La Crosse is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of La Crosse County. Lying alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border.
The city's estimated population in 2014 was 52,440. The city forms the core of and is the principal city in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of La Crosse County and Houston County, Minnesota, with a combined population of 135,298. La Crosse is home to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and Western Technical College. A regional technology and medical hub, La Crosse has received high rankings from some magazines in health, well-being, quality of life, and education.
History
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 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 from the game with sticks that resembled a bishop's crozier or la crosse in French, which was played by Native Americans there.
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.
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.
On June 23, 1850, Father James Lloyd Breck of the Episcopal Church said the first Christian liturgy on top of Grandad Bluff. 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 2,000 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. It was a center 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
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 (58.38Â km2), of which, 20.52 square miles (53.15Â km2) is land and 2.02 square miles (5.23Â km2) is water.
Surrounding the relatively flat prairie valley where La Crosse lies are towering 500Â 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
La Crosse's location in the United States' upper midwest gives the area a temperate, continental climate. The warmest month of the year is July, when the average high temperature is 84.1 °F (29 °C), with overnight low temperatures averaging 63.2 °F (18 °C). January is the coldest month, with high temperatures averaging 25.9 °F (-4 °C), with the overnight low temperatures around 8.9 °F (-14 °C).
|source 3 = U.S. climate data
Neighborhoods and districts
La Crosse has 17 voting districts (wards). Neighborhoods in the city include:
- Washburn
- Historic Cass & King
- Historic downtown
- Northside (Upper and Lower) and Old Towne
- Hungary Point
- Mud City
- College Park (UWâ€"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.
Demographics
According to 2009â€"2013 ACS estimates, the median household income was $40,457 and the median family income was $57,744. Males had a median income of $37,305 versus $32,145 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,282. About 10.1% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
At the 2010 census, 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 composed 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.
Government and politics
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. The mayor is Tim Kabat, a progressive.
La Crosse is a Democratic stronghold in local, state and national politics. Both the city and county of La Crosse have voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1988. In the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama won 65% of the city of La Crosse and 58% of La Crosse County. In 2014, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ranked La Crosse as one of Wisconsin's top performing Democratic cities.
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
Source:
Economy
La Crosse is the home and current global headquarters of several corporations and organizations, including:
- Altra Federal Credit Union, La Crosse based credit union servicing eight states across the country
- Authenticom, Inc., data management SaaS company
- City Brewing Company, former Heileman Old Style brewery
- Mayo Clinic Health System â€" Franciscan Healthcare, regional health care network with flagship campus in La Crosse
- Gundersen Health System, nonprofit comprehensive health care network with flagship campus in La Crosse
- Kwik Trip, regional gas and convenience stores
- La Crosse Technology, atomic clocks and weather stations
- Logistics Health Incorporated, customized healthcare solutions
- S&S Cycle, motorcycle engines, parts and supplies
- Trane, international air conditioning, acquired by Ingersoll-Rand in 2008
Corporations founded and formerly headquartered in La Crosse include:
- Cargill, America's now largest privately held corporation founded in La Crosse
- LaCrosse Footwear, footwear company founded in 1897
Largest employers
As of 2012 the 10 largest employers in La Crosse included:
- Gundersen Health System
- Mayo Clinic Health System â€" Franciscan Healthcare
- Trane
- Kwik Trip
- La Crosse County
- School District of La Crosse
- University of Wisconsinâ€"La Crosse
- CenturyLink
- Logistics Health Incorporated
- City of La Crosse
Shopping
La Crosse and the surrounding communities form a regional commercial center and shopping hub. In the northeastern region of the city lies the area'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 experienced significant growth in recent years, providing shopping, farmers' markets, hotels, restaurants, specialty shops, and events at La Crosse Center on the Mississippi River.
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 (2,010Â m2) of exhibit space, a 45-foot (14Â m) ceiling height, a 60-by-40-foot stage, two locker rooms and three dressing rooms. There is also a 14,935-square-foot (1,388Â m2) North Hall which can open up to be used in combination with the arena, and a 38,740-square-foot (3,599Â m2) South Exhibit Hall. The three venues total 75,275 square feet (6,993Â m2) of exhibit space. The complex also contains 9,432 square feet (876Â m2) of meeting room space in five meeting rooms, which can be divided into nine meeting rooms.
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
La Crosse's largest newspaper is the daily La Crosse Tribune which serves the Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa regions. 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
AM radio
FM radio
Education
The La Crosse area is served by the School District of La Crosse, with an enrollment of 7,012 students in 2009, making it the 16th largest school district in the state. The district has 19 elementary, middle, high and charter schools. 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.
Catholic private schools in La Crosse include La Crosse Aquinas Catholic Schools, a Roman Catholic school district affiliated with the Diocese of La Crosse, which is centered in the city and includes Aquinas High School and Aquinas Middle School. Another Roman Catholic school, the Providence Academy, is independent from the district and has no affiliation with the Diocese.
Lutheran private schools in La Crosse include First Lutheran School, Immanuel Lutheran School and Mt. Calvary-Grace Lutheran School, which are part of the La Crosse Area Lutheran Schools organization and affiliated with Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The high school Luther High School (Wisconsin), resides in Onalaska, Wisconsin.
La Crosse is the home of three regional colleges and universities, the public University of Wisconsinâ€"La Crosse, 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.
Health care
Two major regional health care facilities are located in La Crosse: Gundersen Health System and Franciscan Skemp Medical Center, a Mayo Clinic affiliate.
Gundersen Health System is a nationally ranked health care system 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. With its main campus located in La Crosse, the system also manages 23 locations throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa with nearly 6,000 employees. In 2014, Gundersen Health received the Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitalsâ„¢ designation, placing the system among the top 1 percent of hospitals nationwide.
Franciscan Skemp Medical Center is an affiliate of the 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.
The Health Science Center, located on the University of Wisconsinâ€"La Crosse campus, is a combined effort of both medical centers, UWâ€"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.
Infrastructure
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
The La Crosse Regional Airport provides direct scheduled passenger service to Minneapolis, Detroit, and Chicago through Delta Air Lines link Endeavor Air, as well as American Airlines link Envoy Air. 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.
In 2012, the City of La Crosse was the first city in Wisconsin to pass a Green Complete Streets ordinance. This ordinance requires that when roads are reconstructed the needs of stormwater management and the safety of bicycles and pedestrians are taken into account in the new design. 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.
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
La Crosse has over 30 active arts organizations. 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. The city is home to the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps, a Drum Corps International member corps. Other arts sites include Viterbo University Fine Arts building, UWâ€"La Crosse Art Gallery and Theater, and the La Crosse Center, which hosts national performers. Local sculptor Elmer Petersen has created sculptures that are exhibited throughout the downtown area, including La Crosse Players and the Eagle in Riverside Park.
Bars and clubs
La Crosse has many bars and nightclubs in the downtown central business district, as well as many neighborhood bars and grills.
Annual events
- La Crosse Oktoberfest
- La Crosse Riverfest
- St. Elias Mediterranean Festival
- Freedom Fest
- Midwest Banjo Fest
- Irish Fest
- Wienerfest
- Downtown Mardi Gras
- Downtown Cameron Park Farmers Market
- Historic Downtown La Crosse Days
- Winter Rec Fest
- New Year's Eve Celebration with The Skyrockers
- Hmong New Year Parade
- Rotary Lights Display
- La Crosse Labor Day Parade and Celebration
- La Crosse Storytelling Festival
Riverside Park
Riverside Park is situated on the riverfront of downtown La Crosse near the Blue Bridges and across the river from Pettibone Park. It hosts events such as Riverfest, Fourth of July fireworks, Oktoberfest, and the Rotary Lights. The steamboats American Queen, La Crosse Queen, and Julia Belle Swain make stops along the river in the park. The park has walking/running trails.
Gallery of historic places
Buildings, sites, structures, districts, and objects in La Crosse listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Religion
Catholic
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. Commissioned by Cardinal Raymond Burke while he was Bishop of La Crosse, it was designed by architect Duncan Stroik.
Protestant
Protestant churches include 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.
Christ Church of La Crosse is the city's Episcopal church.
Orthodox
St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church is the city's Eastern Orthodox Church.
Jewish
The Congregation Sons of Abraham is in La Crosse.
Unitarian Universalist
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of La Crosse has held services since 1951.
Muslim
Islamic Society Othman Bin Afaan is the city's Islamic mosque.
Sports
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. 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 Wisconsinâ€"La Crosse (UWâ€"L) Eagles. The university's 10,000 seat Veterans Memorial Field for football (turf field) and outdoor timed track opened in 2009. The stadium will continue to host the WIAA Wisconsin high school outdoor track and field state championships in June.
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. In September 2014, the Chill moved their home games to the Green Island Ice Arena. 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.
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.
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
- 2002 â€" National Trust for Historic Preservation Great American Main Street Award
- 2003 - Milken Institute Best Performing Cities of the 96 Smallest Metros (20th Overall)
- 2005 â€" Inc. magazine's 4th Best Small City for Doing Business
- 2005 â€" Inc. magazine's 15th Best City in America to Do Business
- 2005 â€" Forbes 25th Best Place
- 2006 â€" 7th Safest Metropolitan Area in the Nation â€" Morgan Quitno Press
- 2006 â€" Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked La Crosse 16th "Smartest Place to Live in U.S.
- 2007 â€" Country Home magazine ranked La Crosse 12th Best Green City in America and second among small cities, behind Corvallis, Ore.
- 2009 â€" U.S. News ranked La Crosse one of the 10 best places to live in the country.
- 2009 â€" Farmers Insurance Group ranked La Crosse â€" Winona, Minnesota area the 20th most secure place to live in the United States among small towns.
- 2010 â€" Most Secure Places to Live in the US (Small Towns) â€" Sperling's Best Places
- 2014 â€" 42nd in the Forbes list of Best Small Places for Business and Careers; and ranked 11th on Outside magazine's 16 Best Places to Live in the U.S.
- 2015 â€" 247wallst.com named La Crosse the 15th Coldest City in the Nation
- 2016 - 247wallst.com named La Crosse the 6th Drunkest City in America
Notable people
Sister cities
La Crosse has sister city relationships with six foreign towns and cities:
- Bantry, County Cork, Munster, Ireland
- Dubna, Russia
- Épinal, Vosges, Grand Est, France
- Friedberg, Bavaria, Germany
- Førde, Norway
- Luoyang, China
See also
- City Brewing Company
- G. Heileman Brewing Company
- La Crosse area radio stations
- La Crosse area television stations
- Old Style Beer
- Pettibone Park (La Crosse)
References
Further reading
- Crocker, Leslie F. Places and Spaces: A Century of Public Buildings, Bridges and Parks in La Crosse, Wisconsin. La Crosse, Wis. 2012.
- Marcou, David J. (ed.) Spirit of La Crosse: A Grassroots History. La Crosse, Wis.: Western Wisconsin Technical College, 2000.
- Morser, Eric J. Hinterland Dreams: The Political Economy of a Midwestern City. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011.
External links
- City of La Crosse
- La Crosse Chamber of Commerce
- La Crosse Area Convention & Visitors Bureau