Oak Creek, Wisconsin

History

On January 2, 1838, the territorial legislature divided Milwaukee County into two civil townships: the Town of Milwaukee, encompassing everything north of the present Greenfield Avenue, and the Town of Lake encompassing everything south of the present Greenfield Avenue; "and the polls of election shall be opened at the house of Elisha Higgins, in said town." On March 8, 1839, a new Town of Kinnikennick was created, encompassing the western part of Lake (later the Towns of Greenfield and Franklin); and on August 13, 1840, the south portion of the Town of Lake was split off to form the town of Oak Creek. As of the 1840 census, the population of the Town of Lake (then including Oak Creek) was 418.

In 1955, the Town of Oak Creek, then still semi-rural with a population of 4807 in the 1950 census, was incorporated as a city under the terms of Wisconsin statute 66.0215, also known as "The Oak Creek Law." The Oak Creek Law was crafted by Town Attorney Tony Basile to prevent Oak Creek's annexation by the City of Milwaukee, which by annexations (including the 1954 annexation of the remainder of the Town of Lake) was now bordering Oak Creek and had already annexed one small portion of the town; and was shepherded through the legislature with the help of state Democratic party legislative joint committee chairman Leland McParland, who was the state senator for Oak Creek.

2012 shooting

On August 5, 2012, a white supremacist gunman opened fire at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek. The gunman and six other people died, and several people were injured.

Geography

Oak Creek is located at 42°53′4″N 87°53′57″W (42.884347, -87.899209).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.45 square miles (73.69 km²), all of it land.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 28,456 people, 11,239 households, and 7,530 families. The population density was 994.4 people per square mile (383.9/km²). There were 11,897 housing units at an average density of 415.7 per square mile (160.5/km²). The ethnic makeup of the city is 91.96% White, 1.82% African American, 0.59% Native American, 2.39% Asian, 1.70% from other ethnic groups, and 1.53% from two or more ethnic groups. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.45% of the population.

There were 11,239 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city, the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,779, and the median income for a family was $63,381. Males had a median income of $43,935 versus $31,443 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,586. About 1.2% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 34,451 people, 14,064 households, and 9,077 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,210.9 inhabitants per square mile (467.5/km²). There were 14,754 housing units at an average density of 518.6 per square mile (200.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.7% White, 2.8% African American, 0.7% Native American, 4.5% Asian, 2.1% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.5% of the population.

There were 14,064 households of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.5% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median age in the city was 37.4 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

Government

At the federal level, Oak Creek is located in Wisconsin's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Mayors of Oak Creek

Economy

Midwest Airlines's headquarters were located in Oak Creek. In January 2010 Republic Airways, the parent company of Midwest, announced that it would move all Republic executives, including Midwest Airlines executives, to Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mining equipment manufacturer Bucyrus International announced June 22, 2010 that it would move headquarters personnel from South Milwaukee to Midwest Airlines' former headquarters space in Oak Creek. Senior management and other personnel would be moving to the new location making room for additional employees at its South Milwaukee facility. Caterpillar Inc. intends to locate the Caterpillar Mining world headquarters there after its acquisition of Bucyrus International.

The Oak Creek Power Plant is in Oak Creek. The city also hosts a number of small companies, with interests ranging from engineering to agriculture, including the locally-famous Black Bear Bottling plant.

The American Society of Anesthesia Technologists & Technicians is also based in Oak Creek.

Public education

Oak Creek is part of the Oak Creek Franklin School District.

Elementary schools

Middle schools

High school

Private schools