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 third largest city in Waukesha County, and the leading commercial suburb of Milwaukee. The City of Brookfield was formed in 1954 from the Town of Brookfield, a portion of which still survives along the city's western edge. Brookfield shares the Elmbrook School District with the Town of Brookfield, with Village of Elm Grove and with a small section of City of New Berlin. A very small section of the city is served by the Waukesha School District.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.3 square miles (70.6 km²), of which, 27.2 square miles (70.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.26%) is water. The sub-continental divide passes through Brookfield; on the eastern side of this divide, easily marked by the crest at Calhoun Road and Capitol Drive, water flows to Lake Michigan on its way to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence; on the western side of this divide, water flows to the Fox River of Illinois and Wisconsin on its way to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

There is a heron rookery on a site northwest of Capitol Drive and Brookfield Road.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,649 people, 13,891 households, and 11,223 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,421.1 people per square mile (548.6/km²). There are 14,208 housing units at an average density of 522.4 per square mile (201.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 94.20 percent White, 3.83 percent Asian, 0.83 percent Black or African American, 0.09 percent Native American, 0.02 percent Pacific Islander, 0.23 percent from other races, and 0.81 percent from two or more races. 1.17 percent of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 13,891 households out of which 36.1 percent have children under age 18 living with them, 73.1 percent are married couples living together, 5.5 percent have a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2 percent are non-families. 16.7 percent of all households are made up of individuals and 9.0 percent have someone living alone who is 65-years-old or older. The average household size is 2.74 people and the average family size is 3.09 people.

In the city, the population is spread out with 26.8 percent under age 18, 4.6 percent from 18-years-old to 24-years-old, 23.2 percent from 25-years-old to 44-years-old, 27.8 percent from 45-years-old to 64-years-old, and 17.6 percent who are 65-years-old or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $76,225, and the median income for a family is $83,691. Males have a median income of $62,351 versus $37,589 for females. The per capita income for the city is $37,292. 2.2 percent of the population and 1.4 percent of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.4 percent of those under age 18 and 3.4 percent of those 65-years-old and older are living below the poverty line.

Government
Brookfield has a mayor–council government. The mayor is elected to a four-year term. On April 6, 2010, Alderman Steve Ponto defeated two-term incumbent Mayor Jeff Speaker by a vote of 4,458 to 4,253. Ponto was a corporate attorney and had served as 4th District Alderman since 1998.

Common Council
The Common Council is composed of 14 aldermen, 2 from each of 7 districts. They serve four-year terms, with one member from each district up for election every other year. The aldermen set policy and have extensive financial control, but are not engaged in daily operational management.

Education
The Elmbrook School District, serves residents of Brookfield (excluding a small section of southwest Brookfield, which is in the Waukesha School District). Private schools include St. Dominic Catholic School, St. John Vianney Catholic Church, St. Luke Catholic School, St. Joseph's Catholic School, Elm Grove Lutheran School, Brookfield Christian School, and Brookfield Academy. High schools available to Brookfield residents include Catholic Memorial High School, Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, Milwaukee Lutheran High School, Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Pius XI High School, Marquette University High School, Brookfield Christian School, Heritage Christian School, West Suburban Christian Academy, Calvary Baptist School, and Milwaukee Public Schools' school choice program.

The Elmbrook School District recently passed a referendum to renovate both Brookfield Central and Brookfield East High Schools. The referendum failed previous times and the plan to completely rebuild the two high schools was dismissed. Construction was to begin on the schools early in October 2008.

Tourism
Brookfield offers shopping, fine dining, outdoor golf and parks. Brookfield's concert hall is the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center located in Mitchell Park. Brookfield's main beach is located at Fox Brook Park where hiking in natural preserves, sailing, biking and golfing are also available.

Brookfield Square is the main shopping mall for the city and also serves as a commercial anchor to the Blue Mound Road shopping district serving the western suburbs of Milwaukee and Waukesha County. Brookfield has off-road bike paths throughout the city.

Brookfield Days is held annually in June, at Wirth Park supported by the local community. A farmers market runs on weekends in summer months at the Brookfield City Hall.

The Brookfield Historical Society hosts several events annually celebrating the lives of early Brookfield settlers, including Caroline Ingalls, who was born in the Brookfield area. The city is often visited by fans of her daughter, Laura, author of the Little House on the Prairie book series.

Notable residents

 * John Anderson, NFL player
 * Ken Anderson, Professional wrestler best known as Mr. Kennedy
 * Kathryn Bloomberg, co-inventor of Shrinky Dinks and Brookfield mayor from 1986–2002
 * Al Capone, noted Chicago mobster owned a Brookfield home where moonshine was made.
 * Bill Carollo, NFL official
 * Kip Carpenter, 2002,2006 Olympian, Olympic bronze medalist in (speedskating)
 * Andy Dehnart, journalist
 * Tom Dougherty, MLB player
 * Arpad Elo, inventor of the Elo rating system for chess, professor at Marquette University
 * Susan Engeleiter, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration
 * Matthew Felker, actor, model, and writer
 * Doc Hamann, MLB player
 * Merle Harmon, Hall of Fame broadcaster and entrepreneur
 * Kenny Harrison, world champion track and field athlete, Olympic gold medalist, Goodwill Games medalist
 * Nathan Hatch, Revolutionary war soldier
 * Caroline Ingalls (1839–1924), born in what is today the City of Brookfield (the Town of Brookfield at the time) before statehood, mother of famed author Laura Ingalls Wilder, and subject of the book Little House in Brookfield, one of the Little House series
 * Ken Jungels, MLB player
 * Ted Kanavas, Wisconsin State Assembly
 * Matt Katula, NFL player
 * Robert Andrew "Bob" Long Wide receiver for Green Bay Packers during Vince Lombardi era
 * Arie Luyendyk, two-time Indianapolis 500 winer
 * Al McGuire, former NCAA basketball coach and commentator (lived in Brookfield toward the end of his life)
 * Fritz Mollwitz, MLB player
 * Leslie Osborne, Honda Sports Award (top NCAA women's soccer player) winner (2004) and current member of the Women's Professional Soccer team, Boston Breakers, and the United States women's national soccer team
 * Joe Panos, football player for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Buffalo Bills
 * Richie Sexson, retired MLB lived here when he played for the Brewers of Milwaukee
 * Paul Spaeth, noted composer and musician
 * Martin P. Robinson, puppeteer for Telly Monster, Mr. Snuffleupagus and Slimey who has performed on Sesame Street since 1980; graduate of Brookfield East High School
 * Joe Thomas, football player for the Cleveland Browns
 * Frank Urban, Wisconsin State Assembly

Sister cities
Brookfield has one sister city:
 * [[Image:Flag of Germany.svg|20px|France]] Seligenstadt