Milwaukee County consists of a myriad of unique yet unified communities where history comes to life. From its obscure beginnings as an Indian settlement and its hopeful days as a booming Great Lakes port, the City of Milwaukee has emerged as a stronghold of industries and immigrants, displaying bold experiments in municipal government, and a gradual immersion in national and global affairs.

Wisconsin was first inhabited by varied Indian tribes in the 17th century. They included the Algonquian-speaking Menominee, Kickapoo, Miami, the Siouan-speaking Winnebago, Dakota (or Sioux) and Iowa. In the mid-1600's other groups entered Wisconsin, including the Fox, Sac, Potawatomi and Ojibewa (Chippewa) Jean Nicolet, a native of France, was the first explorer to reach the area while searching for the Northwest Passage to China in 1634. The French lost possession of Wisconsin and all of it's territories east of the Mississippi to Great Britain during the French and Indian War. British possession of Wisconsin ended in 1783, when Britain signed the treaty ending the American Revolution. Because the U.S. government had no effective control over Wisconsin, it remained under unofficial British control. Fur trade continued as the foundation of Wisconsin's economy.

European immigrants settled in the Wisconsin Territory throughout the early 1800s, displacing native American tribes. By the end of the Black Hawk Wars in 1832, native tribes had either left the area, or had negotiated reservation lands. At that time, a second wave of settlers came to Wisconsin and in 1836 the Wisconsin Territory was organized. Around the 1840's a third wave of settlers came to Wisconsin, attracted by good farmland. At that time the state became the nation's leading wheat producer. On May 29, 1848, Wisconsin was admitted to the Union as the 30th state.

By the early 20th century, the City of Milwaukee and its surrounding region had developed a national reputation based on three related hallmarks: Germanism, Socialism and beer. Today all three have faded in importance, but, as another century begins, the Milwaukee Idea retains a thoroughly distinctive sense of place. Choice and circumstance have combined to produce this marvelous community, one whose character reflects influences as diverse as Harley-Davidson and Father Jim Groppi, Socialist revolutionaries and Golda Meir and German brewery magnates and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Anytime is a perfect time to relocate to Milwaukee County. Residents and their guests dine at a colorful, riverside bistro, enjoying a leisurely boat cruise in the scenic Milwaukee harbor or strolling along the RiverWalk in downtown, a lovely pedestrian promenade connecting the city of Milwaukee’s waterfront neighborhoods. Golf, boating, fishing, hiking and more other outdoor recreation activities are abundant throughout Milwaukee County in the pleasant three-season weather from mid-April through October. Summerfest, the world-class music festival leads the roster of lakefront celebrations that go on all summer along the shores of Lake Michigan and within site of the downtown skyscrapers and south shore boating enthusiasts. Surrounding Summerfest are a myriad of ethnic festivals, each of which combines traditional and contemporary with the splendor of Milwaukee's claim to it's motto, "A Great Place On a Great Lake."

Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers National League baseball team, has many unique features, the main one being its retractable roof. The 12,000 ton, seven panel roof has a unique fan shape design. The roof can open or close in ten minutes and sits 175 feet above the field. The Brewers played their first game at the ballpark on April 6, 2001. A Brewers Hall of Fame, children’s area, brew pub, open air patios, and walkways are throughout Miller Park. Concourses on the field level allow fans to see the game while walking around the ballpark. A huge video board is above the hitters backdrop in centerfield. Manual scoreboards located on both the left and right field walls keep fans notified of scores of other MLB games. Outside Miller Park are statues of Milwaukee icons, such as Hank Aaron.

The Milwaukee County Zoo is a serene home to more than 2,000 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles with more than 350 species represented. However, the Zoo has become more than that to visitors. It is a site for workshops, holiday celebrations, summer concerts and food festivals. Recognized as one of the country’s finest zoological attractions, the Milwaukee County Zoo serves as a resource to educate, entertain and inspire.

Numerous entertainment, shopping, recreational and cultural venues draw people to Milwaukee County. Its terrific locale, just north of Chicago, en route to Green Bay and the Twin Cities, easy access to rail and shipping, make Milwaukee County an ideal spot for business. And, as the eastern gateway to all the natural resource treasures found throughout Wisconsin, outdoors enthusiasts, academics and families of all interests find Milwaukee County an ideal home.

For more information on activities in and around Milwaukee County Wisconsin, visit: