Milwaukee and Chicago (Madison, Oak Creek: transplants, for sale, 2009)

[thePR]

I didn't see a thread for just this idea.

Does Milwaukee like being related to Chicago?

[Milwaukee City]

I would say yes and no. Their still a segment of the population that resists or envies everything Chicago. I am not one of these people, I spend a lot of time in Chicago and have a lot of friends from Chicago. Their is a sense of pride from some that we are so close to Chicago or part of Chicago on a grand scale of things. I think Milwaukee is a lot like Chicago but on a smaller level of course. I think the younger generation today enjoys being close to Chicago for obvious reasons and the older generation want's nothing to do with it. Our civic leaders are starting to work with Chicago officals on certain projects and now we are focusing more of a joint effort with our neighbor to the south. Recently the I94 project and the Tri-state expansion was a joint effort by the two states.

One of the big selling points for Milwaukee is that it is so close to Chicago and it helps us lure business into our area and help's us attract people as well as employers. Before you know it, it will be all suburbs from the state line up to Oak Creek, in a sense it already is, since both metro areas butt up against one another. People here in Milwaukee should feel lucky that they are so close to a World Class city and not stuck in the middle of nowhere like the Twin Cities. We are the New Jersey of Chicago or the Baltimore of Chicago.

You have a lot of transplants in Chicago from Milwaukee and vice-versa, which make for an interesting Cubs-Brewers game and Bears-Packers games as well. We go down to Chicago to shop and Chicago comes up here to vacation. You have for the first time in a long time people from Chicago coming up to Milwaukee for a night out on the town.

I believe the two cities are striking similar with the lay out of the city, history of each city and ethnic make up of each city. Both are old cities with unique neighborhood and architecture. Miller Park north or Chicago's biggest suburb I just glad I do live in Milwaukee and that Chicago is so close. To me because I spend so much time in both cities I don't see state lines anymore I just see one big area. Milwaukee need to continue to embrace Chicago and form business and political partnerships to continue our growth in the future. Where would you rather be in the middle of nowhere like KC or next to Chicago?

[Milwaukee City]

Just call it Milcago or Chiwaukee or mega Chicago or simply the Tri-State Area.

[Chicagoland60426]

Its kind of like how San Diego is so close to big brother LA and both sitting on a large body of water. Just like Chicago and Milwaukee sit on Lake Michigan set apart by a 1 1/2-2 hrs radius. And then you have Madison and Indianapolis both within a 3 hours radius from Chicago.

Look like have our own Baltimore-D.C. super tri area going on too.

[Milwaukee City]

I don't know if you can throw Madison in that mix, seems like a stretch in terms of population. Madison Metro 480,000. One thing I have noticed that you see a lot of Milwaukee-Chicago Corridor maps for sale and also a lot of Milwaukee-Chicago advertisements on TV, you have businesses in Milwaukee and Chicago marketing to each other also not to mention you can pick up Chicago TV and Radio in the Milwaukee market and Vice Versa. Also if there is a major traffic story in Milwaukee or Chicago you will hear about it in Milwaukee or Chicago.

http://www.gcmtravel.com/gcm/home.jsp

[Chicagoland60426]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

I don't know if you can throw Madison in that mix, seems like a stretch in terms of population. Madison Metro 480,000. One thing I have noticed that you see a lot of Milwaukee-Chicago Corridor maps for sale and also a lot of Milwaukee-Chicago advertisements on TV, you have businesses in Milwaukee and Chicago marketing to each other also not to mention you can pick up Chicago TV and Radio in the Milwaukee market and Vice Versa. Also if there is a major traffic story in Milwaukee or Chicago you will hear about it in Milwaukee or Chicago.

Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee Corridor

Yeah Madison metro is small, but I heard its a very nice mid-size city. I'm just saying East Coast people on this site criticize the Midwest by saying all the cities are very isolated from each other. Its not entirely true; Milwaukee & Indianapolis is within a 2-3 hours radius from Chicago. Chicago-Milwaukee(90 miles difference) is almost equivalent to Baltimore-D.C. super metro.

[quijote]

I pretty much agree with MC's points. Milwaukee's a great city with lots going on, and it only gets that much better when Chicago is just a short trip away. The only thing I don't like is having to drive through Chicago on my way to many other places. Next month I'm going to Indy, but plan on a detour around Chicago on my way there, just to avoid the hassle. Coming back (Sunday) I'll drive through Chicago, as traffic is usually more mellow on the weekends.

[dude1984]

If a high speed rail system is built and there are multiple (and cheap) trips between the two cities, they will be even closer. An hour and a half (or longer) drive would become about a 36 minute train ride.


The Transport Politic » Breaking: SNCF Proposes Development of High-Speed Rail in Midwest, Texas, Florida, and California Corridors

[KC3700]

To tell you the truth, I don't see much of a kinship between Milwaukee and Chicago. I don't think we are "related", far from it. We may be relatively close in proximity, but Milwaukee is it's own city for sure.

[Milwaukee City]

I don't know if it's just my circle but I know a lot of people that have relatives in Chicago and same goes for my friends in Chicago they seem to have a lot of friends and relatives in Milwaukee, let's not forget the welfare craze where thousand of people came up from Chicago b/c of our lax welfare state.