La Crosse, Wisconsin

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La Crosse, Wisconsin
—  City  —
Overlooking La Crosse from Granddad Bluff

Seal
Location in the state of Wisconsin
Coordinates: 43°48′48″N 91°13′59″W / 43.81333°N 91.23306°W / 43.81333; -91.23306Coordinates: 43°48′48″N 91°13′59″W / 43.81333°N 91.23306°W / 43.81333; -91.23306
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County La Crosse
Government
 • Mayor Tim Kabat
Area[1]
 • City 22.54 sq mi (58.38 km2)
 • Land 20.52 sq mi (53.15 km2)
 • Water 2.02 sq mi (5.23 km2)
Elevation 669 ft (204 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • City 51,320
 • Estimate (2011[3]) 51,719
 • Density 2,501.0/sq mi (965.6/km2)
 • Urban 87,566
 • Metro 135,298
Time zone Central (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) Central (UTC-5)
Zip Code 54601, 54602, 54603
Area code(s) 608
FIPS code 55-40775[4]
GNIS feature ID 1567672[5]
Website www.cityoflacrosse.org

La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.

The population according to the 2011 census estimate was 51,719.[6] The city forms the core of, and is the principal city in the La Crosse Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of La Crosse County and Houston County, Minnesota, with a combined population of 135,298.[7] La Crosse is a college town and is the home to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and Western Technical College.

Contents

History [edit]

La Crosse was incorporated as a city in 1856, but its history dates further. The first Europeans to see the site of La Crosse were French fur traders who traveled the Mississippi River in the late 17th century. There is no written record, however, of any visit to the site until 1805, when Lt. Zebulon Pike mounted an expedition up the Mississippi River for the United States. Pike recorded the location's name as "Prairie La Crosse." The name originated when he saw the Native Americans playing a game with sticks that resembled a bishop's crozier or la crosse in French.[8]

The first white settlement at La Crosse occurred in 1841 when Nathan Myrick, a New York native, moved to the village at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin to work in the fur trade. Myrick was disappointed to find that because many fur traders were already well-entrenched there, there were no openings for him in the trade. As a result, he decided to establish a trading post upriver at the then still unsettled site of Prairie La Crosse. In 1841, he built a temporary trading post on Barron Island (now called Pettibone Park), which lies just west of La Crosse's present downtown. The following year, Myrick relocated the post to the mainland prairie, partnering with H.J.B. Miller to run the outfit.[9][10]

The spot Myrick chose to build his trading post proved ideal for settlement. It was near the junction of the Black, La Crosse, and Mississippi Rivers. In addition, the post was built at one of the few points along the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River where a broad plain ideal for development existed between the river's bank and the tall bluffs that line the river valley. Because of these advantages, a small village grew around Myrick's trading post in the 1840s.

A small Mormon community settled at La Crosse in 1844, building several dozen cabins a few miles south of Myrick's post. Although these settlers relocated away from the Midwest after just a year, the land they occupied near La Crosse continues to bear the name Mormon Coulee.[11]

On June 23, 1850, Father James Lloyd Breck of the Episcopal Church said the first Christian liturgy (Episcopalian liturgy) on top of Grandad Bluff.[12] Today a monument to that event stands atop the bluff, near the parking lot at a scenic overlook.

More permanent development took place closer to Myrick's trading post, where stores, a hotel, and a post office were constructed during the 1840s. Under the direction of Timothy Burns, lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, surveyor William Hood platted the village in 1851. This opened it up for further settlement, which was achieved rapidly as a result of promotion of the city in eastern newspapers. By 1855, La Crosse had grown in population to nearly two thousand residents, leading to its incorporation in 1856. The city grew even more rapidly after 1858 with the completion of the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad, the second railroad connecting Milwaukee to the Mississippi River.

During the second half of the 19th century, La Crosse grew to become one of the largest cities in Wisconsin. At that time, it was a major economic center in the state, especially of the lumber industry, for logs cut in the interior of the state could be rafted down the Black River toward sawmills built in the city. La Crosse also became a center for the brewing industry and other manufacturers that saw advantages in the city's location adjacent to major transportation arteries, such as the Mississippi River and the railroad between Milwaukee and St. Paul, Minnesota. Around the turn of the 20th century, the city also became a center for education, with three colleges and universities established in the city between 1890 and 1912.

La Crosse remains the largest city on Wisconsin's western border, and the educational institutions in the city have recently led it toward becoming a regional technology and medical hub.

Geography [edit]

Grandad Bluff in La Crosse

La Crosse is located on the western border of the midsection of Wisconsin, on a broad alluvial plain along the east side of the Mississippi River. The Black River empties into the Mississippi north of the city, and the La Crosse River flows into the Mississippi just north of the downtown area. Just upriver from its mouth, this river broadens into a marshland that splits the city into two distinct sections, north and south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.54 square miles (58.38 km2), of which, 20.52 square miles (53.15 km2) is land and 2.02 square miles (5.23 km2) is water.[1]

Surrounding the relatively flat prairie valley where La Crosse lies are towering 500 ft bluffs, one of the most prominent of which is Grandad Bluff (mentioned in Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain), which has an overlook of the three states region. This feature typifies the topography of the Driftless Area in which La Crosse sits. This rugged region is composed of high ridges dissected by narrow valleys called coulees, a French term. As a result, the area around La Crosse is frequently referred to as the "Coulee Region".

Climate [edit]

La Crosse's location in the United States' upper midwest gives the area a temperate, continental climate.[13] The warmest month of the year is July, when the average high temperature is 85 °F (29 °C), with overnight low temperatures averaging 63 °F (18 °C). January is the coldest month, with high temperatures averaging 26 °F (-4 °C), with the overnight low temperatures around 6 °F (-14 °C).[14]

Climate data for La Crosse, Wisconsin (La Crosse Municipal Airport)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 57
(14)		 65
(18)		 84
(29)		 93
(34)		 107
(42)		 102
(39)		 108
(42)		 105
(41)		 101
(38)		 93
(34)		 80
(27)		 67
(19)		 108
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 25.5
(−3.6)		 32.4
(0.2)		 44.6
(7)		 59.7
(15.4)		 72.5
(22.5)		 81.3
(27.4)		 85.7
(29.8)		 82.5
(28.1)		 73.7
(23.2)		 61.1
(16.2)		 43.6
(6.4)		 29.9
(−1.2)		 57.71
(14.28)
Average low °F (°C) 6.3
(−14.3)		 12.8
(−10.7)		 24.5
(−4.2)		 37.1
(2.8)		 48.7
(9.3)		 57.9
(14.4)		 63.1
(17.3)		 60.7
(15.9)		 51.7
(10.9)		 40.1
(4.5)		 27.4
(−2.6)		 13.6
(−10.2)		 36.99
(2.76)
Record low °F (°C) −43
(−42)		 −36
(−38)		 −28
(−33)		 7
(−14)		 26
(−3)		 33
(1)		 44
(7)		 35
(2)		 24
(−4)		 6
(−14)		 −21
(−29)		 −37
(−38)		 −43
(−42)
Precipitation inches (mm) 1.19
(30.2)		 .99
(25.1)		 2.00
(50.8)		 3.38
(85.9)		 3.38
(85.9)		 4.00
(101.6)		 4.25
(108)		 4.28
(108.7)		 3.40
(86.4)		 2.16
(54.9)		 2.10
(53.3)		 1.23
(31.2)		 32.36
(821.9)
Snowfall inches (cm) 13.0
(33)		 8.0
(20.3)		 7.2
(18.3)		 2.0
(5.1)		 trace 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 .4
(1)		 4.4
(11.2)		 11.2
(28.4)		 44.4
(112.8)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.5 7.6 9.6 10.8 11.0 11.0 10.8 10.4 9.6 8.3 8.9 9.3 116.8
Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 8.4 6.0 4.4 1.3 0 0 0 0 0 .3 3.2 7.1 30.7
Source #1: NOAA (normals 1971–2000, extremes 1948–2001)[15]
Source #2: The Weather Channel (extreme temps)[16]

Neighborhoods and districts [edit]

La Crosse has 17 voting districts (wards).[17] Neighborhoods in the city include:

  • Washburn
  • Historic Cass & King
  • Historic downtown
  • Northside (Upper and Lower) and Old Towne
  • Hungary Point
  • Mud City
  • College Park(UW–La Crosse campus district)

Suburbs include French Island in the Town of Campbell, Holmen the Town of Medary, City of Onalaska, and the Town of Shelby.

Diversity [edit]

The first Southeast Asian refugees to arrive in La Crosse came in 1974. It was a Vietnamese family of five. Then in 1975, the first Cambodian family (of three) settled in this area. The first Hmong refugees arrived in June 1976. During the next few years, the number of refugees from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam continued to increase. By 1982, there were approximately 800 Southeast Asian refugees in La Crosse.

To meet the needs of the increasing refugee population, the La Crosse Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association (HMAA) was formed and incorporated as a non-profit, tax exempt agency in December 1982. Today, the Asian population in La Crosse is over 4,000.[18]

Demographics [edit]

According to 2008-2010 ACS estimates, the median household income was $36,728 and the median family income was $54,604. Males had a median income of $35,713 versus $28,283 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,408. About 14.3% of families and 24.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census [edit]

At the 2010 census,[19] there were 51,320 people, 21,428 households and 9,691 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,501.5 per square mile (965.6/km²). There were 22,628 housing units at an average density of 1,102.7 per square mile (425.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.8% White, 2.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, 4.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 21,428 households of which 19.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.8% were non-families. 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.86.

16.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 26.5% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

View of the Mississippi River from Riverside Park

Government and politics [edit]

The city government employs a weak mayor form of the mayor-council system. The mayor is elected at-large, while the 17 members of the Common Council are elected per ward.[20] The mayor is Tim Kabat, a progressive.[21]

La Crosse is a Democratic stronghold in local, state and national politics. Both the City of La Crosse and La Crosse County have voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1988.[22] In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama won 69% of the City of La Crosse[23] and 61% of La Crosse County.[24]

In the United States Congress, Democrat Ron Kind has represented La Crosse as part of Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district since 1997. The city is almost coterminous with the 95th Wisconsin State Assembly District and is represented by Democrat Jill Billings. Additionally, Democrat Steve Doyle currently represents suburban La Crosse County in the 94th Assembly District. La Crosse is part of the State Senate District 32 and is represented by Democrat Jennifer Shilling.

Mayors[25] [edit]

  • Thomas Benton Stoddard (1856)
  • E. D. Campbell (1857)
  • David Taylor (1858)
  • James I. Lyndes (D) (1859)
  • John M. Levy (1860)
  • Wilson Colwel (1861)
  • A. W. Pettibone (1862 – 1864)
  • W. J. Lloyd (1865)
  • John M. Levy (1866 – 1867)
  • Theodore Rodolf (1868)
  • Charles. L. Colman (1869)
  • Theodore Rodolf (1870)
  • Alexander McMillan (1871)
  • James I. Lyndes (1872)
  • Gysbert Van Steenwyk, Sr. (1873 – 1874)[26]
  • Gilbert M. Woodward (1874 – 1875)[26]
  • James J. Hogan (1875 – 1876)
  • George Edwards (1877)
  • David Law (1878 - 1879)
  • Joseph Clark (1880)
  • H. F. Smiley (1881)
  • David Law (1882 - 1883)
  • W. A. Roosevelt (1884)
  • D. Frank Powell (1885 – 1886)
  • David Austin (1887 – 1888)
  • John Dengler (1889 – 1890)
  • F. A. Copeland (1892)[26]
  • D. Frank Powell (1893 – 1896)
  • James McCord (1897 – 1898)
  • W. A. Anderson (1899 – 1900)
  • Joseph Boschert (1901 – 1902)
  • William Torrance (1903 – 1906)
  • Ori J. Sorenson (1909 - 1910) [27]
  • Arthur A. Bentley (1915 – 1923)[28]
  • Henry J. Ahrens (1950 – 1955)[26]
  • Milo Knutson (1955-1965)[29]
  • Warren Loveland (1965-1971)[30]
  • W. Peter Gilbertson (1971–1975)
  • Patrick Zielke (April 20, 1975 – April 15, 1997)[31]
  • John Medinger (April 15, 1997 – April 19, 2005)
  • Mark Johnsrud (April 19, 2005 – April 21, 2009)
  • Matt Harter (April 21, 2009 - April 16, 2013)
  • Tim Kabat (April 16, 2013-present)[32]

Economy [edit]

La Crosse is the original home and international headquarters of several corporations, including:

Largest employers [edit]

As of February, 2012 the 10 largest employers in La Crosse were:[38]

  1. Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center
  2. Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare
  3. Trane
  4. Kwik Trip
  5. School District of La Crosse
  6. La Crosse County
  7. University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
  8. City of La Crosse
  9. Logistics Health Incorporated
  10. CenturyTel

Tourism [edit]

  • Shopping

La Crosse and the surrounding communities form a regional commercial center and shopping hub. In the northeastern part of the city lies the region's largest shopping center, Valley View Mall. The surrounding area includes numerous big-box stores, and many restaurants. Other shopping centers in the La Crosse region include Three Rivers Plaza, Marsh View Center, Shelby Mall, Jackson Plaza, Bridgeview Plaza, and the Village Shopping Center. Downtown La Crosse has continued to grow in recent years, providing shopping, farmers' markets, hotels, restaurants, specialty shops, and events at La Crosse Center alongside the Mississippi River.[39]

  • Convention Center

The La Crosse Center is a 10,000 seat multi-purpose indoor arena built in 1980 in downtown La Crosse on the Mississippi River. It is also a convention center offering 21,600 square feet (2,010 m2) of exhibit space, a 45-foot (14 m) ceiling height, a 60-by-40-foot stage, two locker rooms and three dressing rooms. There is also a 14,935-square-foot (1,388 m2) North Hall which can open up to be used in combination with the arena, and a 38,740-square-foot (3,599 m2) South Exhibit Hall. The three venues total 75,275 square feet (6,993 m2) of exhibit space. The complex also contains 9,432 square feet (876 m2) of meeting room space in five meeting rooms, which can be divided into nine meeting rooms.[40]

While both exhibit halls and the arena are used for trade shows, conventions, meetings and banquets, the arena is also used for sporting events, concerts, circuses, ice shows, and other events.

Media [edit]

Print publications [edit]

La Crosse's largest newspaper is the daily La Crosse Tribune. The Second Supper, a free weekly tabloid with material of interest to the under-30 demographic group, is also published in the area, as are two shoppers, the Foxxy Shopper and the Buyer's Express. The Racquet is the University of Wisconsin La Crosse's free weekly paper.

Coulee Parenting Connection is a magazine serving families in the La Crosse area.

Television [edit]

The major network television affiliates in La Crosse are: ABC affiliate WXOW; CBS affiliate WKBT; Fox affiliate WLAX and PBS affiliate WHLA. Also two NBC affiliates; WEAU, from Eau Claire and KTTC from Rochester, Minnesota. An independent station, KQEG-CA, is also in La Crosse.

AM radio [edit]

FM radio [edit]

Education [edit]

Maurice O. Graff Main Hall, located on the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse campus

The La Crosse area is served by the School District of La Crosse, with an enrollment of 7,012 students in 2009,[41] making it the 16th largest school district in the state. The district has 19 elementary, middle, high and charter schools.[41] La Crosse Central High School and Logan High School are the two public high schools serving the La Crosse area. The La Crosse School District has 631 teachers.[41]

Private in La Crosse include Waldorf School and Three Rivers School.

La Crosse Aquinas Catholic Schools, a Roman Catholic school district affiliated with the Diocese of La Crosse, is centered in the city and includes Aquinas High School, and Aquinas Middle School.[42] Another Roman Catholic school, the Providence Academy, is independent from the district and has no affiliation with the Diocese.[43]

La Crosse is the home of three regional colleges and universities, the public University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and Western Technical College, and the Roman Catholic Viterbo University. The Health Science Center is a combined effort of all the La Crosse medical centers, universities and government agencies to advance students in the medical fields.[44]

Health care [edit]

Two major regional health care facilities are located in La Crosse: Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center and Franciscan Skemp Medical Center, a Mayo Clinic affiliate.

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center is a regional health care facility located in La Crosse that is also an ACS nationally certified Level II Trauma Center. It is the primary hospital associated with the Gundersen Clinic medical group and the location of the Western campus for the University of Wisconsin Medical School. The Gundersen Lutheran Health System, headquartered in La Crosse, manages 23 locations throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa with nearly 6,000 employees.[45][46] Since 2005, the system has annually been ranked by Thomson Reuters Healthcare in the Top 100 National Hospitals, as well as received HealthGrades 2011 5-star rating award.[47]

Franciscan Skemp Medical Center is an affiliate of Mayo Clinic. Franciscan Skemp, which was the first western Wisconsin hospital to open its doors in 1883 as St. Francis Hospital, was started by the Catholic Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, who still are associated with the medical center. In 1995, Franciscan Skemp merged with Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Rochester, Minnesota, located only 60 miles away. A new trauma and emergency department, helicopter pad, and surgery wing recently opened in 2007.[48]

The Health Science Center, located on the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse campus, is a combined effort of both medical centers, UW–La Crosse, Viterbo University, Western College, the School District of La Crosse, and various government educational groups. The purpose was to prepare and train students for advancement in the medical field.[49]

Tap water [edit]

La Crosse's tap drinking water, which is raised from a deep underground Artesian aquifer, won the best natural tasting water award in September 2007 in a statewide tasting competition hosted by the Wisconsin Water Association. The city competed against groundwater and surface water utilities from Algoma, Appleton, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Pell Lake, Shawano, Shawano Lake and Watertown at the annual meeting of the association. La Crosse’s drinking water is pumped from deep ground wells to a distribution center and is treated with chlorine and fluoride; some wells are also treated with polyphosphate.

Transportation [edit]

View of the Cass St. and Cameron Ave. Bridges, which both cross the Mississippi River, from Riverside Park in Downtown La Crosse.

The La Crosse Municipal Airport provides direct scheduled passenger service to Minneapolis, Detroit, and Chicago through Delta Air Lines and its Northwest links, Mesaba, Compass, and Pinnacle, as well as American Airlines link American Eagle Airlines. Sun Country and Xtra Airways provide charter service to Laughlin, Elko, Nevada, and other destinations. The airport also serves general aviation for the La Crosse region.[50]

The city is served by several major highways and Interstate, including Interstate 90, U.S. Highway 14, U.S. Highway 53, U.S. Highway 61, Wisconsin State Highway 35, Wisconsin State Highway 16, Wisconsin State Highway 33.

The City of La Crosse's MTU bus service with routes reaching out to the suburbs served over one million users in 2007.[51]

On the Mississippi River, cargo is transported to and from this area to St Paul and St Louis, using towboats, primarily moving dry bulk cargo barges for coal, grain, and other low-value bulk goods.

The Mississippi River Bridge, also known as the Cass St. bridge and the newer Cameron Street bridge (photo with blue arch) both connect downtown La Crosse with La Crescent, Minnesota. These two bridges cross the Mississippi River, as does the Interstate 90 bridge located just northwest of La Crosse, connecting Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Railroad tracks owned by Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) pass through La Crosse providing freight service. The former Milwaukee and La Crosse Railroad/Milwaukee Road/Soo Line and now Canadian Pacific Railway runs through the city as well. It provides the track on which the La Crosse Amtrak station is located, and is a stop for the Empire Builder providing cross-country passenger rail service.

Culture [edit]

Water fountain in downtown La Crosse

La Crosse has over 30 active arts organizations.[52] The Pump House Regional Arts Center hosts visual arts exhibits throughout the year plus its own series of jazz, folk, and blues performers. The La Crosse Symphony is the city's regional orchestra and the La Crosse Community Theater has won both regional and national acclaim.[citation needed] Other arts sites include Viterbo University Fine Arts building, UW–La Crosse Art Gallery and Theater, and the La Crosse Center, which hosts national performers.[53][54]

Bars and clubs [edit]

La Crosse has many bars and nightclubs in the downtown central business district, as well as many neighborhood bars and grills. Third Street, a main traffic and tourist route downtown, is well known for at one time supposedly having the most bars on a one mile stretch of road in the United States.[55]

Annual events [edit]

Gallery of Historic Places [edit]

Buildings, sites, structures, districts, and objects in La Crosse listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Religion [edit]

Catholic [edit]

The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse was commissioned by Cardinal Raymond Burke while he was Bishop of La Crosse, was designed by architect Duncan Stroik, and was dedicated by Burke in 2009

La Crosse is the episcopal see for the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse. The Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman is the mother church of the Diocese. St. Rose of Viterbo Convent, the mother house of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration is in La Crosse. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is in La Crosse.

Protestant [edit]

Multiple churches of various denominations including Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Vineyard, Presbyterian, independent and non-denominational.

The La Crosse Area ELCA Synod includes 43,600 members from 81 congregations in 10 counties in western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota.[56]

Christ Church of La Crosse is the city's Episcopal church.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) has an active congregation, La Crosse Ward, in neighboring community Onalaska.

Orthodox [edit]

St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church is the city's Eastern Orthodox Church.

Jewish [edit]

The Congregation Sons of Abraham is in La Crosse.

Muslim [edit]

Islamic Society Othman Bin Afaan is the city's Islamic mosque.

Sports [edit]

La Crosse has multiple semi-professional sports teams. The La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods League, play at their home field at Copeland Park on the north side of La Crosse in the summer months.[57] In the past, La Crosse has been home to the Catbirds and the Bobcats of the CBA, as well as the River Rats of the IFL, the Spartans of the IFL and the Night Train of the NIFL.

La Crosse is also home to the NCAA Division III University of Wisconsin–La Crosse (UW–L) Eagles. The university's 10,000 seat Veterans Memorial Field for football (turf field) and outdoor timed track opened in the 2009. The stadium will continue to host the WIAA Wisconsin high school outdoor track and field state championships in June.[58][59]

In the winter season, the Coulee Region Chill is a team in the North American Hockey League that began playing in September 2010 at the Omni Center in Onalaska.[60] Additionally, Mt. La Crosse, the areas only ski hill which opened in 1959 provides eighteen slopes and trails in the winter months. The ski hill is home to Damnation!, Mid-America's steepest trail.[61]

The La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, located in nearby West Salem, is the first and only paved NASCAR-sanctioned asphalt stock car racing track in Wisconsin.[62]

Hunting and fishing are very popular all seasons of the year, and the Mississippi and other rivers, sloughs, creeks, lakes, the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge, and hilltops and valleys with public woodlands are available to sportsmen and families.

Awards and rankings [edit]

  • 2002 - National Trust for Historic Preservation Great American Main Street Award[63]
  • 2003 - Milken Institute Best Performing Cities (20th Overall)[64][dead link]
  • 2005 - Inc. magazine's 4th Best Small City for Doing Business[65]
  • 2005 - Inc. magazine's 15th Best City in America to Do Business[66]
  • 2005 - Forbes 25th Best Place [67]
  • 2006 - 7th Safest Metropolitan Area in the Nation - Morgan Quitno Press[68]
  • 2006 - Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked La Crosse 16th "Smartest Place to Live in U.S.[69]
  • 2007 - Country Home magazine ranked La Crosse 12th Best Green City in America and second among small cities, behind Corvallis, Ore.[70]
  • 2009 - U.S. News ranked La Crosse 6th best place to live in the country.[71]
  • 2009 - Farmers Insurance Group ranked La Crosse - Winona, MN area the 20th most secure place to live in the United States among small towns.[72]
  • 2010 - Most Secure Places to Live in the US (Small Towns) - Sperling's Best Places[73]

Notable residents and natives [edit]

Sister cities [edit]

La Crosse has town twinning relationships with six foreign towns and cities:

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-18. 
  2. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-02. 
  3. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-02. 
  4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  6. ^ http://www.doa.state.wi.us/docview.asp?locid=9&docid=7268
  7. ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/index.html
  8. ^ La Crosse [origin of name]. Retrieved October 31, 2006, from the Wisconsin Historical Society website: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=3421&
  9. ^ Downtown Mainstreet Inc
  10. ^ Brief History of La Crosse County
  11. ^ Mormons in Wisconsin
  12. ^ The Life of the Reverend James Lloyd Breck, D.D
  13. ^ "Wisconsin State Climatology Office". University of Wisconsin. 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-05. 
  14. ^ "Monthly Averages for La Crosse, WI". The Weather Channel. 2011. Retrieved 2006-11-04. 
  15. ^ "Climatology of the United States No. 20: LA CROSSE MUNICIPAL AP, WI 1971–2000" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2004. Retrieved October 22, 2011. 
  16. ^ "Monthly Averages for La Crosse, WI (54602)". The Weather Channel. Retrieved October 22, 2011. 
  17. ^ http://cityoflacrosse.org/DocumentView.asp?DID=182
  18. ^ http://www.lacrossehmaa.org/HMAA/foundationAndHistory.aspx
  19. ^ American Fact Finder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
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