside is the northeastern-most community
in Milwaukee County. It features a high quality of living, low property
taxes and quick access to Lake Michigan, downtown Milwaukee and Ozaukee
County.
River
Hills is just west of Bayside and Fox Point. Zoned entirely residential,
with a minimum lot requirement of five acres, River Hills is an elegant
village known for its large and beautifully landscaped estates.
South
Shore
While Milwaukee’s
North Shore is trendy and affluent, the South Shore is "down-to-earth"
and very proud of it. Here you will find some of the area’s best-kept
lawns, cleanest streets and quietest neighborhoods. Here you will also
find some of the most beautiful shoreline along Lake Michigan. A series
of county-owned parks blend into one another from Bay View through South
Milwaukee. They feature bicycle and cross-country ski trails that wind
through small woodlands and offer amazing vistas of Lake Michigan.
St.
Francis is home to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, which has its headquarters
at 3501 S. Lake Dr. The community's old-world charm and untapped potential
has spawned several upscale, lakefront condominium projects. Minutes
away from General Mitchell International Airport, the city is home to
two large lakefront parks and the Seminary Woods conservancy
area, which features walking trails through old-growth trees. Cudahy
was a company town that was formed by the Cudahy Packing Company in
1896. Today it is primarily a quiet, residential community with quick
access to the airport and the interstate. Sheridan Park, located on Lake
Michigan, features a swimming pool, bike trail, picnic and recreation area.
Like Cudahy, South
Milwaukee was founded as a company town by Bucyrus International,
a leading manufacturer of surface mining equipment. It is the most populous of
the South Shore communities, but retains a small-town flavor with a healthy
mix of business and residential settings.
Oak
Creek is the largest South Shore community, spanning almost 29 square
miles. It is also one of the state’s fastest-growing communities due
to its proximity to the airport and the interstate. There are dozens
of new subdivisions, including modest, single-family developments and
estate subdivisions with lots three acres or more in size. Marketplace
Village, a shopping center at Hwy. 32 and Puetz Road, is designed
to resemble a 19th century village.
West
Allis and West Milwaukee
With a population
of 60,410, West Allis ranks as one of the largest cities in Wisconsin.
Once the home of the Allis-Chalmers farm equipment manufacturing empire,
it has been a blue-collar town, but has witnessed a dramatic increase
in home sales to young professionals. It is home to State Fair Park,
which hosts the annual Wisconsin State Fair, and the Pettit
National Ice Center. The city also boasts the region's largest Farmer's
Market, which is held several times a week during the summer months
on National Avenue, west of 66th Street.
West Milwaukee
is a small, formerly industrial area that has been aggressively razing
old factories to make way for residential and commercial developments
along South 43rd Street near Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee
Brewers professional baseball team.
Wauwatosa
Wauwatosa is
a white-collar community blessed with a healthy mixture of upscale homes,
office buildings, retail developments and medical facilities. Its main
commercial district on Mayfair Road is lined with office buildings and
is home to Mayfair Mall, one of Milwaukee’s most popular regional
shopping centers. Because of its location in the center of the metropolitan
area, Wauwatosa is considered one of the more desirable living areas
in Milwaukee County. The historic Washington Highlands has long been a
sought-after residential location in Wauwatosa, but there are many other
charming subdivisions as well.
The area is attractive
to professionals because of its proximity to the Milwaukee County
Grounds, which consists of more than 1,100 acres of parkland and
medical facilities, including the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center
and the Milwaukee County Research Park. The medical center is
home to two of the region's leading hospitals - Children's Hospital
and Froedtert Hospital - a mental health complex, a major blood
research lab, one of the nation’s largest rehabilitative therapy centers
and the Medical College of Wisconsin, a private, nationally recognized
teaching and research institution.
Southwest
Suburbs
The southwestern
suburbs are both urban and rural. They contain three of the county’s
busiest commercial districts - South 108th Street (Highway 100), South
76th Street and South 27th Street - as well as some of the most beautiful
park land in the county. Whitnall Park and the Root River
Parkway offer acres upon acres of greenspace for picnicking, bicycling
and other types of family enjoyment. It is home to the county-owned
Boerner Botanical Gardens, which has more than 40 acres
of perennials, annuals, roses, tulips and ornamental trees, Wehr
Nature Center and hiking trails and the public Whitnall Park
Golf Course.
Franklin
is one of the state’s fastest-growing areas. New residential developments
are continually springing up throughout the community, primarily near
Drexel, Puetz, Loomis and Ryan roads. In recent years, the city has
built a new municipal building and library. The community is blessed
with an ample supply of parkland that will guarantee green space for
generations to come.
Greendale
was created in 1938 as a US Department of Agriculture experiment
in urban planning. One of three "Greenbelt" communities built
by the federal government in the 1930s, it is modeled after an English
garden town. Parks, gardens, recreational areas and open spaces completely
surround the community. The main street features a picture-book village
hall that overlooks two rows of shops and restaurants. Narrow side streets
and cul-de-sacs are lined with the original cinder block homes that
give the city its English flavor. It is also the home of Southridge
Mall, the largest regional mall in the Milwaukee area.
Greenfield
is one of the county's larger communities geographically, extending
from the Waukesha County line on the west to 27th Street on the east.
As its name implies, Greenfield contains many parks and recreational
areas. It is also a vibrant city, with at least seven viable commercial
districts - Highway 100, 76th Street, Forest Home Avenue, Layton Avenue,
60th Street, Loomis Road and 27th Street. The city was first settled
in the late 1800s but most of the homes were built after World War II
as the metropolitan area expanded southward.
Hales
Corners, the smallest of the southwestern suburbs, was named after
William Hale, a New Englander who made the first claim there in 1837.
The village became a convenient stopping point for stage coaches heading
toward southern Wisconsin and today is a quaint community with its own
commercial districts along Highway 100 and Forest Home Avenue.
Order
the Greater Milwaukee Relocation Handbook for detailed information on schools,
communities, home prices, and more...
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