West Allis, Wisconsin | |
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 Flag | |
 Location of West Allis in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. | |
| Coordinates:43°0′29″N88°1′6″W / 43.00806°N 88.01833°W /43.00806; -88.01833 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Milwaukee |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| • Mayor | Dan Devine |
| Area | |
• Total | 11.41 sq mi (29.54 km2) |
| • Land | 11.38 sq mi (29.48 km2) |
| • Water | 0.023 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 728 ft (222 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 60,325 |
• Estimate (2021)[4] | 59,484 |
| • Density | 5,262.2/sq mi (2,031.73/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Zip Code | 53214, 53227, 53219 |
| Area code | 414 |
| FIPS code | 55-85300[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1576439[2] |
| Website | www |
West Allis is a city inMilwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. A suburb ofMilwaukee, it is part of theMilwaukee metropolitan area. The population was 60,325 at the2020 census, making it theeleventh-most populous city in Wisconsin.
The name West Allis derives fromEdward P. Allis,[6] whose Edward P. Allis Company was a large Milwaukee-area manufacturing firm in the late 19th century. In 1901, the Allis company becameAllis-Chalmers. In 1902, the company built a large new manufacturing plant west of its existing plant. The locale in which the new plant was constructed was at the time called North Greenfield; prior to the 1880s, the area had been called Honey Creek. With the building of the western Allis plant, the area was incorporated as the Village of West Allis, and it became the City of West Allis in 1906.[7]
With the presence of Allis-Chalmers, the largest manufacturer in the area, West Allis became the largest suburb of Milwaukee in the early 20th century.[8] After that, West Allis grew quickly. Between 1910 and 1930, its population grew fivefold.[9] After 1965, the Allis-Chalmers company's fortunes had turned. By 1985, Allis-Chalmers' global workforce had shrunk to 13,000 from its peak of 31,000.[10] Allis-Chalmers would then declare bankruptcy in 1987, closing their last Milwaukee office in 1999.[11] Since then, West Allis has had some success attracting other employers, such asQuad Graphics.[12]
West Allis is located at43°0′29″N88°1′6″W / 43.00806°N 88.01833°W /43.00806; -88.01833 (43.00, −88.02).[13] The upper courses of theRoot andKinnickinnic Rivers flow through the city. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.41 square miles (29.55 km2), of which, 11.39 square miles (29.50 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[14]
| Climate data for West Allis, Wisconsin (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–2011, 2023–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 58 (14) | 73 (23) | 82 (28) | 92 (33) | 95 (35) | 102 (39) | 102 (39) | 101 (38) | 99 (37) | 91 (33) | 75 (24) | 70 (21) | 102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 30.8 (−0.7) | 33.9 (1.1) | 45.1 (7.3) | 56.8 (13.8) | 69.8 (21.0) | 79.9 (26.6) | 84.7 (29.3) | 83.0 (28.3) | 76.5 (24.7) | 61.9 (16.6) | 47.5 (8.6) | 36.2 (2.3) | 58.8 (14.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 22.8 (−5.1) | 25.5 (−3.6) | 35.9 (2.2) | 46.6 (8.1) | 58.7 (14.8) | 69.0 (20.6) | 73.9 (23.3) | 72.4 (22.4) | 65.4 (18.6) | 52.0 (11.1) | 38.9 (3.8) | 28.4 (−2.0) | 49.1 (9.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 14.7 (−9.6) | 17.1 (−8.3) | 26.6 (−3.0) | 36.5 (2.5) | 47.6 (8.7) | 58.1 (14.5) | 63.1 (17.3) | 61.9 (16.6) | 54.3 (12.4) | 42.0 (5.6) | 30.2 (−1.0) | 20.6 (−6.3) | 39.4 (4.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) | −15 (−26) | −12 (−24) | 13 (−11) | 26 (−3) | 36 (2) | 38 (3) | 41 (5) | 32 (0) | 20 (−7) | −6 (−21) | −21 (−29) | −26 (−32) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.23 (57) | 2.15 (55) | 2.53 (64) | 3.70 (94) | 4.32 (110) | 5.03 (128) | 3.73 (95) | 4.34 (110) | 3.69 (94) | 3.08 (78) | 2.31 (59) | 2.25 (57) | 39.36 (1,000) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 13.5 (34) | 13.6 (35) | 8.3 (21) | 2.1 (5.3) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 1.4 (3.6) | 13.3 (34) | 52.3 (133) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.2 | 10.9 | 11.3 | 11.4 | 13.8 | 12.7 | 9.9 | 10.0 | 8.7 | 12.3 | 10.9 | 12.2 | 134.3 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 8.0 | 8.2 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 8.4 | 33.1 |
| Source:NOAA[15][16] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 6,645 | — | |
| 1920 | 13,745 | 106.8% | |
| 1930 | 34,671 | 152.2% | |
| 1940 | 36,364 | 4.9% | |
| 1950 | 42,959 | 18.1% | |
| 1960 | 68,157 | 58.7% | |
| 1970 | 71,723 | 5.2% | |
| 1980 | 63,982 | −10.8% | |
| 1990 | 63,221 | −1.2% | |
| 2000 | 61,254 | −3.1% | |
| 2010 | 60,411 | −1.4% | |
| 2020 | 60,325 | −0.1% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 59,484 | [4] | −1.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[17] | |||
As of thecensus[3] of 2010, there were 60,411 people, 27,454 households, and 14,601 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 5,303.9 inhabitants per square mile (2,047.8/km2). There were 29,353 housing units at an average density of 2,577.1 per square mile (995.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87%White, 3.3%African American, 1.1%Native American, 2.0%Asian, 3.6% fromother races, and 2.9% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 9.6% of the population.
There were 27,454 households, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% weremarried couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.8% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.90.
The median age in the city was 37.7 years. 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.
As of thecensus[5] of 2000, there were 61,254 people, 27,604 households, and 15,375 families living in the city. Thepopulation density 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% fromother races, and 1.41% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino 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% weremarried couples 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. Theper capita income for the city was $20,914. About 4.6% of families and 6.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
TheWisconsin State Fair Park, which includes theMilwaukee Mile and is the site of the annualWisconsin State Fair, is located in West Allis.
The West Allis Post Office contains two oil on canvas murals,Wisconsin Wild Flowers – Spring andWisconsin Wild Flowers – Autumn, painted in 1943 byFrances Foy. Murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through theSection of Painting and Sculpture, later called theSection of Fine Arts, of theTreasury Department.[18]
Candy Cane Lane runs through Oklahoma and Montana Avenues and 92nd to 96th Street. Residents have been creating elaborate Christmas display since 1984, bringing bumper-to-bumper traffic through the streets on December nights. The festive event has raised over $2.2 million for theMACC Fund.[19]
On June 15, 2006, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary. The celebration included a parade, fireworks and a family festival.[20]
Pettit National Ice Center is one of only twoindoor speed skating rinks in the United States.
West Allis is also the location of theMilwaukee Mile, the world's oldest racing facility.
West Allis is served byMCTS Routes 18, 28, 44U, 51, 53, 54, 56, 64, 76, and 92.
Interstate 94 andInterstate 41/Interstate 894 also run through the city.
Portions of theHank Aaron State Trail run through the city near its northern border.[21] Since 2021, the city has acomplete streets policy, requiring new road projects to be designed to meet the needs of all users—pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, motorists, and others—whenever possible.[22]
TheUnion Pacific Waukesha Subdivision (former Chicago & North Western) runs through West Allis.The line once extended toLancaster on the southwest corner of Wisconsin. The line has since been abandoned in sections.
TheMilwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company had lines running concurrently through West Allis along the right of way of present day Interstate 894. They split at St. Martins Junction and went south toBurlington and west toEast Troy.
The schools in theWest Allis – West Milwaukee School District:
TheWisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod has two grade school in West Allis:
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West Allis is represented byScott L. Fitzgerald (R) in theUnited States House of Representatives, and byRon Johnson (R) andTammy Baldwin (D) in theUnited States Senate.Tim Carpenter (D) andDale P. Kooyenga (R) represent West Allis in theWisconsin State Senate, andDaniel Riemer (D),Tom Michalski (R), andJoe Sanfelippo (R) represent West Allis in theWisconsin State Assembly. Parts of northern West Allis are represented byRob Hutton (R) in Senate District 5 andRobyn Vining (D) in Assembly District 14, districts traditionally associated with the cities of Brookfield and Wauwatosa.
Media related toWest Allis, Wisconsin at Wikimedia Commons
Municipalities and communities ofMilwaukee County, Wisconsin,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in another county or counties | |
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Places adjacent to West Allis, Wisconsin | |
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