The new edition of "America's Top-Rated Cities: A Statistical Handbook, 2002" is now available and Milwaukee is once again ranked. Published by Grey House Publishing in Millerton, New York, the "Handbook" uses hundreds of sources to develop a list of "top" cities. Each city profile incorporates information from magazine rankings, federal, state and local stats, newspaper and magazine reports and other data.

The book selected 25 top cities in four regions (Southern, Western, Central and Eastern) and Milwaukee made the list in the Central region.

Even though this list does not prioritize its rankings, Milwaukee's appearance is another indication that the city is making a bigger and brighter impact on the national scene.

The buzz around Milwaukee, its rebirth and quality of life is building. To prove it, we researched some of the many recent rankings for Milwaukee.

• Milwaukee was ranked #42 out of 354 metro areas in Places Rated Almanac. Criteria: cost of living; climate; crime; transportation; job outlook; education; the arts; health care; and recreation. Places Rated Almanac, Millennium Edition, 2000

• Ladies Home Journal ranked America's 200 largest cities based on qualities women surveyed care about most. Milwaukee ranked #72 out of 200. Criteria: crime; lifestyle; education; jobs; health; child care; politics; and the economy. Ladies Home Journal Online, "The Best Cities For Women 2001"

• Time Magazine in its Dec. 14, 2001 issue, named the MAM expansion the #1 Design of the year. Time, Dec. 14, 2001.

• Milwaukee is the best place in the country to live if you're a lesbian, according to Girlfriends magazine. It's better than Seattle, better than San Francisco, even better than Miami Beach. Girlfriends Magazine, Oct., 2001

• Forbes ranked the 40 most populous metro areas in the U.S. in terms of the best places to be single. The Milwaukee metro area was ranked #24. Criteria: number of single people; number of night clubs, bars and restaurants; number of museums, sports teams and live theaters; university population; job growth; cost of living and Forbes "buzz" factor, public perception) Forbes May 8, 2001

• Natural Health ranked the 50 largest urban areas, according to 37 criteria, in terms of "America's Healthiest Cities." The Milwaukee metro area ranked #16. Criteria: amenities; physical health; environment and happiness. Natural Health, April 2001

• Milwaukee was ranked America's Top Underrated City by Utne Reader. They say Milwaukee is "a classic rust belt city that's made a fresh start." Utne Reader, Feb. 2001

• Milwaukee was ranked #33 out of 100 cities surveyed in Child magazine's ranking of the "Best Cities for Families." Criteria: number of pediatricians per capita; proximity to a children's hospital; immunization rates; infant mortality rate; air quality; water quality; school spending; pupil-teacher ratio; availability of parks/green space; nearby recreational opportunities; average commute time; number of sunny days; average cost of a 3-bedroom home; unemployment rate; future job growth; crime rate; percentage of children under 5; mandated minimum child care rations. Child, April 2001

• Zero Population Growth ranked 239 cities in terms of child health, safety, and economic well-being. Milwaukee was ranked #61 out of 140 independent cities (cities with populations greater than 100,000, which were neither major cites nor suburbs/outer cities) and was given a grade of B. Criteria: total population and population growth; percent of population under 18 years of age; number of children's museums; health improvement grade; percent of births to teens; percent of low birthweight births; infant mortality rate; number of Title X-funded clinics; average SAT/ACT scores; average elementary and secondary class size; crime rate; unemployment rate; percent of affordable homes; number of bad air days; park acres per 1000 persons; library circulation per child; and children's program attendance counts. Zero Population Growth, Kid Friendly Cities Report Card 2001

• The Milwaukee metro area was selected by Yahoo! Internet Life as one of "America's Most Wired Cities ... and Towns." The area ranked #61 out of 87. Criteria: home and work net use; user sophistication; domain density; and available content. Yahoo! Internet Life, April 2001