Brookfield, WI

The city of Brookfield is situated approximately 15 miles west of downtown Milwaukee. Technically, there are two Brookfields in the state of Wisconsin, the city of Brookfield and the town of Brookfield. In many ways, the two Brookfields are closely related; the town is the western next-door neighbor of the city, and the city is actually an offshoot of the town, becoming a distinct entity only in the 1950s. Both the city and the town have their own governments and jurisdictions.

The city of Brookfield encompasses more than 27 square miles and contains roughly 1,750 acres of parks. Its relatively low sales tax provides a boon for visitors to the area's numerous shopping facilities.

GETTING AROUND

Trains were the first mode of transportation in Brookfield. In 1850, the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad, which is now called the Canadian Pacific Rail, established a rail line through town. The first railroad depot, Brookfield Junction, was installed in 1853, while a second railroad junction was erected in 1867. This latter junction still stands today.

Interstate 94 crosses through the south end of the city. Commuters can take I-94 east to Milwaukee or west to Madison, which is about 70 miles away. Along the east side, U.S. Route 45 connects the interstate with U.S. Route 41 several miles northeast of the city.

For air transportation, Capitol Airport is three miles east of Brookfield. This airport is not a commercial airport; the nearest commercial airport is General Mitchell International in Milwaukee.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

More than half of the homes in Brookfield were built between 1940 and 1969. The most expensive homes in the city are on the southwest part of Brookfield near U.S. Route 18 and Calhoun Road, while the more affordable part of Brookfield is near the southeast part of the city by Tremont Street and Elm Grove Road.

Brookfield accommodates about 14,250 houses with an occupancy ratio that is little less than 98 percent. Out of occupied houses, owners occupy about 12,500 houses and renters occupy about 1,400 houses. This area has a housing density of 524 houses per square mile. You can rent a vacant for-rent house in this area at around $ 1,003 per month.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Brookfield is centrally located within Southeastern Wisconsin. The city enjoys interstate access and is just 20 minutes from Downtown Milwaukee. The city also hosts retail and employment centers near Bluemound Road. Brookfield is trying to attract more companies to the city by suggesting an attractive economic development program plan.

Brookfield has an unemployment rate of 2.8 percent. The leading industries in Brookfield are educational, health and social services, manufacturing and retail. The average salary for jobs in the city is $49,970 and the median income of households is $76,225.

HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE

Elmbrook Memorial Hospital serves the city of Brookfield. Located on North Avenue, the hospital opened to the city's residents in 1969 and currently has a cancer care center, bariatric services, and a family birth center.

SHOPPING

The largest shopping complex is the Brookfield Square Mall, which is near Interstate 94 and Bluemound Road. Other popular locations include:

• Ruby Isle Shopping Center is situated at the corner of North Avenue and Calhoun Road, and is comprised of a variety of retail stores and specialty shops.
• Brookfield Marketplace, located on the northeast corner of South Moreland Road and West Greenfield Avenue, offers numerous specialty shops for visitors to enjoy.
• Sendik's Town Center, another popular shopping area, is found on the corner of Capitol Drive and Brookfield Road.

FOR VISITORS

Visitors to Brookfield are attracted to the area's diverse historic sites, open spaces, and other landmarks:

• Dousman Stagecoach Inn: This historic inn was donated to the city of Brookfield in 1980 and was moved to its present location on Pilgrim Parkway during that year. The house dates back to the 1850s and contains period artifacts inside and on its grounds.
• Fox Brook Park: Off North Barker Road, this expansive park has approximately 128 acres of wetlands and paved trails around the manmade quarry lake. The park is open year-round. Summer recreational activities on the lake include swimming, renting a pedal boat, fishing, and scuba diving.
• Greenway Trail System: Although construction is still in progress, the trails will eventually connect all of the city's parks and open spaces. When completed, the trails will also link the city's various neighborhoods, adding to the area's sense of community.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Brookfield is only minutes away from the attractions of its larger neighbor, Milwaukee; that said, there are numerous artistic and cultural venues to be found right in the city:

• Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts: Situated in Brookfield's Mitchell Park, the center first opened its doors in 2002. Numerous types of performers, from local theatre groups to nationally-recognized entertainers, provide excitement for theatergoers. The center is comprised of two theaters and one outdoor summer concert venue.
• Hidden River Arts Festival: One of the largest and most popular festivals of the year, this event is dedicated to highlighting the work of Wisconsin artists. The annual festival is held every September, and takes place on the grounds of the city's Wilson Center. The festival invites dozens of Wisconsin artists to showcase their work in a wide range of artistic media and styles.

EDUCATION

Ottawa University-Milwaukee has a campus within Brookfield's city limits. Found on South Executive Drive, this not-for-profit educational institution is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches. Its main campus is in Ottawa, Kansas, and the Brookfield campus is just one of its other five campuses.