Milwaukee (/mɪlˈwɔːki/, locally /məˈwɔːkiː/) is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin and the fifth-largest city in the Midwestern United States. The seat of Milwaukee County, the city is located on Lake Michigan’s southwestern shore and was incorporated in 1846. As of the U.S. Census Bureau’s July 1, 2019 estimate, Milwaukee had a population of 590,157, making it the 31st largest city in the United States and the fourth-largest city situated along one of the Great Lakes. It is the main cultural and economic center of the Milwaukee metropolitan area, the fourth-most densely populated metropolitan area in the Midwest. Milwaukee is considered a “Gamma −” global city as categorized by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network with a regional GDP of over $107 billion.

Today, Milwaukee is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse cities in the United States. Its history was heavily influenced by German immigrants in the 19th century and it became well known for its brewing industry. In recent years, Milwaukee has been undergoing its largest construction boom since the 1960s. Major new additions to the city in the past two decades include the Milwaukee Riverwalk, the Wisconsin Center, Miller Park, The Hop (streetcar system), an expansion to the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and Pier Wisconsin, as well as major renovations to the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena. The Fiserv Forum opened in late 2018 and hosts sporting events and concerts. Since 1968, Milwaukee has been home to Summerfest, one of the largest music festivals in the world. With regard to education, Milwaukee is home to UW-Milwaukee and Marquette University. The city is home to two major professional sports teams, the Bucks and Brewers. It is home to several Fortune 500 companies, including Northwestern Mutual, WEC Energy Group, Rockwell Automation, and Harley-Davidson.