Here's a guide to the Walker's Point neighborhood in Milwaukee
Milwaukee has more than 75 distinct neighborhoods.
Here are a few things to know about Walker's Point, Milwaukee's oldest neighborhood, with a history dating to the 1830s, and a population of around 8,000 residents.
Where is Walker's Point?
Walker's Point is located in Milwaukee's south side — on Burnham Canal and East Seeboth Street to the north, S. 1st Street to the east, West Greenfield Avenue to the south and South Cesar E. Chavez Drive and N. 16th Street to the west.
How did Walker's Point get its name?
Before it was Walker's Point, the area was a regional hub for trading and communication among tribal communities before the Indian Removal Act in 1830.
The neighborhood is named after George Walker, a Virginia-born developer who settled here in 1834 from Illinois. Walker secured the land title in 1841, which attracted wealthy settlers. The town became a commercial hub with businesses, mansions and churches that still stand today.
What makes Walker's Point special?
The diversity of Walker's Point is one of the things that sets it apart. In the early to mid-1800s, different industries in the neighborhood attracted immigrants.
Early settlers came from places like New England, Germany, Czechia and Ireland. Later, immigrants from Norway, Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia and still Ireland and Germany settled in Walker's Point.
The Latino population in Walker's Point began to grow in the 1920s when Congress passed a series of laws that cut off immigration from southern and eastern Europe.
Today, the neighborhood is still home to a large Latino population — though, in recent years, has seen a sharp decline.
Now, Walker's Point is an urban hub for food and entertainment and nightlife.
What are some popular restaurants, shops and things to do in Walker's Point?
Walker's Point Center for the Arts : The WPCA has served Milwaukee's underrepresented artists for 30 years. It's one of Milwaukee's oldest art spaces offering programs for adults and children.
Odd Duck: Former Journal Sentinel dining critic Carol Deptolla called it a "small-plates restaurant serving global dishes made with seasonal and local ingredients."
The restaurant was recently named as one of the best restaurants in the U.S. by USA TODAY.
1033: This restaurant and wine bar opened in summer 2023. The restaurant and wine bar offers European-style happy hour with wines, raw fish and charcuterie. It's perfect for groups looking for an intimate experience.
Zocalo Food Park: An outdoor food park with trucks offering pizza, tacos, bagels and ice cream.
Daync Studio: It offers dance classes in salsa, cumbia, bachata, capoeira and more.
New to the neighborhood? Here’s how to access Milwaukee services.
Walker's Point falls between the 8th and 12th Aldermanic Districts.
Find your garbage and recycling schedule at city.milwaukee.gov/sanitation/GarbageRecyclingSchedules.
Learn how to register to vote and find your polling place at city.milwaukee.gov/election/Voter-Info
Need to borrow tools for a home improvement project? Check out the city’s Tool Loan Center, 2500 W. Capitol Dr. More details at bit.ly/MKE_ToolLoan.
Want to get emailed updates about police activity, new development and more in your neighborhood? Sign up for the city’s e-notify system at city.milwaukee.gov/News-Events/enotify.
Information in this article comes from anthropologists at Urban Anthropology Inc. and past Journal Sentinel coverage.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A guide to the Walker's Point neighborhood in Milwaukee
