3 background setting a general description of the manitowoc area city is prosperous with 1998 population approximately 34 334 located 80 miles north milwaukee and 38 south green bay on western shore lake michigan served by i 43 which provides direct connection to chicago metropolitan areas county seat largest community in as november was 16 5 square recognized both residents visitors high quality life s location lakeshore offers unique aesthetic recreational amenities quiet neighborhoods excellent parks schools help make particularly attractive raise families are generally impressed neatness tidiness condition housing stock recent years many seeking higher safe have moved from larger