Milwaukee, Wisconsin
One of the surprising things about Milwaukee is that in 1910 it had the most foreign-born residents, a distinction it shared with New York. The majority of immigrants were German and Polish, however, there were significant numbers from Lithuania, Italy, Ireland, France, Russia, Bohemia and Sweden. Foreign immigrants and an influx of African Americans from the south helped Milwaukee hit a peak population of 740,000 in 1960, but each year thereafter saw a decline, until finally in 2015 when the city saw its first growth in half a century. Like some of the other cities on this list, Milwaukee’s rich history and diversity has been instrumental in its resurgence.
Today Milwaukee is still a diverse city with an abundance of historic neighbourhoods, combined with forward city planning that includes the beautiful Milwaukee River walk with art installation and brewpubs along the way. There is a fantastic public market offering fresh vegetables and produce and many dining options. The city has invested in arts and architecture with the expansion of the Milwaukee Art Museum, one of the largest in the country containing almost 25,000 works, as well as commissioning the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava to design a $100 million wing of the Museum.
Images: 1- Tim Malaney | 2 – via @thepfisterhotel | 3 – via @thepfisterhotel | 4 – @invincesible
