Milwaukee County

Economic Engine of the Region

Milwaukee County is the cultural and economic heart of the region, with almost as many residents, jobs and businesses as all of the other counties combined. The city of Milwaukee, the 30th largest city in the nation, is home to Fortune 1000 companies including A.O. Smith, Fiserv, Harley Davidson, ManpowerGroup, Northwestern Mutual, Rockwell Automation, and WEC Energy Group

Teeming with youthful energy, the city boasts the lowest median age in the region and is home to major institutions of higher education – Marquette University, with an enrollment of 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, the second-largest campus in the UW system with more than 25,000 students.

Cultural Hotspot for Arts & Entertainment

There's plenty of big-city excitement here - cultural attractions include the Milwaukee Art Museum and its internationally acclaimed Calatrava addition, the downtown theater district, and the Marcus Performing Arts Center. Sports fans can enjoy professional baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers, professional basketball with the Milwaukee Bucks, and professional hockey with the Milwaukee Admirals.

More than 3,000 new condominiums have sprung up throughout the downtown in recent years, offering panoramic views of Lake Michigan, the Milwaukee River, and the city's historic Third Ward, Brewer's Hill, and Walker's Point areas. During the summer, there's plenty of music and dancing at the city's lakefront festival park, which is home to numerous ethnic festivals and Summerfest, the world's largest music festival.

Economic Development Information: Milwaukee County Economic and Community Development and Milwaukee Department of City Development

Visitor Information: VISIT Milwaukee

Milwaukee County At-a-Glance

Major Cities

Milwaukee (592,025)
West Allis (59,492)
Wauwatosa (48,376)
Greenfield (37,358)
Oak Creek (36,470)
Franklin (35,872)
South Milwaukee (20,801)

Colleges, Vocational Schools + Universities

Alverno College
Herzing University
Keller Graduate School
Lakeland College
Marquette University
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD)
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)
Mount Mary College
Stratton College
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Wisconsin Lutheran College

Major Industries
Company Industry Employment
Aurora Health Healthcare 10,000+
Froedtert Health Healthcare 10,000+
Ascension Healthcare 10,000+
Medical College of Wisconsin Healthcare 10,000+
Northwestern Mutual Professional Services 5,000+
Rockwell Automation Energy, Power + Controls 3,000+
WEC Energy Group Utilities 3,000+
Harley-Davidson Manufacturing 2,000 - 2,999
Milwaukee Tool Manufacturing 2,000 - 2,999

 

7 things you should know about Milwaukee County
  1. Milwaukee is often referred to as the "Brew City" due to its long history of beer production. The city's brewing heritage is celebrated annually with events like Oktoberfest.
  2. Milwaukee is the birthplace of the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The Harley-Davidson Museum, located in the city, showcases the history and evolution of these legendary motorcycles.
  3. The Milwaukee County Zoo opened in 1892 and  is home to over 2,000 animals representing 330 species. One of its unique features is the Herb and Nada Mahler Family Aviary, one of the world's largest indoor, free-flight aviaries.
  4. Milwaukee's Lake Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same landscape architect who designed New York City's Central Park. Lake Park offers stunning views of Lake Michigan and features walking trails, a golf course, and the North Point Lighthouse.
  5. The Milwaukee Art Museum is known for its iconic pavilion, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava. The pavilion has a movable, wing-like sun screen that opens and closes, resembling a bird in flight. The museum's collection includes over 30,000 works of art.
  6. A bronze statue of Arthur Fonzarelli, popularly known as "The Fonz" from the television show Happy Days, can be found along the Milwaukee Riverwalk.
  7. Milwaukee hosts the world's largest music festival, Summerfest, annually. This 11-day event features over 800 artists and bands, and attracts music lovers from across the country.