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Professor Judith T. Kenny, Professor of Geography at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee writes, “Few Milwaukeeans describe their city without detailing the variety and significance of neighborhoods in their hometown” in her “Picturing Milwaukee’s Neighborhoods” article. [4]  Camille Z. Charles, Professor of Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania reiterates Kenny’s point in her “The Dynamics of Racial Residential Segregation” article when she explains the significance of neighborhoods, “Where we live affects our proximity to good job opportunities, educational quality, and safety from crime, as well as the quality of our social networks” (168). [5] So if Milwaukeeans are so prideful of their neighborhoods, then does this mean that all of Milwaukee’s neighborhoods provide safe environments with good job opportunities and quality education?  Well, based on the demographics of Milwaukee just over a decade ago, the answer would be no.  While neighborhoods are significant to Milwaukeeans, not every neighborhood provides equal opportunities.  

Dividing Milwaukee

Neighborhoods

To understand why the neighborhoods have formed and why they are the way they are today, we need to look into Milwaukee’s past.  Kenny even mentions that Milwaukee’s growth and development over time can be seen within the neighborhoods.  When Milwaukee was first founded, it was naturally divided by the Milwaukee and Menomonee Rivers.   Then, when Juneau and Kilbourn arrived they recruited immigrants.  Kilbourn recruited Germans to the West of the River and Juneau brought in New Englanders and New Yorkers to the East side of the river.  As Milwaukee experienced rapid industrialization in the 1880’s the city experienced substantial growth.  The city ultimately expanded well beyond the banks of the rivers.  The Poles stayed in the Southwest and the Germans remained in the Northwest; however, the “Gold Coast” began to develop on the Northeast side of the city on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.  Middle-class and wealthy East side residents resided here, and it remains so even today, over a hundred years later.  However, the converse also began to happen as well.  The rapid industrialization drew African Americans to Milwaukee's North side, where they too reside today. [2] But who cares why different groups settled where they did, shouldn't they all have the same opportunities regardless of what part of the city they live in?  The simple answer is no.

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