Riverwest & Harambee Neighborhoods

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The Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods were settled in the late 1800 by Polish and German immigrants, moving here to live near jobs available in the vibrant manufacturing and business development along the Milwaukee River and Humboldt Blvd. These immigrants worked together to create a foundation of close-knit community, surrounded by their churches, stores, recreation, and fraternal opportunities. Their community strengthened and grew strong roots.

The larger economy and trends have shifted the life of both neighborhoods significantly since then. In the ’60s, a diverse set of new neighbors began moving in. Riverwest became popular with Milwaukee’s counter-culture and artist communities. Puerto Rican and African American families nestled into homes alongside Holton.

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By the  mid-1970s, the once German neighborhood west of Holton had become primarily African-American. The residents named the neighborhood Harambee, which means “all pull together” in Swahili. The next two decades would see Harambee organizing active block clubs, protesting school and housing segregation, and developing social services for those in need, working to reduce crime, and supporting the arts community.

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Together, Riverwest and Harambee contain almost 24,000 residents. To the east,  Riverwest is approximately 16% Black, and 67% white. To the west, Harambee 82% Black and 5%) white.  Both neighborhoods are around 10% Hispanic, with much of Milwaukee's Puerto Rican population living along the Holton Street corridor. But Holton also represents a severe economic divide as well: in 2013, average income west of Holton was $24,975; east, $36,520.

The challenge our community faces today is to build a bridge between these communities and close the disparities. Just as our predecessors bound together to direct the development and redevelopment of our community, RIC seeks to catalyze projects that will help Milwaukee's 53212 flourish in the decades to come.

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