The district was created in the 1972 redistricting act (1971 Wisc. Act 304) which first established the numbered district system, replacing the previous system which allocated districts to specific counties.[5] The 16th district was drawn somewhat in line with the previous Milwaukee County 2nd district, with some of the southwest wards exchanged for more in the southeast and northeast.[6]
With the exception of the 1982 court-ordered redistricting plan, which moved the district to cover West Allis,[7] in the western part of the county, the district has otherwise remained in north-central Milwaukee County within the boundaries of the city of Milwaukee. The current 16th Assembly district is only slightly south of the original boundaries of the district, and contains several of the same neighborhoods.
The 16th district has been represented by two of the youngest members of the Assembly in Wisconsin history, Michael Elconin, who entered office in 1973 at age 19, and current representative Kalan Haywood, who was also only 19 when sworn in in 2019.
^ abWisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1977). "Biographies"(PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1977 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 32–33. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1981). "Biographies"(PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 32–33. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1983). "Biographies"(PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 36–37. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1991). "Biographies"(PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1991-1992 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 32–33. Retrieved February 11, 2021.