Riverwest Milwaukee is a diverse residential neighborhood nestled along the west edge of the Milwaukee river, known for being a small-scale melting pot, with a wide breadth of ethnic and racial diversity. According to demographic data, the residents of Riverwest identify as 63% African American, 28% white and roughly 10% either Asian/Pacific Islander, Indian, mixed race, or other. It's also an age-diverse neighborhood, with the percentage of nearly every age range in the teens or twenties (the exception being an 8% population of residents aged 65 or older). Over half of households in Riverwest consist of 1-3 people, with 32% one-person residences, suggesting that many are young, single individuals and that family sizes are small.
When it comes to employment, residents work in a variety of industries. The most common is education/health, at 25%, followed by manufacturing (13%), retail/wholesale (13%), arts & entertainment (12%) and professional (10%). Other industries, such as transportation and construction, come in at less than 10% of the population. Overall, 61% of residents make less than $30,000 a year, with an additional 33% making between $30,000 and $74,999 a year. It is important to note that the high rate of those who listed education as an industry and the high percentage of low-income residents may be influenced by the large number of university students due to the proximity of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
Even with the variety of ethnicities, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds, the majority of Riverwest residents (61%) were born in the state of Wisconsin. In addition to its multi-ethnic influence, the deep roots of Wisconsin still beat strong at the heart of this unique Milwaukee neighborhood.
The area's strong sense of community is exemplified in its non-profits and volunteer organizations. The Riverwest Neighborhood Association is a local organization focused on providing support and education to neighborhood residents, as well as developing the overall feeling of community as a whole. Other volunteer and nonprofit organizations are in abundance, including a community newspaper, a nonprofit bookstore called "Woodland Pattern Book Center," Riverwest Garden Market, and a community radio station (Riverwest Radio). It's also a neighborhood of co-ops, with a co-op grocery store, co-op bookstore (People's Books), co-op bar (The Public House) and an investment co-op. The neighborhood also shows strong values toward social outreach and helping the needy, with organizations like the Hunger Task Force, All People's Church, COA Youth & Family Centers and Meta House, a women's only substance abuse treatment program.
Riverwest also holds several annual festivals and events, including "Riverwest 24" (a 24-hour bike race with live music and block parties), the Riverwest Art Walk (the largest walking tour of artists' studios and homes in the state of Wisconsin), a rousing motorcycle and scooter rally called "Rockerbox," and traditional gatherings like Locust Street Days and Center Street Daze, which provide a small-town feel at the center of the big city.
In addition to the annual Art Walk and other professional gallery venues, Riverwest is also a fantastic place to spy unique street and folk art. Various homes sport eclectic decorations and large-scale street paintings, as well as unique locally-created sculpture. Overall, the look of Riverwest's local art is deeply multicultural, urban, and uniquely American folk.
Area businesses are just as diverse as the residents, with shops, restaurants and more ranging from organic, locally-grown food stores to industrial glass manufacturers to authentic Thai restaurants and Indian yoga studios. As a primarily residential neighborhood, Riverwest also has the usual, everyday living businesses--hair salons, a florist, a smoke shop, a tattoo parlor, etc. There's also the presence of classic Wisconsin pub culture, with Riverwest pub crawls for locals and visitors, small local bars and the popular Lakefront Brewery, Inc., which calls itself "the southernmost point in Riverwest."
Due to a combination of increased real estate values in east Milwaukee neighborhoods and Riverwest's proximity to the University downtown, this riverside neighborhood has recently become a new, popular hot-spot for prospective home buyers in the Milwaukee metro. Current housing listings are quite affordable, with a median price of roughly $111,000. The cost of living in Riverwest is reasonable as well, given that the majority of the neighborhood's residents are low to middle-income, earning $74,999 or below per year (possibly in part due to the large number of full-time students in the area).
Young people looking for a first home for a possible future family can find reasonably-priced housing in an area surrounded by dozens of Milwaukee area school options (public, private and/or parochial). Individuals who are a little further down the road of life and looking to move closer to downtown (without downtown prices) can find an exciting, comfortable lifestyle in a higher-end condo right along the Milwaukee River. Those seeking a more temporary abode can find ideal money-saving rental options in the areas "Polish flats," duplexes and bungalows to get a taste of the vibrant Riverwest Milwaukee neighborhood before deciding to buy.
Life in Riverwest Milwaukee is a charming microcosm of America with a broad variety of unique residents, businesses and community interests. Its closeness to the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee brings in fresh new ideas from young, educated residents, and all the excitement of downtown is just a river-walk away. If you attend the nearby University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee or plan to work (or simply spend a lot of time) in the downtown area, this melting-pot neighborhood may be an especially great choice for you. It's also a perfect choice if you simply want to uphold a multicultural lifestyle that allows them to come into contact with new and unique people, perspectives and experiences on a regular basis.
