West Allis, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
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...
. It is 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...
. The population was 61,254 at the 2000 census. Its name derives from Edward P. Allis
Edward P. Allis
Edward P. Allis was a businessman who co-founded Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company.-Biography:...
, who started the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company in the 19th century. The site of the town was located west of Allis' plant. Originally, the community was called Honey Creek, which was changed to North Greenfield in the 1880s.. In 1902 the area was incorporated as the Village of West Allis, and became the City of West Allis in 1906.
The Wisconsin State Fair Park
Wisconsin State Fair Park
The Wisconsin State Fair Park is a fairgrounds and exhibition center in the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis, Wisconsin, USA. It has been the location of the Wisconsin State Fair since 1892. It also hosts other venues such as the Milwaukee Mile, the oldest continuously operating motor speedway in...
, which includes the Milwaukee Mile
Milwaukee Mile
The Milwaukee Mile is a -long oval race track in West Allis, Wisconsin that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954....
and is the site of the annual Wisconsin State Fair
Wisconsin State Fair
The Wisconsin State Fair is an annual event held at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. The modern fair takes place in August and lasts 11 days.-History:...
, is located in West Allis.
Geography
West Allis is located at 43°0′29"N 88°1′6"W (43.00, -88.02). The upper courses of the RootRoot River (Wisconsin)
The Root River is a river that flows to Lake Michigan at the city of Racine in southeastern Wisconsin in the United States. Racine and Racine County are named for the river, as racine is the French word for root.-Course:...
and Kinnickinnic
Kinnickinnic River
Kinnickinnic River may refer to one of two rivers in the United States state of Wisconsin:* Kinnickinnic River, a tributary of the Milwaukee River in southeastern Wisconsin* Kinnickinnic River, a tributary of the St. Croix River in northwestern Wisconsin...
Rivers flow through the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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...
, the city has a total area of 11.4 square miles (29.5 km²), of which, 11.4 square miles (29.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.18%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 61,254 people, 27,604 households, and 15,375 families residing in the city. The population density
Population 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 5,397.6 people per square mile (2,083.7/km²). There were 28,708 housing units at an average density of 2,529.7 per square mile (976.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.03% White, 1.34% African American, 0.70% Native American, 1.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.18% 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 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.52% of the population.
There were 27,604 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% 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, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.3% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,394, and the median income for a family was $50,732. Males had a median income of $36,926 versus $26,190 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 $20,914. About 4.6% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Centennial celebration
On June 15, 2006 the city celebrated its 100th anniversary. The celebration included a parade, fireworks and a family festival.Education
The schools in the West Allis - West Milwaukee School District:- Franklin Elementary School
- Hoover Elementary School
- Horace Mann Elementary School
- Irving Elementary School
- Jefferson Elementary School
- Longfellow Elementary School
- Madison Elementary School
- Mitchell Elementary School
- Pershing Elementary School
- Walker Elementary School
- Wilson Elementary School
- Frank Lloyd Wright Intermediate School
- Lincoln Intermediate School
- West Milwaukee Intermediate School
- West Allis Central High SchoolWest Allis Central High SchoolWest Allis Central High School is a public high school in West Allis, Wisconsin, located on West Lincoln Avenue and South 84th Street. The school boundaries are the City of West Allis, Village of West Milwaukee and portions of New Berlin and Greenfield...
- Nathan Hale High School
- James E. Dottke High School
Notable businesses
- Allis-ChalmersAllis-ChalmersThe Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. of West Allis, Wisconsin, is an American company known for its past as a manufacturer with diverse interests, perhaps most famous for their bright Persian Orange farm tractors...
, since closed - Siemens Power CorporationSiemensSiemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
, now on former Allis-Chalmers grounds - Quad Graphics, printer
- WDJT-TVWDJT-TVWDJT-TV, channel 58, is the CBS-affiliated television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin broadcasting on UHF digital channel 46, that displays WDJT's virtual channel as its former analog channel assignment of 58 via PSIP...
(Channel 58, CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
), WMLW-CAWMLW-CAWMLW-CA, channel 41 , is a LPTV independent television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its transmitter is located in Milwaukee's Lincoln Park...
(Channel 41, INDIndependent stationAn independent station is in the category of television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any television network....
) and WYTU-LD (Channel 63, TelemundoTelemundoTelemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
), Weigel BroadcastingWeigel BroadcastingWeigel Broadcasting is an American locally based television broadcasting company. The company is based in downtown Chicago, Illinois, alongside its flagship station WCIU-TV , at the apt address of 26 North Halsted Street in the Greektown neighborhood.- History :The company was founded by Chicago...
stations with studios located on South 60th Street in a former Allis-Chalmers building - West Allis Speedskating ClubWest Allis Speedskating ClubThe West Allis Speedskating Club is a short track speed skating club located in West Allis, Wisconsin. Founded in 1930, it is a nonprofit organization that runs under and as part of the West Allis/West Milwaukee Department of Recreation...
- West Allis Lightning Volleyball Club, two junior olympic national championships (Boy's 16's team in 2010 , and Boy's 13's team in 2011 ).
Notable people
- Jeannette BellJeannette Bell (Wisconsin politician)Jeannette Bell is an American Democratic politician and social worker from Wisconsin.Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Bell graduated from Rufus King High School and received her bachelors degree in law studies from University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She worked in a nursing home as an activities...
- Mayor of West Allis and legislator - Dave CieslewiczDave CieslewiczDavid J. Cieslewicz ; born February 17, 1959) is an American politician who served as mayor of Madison, Wisconsin from 2003 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Personal life and early career:...
- Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin - Jeffrey DahmerJeffrey DahmerJeffrey Lionel Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender. Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, with the majority of the murders occurring between 1987 and 1991. His murders involved rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism...
- serial killer - Aliotta Haynes JeremiahAliotta Haynes JeremiahAliotta-Haynes-Jeremiah was an American rock group from the early 1970s.This West Allis, Wisconsin trio was originally composed of bassist Mitch Aliotta, drummer Ted Aliotta, and guitarist Skip Haynes. Ted left after their debut album to be replaced by pianist John Jeremiah...
- 1970's rock band which scored a one-hit wonder with "Lake Shore DriveLake Shore Drive (song)Lake Shore Drive is a song written by Chicago-based rock group Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah released on their 1971 album of the same name. This song was an homage to the famed lakefront highway in Chicago of the same name. The song also uses the initials of the highway, "LSD," to evoke an double...
" - Neil DombrowskiNeil DombrowskiNeil Dombrowski is an American soccer player, who last played for the Portland Timbers of the USL First Division.-Youth:...
- professional soccer player - Tighe DombrowskiTighe DombrowskiTighe Dombrowski is an American soccer player, currently without a club.Dombrowski played four years of college soccer for the UW–Milwaukee Panthers of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee from 2000–2003, during which he was named first team All-Horizon League three times. He was named an...
- professional soccer player - Donald J. HyingDonald J. Hying-Notes:...
- Roman Catholic bishop - Jeff JagodzinskiJeff Jagodzinski-United Football League:-External links:*...
- NFL assistant coach - Dan JansenDan JansenDaniel Erwin Jansen is a former speed skater, best known for winning a gold medal in his final Olympic race after suffering through years of heartbreak. He graduated from West Allis Central High School....
- World champion speedskater, 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...
gold medalist - Richard A. KnoblochRichard A. KnoblochRichard A. Knobloch was a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force.-Biography:Knobloch was born in West Allis, Wisconsin in 1918. Later he would move to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin and Kansas State College. Knoblach passed away on August 13,...
- U.S. Air Force general - Rick Kopatich - Financier, political activist
- Mike KrsnichMike KrsnichMichael Krsnich was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Milwaukee Braves during the 1960 and 1962 seasons. Listed at 6' 1", 190 lb., he batted and threw right handed...
- MLB player - Rocky KrsnichRocky KrsnichRocky Krsnich is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. Krsnich originally signed as a free agent in 1945 with the Philadelphia Phillies. The following year, he joined the New York Yankees organization. In 1948, Krsnich was selected in the Minor League Draft by the Chicago White Sox...
- MLB player - Harvey KuennHarvey KuennHarvey Edward Kuenn was an American player, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. As a shortstop and outfielder, he played with the Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies . He batted and threw right-handed...
- MLB player and manager - LiberaceLiberaceWladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
- Entertainer and Pianist - James MelkaJames Melka-Career:Melka wad drafted in the twelfth round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He would later go on to be a member of the Green Bay Packers.He played at the collegiate level at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.-References:...
- NFL player - Dawn Miceli - AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comedianComedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
/podcastPodcastA podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
host, and member of Rasputina (band) - Chellsie MemmelChellsie MemmelChellsie Marie Memmel is an American gymnast. She is the 2005 World All-Around Champion, making her the third American woman, after Kim Zmeskal and Shannon Miller, to become World Champion in the All-Around. She is also a World Champion on the uneven bars and as part of the U.S. team...
- World Champion gymnast, 2008 Olympic Team Silver Medalist - Gottfried SchloemerGottfried SchloemerGottfried Schloemer or Godfrey Schloemer was a coopersmith, mechanic and inventor who lived on the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US....
, designer of world's first gasoline automobile - Nick PearsonNick PearsonNick Pearson is an American speed skater who has competed since 1997. He was named to the U.S. team for the 2010 Winter Olympics....
- 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, National Champion speedskater - Jane WiedlinJane WiedlinJane Marie Genevieve Wiedlin is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known as the rhythm guitarist of the all-female New Wave band The Go-Go's.-Early life:...
- rhythm guitarist of The Go-Go's, actress - Gabriel ZophyGabriel ZophyGabriel Zophy was an American carpenter, building contractor and Socialist from West Allis who served one term as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate representing the Milwaukee County-based 7th Senate district ; cities of South...
- Wisconsin politician - Nick Vidal - Chip n Dales dancer