Milwaukee the Midwest. Because of its easy access to Lake Michigan and other waterways, Milwaukee's Menomonee Valley has historically been home to manufacturing, stockyards, rendering plants, shipping, and other heavy industry. Reshaping of the valley began with the railroads built by city co-founder Byron Kilbourn to bring product from Wisconsin's farm interior to the port. By 1862 Milwaukee was the largest shipper of wheat on the planet, and related industry developed. Grain elevators were built and, due to Milwaukee's dominant German immigrant population, breweries sprang up around the processing of barley and hops. A number of tanneries were constructed, of which
Milwaukee City Conference first year in which separate tournaments were held based on enrollment size. Three city schools won consecutive titles when Milwaukee Tech (1979), North Division (1980) and Madison (1981) each took home a Class A crown. Milwaukee Tech (now Bradley Tech) repeated its success in 1983. Since then, 14 titles have gone to one of three City schools: Rufus King (1984, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2004), Washington (1985, 1987, 1990, 1993) and Vincent (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001). South Division put together a string of five consecutive Class A (now Division 1) titles from 1985 to 1989. Vincent has won three Division