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The ”’Milwaukee metropolitan area”’ (also known as ”’Metro Milwaukee”’ or ”’Greater Milwaukee”’) is a major [[metropolitan area]] located in Southeastern [[Wisconsin]], consisting of the city of [[Milwaukee]] and some of the surrounding area. There are several definitions of the area, including the ”’Milwaukee–Waukesha–West Allis metropolitan area”’ and the ”’Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha combined statistical area”’. It is the largest metropolitan area in Wisconsin with an estimated population of about 1.6 million people ranking it as the 39th largest metropolitan area (4 County area) in [[United States]], and the 34th largest combined statistical area (8 County area) in the U.S. the with a 2024 population estimate of 2,054,012.
The ”’Milwaukee metropolitan area”’ (also known as ”’Metro Milwaukee”’ or ”’Greater Milwaukee”’) is a major [[metropolitan area]] located in Southeastern [[Wisconsin]], consisting of the city of [[Milwaukee]] and some of the surrounding area. There are several definitions of the area, including the ”’Milwaukee–Waukesha–West Allis metropolitan area”’ and the ”’Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha combined statistical area”’. It is the largest metropolitan area in Wisconsin with an estimated population of about 1.6 million people ranking it as the 39th largest metropolitan area (4 County area) in [[United States]], and the 34th largest combined statistical area (8 County area) in the U.S. with a 2024 population estimate of 2,054,012.
==Definitions==
==Definitions==
Metropolitan area in Wisconsin, United States
Combined Statistical Area in Wisconsin, United States
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Milwaukee Metropolitan Area |
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| Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha, WI Combined Statistical Area |
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| Coordinates: 43°15′00″N 88°10′00″W / 43.25°N 88.166667°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| Largest city | Milwaukee |
| Other cities | |
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• Total |
3,356 sq mi (8,690 km2) |
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• Total |
 1,555,908 |
| • Density | 464/sq mi (179/km2) |
| • Total | $130.857 billion (2023) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
The Milwaukee metropolitan area (also known as Metro Milwaukee or Greater Milwaukee) is a major metropolitan area located in Southeastern Wisconsin, consisting of the city of Milwaukee and some of the surrounding area. There are several definitions of the area, including the Milwaukee–Waukesha–West Allis metropolitan area and the Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha combined statistical area. It is the largest metropolitan area in Wisconsin with an estimated population of about 1.6 million people ranking it as the 39th largest metropolitan area (4 County area) in United States, and the 34th largest combined statistical area (8 County area) in the U.S. with a 2024 population estimate of 2,054,012.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 5,948 | — | |
| 1850 | 69,820 | 1,073.8% | |
| 1860 | 128,653 | 84.3% | |
| 1870 | 157,687 | 22.6% | |
| 1880 | 206,397 | 30.9% | |
| 1890 | 318,065 | 54.1% | |
| 1900 | 405,198 | 27.4% | |
| 1910 | 511,194 | 26.2% | |
| 1920 | 624,109 | 22.1% | |
| 1930 | 821,566 | 31.6% | |
| 1940 | 876,954 | 6.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,014,211 | 15.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,278,850 | 26.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,403,688 | 9.8% | |
| 1980 | 1,397,143 | −0.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,432,149 | 2.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,500,741 | 4.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,555,908 | 3.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,574,731 | 1.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 1,574,452 | 0.0% | |
The U.S. Census Bureau defines the Milwaukee Metropolitan area as containing four counties in southeastern Wisconsin: Milwaukee and the three WOW counties: Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha. The Metropolitan population of Milwaukee was 1,575,179 in the Census Bureau’s 2019 estimate, making it the 39th largest in the United States.[8]
The city of Milwaukee is the hub of the metropolitan area. The eastern parts of Racine County, eastern parts of Waukesha County, southern part of Ozaukee County, southeastern part of Washington County, and remainder of Milwaukee County are the most urbanized parts of the outlying counties.
The character of the area varies widely. Mequon, Brookfield, and the North Shore (Fox Point, Whitefish Bay, River Hills, Shorewood, Glendale, Brown Deer, and Bayside) are more white-collar, while West Milwaukee, West Allis, and St. Francis are more blue-collar.[citation needed]
Metro Milwaukee draws commuters from outlying areas such as Madison, Chicago and the Fox Cities.
It is part of the Great Lakes Megalopolis containing an estimated 54 million people.
Combined statistical area
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The Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha Combined Statistical Area is made up of the Milwaukee–Waukesha–West Allis Metropolitan Statistical Area (Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties), the Racine Metropolitan Statistical Area (Racine County), the Beaver Dam Micropolitan Statistical Area (Dodge County), the Watertown-Fort Atkinson Micropolitan Area (Jefferson County), and the Whitewater-Elkorn Micropolitan Area (Walworth County) according to the U.S. Census.[9] Updated definitions released in February 2013 added Dodge, Jefferson and Walworth Counties to the Milwaukee CSA. Kenosha, despite being just 32 miles from Milwaukee and 50 miles from Chicago, is included as part of the Chicago CSA, as Kenosha has more residents who commute to the Chicago area. As of the 2019 census estimates, the Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha Combined Statistical Area population was 2,047,966, the largest in Wisconsin and the 33rd largest in the United States.[8] The Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha CSA shares an eastern border with the Madison MSA the Janesville–Beloit MSA which in turn are both a part of the Madison CSA.
There are eight counties in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha Combined statistical area.[1]
Cities (combined statistical area)
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Other principal cities
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Metro area cities and villages with more than 10,000 inhabitants
[edit]
Metro area cities, towns and villages with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants
[edit]
Unincorporated Communities and Census Designated Places
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The city of Milwaukee is overwhelmingly Democratic, while suburban Milwaukee County was historically politically divided, but has shifted to the left in recent election cycles.[10] The WOW counties have long been a Republican stronghold for decades, but they have been trending to the left in recent elections. Dodge County, Jefferson County, Walworth County, and Racine County, which are located on the outskirts of the metro lean Republican.
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 50.8% 591,122 | 47.4% 551,686 | 1.8% 20,694 |
| 2020 | 51.3% 583,809 | 47.6% 535,175 | 1.6% 18,760 |
| 2016 | 48.1% 500,957 | 45.7% 476,414 | 6.2% 64,475 |
| 2012 | 50.9% 568,022 | 48.0% 535,645 | 1.1% 11,760 |
| 2008 | 53.1% 569,672 | 45.7% 490,048 | 1.2% 12,639 |
| 2004 | 47.6% 509,100 | 51.5% 551,116 | 0.9% 9,322 |
2004 Presidential Election by Municipality
2008 Presidential Election by Municipality
2012 Presidential Election by Municipality
2016 Presidential Election by Municipality
2020 Presidential Election by Municipality
2024 Presidential Election by Municipality
Debate over metropolitan government
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Although each county and its various municipalities are self-governing, there is some cooperation in the metropolitan area. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is a state-chartered government agency which serves 28 municipalities in the five counties.
At the same time, some in the area see the need for more consolidation in government services. The Kettl Commission and former Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum have supported initiatives to do this. However, full consolidation has faced unsubstantiated criticism as a means of diluting minority voting power.
- ^ “2010 Census Data – 2010 Census”. 2010.census.gov. Archived from the original on March 24, 2011.
- ^ “Total Gross Domestic Product for Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI (MSA)”. Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
- ^ “U.S. Decennial Census”. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ “Historical Census Browser”. University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). “Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990”. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ “Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000” (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ “United States 2020 Decennial Census”.
- ^ a b “Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals and Components of Change: 2010-2019”. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 26, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ “Archived copy” (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2015-02-13 – via National Archives.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ “Suburban Milwaukee County”. Daves Redistricting. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
- ^ “Milwaukee Metro Presidential Results”. Daves Redistricting. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
- ^ “State Canvasses”. Wisconsin Historical Society.
