New Berlin, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
New Berlin is a city in Waukesha County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 38,220 at the 2000 census. New Berlin is the third largest community in Waukesha County after the cities of Waukesha
and Brookfield
.
Located on the eastern border of Waukesha County, the City of New Berlin is situated between Madison
and Milwaukee. Interstate 94
is located immediately north of the city, and Interstate 43
passes through it.
Money magazine
ranked New Berlin #34 in its 2009 Top 100 List of Best Small American Towns in which to live.
. However, during World War II
they changed it to disassociate themselves with Germany.
The 8 member Common Council is the elected body that represents the citizens of New Berlin. The Common Council consists of 7 aldermen, representing each of the City’s 7 Aldermanic districts, and the Mayor. The Mayor is elected to serve a term of four years; Aldermen are elected to serve a term of three years. The Common Council meets in the Council Chambers on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month to conduct the City’s legislative business. The Common Council adopts the City budget and passes laws, policies and regulations that govern the City.
, which at the time, was composed of New Berlin and Muskego. The area that is now the City of New Berlin was separated from the Town of Muskego in 1839 and given the name, Town of Mentor.
On January 13, 1840, the Town of Mentor became the Town of New Berlin. It was named by Sidney Evans in honor of his hometown, New Berlin, New York
. The town remained a rural and agricultural area until the 1940s when the westward migration to the suburbs from Milwaukee began. Between 1850 and 1950, New Berlin's population went from 1,293 to 5,334. Ten years later, in 1960, the population had nearly tripled to 15,788. The Town of New Berlin became the City of New Berlin with its incorporation in 1959.
Large scale growth to New Berlin occurred in the 1960s and 1970s mainly as a result of the construction of the New Berlin Industrial Park which began in 1964. This park is a vital economic resource to the city of New Berlin, and the Milwaukee Region. The park is composed of actually three separate business parks encompassing 1126 acres (4.6 km²). The business parks include the Moorland Road Industrial Park, the New Berlin Industrial Park and the MSI/Lincoln Avenue Industrial Park.
Interstate 43
has been expanded at the Moorland Road exit in order to accommodate a growing number of commuters from the suburb. The new interchange has a two-lane roundabout
that has been the center of a great deal of controversy because of the high number of accidents and traffic back-ups on Interstate 43
.
On June 22, 2011, The Department of Justice
filed a lawsuit against the city of New Berlin, WI in United States District Court
for allegedly allowing racial concerns to derail a low-income housing project. The complaint states that, "The defendant's actions as described herein were taken because of race and because of community opposition that city officials understood to be based on the race and on racial stereotypes of the prospective tenants of affordable housing." The lawsuit was brought to enforce the Fair Housing Act which is Tile VIII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1968.
", which runs north-south through the eastern part of the city. Nearly 27 square miles (69.9 km²) in the western part of the city, or about 73% of the city's total land area, is located in the Fox River
watershed. This portion is west of the Sub-Continental Divide
and part of the Mississippi River
watershed. The remaining city land area is within the Great Lakes
/St. Lawrence River drainage basin.
The Utility Service Area is supplied with water from Lake Michigan
which is purchased from the Milwaukee Water Works. In this portion of the city wastewater is returned to Lake Michigan via the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District sewer system. The western portions of the city, outside of the Utility Service Area, use groundwater/private wells as their water supply source. Four municipal wells are being maintained to act in a reserve capacity. The groundwater that is acquired from these wells is found in two distinct shallow water bearing geologic formations or aquifer
s. The water from these aquifers is radium
compliant.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 36.9 square miles (95.6 km²), of which 36.8 square miles (95.3 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 0.22%, is water.
of 2000, there were 38,220 people, 14,495 households, and 11,045 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,037.4 people per square mile (400.6/km²). There were 14,921 housing units at an average density of 405.0 per square mile (156.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.84% White, 0.44% African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races
, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.
There were 14,495 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples
living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 19.0% 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 2.62 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $67,576, and the median income for a family was $75,565. Males had a median income of $50,405 versus $33,720 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $29,789. About 1.3% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
There are two private elementary (K4-8) schools in New Berlin
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2008, the population was 380,629. Its county seat is Waukesha.-History:The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County now occupies was a part of Michigan when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834. On July 4, 1836, the...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 38,220 at the 2000 census. New Berlin is the third largest community in Waukesha County after the cities of Waukesha
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
and Brookfield
Brookfield, Wisconsin
Brookfield is a city located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. It had a population of 37,920 in the 2010 census. Brookfield is the second largest city in Waukesha County, and the leading commercial suburb of Milwaukee. The City of Brookfield was formed in 1954 from the Town of...
.
Located on the eastern border of Waukesha County, the City of New Berlin is situated between Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
and Milwaukee. Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
is located immediately north of the city, and Interstate 43
Interstate 43
Interstate 43 is a intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Wisconsin, connecting Interstate 39 and Interstate 90 in Beloit with Milwaukee and U.S. Route 41 and U.S. Route 141 in Green Bay. I-43 is the 5th longest intrastate Interstate Highway of the Interstate...
passes through it.
Money magazine
Money (magazine)
Money is published by Time Inc. Its first issue was published in October 1972. Its articles cover the gamut of personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues like paying for college, credit, career and home improvement...
ranked New Berlin #34 in its 2009 Top 100 List of Best Small American Towns in which to live.
Pronunciation
Area residents put the accent on the first syllable of Berlin nuːˈbɜrlɨn, rather than on the second. They originally put the accent on the second syllable making it sound like the German cityBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. However, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
they changed it to disassociate themselves with Germany.
Government
Jack F. Chiovatero is currently serving his second term as Mayor of New Berlin. He assumed his first term on April 19, 2005, and was later re-elected for a second term commencing April 21, 2009. Prior to being Mayor, Chiovatero served as Alderman of District 6 for two consecutive three-year terms.The 8 member Common Council is the elected body that represents the citizens of New Berlin. The Common Council consists of 7 aldermen, representing each of the City’s 7 Aldermanic districts, and the Mayor. The Mayor is elected to serve a term of four years; Aldermen are elected to serve a term of three years. The Common Council meets in the Council Chambers on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month to conduct the City’s legislative business. The Common Council adopts the City budget and passes laws, policies and regulations that govern the City.
History
The first settlers, Sidney Evans and P.G. Harrington, arrived in the northeastern part of what is now the City of New Berlin in 1836. The area first came under local government in 1838 as part of the Town of MuskegoMuskego, Wisconsin
Muskego is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 21,397. Its 2006-2008 estimated population was 22,851. Muskego is the fifth largest community in Waukesha County. The name Muskego is derived from the Potawatomi Indian name for the...
, which at the time, was composed of New Berlin and Muskego. The area that is now the City of New Berlin was separated from the Town of Muskego in 1839 and given the name, Town of Mentor.
On January 13, 1840, the Town of Mentor became the Town of New Berlin. It was named by Sidney Evans in honor of his hometown, New Berlin, New York
New Berlin (town), New York
New Berlin is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 2,803 at the 2000 census.The Town of New Berlin contains a village named New Berlin...
. The town remained a rural and agricultural area until the 1940s when the westward migration to the suburbs from Milwaukee began. Between 1850 and 1950, New Berlin's population went from 1,293 to 5,334. Ten years later, in 1960, the population had nearly tripled to 15,788. The Town of New Berlin became the City of New Berlin with its incorporation in 1959.
Large scale growth to New Berlin occurred in the 1960s and 1970s mainly as a result of the construction of the New Berlin Industrial Park which began in 1964. This park is a vital economic resource to the city of New Berlin, and the Milwaukee Region. The park is composed of actually three separate business parks encompassing 1126 acres (4.6 km²). The business parks include the Moorland Road Industrial Park, the New Berlin Industrial Park and the MSI/Lincoln Avenue Industrial Park.
Interstate 43
Interstate 43
Interstate 43 is a intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Wisconsin, connecting Interstate 39 and Interstate 90 in Beloit with Milwaukee and U.S. Route 41 and U.S. Route 141 in Green Bay. I-43 is the 5th longest intrastate Interstate Highway of the Interstate...
has been expanded at the Moorland Road exit in order to accommodate a growing number of commuters from the suburb. The new interchange has a two-lane roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
that has been the center of a great deal of controversy because of the high number of accidents and traffic back-ups on Interstate 43
Interstate 43
Interstate 43 is a intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Wisconsin, connecting Interstate 39 and Interstate 90 in Beloit with Milwaukee and U.S. Route 41 and U.S. Route 141 in Green Bay. I-43 is the 5th longest intrastate Interstate Highway of the Interstate...
.
On June 22, 2011, The Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
filed a lawsuit against the city of New Berlin, WI in United States District Court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
for allegedly allowing racial concerns to derail a low-income housing project. The complaint states that, "The defendant's actions as described herein were taken because of race and because of community opposition that city officials understood to be based on the race and on racial stereotypes of the prospective tenants of affordable housing." The lawsuit was brought to enforce the Fair Housing Act which is Tile VIII of the Civil Rights Act
Civil Rights Act
Civil Rights Act may refer to several acts in the history of civil rights in the United States, including:-Federal legislation:* Civil Rights Act of 1866, extending the rights of emancipated slaves...
of 1968.
Geography
New Berlin is located at 42°58′45"N 88°6′33"W (42.979063, -88.109188). New Berlin is uniquely positioned within southeast Wisconsin as it straddles the "Sub-Continental DivideSubcontinental divide
The Subcontinental Divide is an altitudinal divide in southeastern Wisconsin running north to south along the Waukesha County/Milwaukee County border...
", which runs north-south through the eastern part of the city. Nearly 27 square miles (69.9 km²) in the western part of the city, or about 73% of the city's total land area, is located in the Fox River
Fox River (Wisconsin)
The Fox River is a river in eastern and central Wisconsin in the United States. Along the banks is a chain of cities, including Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Appleton, Little Chute, Kimberly, Combined Locks, and Kaukauna. Except for Oshkosh, these cities refer to themselves as the Fox Cities...
watershed. This portion is west of the Sub-Continental Divide
Subcontinental divide
The Subcontinental Divide is an altitudinal divide in southeastern Wisconsin running north to south along the Waukesha County/Milwaukee County border...
and part of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
watershed. The remaining city land area is within the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
/St. Lawrence River drainage basin.
The Utility Service Area is supplied with water from Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
which is purchased from the Milwaukee Water Works. In this portion of the city wastewater is returned to Lake Michigan via the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District sewer system. The western portions of the city, outside of the Utility Service Area, use groundwater/private wells as their water supply source. Four municipal wells are being maintained to act in a reserve capacity. The groundwater that is acquired from these wells is found in two distinct shallow water bearing geologic formations or aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
s. The water from these aquifers is radium
Radium
Radium is a chemical element with atomic number 88, represented by the symbol Ra. Radium is an almost pure-white alkaline earth metal, but it readily oxidizes on exposure to air, becoming black in color. All isotopes of radium are highly radioactive, with the most stable isotope being radium-226,...
compliant.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 36.9 square miles (95.6 km²), of which 36.8 square miles (95.3 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 0.22%, is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 38,220 people, 14,495 households, and 11,045 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,037.4 people per square mile (400.6/km²). There were 14,921 housing units at an average density of 405.0 per square mile (156.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.84% White, 0.44% African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.
There were 14,495 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 19.0% 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 2.62 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $67,576, and the median income for a family was $75,565. Males had a median income of $50,405 versus $33,720 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $29,789. About 1.3% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Schools in the School District of New Berlin system are:- New Berlin Eisenhower Middle and High SchoolNew Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High SchoolNew Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School is a combination middle school and high school located in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Part of the , the school serves grades 7 through 12. The school was nationally recognized as a Blue Ribbon School in 2005.-History:...
- New Berlin West Middle and High SchoolNew Berlin West High SchoolNew Berlin West High School is one of two public high schools located in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Although it shares a building with New Berlin West Middle School, it is considered a separate entity with its own administration. The high school serves grades 9 through 12...
- Ronald Reagan Elementary (New school comprised with New Berlin Center and Prospect Hill)
- Poplar Creek Elementary
- Glen Park Elementary
- Orchard Lane Elementary
- Elmwood Elementary
There are two private elementary (K4-8) schools in New Berlin