Wisconsin

Milwaukee

939,489
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 5,605. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 939,489.

Its recorded population peaked at 1,054,063 in 1970, and has since declined by roughly 11 percent.

On the ground today, 294 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020939,489
2010947,735
2000940,164
1990959,275
1980964,988
19701,054,063
19601,036,041
1950871,047
1940766,885
1930725,263
1920539,449
1910433,187
1900330,017
1890236,101
1880138,537
187089,930
186062,518
185031,077
18405,605
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Milwaukee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Day, Dr. Fisk Holbrook, House
Wauwatosa
Turner Hall
Milwaukee
Shorewood Village Hall
Shorewood
State Bank of Wisconsin
Milwaukee
Bogk, Frederick C., House
Milwaukee
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Milwaukee
Church, Benjamin, House
Shorewood
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Complex
Milwaukee
Greene, Thomas A., Memorial Museum
Milwaukee
Hunt, W. Ben, Cabin
Hales Corners
Saint Vincent's Infant Asylum
Milwaukee
Damon, Lowell, House
Wauwatosa
MILWAUKEE (steam screw) Shipwreck
Fox Point
Uihlein, Herman, House
Whitefish Bay
Grand Avenue Congregational Church
Milwaukee
North Point Lighthouse
Milwaukee
Bay View Historic District
Milwaukee
Goodwill Industries Building
Milwaukee
Schoonmaker Reef
Milwaukee
Pabst Theater
Milwaukee
Eagles Club
Milwaukee
Schuster, George, House and Carriage Shed
Milwaukee
Curtin, Jeremiah, House
Greendale
Washington Highlands Historic District
Wauwatosa
Browse all Wisconsinhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Wisconsin

Explore census history and historic records for more Wisconsin counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

This page charts the census history of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Milwaukee

When does Milwaukee first appear in the US census?
Milwaukee, Wisconsin first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 5,605.
What is the population of Milwaukee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Milwaukee had a recorded population of 939,489.
When did Milwaukee's population peak?
Milwaukee's recorded population peaked at 1,054,063 in 1970.
How many historic places are in Milwaukee?
294 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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