The Milwaukee metropolitan area (also known as Metro Milwaukee or Greater Milwaukee) is a major metropolitan area located in Southeastern Wisconsin, consisting of the city of Milwaukee and some of the surrounding area. There are several definitions of the area, including the Milwaukee–Waukesha–West Allis metropolitan area and the Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha combined statistical area. It is the largest metropolitan area in Wisconsin, and the 39th largest metropolitan area in the United States.

Definitions

Metropolitan area

The U.S. Census Bureau defines the Milwaukee Metropolitan area as containing four counties in southeastern Wisconsin: Milwaukee and the three WOW counties: Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha. The Metropolitan population of Milwaukee was 1,575,179 in the Census Bureau's 2019 estimate, making it the 39th largest in the United States. The city of Milwaukee is the hub of the metropolitan area. The eastern parts of Racine County, eastern parts of Waukesha County, southern part of Ozaukee County, southeastern part of Washington County, and remainder of Milwaukee County are the most urbanized parts of the outlying counties. The character of the area varies widely. Mequon, Brookfield, and the North Shore (Fox Point, Whitefish Bay, River Hills, Shorewood, Glendale, and Bayside) are more white-collar, while West Milwaukee, West Allis, and St. Francis are more blue-collar. Metro Milwaukee draws commuters from outlying areas such as Madison, Chicago and the Fox Cities. It is part of the Great Lakes Megalopolis containing an estimated 54 million people.

Combined statistical area

The Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha Combined Statistical Area is made up of the Milwaukee–Waukesha–West Allis Metropolitan Statistical Area (Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties), the Racine Metropolitan Statistical Area (Racine County), the Beaver Dam Micropolitan Statistical Area (Dodge County), the Watertown-Fort Atkinson Micropolitan Area (Jefferson County), and the Whitewater-Elkorn Micropolitan Area (Walworth County) according to the U.S. Census. Updated definitions released in February 2013 added Dodge, Jefferson and Walworth Counties to the Milwaukee CSA. Kenosha, despite being just 32 miles from Milwaukee and 50 miles from Chicago, is included as part of the Chicago CSA, as Kenosha has more residents who commute to the Chicago area. As of the 2019 census estimates, the Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha Combined Statistical Area population was 2,047,966, the largest in Wisconsin and the 33rd largest in the United States. The Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha CSA shares an eastern border with the Madison MSA the Janesville-Beloit MSA which in turn are both a part of the Madison CSA.

Counties

There are eight counties in the U.S. Census Bureau's Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha Combined statistical area. ISS030-E-223828.jpg of the International Space Station. The line of lights connecting the two cities comes from vehicles and development on and along Bluemound Road and I-94. Due to the angle of the photo, north points rightwards, and west upwards. To the left of Milwaukee along the lakeshore are the cities of Racine, Kenosha, and Waukegan. Kenosha and Waukegan are considered part of the Chicago CSA rather than part of metro Milwaukee. The lights in the far left along the lake are from a portion of Cook County, of which Chicago is the county seat. To the right of Milwaukee are Cedarburg and Grafton. Port Washington is just to the right of Grafton and along the lakeshore. Above Port Washington, the "+" shaped lights are from West Bend. In the far right edge, a small portion of Sheboygan can be seen along the lakeshore.]]

Cities (combined statistical area)

Primary

Other principal cities

Metro area cities and villages with more than 10,000 inhabitants

Metro area cities, towns and villages with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants

Unincorporated Communities and Census Designated Places

Debate over metropolitan government

Although each county and its various municipalities are self-governing, there is some cooperation in the metropolitan area. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is a state-chartered government agency which serves 28 municipalities in the five counties. At the same time, some in the area see the need for more consolidation in government services. The Kettl Commission and former Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum have supported initiatives to do this. However, full consolidation has faced unsubstantiated criticism as a means of diluting minority voting power.