Milwaukee is the most populous city in the state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the 31st-most populous city in the United States and the fifth-most populous city in the Midwest with a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census. The Milwaukee metropolitan area, with over 1.57 million residents, is the 40th-largest metropolitan area in the nation. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County.
Milwaukee was inhabited by many indigenous cultures, particularly the Potawatomi, Menominee, and Ho-Chunk. In the early 19th century, European settlers established the city as a hub for trade and industry, capitalizing on its location as a port. Its history was heavily influenced by Central European immigrants, and it remains a center of German-American culture. Milwaukee grew into a major brewing center, with the Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz breweries shaping its industrial identity. The city also became known for its strong labor movement. While it is an ethnically and culturally diverse city, it continues to be one of the most racially segregated cities as a result of early-20th century redlining.