Downtown Milwaukee is bisected by the Milwaukee River. In the city's earliest days rival settlements (Juneau Village and Kilbourn Town) were founded on each side of the river.
East Town (originally Juneau Village) is located between the river and the lake. It's currently home to the central business district, city hall, the Pabst Theater, and the Milwaukee Art Museum.
West Town (originally Kilbourn Town) is located between the river and I-43/Marquette. This area has undergone more development in recent years, and additional new development is planned for the northern area. West town is home to the Shops at Grand Avenue, the Bradley Center, Old World Third Street, the Milwaukee County Courthouse, the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Milwaukee Public Library Main Branch, and the US Cellular Arena.
Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MilwaukeeCategory:
downtown urban area