Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Wauwatosa is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
, United States
, and was incorporated on May 27, 1897. As of the 2006 census estimate, the city's population was 44,798. Wauwatosa is located immediately west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, and is a part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area
. It is named after the Potawatomi
word for firefly
.
, the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, and Froedtert Hospital
, one of two level-one trauma center
s in the state. Other points of interest are the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
; and the Memorial Center, built in 1957, which contains the public library, an auditorium, and the city hall. The Washington Highlands, a residential neighborhood designed in 1916 by renowned city planner Werner Hegemann
, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1989.
of the Wauwatosa area provided a key overland gateway between the rich glacial farmland of southeastern Wisconsin and the Port of Milwaukee. In 1835, Charles Hart became the first permanent white settler, followed by seventeen other families the same year. The following year a United States Road was built from Milwaukee through Wauwatosa, eventually reaching Madison
. Charles Hart built a mill in 1845 on the Menomonee River which gave the settlement its original name of "Hart's Mill". The mill was torn down in 1914.
The Town
of Wauwatosa was created by act of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature in 1840, and the town government was organized in 1842. The town's borders originally extended from Greenfield Avenue in the south to Hampton Avenue in the north, and from 27th Street in the east to the Waukesha County
line in the west, encompassing sections of present-day Milwaukee and West Allis
. Most of the town was farmland through the remainder of the nineteenth century.
In 1849 the Watertown
Plank Road
was constructed through Wauwatosa, mainly following the old Madison territorial road. In 1851 Wisconsin's first railroad (later becoming The Milwaukee Road) established Wauwatosa as its western terminus. The Village of Wauwatosa was incorporated from the central part of the Town of Wauwatosa in 1892, and was recharted as the City of Wauwatosa in 1897.
In the 1950s, the City of Wauwatosa more than doubled its size by annexing
8.5 square miles (22 km²) of land west of the Menomonee River from the Town of Wauwatosa, which became the home to several large cold storage and regional food distribution terminals. Industrial plants owned by firms including Harley-Davidson
and Briggs & Stratton
were also constructed.
In the past 40 years, western Wauwatosa has become an edge city
with an important commercial and retail district built up along Milwaukee's beltline Highway 100
and anchored by the Mayfair Mall
.
Wauwatosa received some national attention in 1992 when the Wauwatosa Common Council, threatened with a lawsuit, decided to remove a Christian cross
from the City's seal adopted in 1957. The cross was replaced with the text, "In God We Trust." The seal itself was designed by 9-year old Suzanne Vallier as an entry in a contest among Wauwatosa schoolchildren. The quadrants of the logo's shield represent, from top left going clockwise; an arrowhead representing the Indians who were the original inhabitants of the city, the mill representing Hart's Mill which was the original name of the city, the cross representing the "city of churches", and the symbol used on street signs representing the "city of homes."
, Wauwatosa has a total area of 13.2 square miles (34.3 km²), none of which, except for the Menomonee River, is covered with water.
Eastern Wauwatosa is also known for its homes and residential streets, at one time just a short streetcar ride away from downtown Milwaukee. Prior to the arrival of Dutch elm disease
, many of Wauwatosa's older residential streets had large gothic colonnades of American Elm
trees. In Wauwatosa, the Menomonee Valley made it easier to quarry portions of the Niagara Escarpment
, which provided the necessary materials for sturdy, cream-colored bricks
and stout, limestone foundations used in many homes and public buildings throughout the region.
was 3,570.5 people per square mile (1,378.5/km²). There were 20,917 housing units at an average density of 1,579.9 per square mile (610.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.97% White, 2.04% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.94% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races
, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.
There were 20,388 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $54,519, and the median income for a family was $68,030. Males had a median income of $46,721 versus $35,289 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $28,834. About 2.3% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
High School
s: Wauwatosa West
, Wauwatosa East
Middle School
s: Whitman, Longfellow
Elementary School
s: Eisenhower, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, McKinley, Roosevelt, Underwood, Washington, Wilson
There are also numerous Catholic elementary schools in the city: St. Bernard, St. Joseph, St. Jude, St. Pius X, and Christ King.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, of Wauwatosa residents 25 years of age and older, 93.4% were high school graduates or better, and 47.6% had a bachelor's degree or better.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and was incorporated on May 27, 1897. As of the 2006 census estimate, the city's population was 44,798. Wauwatosa is located immediately west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, and is a part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area
Milwaukee metropolitan area
The Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha metropolitan area is an urban area identified by the U.S. Census Bureau containing five counties in southeastern Wisconsin: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Washington and Ozaukee...
. It is named after the Potawatomi
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
word for firefly
Firefly
Lampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies...
.
Points of interest
Wauwatosa contains Milwaukee County's Regional Medical Center, which includes the Medical College of WisconsinMedical College of Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin is a private, freestanding medical school and graduate school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was formerly affiliated with Marquette University....
, the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, and Froedtert Hospital
Froedtert Hospital
Froedtert Hospital, , located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a teaching hospital and an ACS verified Level I adult trauma center, one of two such facilities in Wisconsin. Froedtert is the primary teaching affiliate of the Medical College of Wisconsin , where MCW students and residents receive their...
, one of two level-one trauma center
Trauma center
A trauma center is a hospital equipped to provide comprehensive emergency medical services to patients suffering traumatic injuries. Trauma centers grew into existence out of the realization that traumatic injury is a disease process unto itself requiring specialized and experienced...
s in the state. Other points of interest are the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, USA, was designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1956, and completed in 1962. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church is one of Wright's last works; construction was completed after his death. Its shallow...
designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
; and the Memorial Center, built in 1957, which contains the public library, an auditorium, and the city hall. The Washington Highlands, a residential neighborhood designed in 1916 by renowned city planner Werner Hegemann
Werner Hegemann
Werner Hegemann was a city planner, architecture critic, and author.Hegemann began his studies in Berlin, studied art history and economics in Paris and economics at the University of Pennsylvania and in Strasbourg, completing his doctorate in Munich in 1908...
, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1989.
History
The lush Menomonee ValleyMenomonee Valley
The Menomonee Valley or Menomonee River Valley is a U-shaped land formation along the southern bend of the Menomonee River in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because of its easy access to Lake Michigan and other waterways, the neighborhood has historically been home to the city's stockyards, rendering...
of the Wauwatosa area provided a key overland gateway between the rich glacial farmland of southeastern Wisconsin and the Port of Milwaukee. In 1835, Charles Hart became the first permanent white settler, followed by seventeen other families the same year. The following year a United States Road was built from Milwaukee through Wauwatosa, eventually reaching Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
. Charles Hart built a mill in 1845 on the Menomonee River which gave the settlement its original name of "Hart's Mill". The mill was torn down in 1914.
The Town
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
of Wauwatosa was created by act of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature in 1840, and the town government was organized in 1842. The town's borders originally extended from Greenfield Avenue in the south to Hampton Avenue in the north, and from 27th Street in the east to the Waukesha County
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2008, the population was 380,629. Its county seat is Waukesha.-History:The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County now occupies was a part of Michigan when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834. On July 4, 1836, the...
line in the west, encompassing sections of present-day Milwaukee and West Allis
West Allis, Wisconsin
West Allis is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The population was 61,254 at the 2000 census. Its name derives from Edward P. Allis, who started the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company in the 19th century. The site of the town was...
. Most of the town was farmland through the remainder of the nineteenth century.
In 1849 the Watertown
Watertown, Wisconsin
Watertown is a city in Dodge and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Most of the city's population is in Jefferson County. Division Street, several blocks north of downtown, marks the county line. The population of Watertown was 21,598 at the 2000 census...
Plank Road
Plank road
A plank road or puncheon is a dirt path or road covered with a series of planks, similar to the wooden sidewalks one would see in a Western movie. Plank roads were very popular in Ontario, the U.S. Northeast and U.S. Midwest in the first half of the 19th century...
was constructed through Wauwatosa, mainly following the old Madison territorial road. In 1851 Wisconsin's first railroad (later becoming The Milwaukee Road) established Wauwatosa as its western terminus. The Village of Wauwatosa was incorporated from the central part of the Town of Wauwatosa in 1892, and was recharted as the City of Wauwatosa in 1897.
In the 1950s, the City of Wauwatosa more than doubled its size by annexing
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
8.5 square miles (22 km²) of land west of the Menomonee River from the Town of Wauwatosa, which became the home to several large cold storage and regional food distribution terminals. Industrial plants owned by firms including Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
and Briggs & Stratton
Briggs & Stratton
Briggs & Stratton is the world's largest manufacturer of air-cooled gasoline engines primarily for outdoor power equipment. Current production averages 11 million engines per year.-History:...
were also constructed.
In the past 40 years, western Wauwatosa has become an edge city
Edge city
"Edge city" is an American term for a concentration of business, shopping, and entertainment outside a traditional urban area in what had recently been a residential suburb or semi-rural community...
with an important commercial and retail district built up along Milwaukee's beltline Highway 100
Highway 100 (Wisconsin)
State Trunk Highway 100 is a road which encircles the outer edges of Milwaukee County...
and anchored by the Mayfair Mall
Mayfair Mall
Mayfair Mall is a shopping mall located on Mayfair Road between North Avenue and Center Street in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, USA. Mayfair Shopping Center was constructed in 1958 by the Hunzinger Construction Company...
.
Wauwatosa received some national attention in 1992 when the Wauwatosa Common Council, threatened with a lawsuit, decided to remove a Christian cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
from the City's seal adopted in 1957. The cross was replaced with the text, "In God We Trust." The seal itself was designed by 9-year old Suzanne Vallier as an entry in a contest among Wauwatosa schoolchildren. The quadrants of the logo's shield represent, from top left going clockwise; an arrowhead representing the Indians who were the original inhabitants of the city, the mill representing Hart's Mill which was the original name of the city, the cross representing the "city of churches", and the symbol used on street signs representing the "city of homes."
Notable people
- AntlerAntler (poet)Antler is an American poet who lives in Wisconsin.Among other honors, Antler received the Whitman Prize from the Walt Whitman Association, given to the poet "whose contribution best reveals the continuing presence of Walt Whitman in American poetry," in 1985. Antler also was awarded the Witter...
, poet - William BastWilliam BastWilliam Bast is an American screenwriter and author currently living in Los Angeles. In addition to writing scripts for motion pictures and television, he is the author of two biographies of the screen actor James Dean.-Early life:...
, screenwriter - Fabian BruskewitzFabian BruskewitzFabian Wendelin Bruskewitz is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska.-Early life and ministry:...
, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of LincolnRoman Catholic Diocese of LincolnThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln is a Roman Catholic diocese in Nebraska, and comprises the majority of the eastern and central portions of the state south of the Platte River. The episcopal see is in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was established on August 2, 1887, by Pope Leo XIII... - Matthew BuscheMatthew BuscheMatthew Busche is an American professional cyclist for Team RadioShack. In 2009, he gained notoriety for his rapid rise from a Wisconsin-based amateur team to Lance Armstrong's Team RadioShack within the course of one season...
, cyclist - Kathryn CaseyKathryn CaseyKathryn Casey is a true crime writer, novelist and journalist. Author Ann Rule has called Casey "one of the best in the true crime genre."-Early life and education:Born in Wisconsin, Casey settled in Texas with her family in 1980...
, author - Glenn R. Davis, U.S. Representative
- Fisk Holbrook DayFisk Holbrook DayFisk Holbrook Day was a physician and an amateur geologist in Wisconsin who developed an impressive collection of Silurian-age fossils. The collection is now at Harvard University....
, physician and geologist - Radcliffe R. Denniston, Jr.Radcliffe R. Denniston, Jr.Radcliffe R. Denniston, Jr. was an officer in the United States Navy during World War II. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions preceding and during the Battle of the Coral Sea.-Biography:...
, U.S Navy officer - Nancy DickersonNancy DickersonNancy Dickerson was an American pioneering radio and television newswoman. As famous as a celebrity and socialite as she was for her journalism, she later became an award-winning independent producer of documentaries....
, Peabody AwardPeabody AwardThe George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
-winning journalist - Anton FalchAnton FalchAnton C. Falch was a Major League Baseball player. He played five games for the Milwaukee Brewers of the Union Association in , three in left field and two at catcher. He went 2-for-18 at the plate for a batting average of .111.-Sources:...
, professional baseball player - Albert FowlerAlbert FowlerAlbert Fowler was an American pioneer and politician.Fowler was born to Elijah Fowler and his wife in Tyringham, Massachusetts...
, Mayor of Rockford, IllinoisRockford, IllinoisRockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated... - Devin HarrisDevin HarrisDevin Lamar Harris is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Harris attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison...
, professional basketball player of the NBA - Stephen F. HayesStephen F. HayesStephen F. Hayes is a columnist for The Weekly Standard, a prominent American conservative magazine. Hayes has been selected as the official biographer for Vice President Richard Cheney....
, author and political commentator - Julius P. HeilJulius P. HeilJulius Peter Heil was the 30th Governor of Wisconsin from 1939 to 1943. A Republican, he was born in Düssmund an der Mosel, Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1881. In 1901, he founded the Heil Company in Milwaukee, which fabricated steel tank cars. He served two two-year terms as...
, Wisconsin governor - Warren R. HerbstWarren R. HerbstWarren R. Herbst served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the Battle of Tinian.His award citation reads:...
, U.S. Marine - Michael W. HooverMichael W. Hoover-Biography:Hoover was born on December 21, 1951 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was raised in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School...
, Presiding Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals - Mike HuwilerMike HuwilerMike "Huey" Huwiler is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder who was a member of the U.S. team at the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1996 D.C. United championship team.-High school and college:...
, OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
athlete, MLSMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
player - Joseph H. LovelandJoseph H. LovelandJoseph H. Loveland was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont Senate.-Biography:Loveland was born on March 10, 1859 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He was a Congregationalist.-Career:...
, VermontVermontVermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
politician - Ed McCullyEd McCullyEdward "Ed" McCully was an evangelical Christian missionary to Ecuador who, along with four other missionaries, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani people, through efforts known as Operation Auca.-Early years:...
, Christian missionary killed during Operation AucaOperation AucaOperation Auca was an attempt by five Evangelical Christian missionaries from the United States to bring the gospel to the Huaorani people of the rainforest of Ecuador... - John MorgridgeJohn MorgridgeJohn P. Morgridge is an American businessman who was the chairman of the board of Cisco Systems.- Background :Morgridge is from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin and attended Wauwatosa East High School. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1955; while at Wisconsin he joined Delta Upsilon Fraternity...
, former CEO and Chairman of the Board of Cisco SystemsCisco SystemsCisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$... - Roger ReamRoger ReamRoger R. Ream is the President of The Fund for American Studies . The mission of TFAS is to “prepare young people for honorable leadership by educating them in the theory, practice and benefits of a free society.”- Education :Ream received his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 1977...
, educator - Peggy RosenzweigPeggy RosenzweigPeggy A. Rosenzweig is a former member of the Wisconsin State Senate and the Wisconsin State Assembly. She served in the Wisconsin Legislature from 1983 to 2003.-Political career:...
, Wisconsin politician - Richard SchickelRichard SchickelRichard Warren Schickel is an American author, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. He is a film critic for Time magazine, having also written for Life magazine and the Los Angeles Times Book Review....
, film critic and author - Tony SmithTony Smith (basketball)Charles Anton Smith is a retired American professional basketball player.Smith played high school basketball at Wauwatosa East High School, which retired his number 34 jersey at ceremonies held in 2007...
, retired NBA player, also played at Wauwatosa East High SchoolWauwatosa East High SchoolWauwatosa East High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school in the city of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. It is part of the Wauwatosa School District. The school was originally known as Wauwatosa Senior High School until the opening of Wauwatosa West High School in September of 1961. The... - Jerry SmithJerry Smith (basketball)Jerry Smith is an American basketball player who last played in New Zealand for the Waikato Pistons.-High school:Jerry Smith played for Wauwatosa East High School where he holds the school's career scoring record...
, college basketball player - Brad RoweBrad Rowe (actor)Brad Rowe is an American film and television actor who began his career in movies such as Invisible Temptation and Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss ....
, actor - Thomas A. SteitzThomas A. Steitz-Publications:* Steitz, T. A., et al. , nsls newsletter, .* Steitz, T. A., et al. , NSLS Activity Report .-External links:* , from the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, United States Department of Energy...
, Nobel PrizeNobel Prize in ChemistryThe Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists in the various fields of chemistry. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895, awarded for outstanding contributions in chemistry, physics, literature,...
-winning chemist - Spencer TracySpencer TracySpencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
, actor, named the 9th-greatest male film star of all-time by the American Film InstituteAmerican Film InstituteThe American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act... - Frederick D. UnderwoodFrederick D. UnderwoodFrederick Douglas Underwood was president of the Erie Railroad from 1901 to 1926 and a director of Wells Fargo & Company.-Early life:...
, President of Erie RailroadErie RailroadThe Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie... - Scott WalkerScott Walker (politician)Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...
, Wisconsin Governor
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Wauwatosa has a total area of 13.2 square miles (34.3 km²), none of which, except for the Menomonee River, is covered with water.
Eastern Wauwatosa is also known for its homes and residential streets, at one time just a short streetcar ride away from downtown Milwaukee. Prior to the arrival of Dutch elm disease
Dutch elm disease
Dutch elm disease is a disease caused by a member of the sac fungi category, affecting elm trees which is spread by the elm bark beetle. Although believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease has been accidentally introduced into America and Europe, where it has devastated native...
, many of Wauwatosa's older residential streets had large gothic colonnades of American Elm
American Elm
Ulmus americana, generally known as the American Elm or, less commonly, as the White Elm or Water Elm, is a species native to eastern North America, occurring from Nova Scotia west to Alberta and Montana, and south to Florida and central Texas. The American elm is an extremely hardy tree that can...
trees. In Wauwatosa, the Menomonee Valley made it easier to quarry portions of the Niagara Escarpment
Niagara Escarpment
The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment, or cuesta, in the United States and Canada that runs westward from New York State, through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois...
, which provided the necessary materials for sturdy, cream-colored bricks
Cream City brick
Cream City brick is a cream or light yellow-colored brick made from a clay found around Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the Menomonee River Valley and on the western banks of Lake Michigan...
and stout, limestone foundations used in many homes and public buildings throughout the region.
Demographics
As of the census estimate of 2004, there were 45,602 people, 20,388 households, and 12,314 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,570.5 people per square mile (1,378.5/km²). There were 20,917 housing units at an average density of 1,579.9 per square mile (610.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.97% White, 2.04% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.94% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.
There were 20,388 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $54,519, and the median income for a family was $68,030. Males had a median income of $46,721 versus $35,289 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $28,834. About 2.3% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The city has one public school district, the Wauwatosa School DistrictHigh School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s: Wauwatosa West
Wauwatosa West High School
Wauwatosa West High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in the city of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, USA. West opened in 1961 with the first graduating class in 1962 as a sister-school to Wauwatosa East High School; together they are part of the Wauwatosa School District.Tosa...
, Wauwatosa East
Wauwatosa East High School
Wauwatosa East High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school in the city of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. It is part of the Wauwatosa School District. The school was originally known as Wauwatosa Senior High School until the opening of Wauwatosa West High School in September of 1961. The...
Middle School
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
s: Whitman, Longfellow
Elementary School
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s: Eisenhower, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, McKinley, Roosevelt, Underwood, Washington, Wilson
There are also numerous Catholic elementary schools in the city: St. Bernard, St. Joseph, St. Jude, St. Pius X, and Christ King.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, of Wauwatosa residents 25 years of age and older, 93.4% were high school graduates or better, and 47.6% had a bachelor's degree or better.
External links
- City of Wauwatosa
- Wauwatosa Now
- Wauwatosa West High School Newspaper, West Side Stories
- The Washington Highlands
- Wauwatosa Historical Society