Glendale enjoys a diverse economy including a large manufacturing base and a variety for retailers and health care facilities, all of which help to keep property taxes among the lowest in the state. The city is only five minutes away from downtown Milwaukee, 20 minutes from the airport, and is bisected by an interstate highway. Glendale's industrial parks are home to companies such as Johnson controls, Deluxe Date Corporation, W. H. Brady Company, Columbia Hospital Multiskeletal Division, Forrer Business Interiors, Estabrook Towers by Silos International, Melody Gardens Theater and Opus North Corporation. This city has successfully combined industry with up-scale amenities, providing its residents with a high-quality life style which is clearly evident in the residential sectors. Wooded parks and meandering streams offer home-owners and renters a beautiful, natural setting in which to spend recreation time. [Top of Page]
The early inhabitants of the area were Native Americans whose burial mounds still remain in the Kletzsch Park.
Glendale's first European settlers, for the most part German Lutherans, purchased land here in the 1830s for $1.25 an acre.
One of the area's better know settlements, the community of Good Hope, was built in about 1834 at the present intersection of W. Good Hope Road and N. Green Bay Avenue. It was there that Jefferson Davis, soon to be president of the Confederacy, camped with his crew during a road-surveying project for the government.
This area was part of the Michigan Territory until 1836 when it became part of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Territory.
In 1938, the area - still without its own identity - became part of the Town of Milwaukee when Milwaukee County was divided into the Town of Lake and the Town of MIlwaukee.
The first steps to incorporate Glendale began in 1946 and were met with a fight by the 100 year old City of Milwaukee.
After a census, a special incorporation election and a lengthy court battle with Milwaukee, Glendale was incorporated December 28, 1950.
Despite its comparative youth as a city in its own right, Glendale has a history as old, or older than the whole east side.
Busy shoppers and commuters traveling on Port Washington Road north of Silver Spring Drive scarcely notice a little cemetery that stretches along a narrow section of Lydell Avenue south of Montclaire Avenue. Here, partially hidden from view by vine covered enclosure, is the historic Town of Milwaukee Union Cemetery. Passerby may be attracted by the changing seasonal colors of the thick vegetation along the fences, but few pause to look beyond, where more than one hundred of the area's earliest settlers are buried. Many unmarked graves, identified only by grassy mounds, are testimony to the pioneers who settled the land long before the Menominee and Potawatomi Indians ceded their rights to this area to the American government in the early 1830's.
As Glendale plans for the future, the heritage of the past is treasured and preserved.
One of the early structures, the first meeting house of the old Town of Milwaukee, has been preserved and restored, and was designated as an official city landmark on October 2, 1973. Built in 1872, at a cost of $800, the small, white one-room clapboard structure was built onland donated by Mr. & Mrs. Max Zabel on Bender Road, just west of North Port Washington Road. It served the community almost continually from 1872 until 1862 and was moved to its present location next to the City Hall in 1963. The Glendale Woman's Club was instrumental in the building restoration and in the move to its present location.
Before 1972, the town fathers met in an old grist mill on the west bank of the Milwaukee River, near the waterfall in the current Kletzsch Park. Meetings were also held in a schoolhouse on Green Bay Avenue. Minutes of the town meetings were read in both German and English.
In the 47 years since its official birth as an incorporated city in 1950, Glendale has experienced exceptional growth and development and is today recognized as one of the busiest of the northeast Milwaukee suburbs. This narrow corridor to the west of Fox Point, Whitefish Bay and Shorewood which consists of 5 1/2 square miles has grown from a mere 3,100 residents since its separation from the old Town of Milwaukee to 14,800 and it is the only north shore suburb that, from its beginning, has permitted and encouraged extensive and well controlled industrial growth and commercial development along with high quality residential areas. [Top of Page]
The education system in Glendale is among the top in the entire State of Wisconsin, recognized as an established leader and sets the standard for schools in Milwaukee County and the nation.
Glendale is served by an excellent K-8 educational system that consisting of two elementary schools and a middle school. The schools' curriculum, low student-to-teacher ratios and excellent facilities prepare children for the future. In addition, St. John's Lutheran School, located in Glendale, and several other private schools, located in the North Shore area, provide curriculum comparable to the Glendale public schools and compatible with Nicolet High School requirements. St. Francis Children's Activity Center, a non-profit, non-sectarian school, is sponsored by the Wisconsin Society for Brain Injured Children. It serves disabled children from birth through age 12.
The city's exceptionally high standard of education is exemplified by a long list of awards and accomplishments by Nicolet HIgh School, the largest grade 9-12 secondary school in Milwaukee County. A recent issue of Redbook Magazine ranked Nicolet High School as one of the top 42 schools in the nation, and Nicolet has been recognized as a blue ribbon school. Over 84 percent of the students who graduate from Nicolet go on to attend a four year college, another 9.4 percent attend a two-year college. The high percentage is the result of a well qualified and dedicated staff. Nicolet has 104 certified teachers, 83 percent of them have masters of doctorate degrees.
Nicolet offers 7 different languages as well as a superior theater program and 21 sports programs. Recent expansion of its technology program now provides students with exposure to the most recent technological advancements in education. The school's student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3 to 1; students' experience is further enhanced by the involvement of parents and students.
Adult education opportunities abound in Glendale. Cardinal Stritch College is a comprehensive, co-educational college proud of its Catholic traditions and reputation for providing a value-centered education to its diverse student body. The 2nd largest independent college in Wisconsin, Cardinal Stritch offers academic programs rooted in the liberal arts tradition, including Arts and Science, Business and Management, and Teacher Education. Cardinal Stritch provides a peaceful academic setting on its 41-acre Glendale campus. The City is also home to an extension of Milwaukee Area Technical College, in addition, three major universities - UW Milwaukee, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Marquette University - are within minutes of Glendale. [Top of Page]
Glendale features diverse neighborhoods with an appealing mix of housing types and styles. Along streets lines with trees, potential residents may choose from homes designed for the successful business executive or professional to the young person or couple seeking their first home. Subdivisions like Clovernook Estates, Brantwood Lakes and Glendale's newest subdivision River Park Meadows, offering sprawling ranch homes and attractive two-story dwellings appealing to business executives with growing families. New housing developments like Glengary Park and Nicolet Park offer luxury townhouse living, with several other townhouse developments available for the person looking to build equity in their first home.
Single family prices start at $60,000 and range up to $325,000. The vast majority of the houses in Glendale are priced in the $80,000 to 275,000 range. Property taxes are among the lowest in Milwaukee suburbs over the past decade. [Top of Page]
Glendale residents benefit from the services for 2 community recreation departments and a senior citizen club. Both provide year round schedules of programs and activities for the entire City. Three major Milwaukee County parks also serve the community and augment recreation facilities.
Over 50 varied seasonal activities are offered by the recreation department annually. Extensive summer programs are available to youngsters from K-7th grade. Summer academic and enrichment workshops are offered for grades 1-7. Organized team sports include softball, soccer and basketball. Water sports, swimming lessons and open family swimming are scheduled at the Glen Hills Middle School Pool.
Three major Milwaukee County parks and smaller neighborhood parks and playgrounds provide Glendale residents with convenient access to a wide variety of recreational facilities. [Top of Page]
Glendale is unquestionably int he most strategic location for business and industry in all of southeastern Wisconsin. 143, the major North-South interstate highway, runs through the community, and connects to I-94, the major East-West interstate highway, three miles to the south of Glendale. This provides a convenient connection for all highways is the location of the Mitchell International Airport, 14 miles south of Glendale. The downtown area of Milwaukee four miles south, just a seven minute drive on 143. All locations are within 20 minutes travel time. These strategic location factors have attracted major business and industrial firms to the community. There are approximately 800 businesses located in Glendale. Collectively these firms employ over 17,000 people. [Top of Page]
The variety of quality retail stores and excellent business services offers residents and visitors to Glendale more goods and services than ever before. The Bay Shore Shopping Center with its 81 shops, including restaurants, Sears, Boston Store and additional clothing and shoe stores. There are two major commercial areas located within Glendale. In addition the downtown area of Milwaukee is located four miles from Glendale. [Top of Page]
Cultural life is brought to the residents and visitors to Glendale in various venues. For example, the performing arts feature the work of numerous groups including the Nicolet High School Theater Department.
The visual arts are supported and encouraged by the Layton Honor Art Gallery of Cardinal Stritch College.
Good old summertime entertainment is provided by the 4th of July Committee, a volunteer group, with the holiday parade and full day of activities. Music in The Glen series, which runs for 8 weeks, sponsored by community businesses and the Recreation Department.
Something that is always present is our outstanding North Shore Public Library. This facility doubles as a learning center and a cultural hub for all our citizens. This library is affiliated with the Milwaukee County Library and shares resources with three other communities enabling patrons to borrow books from 27 different locations. The library has the technology to accommodate patrons' need through On-Line-Public-Access. Over 35 million books, CDs, tapes and videos are available for rent. [Top of Page]
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