Population: 579,000 thousand people (2005)
Area: 250.7 sq. km
Time zone: UTC-6, summer UTC-5
Altitude: 188 m
Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin. It lies in the southeast of the state, sprawling on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Three rivers flow into the city: the Kinnikinik, the Menomonee, and the Milwaukee. The name from the language of the Indians who lived here is translated as “a gathering place near the water, a good land.”
Before the arrival of Europeans, the local area was inhabited by the Muskuten, Fox, Potawatomi and others tribes. The development of the territory of Milwaukee is associated with the name of a Frenchman from Canada, Jacques Viot. He founded the first settlement here in 1795. Milwaukee proper arose in the first half of the 19th century on the initiative of a relative of Vio Laurent Junot. The favorable location was the reason for the rapid growth of Milwaukee: in 1846, he was awarded city status.
Milwaukee is known as the city where the headquarters of the world famous company “Harley-Davidson” is located, as well as the center of brewing. There is even a beer museum here, and the leading baseball team is called the Milwaukee Brewers, that is, the Brewers.
The city has significant tourism potential due to the presence of many cultural and recreational sites. The most famous sights include the building of the Art Museum, the Basilica of St. John, the building of the Alain-Bradley office center with a clock tower, the city hall and many monuments to famous personalities.
