The Intriguing History Of The Village Of Greendale

Unlike most towns in Wisconsin, Greendale did not get its start organically. It was actually a planned development that began in the 1930s as part of The New Deal set forth by the Roosevelt administration during the great depression. The intent was to demonstrate just how a modern town in the United States should look.

The planning of this project was quite elaborate. The land just 3 miles southeast of Milwaukee was purchased by the Department of Agriculture. Originally it was 3,400 acres of expansive farmland.

The major component of the plan was to demonstrate the benefits of combining suburban and urban life to optimize the enjoyment of the inhabitants.

It was also intended to provide affordable and quality housing to those with moderate incomes during that time. Finally, in the process of development, it also naturally provided productive employment for thousands of people who had been unable to find steady jobs.

The Early Years

Construction began in July of 1936, and by 1938 families began to move in.

The town was so thoroughly planned that it included numerous businesses, a town hall, a tavern, a movie theater, and a school from the very beginning.

There were initially 572 units inside of 366 buildings intended for housing, which also had relatively nice sized yards for gardening and a place for children to play.

All of the towns public buildings and businesses were located in the center of town with housing surrounding them. This was to create an environment where it was easy to get to work and school no matter where one lived in the town.

The continued development in the years that followed was strictly controlled by associations to ensure that they did not grow too quickly.

The housing requirements were based on income with very strict guidelines, and exceptions were usually only made for professionals to help the town's sustainability. Each family was required to earn a minimum of $1,200 per year and a maximum of $2,700 per year.

After World War II

Once the economy had rebounded completely after World War II, it was felt that the income guidelines were no longer needed.

By 1949, the Public Housing Administration had decided that families could purchase their homes and land from the government at extremely fair prices. This process was mostly completed by 1952.

Those that were lucky enough to become part of this community saw many benefits through the years. They lived in a suburban setting, which at that time wasn't extremely common like it is today, yet were close enough to city life to enjoy the cultural events if they chose to do so.  

Additionally, due to the level of planning, residents had all they needed in a relatively small area, making daily living quite easy.

The Great Depression was a time of great sacrifice and suffering for some, but those who were chosen to work and live in the Village of Greendale were able to escape that reality. It's history is really quite unique in Americana.