City (pop., 2000: 596,974) and lake port, southeastern Wisconsin, U.S. The state's largest city, it is situated on Lake Michigan .
Visited by French missionaries and fur traders in the 17th century, it was called Mahn-a-waukee Seepe ("Gathering Place by the River") by local Indians. Although settled in 1800, the town did not develop until the Indians relinquished their claims in 1831–33. Milwaukee was formed in 1839 and incorporated in 1846. It was a centre of German immigration until с 1900. It is a major Great Lakes port, shipping especially grain; it also produces electrical machinery. It has several educational institutions, including Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.