Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The largest city in the state of Wisconsin, Milwaukee is located in the southeastern corner of the state, on the shore of Lake Michigan. The region was inhabited by various Native peoples when French missionaries and fur traders arrived in the 1700s. A few European settlements were established along the banks of the Milwaukee, Kinnickinnic, and Menomonee rivers in the early 1800s, providing a base for the development of the city of Milwaukee, which grew as a trading and manufacturing center. Today, the city is known for its diverse industry, its large Lake Michigan port, and its progressive politics.