The first recorded inhabitants of the Greendale area were various Native American tribes, including the Potawatomi. The 1833 Treaty of Chicago struck an agreement between the United States government that required the Chippewa, Odawa, and Potawatomi tribes to cede to the United States government 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.[6]
1930s and beyond
Greendale was one of three government sponsored "Greenbelt" communities constructed by the Resettlement Administration, starting in 1936, as part of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. The other Greenbelt communities were Greenbelt, Maryland and Greenhills, Ohio.[7] Greendale was incorporated as a village 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.[8]
The original downtown area included the village hall, built in a Colonial Williamsburg style, 366 new homes comprising 572 living units, and several businesses. These homes were often referred to as "Greendale Originals".[9] The Greenbelt communities were patterned after the British garden city movementurban planning concept, built so residents could walk to schools, shops, and parks. Greendale was intended to be 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 $19 a month. Rent for a four-bedroom home was $46 a month.[10] Over 200 of the "Originals" have unique artistic designs on the chimneys.
Federal ownership of Greendale ended in 1953.[11] In the late 1950s Greendale experienced growth in conjunction with the expansion of the Milwaukee suburbs as a whole. Although 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."[12]
In 1996, the shopping district in the center of the village was purchased by the Grandhaven investment firm founded by Roy Reiman, 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.[13] More than 40,000 flowers are planted annually along the downtown streets in hanging baskets, sidewalk beds, and storefront window boxes.[14]
To ease managing more than 2,000 men during Greendale's construction, workers were directed to the "A section", the "B section", the "C 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.[15]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 5.57 square miles (14.43 km2), of which, 5.56 square miles (14.40 km2) of it is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[17]
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.[18]
Greendale is in zone 5b of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.[21]
Commerce
Southridge Mall, is located in Greendale, and opened in 1970. It is Wisconsin's second largest mall behind Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, tied with Fox River Mall in Appleton.
The downtown village center has more than a dozen independent shops [22] and nine places to eat.[23]
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.
As of the census[28] of 2010, there were 14,046 people, 6,075 households, and 4,016 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,526.3 inhabitants per square mile (975.4/km2). There were 6,294 housing units at an average density of 1,132.0 per square mile (437.1/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 92.8% White, 1.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 3.1% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic 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.
2020 census
As of the census[29] of 2020, there were 14,854 people and 6,169 households residing in the village. The population density was 2,541.42 inhabitants per square mile (981.2/km2). There were 6,330 housing units at an average density of 1,136.4 per square mile (438.8/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 84.8% White, 1.6% African American, 0.5% Native American, 4.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 6.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,157 or 7.8% of the population.
47.0% have attained a Bachelor's Degree or higher. Median Household Income was $78,310. 10.2% of the population is foreign born.
There were 6,169 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 26.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 15.3% had a male householder with no wife present. The average family size was 2.96.
The median age in the village was 40.9 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 35.5% were from 15 to 44; 23.7% were from 45 to 64; and 20.0% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.
Education
The village has one public high school, one public middle school, and three public elementary schools (Canterbury, College Park, and Highland View).[30]Greendale High School was named by Newsweek as one of America's Best High Schools in its 2009 & 2010 rankings.[31][32] In 2007, the Greendale School District was ranked by Milwaukee Magazine as the top school system among the Milwaukee metropolitan area.[33]
The Greendale High School Marching Band is a 19-time (18 consecutive) WSMA (Wisconsin School Music Association) state marching band champion, and a regular Bands of America Grand Nationals participant. The Greendale High School Marching Band was invited to appear in the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.[34][35]
St. Alphonsus Catholic School, 3K through grade 8.[38]
Events and Festivals
"Remember the Fallen" a solemn remembrance walk on Memorial Day, ending at the Greendale Veteran's Memorial.
Greendale Downtown Market, running on Saturdays from June through the first weekend in October. Sponsored by the Greendale Park and Recreation Department.[39]
Saturday Night Fun on the Green. Free music concerts every Saturday night from mid-June to mid-August in Gazebo Park. Sponsored by the Greendale Entertainment Association.[40]
Sunday Village Nites on the Green. Free music concerts every Sunday night from mid-June to mid-August in Gazebo Park. Sponsored by the Greendale Park and Recreation Department.[41]
Family Fourth Fest. Two music stages in Gazebo Park. Sponsored by the Greendale Lions Club.[42]
Greendale Garden Walk, a free walking tour through private gardens in Greendale, on the second Saturday in July.[43]
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, with live music, food and drink at the Greendale Lions Club's and Greendale Entertainment Association's stages.[44]
Public Celebrations 2023 Calendar of Events in Greendale[45]
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.[46]
County
Greendale is in Milwaukee County. It is in the 11th Milwaukee County Supervisor district.[47]
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.
Greendale High School. Fall play and spring musical.[50]
Midwest Vocal Express (MVE), male a cappella chorus specializes in "Storytelling through Song," performing: traditional barbershop favorites, show tunes, spirituals, popular music.[51] Founded in 1989.
Points of Interest
Greendale Public Library[52] 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.[53] The library is noted for its collection of all 322 covers for The Saturday Evening Post that Norman Rockwell illustrated over the course of his career.[54]
Greendale Veterans Memorial, honors those Veterans who have sacrificed so much in the defense of our country.[55] Dedication ceremony was held on October 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.[56]
Historic Hose Tower. A hose tower is a structure constructed for hanging firehoses to dry.[57]
Recreation
Whitnall Park, the largest park in Milwaukee County.[58] 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.[59] Designed by George Hansen, and opened in 1932, this championship golf course is heavily wooded & offers views of Mallard Lake.
many hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails,[62]
Part of the Root River Parkway is in Greendale.[63] The Village is also connected to the Milwaukee County Park SystemOak Leaf Trail, a paved 135-mile (217 km) multi-use recreational trail system, 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.
^"Greendale, Wisconsin". Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Retrieved October 16, 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^"Greendale". Encyclopedia of Milwaukee. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
^Alanen, Arnold; Eden, Joseph (2012). Main Street Ready-Made: The New Deal Community of Greendale, Wisconsin. Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Historical Society. p. 88. ISBN978-0-87020-511-8.
