Greendale is a village in
Milwaukee County,
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
, United States. The population was 14,854 at the
2020 census. Greendale is located southwest of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...
, and is a part of the
Milwaukee metropolitan area. A
planned community
A planned community, planned city, planned town, or planned settlement is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed on previously undeveloped land. This contrasts with settlements that evolve ...
, it was established by the United States government during the
Great Depression.
History
Native American Peoples
The first recorded inhabitants of the Greendale area were various
Native American tribes, including the
Potawatomi. The
1833 Treaty of Chicago
The 1833 Treaty of Chicago struck an agreement between the United States government that required the Chippewa Odawa, and Potawatomi tribes cede to the United States government their of land (including reservations) in Illinois, the Wiscon ...
struck an agreement between the United States government that required the
Chippewa,
Odawa, and Potawatomi tribes cede to the United States government their 5,000,000 acres, (2,000,000 ha). In exchange for ceding their lands in the area, they were to receive monetary payments and lands west of the Mississippi in
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the United States Government for the relocation of Native Americans who held aboriginal title to their land as a sovereign ...
.
1930s and beyond
Greendale was one of three government sponsored "Greenbelt" communities constructed by the
Resettlement Administration
The Resettlement Administration (RA) was a New Deal U.S. federal agency created May 1, 1935. It relocated struggling urban and rural families to communities planned by the federal government. On September 1, 1937, it was succeeded by the Farm S ...
, starting in 1936, as part of President
Franklin Roosevelt's
New Deal. The other Greenbelt communities were
Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, and a suburb of Washington, D.C. At the 2020 census, the population was 24,921.
Greenbelt is the first and the largest of the three experimental and controversial New D ...
and
Greenhills, Ohio
Greenhills is a village in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,615 at the 2010 census. A planned community, it was established by the United States government during the Great Depression. Most of the village is a National ...
. The Village of Greendale was incorporated on November 1, 1938. The planners and selection committees excluded African American families from renting homes and created a racially segregated and all-white suburban community.
The original downtown area included the Village Hall, built in a
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is a living-history museum and private foundation presenting a part of the historic district in the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has 7300 employees at this location a ...
style, 366 new homes comprising 572 living units, and several businesses. These homes were often referred to as "Greendale Originals." The Greenbelt communities were patterned after the British
Garden city movement
The garden city movement was a 20th century urban planning movement promoting satellite communities surrounding the central city and separated with greenbelts. These Garden Cities would contain proportionate areas of residences, industry, and ...
urban planning
Urban planning, also known as town planning, city planning, regional planning, or rural planning, is a technical and political process that is focused on the development and design of land use and the built environment, including air, water, ...
concept. The greenbelt communities were built to be walkable so residents could walk to schools, shops and parks.
New Deal workers built Greendale as a model village for the working class. Income limits were from $1200 to $2700 per year, depending upon family size. In 1938, a one-bedroom Original rented for as little as $19 a month. Rent for a four-bedroom home was $46 a month. Over 200 of the "Originals" have unique artistic designs on the chimneys.
Federal ownership of Greendale ended in 1953. In the late 1950s Greendale experienced growth in conjunction with the expansion of the Milwaukee suburbs as a whole. While new homes were built and the number of minority families increased in Milwaukee County, racially restrictive covenants were used to maintain the all-white Greendale community. In 1958, the Crestview Acres land was sold by Elroy H. Barbian for development with the restrictive covenant that only white families could purchase the homes. "No Persons other than the white race shall own or occupy any building on said tract, but this covenant shall not prevent occupancy of persons of a race other than the white race who are domestic servants of the owner or occupant of said building."
Southridge Mall opened in 1970 as the southern sister mall to
Northridge Mall
Northridge Mall is a shopping mall in Salinas, California, the largest in Monterey County. Located off Highway 101 near Boronda Road and North Main Street in the northern part of the city, the single-story structure encompasses of retail space. ...
. Both malls were located on 76th Street, close to major east–west artery roads. Both were developed by
Herb Kohl and
Taubman Centers, Inc.
In 1996, the shopping district in the center of the village was purchased by the Grandhaven investment firm founded by
Roy Reiman
Roy J. Reiman (born May 16, 1934) is the founder of Reiman Publications based in Greendale, Wisconsin, which is best known for its country-oriented magazines, books, and other home products. Roy Reiman is credited with building the country’s ...
, founder of a publishing company headquartered in the village. The remake of the "Village Center" brought updates, attracted new restaurants, and made the village center more of a tourist attraction. More than 40,000 flowers are planted annually along the downtown streets, in hanging baskets, in sidewalk beds and storefront window boxes.
To ease managing more than 2,000 men during Greendale's construction, workers were directed to the "A section", the "D section", etc. This alphabetical reference has endured. Still today, all streets in each section begin with the same letter — the A section includes Angle Lane, Apricot Court, etc.,
Geography
Greendale is located at (42.937615, −87.996884).
The
Root River flows through the western part of the village.
Greendale is bounded by the city of
Greenfield to the north and east, the village of
Hales Corners
Hales Corners is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,692 at the 2010 census. History
The land in the area that would eventually encompass the Village was first claimed as French, then British, and even ...
to the west, and the city of
Franklin, Wisconsin to the south.
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...
, the village has a total area of , of which, of it is land and is water.
Scout Lake is a 5-acre lake located in Greendale. It has a maximum depth of 19 feet. Fish include panfish, largemouth bass and northern pike.
Climate
Greendale weather by month
Greendale is in zone 5b of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Commerce
Southridge Mall, is located in Greendale, and opened in 1970. It is Wisconsin's second largest mall behind
Mayfair Mall in
Wauwatosa
Wauwatosa (; known informally as Tosa; originally Wau-wau-too-sa or Hart's Mill) is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 48,387 at the 2020 census. Wauwatosa is located immediately west of Milwaukee, and is a pa ...
, tied with
Fox River Mall in
Appleton. The mall's anchor stores are
TJ Maxx
TJ Maxx (stylized as T•J•maxx) is an American department store chain, selling at prices generally lower than other major similar stores. It has more than 1,000 stores in the United States, making it one of the largest clothing retailers in ...
,
Dick's Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy,
Macy's
Macy's (originally R. H. Macy & Co.) is an American chain of high-end department stores founded in 1858 by Rowland Hussey Macy. It became a division of the Cincinnati-based Federated Department Stores in 1994, through which it is affiliated wi ...
,
JCPenney
Penney OpCo LLC, doing business as JCPenney and often abbreviated JCP, is a midscale American department store chain operating 667 stores across 49 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Departments inside JCPenney stores include Mens, Womens, Boys, Gir ...
, and
Round 1 Entertainment.
The downtown village center has more than a dozen independent shops and nine places to eat.
Community Organizations
Community members are active in many local civic organizations, church groups and school committees where they volunteer their time and talents for the betterment of the Village.
* Greendale Entertainment Association
* Greendale Historical Society
* Greendale Lions Club
* Public Celebrations Committee
Demographics
2010 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2010, there were 14,046 people, 6,075 households, and 4,016 families residing in the village. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...
was . There were 6,294 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 92.8%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 1.2%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.4%
Native American, 3.1%
Asian, 0.9% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.6% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino of any race were 4.7% of the population.
There were 6,075 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were
married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.87.
The median age in the village was 45.3 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.
Education
The village has one public high school, one public middle school, and three public elementary schools (Canterbury, College Park, and Highland View).
Greendale High School was named by Newsweek as one of America's Best High Schools in its 2009 & 2010 rankings. In 2007 the Greendale School District was ranked by
Milwaukee Magazine as the top school system among the Milwaukee metropolitan area.
The Greendale High School Marching Band is an 18-time (17 consecutive) WSMA (Wisconsin School Music Association
state marching band champion and a regular
Bands of America
Bands of America (BOA) is a music education advocacy organization and promoter of high school marching band competitions in the United States, such as the annual Grand National Championships. Established in 1975 as Marching Bands of America (MBA), ...
Grand Nationals participant. The Greendale High School Marching Band is invited to appear in the 2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Private Schools
* Greendale Baptist Academy.
* Greendale Playschool, 3K and 4K.
*
Martin Luther High School is a private high school in the village.
* St. Alphonsus Catholic School, 3K through grade 8.
Events and Festivals
* Greendale Downtown Market, running on Saturdays from June through the first weekend in October. Sponsored by the Greendale Park and Recreation Department.
* Saturday Night Fun on the Green. Free music concerts every Saturday night from mid-June to mid-August i
Gazebo Park Sponsored by the Greendale Entertainment Association.
* Sunday Village Nites on the Green. Free music concerts every Sunday night from mid-June to mid-August i
Sponsored by the Greendale Park and Recreation Department.
* Family Fourth Fest. Two music stages i
Sponsored by the Greendale Lions Club.
* Greendale Garden Gazing Walk, a free walking tour through private gardens in Greendale, on one Saturday in July. 2022 was the 26th year.
* Every August, Greendale celebrates Village Days, an annual event since 1939. The three-day celebration commemorates the history of the village, attracting thousands to its parade, live music, dancing, and food and drink.
Government
There are two voting locations on Election Day:
Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, & 10 - Greendale High School
Wards 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 - Highland View Grade School
Early voting takes place at the Village Hall.
County
Greendale is in Milwaukee County. It is in the 11th Milwaukee County Supervisor district.
State
Greendale is in the
28th State Senate District. Most of the village is in the
82nd State Assembly District, the remainder lies in the
84th State Assembly District.
Federal
Greendale is represented in the United States Senate by Senators
Ron Johnson (R) and
Tammy Baldwin
Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin (born February 11, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Wisconsin since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she served three terms in the Wisconsin St ...
(D). The village falls within
Wisconsin's 1st congressional district
Wisconsin's 1st congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in southeastern Wisconsin, covering Kenosha County, Racine County, and most of Walworth County, as well as portions of Rock Count ...
, which is represented by
Bryan Steil
Bryan George Steil ( ; born March 3, 1981) is an American attorney, businessman, and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Early life and education
Stei ...
(R).
Historic places
* The
Greendale Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012.
*
Trimborn Farm
Trimborn Farm is a Victorian era estate located in Greendale, Wisconsin and owned by Milwaukee County. Spanning 7.5 acres (18.5 hectares) and nine buildings, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The farm is also a State Histori ...
, is a
Victorian era
In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardia ...
estate, and added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1980.
* Part of the Trimborn farm complex is the neighboring
Jeremiah Curtin House, built in 1846, which is a unique stone house that was the boyhood home of noted American linguist and folklorist
Jeremiah Curtin.
Performing Arts
* Greendale Community Theater,
* Greendale High School. Fall play and spring musical.
* Midwest Vocal Express (MVE), male a cappella chorus specializes in "Storytelling through Song," performing: traditional barbershop favorites, show tunes, spirituals, popular music. Founded in 1989.
Points of Interest
* Greendale Public Library Member of the
Milwaukee County Federated Library System. 6,533 residents have a Library card. 131,113 physical items were checked out in 2021. 24,276 eBooks, eMagazines, eAudio uses in 2021. The library has a collection of all 322 covers for
The Saturday Evening Post
''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely ...
that
Norman Rockwell
Norman Percevel Rockwell (February 3, 1894 – November 8, 1978) was an American painter and illustrator. His works have a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of Culture of the United States, the country's culture. Roc ...
illustrated over the course of his career.
* Greendale Veterans Memorial, honors those Veterans who have sacrificed so much in the defense of our country. Dedication ceremony was held on Oct. 5, 2019.
* Historic Greendale Welcome Center, has displays of Greendale's history, showing the early creation of Greendale, Greendale's progression through the years, and Greendale today.
* Historic Hose Tower. A
hose tower is a structure constructed for hanging
firehoses to dry.
8 Churches
* Greendale Baptist Church
* Greendale Community Church
* Our Shepherd Lutheran church, home of The Word Today, an international radio evangelism network
* St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and School. http://www.st-alphonsus.org/
* St. Luke's Lutheran church
* St. Stephen the Martyr Lutheran church
* St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal church
* The Way Church, non-denominational church located in Martin Luther High School.
Recreation
Whitnall Park
Whitnall Park is Milwaukee County, Wisconsin's largest park and it is located in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. The park was named for Charles B. Whitnall and planning for the park began in 1924. Major work in the park was completed during the Great ...
, the largest park in Milwaukee County. borders Greendale on the western boundary of the village. Whitnall Park offers many recreation options including:
* Whitnall Park Golf Course, an 18-hole golf course. Designed by George Hansen, and opened in 1932, this championship golf course is heavily wooded & offers views of Mallard Lake.
*
Wehr Nature Center
Wehr Nature Center is a nature preserve located in Hales Corners, Wisconsin
Hales Corners is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,692 at the 2010 census. History
The land in the area that would eventu ...
* Boerner Botanical Gardens
* many hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails,
Part of the Root River Parkway is in Greendale. The Village is also connected to the
Milwaukee County Park System
Most parks in Milwaukee are owned and maintained by Milwaukee County as part of a county-wide system. However, some parks are administered by other entities, such as the state of Wisconsin, the city of Milwaukee, or neighborhood organizations.
P ...
Oak Leaf Trail, which provides opportunities for walking, running or biking.
The Rock Sports Complex an athletic park in
Franklin, Wisconsin, comprising baseball fields, mountain bike &
BMX trails & snow play areas, borders Greendale on the southern boundary of the village.
Transportation
Greendale is 6 miles (9.6 km) from
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is a civil–military airport south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States., effective May 21, 2020. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Ai ...
and close to
Interstate 94 and
Interstate 894
Interstate 894 (I-894) is a auxiliary Interstate Highway in Milwaukee County in the US state of Wisconsin. The route serves as a bypass of downtown Milwaukee, connecting with I-94 at the Zoo Interchange west of downtown and the Mitche ...
. Running through the village is
WIS 36
State Trunk Highway 36 (often called Highway 36, STH-36 or WIS 36) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs in a diagonal southwest–northeast direction across southeastern Wisconsin from Springfield which is north of Lake ...
. The Village is served by multiple transit lines with the
Milwaukee County Transit System
The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is the largest transit agency in Wisconsin, and is the primary transit provider for Milwaukee County. It ranks among the top 50 transit agencies in the United States for total passenger trips. Milwaukee ...
.
Notable people
*
Jeremiah Curtin, (1840-1906) a 19th-century folklorist and linguist that lived in what is now Greendale. His boyhood home,
Jeremiah Curtin House, a stone building built in 1846, is part of
Trimborn Farm
Trimborn Farm is a Victorian era estate located in Greendale, Wisconsin and owned by Milwaukee County. Spanning 7.5 acres (18.5 hectares) and nine buildings, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The farm is also a State Histori ...
, and is a historic landmark.
* Alonzo Hauser, (1909-1988) American sculptor, creator of a bas relief on the Middle School, and the base of the flagpole, noted for
New Deal sculpture
* Luke Eisner, star and actor in
Tall Girl, was raised in Greendale and attended Greendale High School
*
Jane Kaczmarek
Jane Frances Kaczmarek (; born December 21, 1955) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Malcolm's mother Lois on the Fox television sitcom '' Malcolm in the Middle'' (2000–2006), which earned her three Golden Globe nominat ...
, actress; was born and raised in Greendale.
Greendale High School graduate, class of 1974.
*
Roy Reiman
Roy J. Reiman (born May 16, 1934) is the founder of Reiman Publications based in Greendale, Wisconsin, which is best known for its country-oriented magazines, books, and other home products. Roy Reiman is credited with building the country’s ...
, founder of
Reiman Publications
*
Jim Gruenwald
James Matthew Gruenwald (born June 9, 1970) is a retired amateur American Greco-Roman wrestler, who competed in the men's lightweight category. He won three U.S. national titles (2003–2004, 2008), picked up a bronze medal in the 60-kg divisio ...
- Greco-Roman wrestler, former US Olympic team member.
*
Mark Massa - State of Indiana Supreme Court justice,. Greendale High School graduate, class of 1979.
*
Dave Smith -
American Football League player. Greendale High School graduate, class of 1955.
*
Stephen D. Burrows - Comedic storyteller, writer, director, actor Greendale High School graduate, class of 1980.
Gallery
File:Downtown Shopping District, Greendale, Wisconsin, USA.jpg, Downtown shopping district
File: Greendale High School.jpg, Greendale High School
File:Greendale WI Mar2012.jpg, Street in the National Historic District
File:Greendale Hist Dist Nov2011.jpg, Street in the National Historic District
File:Southridge Mall.jpg, Southridge Mall
File:Trimborn-Farm.jpg, Trimborn Farm
Trimborn Farm is a Victorian era estate located in Greendale, Wisconsin and owned by Milwaukee County. Spanning 7.5 acres (18.5 hectares) and nine buildings, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The farm is also a State Histori ...
File:Greendale Wisconsin LOC fsa 8a04391a.jpg, Houses in Greendale (historical photo)
File:Stone Carving by Alonzo Hauser.jpg, Original stone carving by Alonzo Hauser
File:Greendale Theater.jpg, The now gone Greendale Theater
See also
*
List of villages in Wisconsin
List of incorporated villages in Wisconsin, arranged in alphabetical order. As of January 1, 2021, there were 415 villages in Wisconsin.Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. ''State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007-2008'', p. 758.
__NOTOC__
List ...
References
External links
Village of GreendaleGreendale Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Villages in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Villages in Wisconsin