Brookfield, Wisconsin

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Brookfield, Wisconsin
nickname =
motto = (from tourist department)
Minutes from Milwaukee, Miles from Expected


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_



mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Wisconsin
subdivision_type = County
subdivision_name = Waukesha
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jeff Speaker (R)
established_title = Founded
established_date = August 14, 1954
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 70.4
area_total_sq_mi = 27.2
area_land_km2 =
area_land_sq_mi =
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
area_water_percent = 0.26
area_urban_km2 =
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 38649
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 210.7
population_density_sq_mi =
timezone = Central
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = Central
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd=43 |latm=3 |lats=29 |latNS= N
longd=88 |longm=6 |longs=53 |longEW= W
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =
website = http://www.ci.brookfield.wi.us
footnotes =

Brookfield is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was estimated at 39,607 in 2006. Brookfield is the leading commercial suburb of Milwaukee. Formed in the 1950s from the Town of Brookfield, which still survives, the City of Brookfield shares the Elmbrook School District with the Town and with Elm Grove, Wisconsin, although police and fire services are separate for Town and City.

Government

On April 4, 2006, Jeff Speaker (Republican) was reelected as mayor of Brookfield. This will be Speaker's second term as mayor. Prior to being mayor, he was a police officer for the city. Some of the former mayors are the namesakes for some of the parks in Brookfield: Mitchell Park and Wirth Park.

Common Council

The Common Council is composed of 14 members; 2 from each district. These members, called aldermen, are elected to the council to govern municipal affairs in the city.

Education

The Elmbrook School District, available to all legal residents of Brookfield (excluding a small section of southwest Brookfield), is the chief provider of comprehensive schooling in the city. In addition, private schooling options are available through St. Dominic Catholic School, St. John Vianney Catholic School, St. Luke Catholic School, St. Joseph's Catholic School, Elm Grove Lutheran School, Brookfield Christian School, and Brookfield Academy. Various alternative schooling options for Brookfield residents include homeschooling, Catholic Memorial High School, Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, Milwaukee Lutheran High School, Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Pius XI High School, Marquette University High School, Brookfield Christian School, Heritage Christian School, West Suburban Christian Academy, Calvary Baptist School, and Milwaukee Public Schools' school choice program.

The Elmbrook School District recently passed a referendum to renovate both Brookfield Central and East High Schools. The referendum failed previous times and the plan to completely rebuild the two high schools was dismissed. Construction was to begin on the schools early in October of 2008.

A small portion of the southwest part of the city is located in the Waukesha School District.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.3 square miles (70.6 km²), of which, 27.2 square miles (70.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.26%) is water. The "sub-continental divide" passes through Brookfield; on the eastern side of this divide, easily marked by the crest at Calhoun Road and Capitol Drive, water flows to Lake Michigan on its way to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence; on the western side of this divide, water flows to the Fox River of Illinois and Wisconsin on its way to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

A heron rookery on the west side of the sub-continental divide has managed to retain a heron population, to which heron return after the winter. In 2008, the rookery has deteriorated due to winter weather, prompting calls for the rookery to be rebuilt using more robust materials. [http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=771734 Brookfield heron rookery in danger of disappearing; nesting platforms have fallen into disrepair]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 38,649 people, 13,891 households, and 11,223 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,421.1 people per square mile (548.6/km²). There are 14,208 housing units at an average density of 522.4/sq mi (201.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 94.20% White, 3.83% Asian, 0.83% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. 1.17% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 13,891 households out of which 36.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.1% are married couples living together, 5.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% are non-families. 16.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.74 and the average family size is 3.09.

In the city the population is spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $76,225, and the median income for a family is $83,691. Males have a median income of $62,351 versus $37,589 for females. The per capita income for the city is $37,292. 2.2% of the population and 1.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.4% of those under the age of 18 and 3.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Notable residents

*Ken Anderson - Professional wrestler in WWE, known as Mr. Kennedy.
*Kathryn Bloomberg, co-inventor of Shrinky Dinks and Brookfield mayor from 1986-2002.
*Al Capone, noted Chicago mobster owned a Brookfield home where moonshine was made. The house still stands on a street named Capone Court.
*Kip Carpenter, Two-time Olympian, Olympic bronze medalist (speedskating)
*Andy Dehnart, journalist
*Arpad Elo, inventor of the Elo rating system for chess, professor at Marquette University.
*Susan Engeleiter, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration
*Merle Harmon, Hall of Fame broadcaster and entrepreneur
*Caroline Ingalls (1839–1924), born in what is today the City of Brookfield (the Town of Brookfield at the time) before statehood, mother of famed author Laura Ingalls Wilder, and subject of the storybook "Little House in Brookfield", also written in the style of the "Little House" series.
*Matt Katula, former football player for the Wisconsin Badgers, current football player for the Baltimore Ravens
*Al McGuire, former NCAA basketball coach and commentator (lived in Brookfield towards the end of his life)
*Leslie Osborne, former NCAA Honda National Women's Player of the Year Award winner (2004) and current member of the United States women's national soccer team.
*Joe Panos, football player for the Wisconsin Badgers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Buffalo Bills
*Paul Spaeth, noted composer and musician
*Martin P. Robinson, is a puppeteer for Telly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus and Slimey who has performed on Sesame Street since 1980. Graduate of Brookfield East High School.
*Joe Thomas, football player for the Wisconsin Badgers and Cleveland Browns
*Zelma Winfrey, mother of talk-show host legend Oprah Winfrey
*Matthew Felker, actor, model, and writer; appeared in Britney Spears' 2004 music video for her song, "Toxic"; also formely dated actress Selma Blair; in August 2008, Felker made international headlines after a publicity stunt claiming he was in a relationship with actress Jennifer Aniston which eventually proved to be false and rumored to be started by Felker himself to promote his new movie [http://www.hollywoodgrind.com/matt-felker-and-jennifer-aniston-not-dating/]

Sister cities

Brookfield has one sister city:
*

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.brookfield.wi.us/ City of Brookfield]
* [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55/5510025.html/ City of Brookfield Information - Census 2000]