TheMilwaukee River is ariver in the state ofWisconsin. It is about 104 miles (167 km) long.[1] Once a locus of industry, the river is now the center of a housing boom. New condos now crowd the downtown and harbor districts ofMilwaukee attracting young professionals to the area. The river is also ribboned with parks as it winds through various neighborhoods. Kayaks and fishing boats share the river with party boats. An extensive Riverwalk featuring art displays,boat launches and restaurants lines its banks in downtown Milwaukee.
The river begins inFond du Lac County, Wisconsin and flows south pastGrafton to downtown Milwaukee, where it empties intoLake Michigan.Cedar Creek, theMenomonee River and theKinnickinnic River are the three main tributaries.
The Milwaukee Riverwatershed drains 882 square miles (2,280 km2) in southeastern Wisconsin, including parts ofDodge, Fond du Lac,Milwaukee,Ozaukee,Sheboygan,Washington andWaukesha counties.
The Milwaukee River watershed is part of the Lake Michigan subbasin; this subbasin is itself a part of theSt. Lawrence River Watershed, which is fed by theGreat Lakes.
The Milwaukee River area was populated byNative Americans in the time before European settlement.Jacques Marquette andLouis Jolliet navigated from Lake Michigan through the Milwaukee River on their way to theFox River and theMississippi. Previously (circa 1834-35) the river had been known as the "Maynawalky," while the present-dayMenomonee River was known as the "Milwalky".[2][3]
In the early 19th century, three towns were formed across the banks of the Milwaukee and Kinnickinnic rivers: Juneautown bySolomon Juneau, Walker's Point byGeorge H. Walker and Kilbourntown byByron Kilbourn. Thequarrel over the formation of a bridge across the Milwaukee River was a key point in the merging of the three towns into the city of Milwaukee in 1846.
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The Milwaukee River has numerousmovable bridges spanning it, allowing for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. These bridges include several different types, includingbascule and hydraulically-poweredtable bridges. There are also many fixed bridges, as well as several pedestrian-only and railroadtrestles.
The following is a partial list of bridges that cross the river, from north to south:
There are also severalUnion Pacific (formerChicago and North Western Railway) railroad bridges crossing the Milwaukee River, including:
| Parks | Location |
|---|---|
| Gordon Park, Kern Park, Lincoln Park, Pere Marquette Park, Pleasant Valley Park, Riverside Park | Milwaukee |
| Kletzsch | Glendale |
| Hubbard Park,Estabrook Park | Shorewood |
| Village Park | Thiensville |
| River Barn Park, Riverview Park, Scout Park, Shoreland and River Forest Nature Preserves | Mequon |
| Lime Kiln Park, Veterans Memorial Park, River Oaks Park, Grafton Canoe Launch | Grafton |
| Didier Field, East Riverside Park, Peninsula Park, Ehlers Park, Tendick Park | Saukville |
| Waubedonia and Marie Kraus Park | Fredonia |
| Riveredge Nature Center | Newburg |
| Quaas Creek Park, Riverside Park, Riverfront Parkway | West Bend |
| River Hill Park | Kewaskum |
| Columbus Park | Campbellsport |
| Name | Municipality | Status | Removal Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Avenue Dam | Milwaukee | Removed | 1997 |
| Estabrook Park Dam | Milwaukee | Removed | 2018[5] |
| Kletzsch Park Dam | Milwaukee | Active | |
| Thiensville Dam | Thiensville | Active | |
| Lime Kiln Dam | Grafton | Removed | 2010 |
| Grafton Chair Factory Dam | Grafton | Removed | 1999 |
| Bridge Street Dam | Grafton | Active | |
| Waubeka Dam | Waubeka | Removed | 2003[6] |
| Newburg Dam | Newburg | Removed | 2012[7] |
| Woolen Mill Dam | West Bend | Removed | 1988 |
| West Bend | West Bend | Active | |
| Gadow Mill Dam | West Bend | Active | |
| Kewaskum Dam | Kewaskum | Active | |
| Lake Bernice Dam | Town of Ashford | Active | |
| Campbellsport Dam | Campbellsport | Removed | |
| Gooseville Dam | Gooseville | Active |
43°01′32″N87°54′10″W / 43.0256°N 87.9029°W /43.0256; -87.9029
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