West Allis, WI

The Milwaukee Mile gives West Allis a landmark that predates the automobile: racing began on the oval with horses in 1876, and its first automobile race followed in 1903. The track is part of Wisconsin State Fair Park, the fair's permanent home since 1892 and a year-round complex that hosts hundreds of events. The fair itself occupies 11 days each August; in 2026, the grounds also scheduled an INDYCAR weekend at the Mile. Immediately west of Milwaukee, West Allis had 60,325 residents in the 2020 census and 11.38 square miles of land. Its name preserves the city's industrial origin. Edward P. Allis's machinery company became Allis-Chalmers in 1901 and built a large plant west of Milwaukee the following year. Part of that former manufacturing complex now serves as the Summit Place office center, with a neighboring retail district. Daily community activity is distributed among older commercial corridors, parks, and a notably long-running market.

Historic Downtown extends along Greenfield Avenue from 70th to 76th streets and is the setting for parades, the West Allis A La Carte street festival, and a classic-car show. The West Allis Farmers Market, established in 1919, runs from the first Saturday in May through the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Its Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday market days bring together dozens of independent Wisconsin farmers and producers selling produce, meat, eggs, baked goods, honey, flowers, and plants; selected Fridays add food trucks and live music. Four Milwaukee County parks, more than a dozen city parks, and three biking and hiking trails broaden the outdoor options. The local historical commission maintains a mid-nineteenth-century log schoolhouse at Honey Creek Park and the former Seneca railway station, placing smaller pieces of community history beyond the fairgrounds and factory site.