La Crosse County, Wisconsin
La Crosse County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At the 2010 census, the population was 114,638.[1] The 2019 estimate placed the county's population at 118,016.[2] Its county seat is La Crosse.[3]
La Crosse County | |
|---|---|
 View of the city of La Crosse from Grandad Bluff | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin | |
 Wisconsin's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 43°55′N 91°07′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Seat | La Crosse |
| Largest city | La Crosse |
| Area | |
| • Total | 480 sq mi (1,200 km2) |
| • Land | 452 sq mi (1,170 km2) |
| • Water | 28 sq mi (70 km2) 5.9%% |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 114,638 |
| • Estimate (2019) | 118,016 |
| • Density | 240/sq mi (92/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
La Crosse County is included in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area and is the most populous county on Wisconsin's western border.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 480 square miles (1,200 km2), of which 452 square miles (1,170 km2) is land and 28 square miles (73 km2) (5.9%) is water.[4]
Major highways
Interstate 90
U.S. Highway 14
U.S. Highway 53
U.S. Highway 61
Highway 16 (Wisconsin)
Highway 33 (Wisconsin)
Highway 35 (Wisconsin)
Highway 108 (Wisconsin)
Highway 162 (Wisconsin)
Airport
Adjacent counties
- Trempealeau County - northwest
- Jackson County - northeast
- Monroe County - east
- Vernon County - south
- Houston County, Minnesota - southwest
- Winona County, Minnesota - west
Climate
La Crosse County's location in the United States' upper midwest gives the area a temperate, continental climate.[5] The warmest month of the year is July, when the average high temperature is 84.1 °F (28.9 °C), with overnight low temperatures averaging 63.2 °F (17.3 °C). January is the coldest month, with high temperatures averaging 25.9 °F (−3.4 °C), with the overnight low temperatures around 8.9 °F (−12.8 °C).[6]
| Climate data for La Crosse Regional Airport, Wisconsin (1981–2010 normals,[7] extremes 1872–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 45.4 (7.4) |
50.5 (10.3) |
69.0 (20.6) |
82.2 (27.9) |
87.8 (31.0) |
93.6 (34.2) |
95.7 (35.4) |
94.0 (34.4) |
89.2 (31.8) |
80.6 (27.0) |
64.0 (17.8) |
48.1 (8.9) |
97.7 (36.5) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 25.9 (−3.4) |
31.4 (−0.3) |
43.9 (6.6) |
59.3 (15.2) |
70.7 (21.5) |
80.0 (26.7) |
84.1 (28.9) |
81.5 (27.5) |
73.2 (22.9) |
59.9 (15.5) |
43.8 (6.6) |
29.1 (−1.6) |
57.0 (13.9) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 8.9 (−12.8) |
13.6 (−10.2) |
25.2 (−3.8) |
37.9 (3.3) |
48.7 (9.3) |
58.5 (14.7) |
63.2 (17.3) |
61.3 (16.3) |
52.4 (11.3) |
40.4 (4.7) |
28.1 (−2.2) |
14.2 (−9.9) |
37.8 (3.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −13.8 (−25.4) |
−10.4 (−23.6) |
3.9 (−15.6) |
21.7 (−5.7) |
34.1 (1.2) |
44.6 (7.0) |
51.5 (10.8) |
49.3 (9.6) |
36.5 (2.5) |
25.4 (−3.7) |
12.0 (−11.1) |
−8.7 (−22.6) |
−18.4 (−28.0) |
| 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) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.12 (28) |
1.05 (27) |
2.04 (52) |
3.34 (85) |
3.52 (89) |
4.34 (110) |
4.26 (108) |
4.29 (109) |
3.56 (90) |
2.17 (55) |
2.01 (51) |
1.36 (35) |
33.06 (840) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 10.7 (27) |
8.2 (21) |
7.1 (18) |
1.7 (4.3) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
4.1 (10) |
11.3 (29) |
43.3 (110) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.1 | 8.0 | 9.8 | 11.2 | 11.9 | 11.5 | 10.4 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 9.2 | 118.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 7.8 | 6.4 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 7.0 | 30.1 |
| Source: NOAA[8][9] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 12,186 | — | |
| 1870 | 20,297 | 66.6% | |
| 1880 | 27,073 | 33.4% | |
| 1890 | 38,801 | 43.3% | |
| 1900 | 42,997 | 10.8% | |
| 1910 | 43,996 | 2.3% | |
| 1920 | 44,355 | 0.8% | |
| 1930 | 54,455 | 22.8% | |
| 1940 | 59,653 | 9.5% | |
| 1950 | 67,587 | 13.3% | |
| 1960 | 72,465 | 7.2% | |
| 1970 | 80,468 | 11.0% | |
| 1980 | 91,056 | 13.2% | |
| 1990 | 97,904 | 7.5% | |
| 2000 | 107,120 | 9.4% | |
| 2010 | 114,638 | 7.0% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 118,016 | [10] | 2.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010–2019[1] | |||
According to 2014–2018 ACS estimates, the median household income was $55,479 and the median family income was $67,388. Males had a median income of $48,675 and females $38,714. The per capita income was $26,065. About 9.1% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.[15]
At the 2010 census,[16] there were 114,638 people, 46,137 households and 27,373 families residing in the county. The population density was 255 per square mile (98/km2). There were 46,137 housing units at an average density of 96 per square mile (37/km2). The racial make up was 92.1% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.1% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 0.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.9% were of German, 20.3% Norwegian and 7.9% Irish ancestry. In 2017, there were 1,188 births, giving a general fertility rate of 47.9 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the fifth lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[17]
Government
- County Chair: Monica Kruse (D)[18]
- District Attorney: Tim Gruenke (D)
- Sheriff: Jeff Wolf (R)
- County Clerk: Ginny Dankmeyer (D)
- County Treasurer: Amy Twitchell (D)[19]
- Register of Deeds: Cheryl McBride (R)
- Board of Supervisors: (35 members)[20]
- County Administrator: Steve O'Malley[21]
Politics
La Crosse County has voted for the Democratic nominee in every presidential election since 1988.[22] In 2014, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ranked La Crosse County as one of Wisconsin's most Democratic counties.[23] As a result of the 2020 presidential election, La Crosse County continued its Democratic trend by about 4%.[24]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 42.3% 28,684 | 55.8% 37,846 | 2.0% 1,354 |
| 2016 | 41.4% 26,378 | 50.9% 32,406 | 7.7% 4,890 |
| 2012 | 40.6% 25,751 | 57.8% 36,693 | 1.6% 1,018 |
| 2008 | 37.5% 23,701 | 60.9% 38,524 | 1.6% 993 |
| 2004 | 45.5% 28,289 | 53.4% 33,170 | 1.1% 677 |
| 2000 | 43.8% 24,327 | 51.2% 28,455 | 5.0% 2,777 |
| 1996 | 35.8% 16,482 | 51.4% 23,647 | 12.8% 5,872 |
| 1992 | 36.1% 18,891 | 43.7% 22,838 | 20.2% 10,544 |
| 1988 | 48.9% 21,548 | 50.4% 22,204 | 0.7% 314 |
| 1984 | 58.8% 25,721 | 40.6% 17,787 | 0.6% 261 |
| 1980 | 51.7% 23,427 | 38.2% 17,304 | 10.1% 4,554 |
| 1976 | 58.1% 24,188 | 40.0% 16,674 | 1.9% 797 |
| 1972 | 63.3% 21,992 | 35.0% 12,152 | 1.7% 602 |
| 1968 | 55.8% 17,433 | 37.0% 11,570 | 7.2% 2,264 |
| 1964 | 44.1% 13,135 | 55.8% 16,625 | 0.1% 43 |
| 1960 | 56.1% 18,319 | 43.8% 14,310 | 0.1% 36 |
| 1956 | 61.7% 18,264 | 38.0% 11,258 | 0.3% 100 |
| 1952 | 61.9% 19,271 | 37.9% 11,808 | 0.2% 53 |
| 1948 | 45.3% 10,525 | 53.1% 12,345 | 1.7% 390 |
| 1944 | 50.9% 12,784 | 48.8% 12,247 | 0.3% 72 |
| 1940 | 50.9% 13,711 | 48.6% 13,079 | 0.5% 134 |
| 1936 | 33.1% 7,558 | 63.3% 14,455 | 3.6% 827 |
| 1932 | 36.9% 7,686 | 62.1% 12,919 | 1.0% 200 |
| 1928 | 55.8% 11,321 | 43.7% 8,877 | 0.5% 97 |
| 1924 | 32.5% 5,733 | 7.1% 1,252 | 60.4% 10,662 |
| 1920 | 74.0% 10,067 | 19.0% 2,588 | 7.0% 956 |
| 1916 | 44.4% 3,597 | 50.9% 4,123 | 4.8% 386 |
| 1912 | 28.3% 2,272 | 53.1% 4,263 | 18.7% 1,498 |
| 1908 | 50.2% 4,382 | 46.4% 4,054 | 3.5% 301 |
| 1904 | 61.8% 5,506 | 34.7% 3,089 | 3.6% 320 |
| 1900 | 58.2% 5,324 | 39.5% 3,609 | 2.3% 208 |
| 1896 | 64.6% 6,297 | 31.4% 3,058 | 4.1% 396 |
| 1892 | 42.9% 3,693 | 44.2% 3,810 | 12.9% 1,110 |
Communities
Villages
Towns
Census-designated places
- Brice Prairie, part of the Town of Onalaska and an urban reserve area of the City of Onalaska
- French Island
- St. Joseph
Unincorporated communities
Notable people
- Ed Gein - grave robber who inspired Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.[26]
- Evelyn Hartley - teenager missing since 1953
- Ron Kind - U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district, since 1997
- Ken Kratz - lawyer, former district attorney of Calumet County, Wisconsin; law license was suspended for four months after sexting scandal
See also
References
- "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- "Wisconsin State Climatology Office". University of Wisconsin. 2006. Retrieved November 5, 2006.
- "Monthly Averages for La Crosse, WI". The Weather Channel. 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2006.
- Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010.
- "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
- "Station Name: WI LA CROSSE MUNI AP". National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
- "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- "La Crosse County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
- Tribune, Olivia Herken La Crosse. "3 longtime supervisors named to lead La Crosse County Board". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- https://www.lacrossecounty.org/Treasurer/
- http://www.co.la-crosse.wi.us/CoDirctry/2SupervDist.pdf
- http://www.co.la-crosse.wi.us/departments/admin%20coord/
- "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
- http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/284675921.html
- rvetterkind@madison.com, RILEY VETTERKIND. "Cities propelled Joe Biden to Wisconsin win as rural areas double down on Donald Trump". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
- Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". US Election Atlas. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- "Ed Gein". biography.com. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
Further reading
- Biographical History of La Crosse, Monroe and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.
- Biographical History of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.
- History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1881.
- Bryant, Benjamin F. (ed.). Memoirs of La Crosse County. Madison, Wis.: Western Historical Association, 1907.
- Wisconsin Jubilee: Proceedings of the Celebration by the County and City of La Crosse on Wisconsin having achieved fifty years of statehood. La Crosse, Wis.: Republican and Leader Print, 1898.
External links
- La Crosse County
- La Crosse County Health and Demographic Data
- La Crosse County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Places adjacent to La Crosse County, Wisconsin | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||
| Core cities |
 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surrounding communities |
| ||||
| Counties | |||||
Municipalities and communities of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities | | |
| Villages | ||
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| ||
Authority control  |
|---|