Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
1854 - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, a city, port of entry, capital of Milwaukee county, and the most populous town of Wisconsin, is situated on the west shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of Milwaukee river, 90 miles N. from Chicago, and 75 miles E. from Madison. Lat. 43° 3' 45" N., Lon. 87° 57' W. It is pleasantly situated on the flats bordering the river, and on the bluffs which rise abruptly from the mar gin of the lake to the height of about 100 feet. The river approaches from the N. in a direction nearly parallel with the lake shore, and is joined, about 1 mile from its mouth, by the Menomonee river, which comes from the W. The largest boats of the lake can ascend the river 2 miles from its mouth. The general appearance of the city is peculiar and striking from the color and superior quality of the bricks manufactured- here. They have a delicate and enduring cream or straw color, which is highly agreeable to the eye, and is not affected by the notion of the elements. Many of these bricks are exported to distant parts of the Union. Milwaukee contains about 30 churches, of which 26 are Protestant and 4 Roman Catholic, 5 public schools, the Milwaukee University Institute, a female college, several academies, 3 orphan asylums, and other benevolent institutions. The public press consists of 7 daily newspapers, and about the same number of weekly issues. There are 3 or 4 banks, and several insurance companies. The streets, stores, &c. are lighted with gas. In 1853 the citizens voted a loan of $50,000, to be expended in the improvement of the harbor, Congress having previously appropriated $15,000 to that purpose.

The Milwaukee and Mississippi railroad is completed from this place to Janesville, 70 miles, and is to be extended next year to Madison. Other railroads are in progress to Chicago, Green Bay, Beloit, &c. Plank-roads extend from the city in six directions, with an aggregate length of about 200 miles. Milwaukee is the outlet of the productions of a rich and rapidly improving country. Tho following quantities of produce were shipped here in 1852, viz. 394,386 bushels of wheat: 345,620 of barley ; 428,800 of oats ; 83,597 barrels of flour; 1,771,314 pounds of pork in bulk; 19,603 barrels of pork; 321,121 pounds of wool; about 1,000,000 pounds of lead, and 700,000 bricks. The number of arrivals at this port in 1852 was about 1600. The tonnage of vessels owned here, 8548. The navigation is usually open about 8 months in the year, from March to November. Milwaukee enjoys a healthy climate, the great lakes having a sensible influence in modifying the extremes of heat and cold. The mean annual temperature in 8 years was 47°. The extensive water-power of the river constitutes an important element in the prosperity of Milwaukee. At the head of the navigable part of the river, a dam has been built, which raises the water 12 feet, and a canal conveys it to the city. Here are 5 large flouring mills, a woollen factory, several machine shops, and other establishments. The reported value of articles manufactured in 1852 was over $2,000,000. Milwaukee is remarkable for the rapidity of its growth, which has not been surpassed, if equalled, by any of the Western towns. It maintains intimate relations with a region to which a vast emigration is flowing — a region which a few years ago was a solitary waste, or a field of savage warfare, but is now appropriated to the peaceful pursuits and liberal institutions of civilized society. The place was settled in 1835. The city was incorporated in January, 1846. Population in 1840, 1751; in 1850, 20,061 ; and in 1853, about 30,000.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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