MILWAUKEE, the chief city and port of entry
of Wisconsin, capital of Milwaukee co., on the
W. shore of Lake Michigan, in lat. 43° 2' N., lon. 87° 54' W., 75. m. E. of Madison, and 85 m. N. by W. of Chicago; pop. in 1840, 1,712; in 1850, 20,061; in 1860, 45,246; in 1870, 71,440, of whom 33,773 were foreigners, including 22,599 natives of Germany, 3,784 of Ireland, 1,435 of Bohemia, and 1,395 of Scotland.
There were 14,226 families and 13,048 dwellings. The population in 1874 was estimated by local authorities at from 95,000 to 100,000. The lake opposite the city makes an indentation in the shore, forming a bay 6 m. wide and 3 m. deep, which is easy of access at all seasons. The Milwaukee river, which flows through the city, and is joined near its mouth by the Menominee, has been rendered navigable to the heart of the city by vessels of any tonnage used on the lakes. It is regarded as the best harbor on the S. or W. shore of the lake. The climate is peculiarly bracing and healthful, and the atmosphere is remarkably clear and pure. The city is regularly laid out. The centre, near the Milwaukee and Menominee rivers, is the business quarter; and the E. and W. parts, the former of which is built upon a high bluff overlooking the lake, while the latter is still
more elevated, are occupied by residences. The material used in building is largely the beautiful cream-colored Milwaukee brick. The streets, except those in the commercial quarter, are generally well shaded. There are three lines of horse cars. The principal public buildings are the new county court house, the United States custom house and post office building, the academy of music, the opera house, and music hall. Milwaukee has railroad communication with the iron mines of Michigan, with the principal points of Wisconsin, with Chicago, St. Paul, and the railroad system of the east and west, by means of the Milwaukee and St. Paul, the Western Union, the Chicago and Northwestern, the Wisconsin Central, and the Milwaukee, Lake Shore, and Western lines. The receipts and shipments by these lines and by the lake are of great extent and value;
wheat and flour are the most important items. The number of vessels entered in the customs district (which includes the entire lake shore of the state) from Canada, for the year ending June 30, 1873, was 49, with an aggregate tonnage of 14,435; cleared for Canada, 135, tonnage 39,324; value of imports, $222,055; of exports, $3,018,906. The value of goods received under the act of 1870 permitting shipments in bond from the ports of first arrival to interior ports was $76,532. The entrances in the coastwise trade were 2,979 steamers, of 2,026,054 tons, and 4,722 sailing vessels, of 553,925 tons; clearances, 2,943 steamers, of 2,011,550 tons, and 4,432 sailing vessels, of 545,193 tons; belonging in the district, 235 sailing vessels, of 36,252 tons, and 58 steamers, of 13,867 tons; built during the year, 37 vessels, of 8,493 tons. The number of arrivals at
Milwaukee alone during 1873 was 5,561, of
2,323,786 tons; departures, 5,535, of 2,233,857
tons; belonging to the port at the close
of the year, 120, with an aggregate tonnage of
23,276. There are several vessels engaged in
the lake fisheries. The receipts and shipments
of flour and grain to and from the city
since 1860 have been as follows: