The Catholic Church we attended on the north side of Milwaukee was closed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. It had existed for 114 years, since 1897, at this location. There were many Catholic Churches on the north side of Milwaukee, now, with the closing of our Church, there is only one. The pattern of closing Catholic Churches on the north side is in direct relationship to the growing African American population in the area.

In the 2010 Census, in cities of over 500,000 persons the Milwaukee Metro area is the most segregated city in the USA. (See maps for the top ten segregation cities here.)

In research why our Catholic Church was closed, although we have the most active St. Vincent De Paul Society in the city serving persons in need, I made a map of the north side and of local Churches. There is only one Church left, at the edge of the area. It is considered an “African American” church but is struggling. If you put the two maps together as I do below you will find the most segregated section of Milwaukee (red indicates 85% or more African American) is the same area as the area where the Catholic Church has closed all its churches but one.

Do we have the most segregated city in the USA and the most segregated Catholic Churches presence in the USA in Milwaukee? The maps below speak for themselves.

2011 Census; red is 85%
or more African American

2011 North Side Catholic Church
map; red is one Catholic Church

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