LA CROSSE COUNTY
County Offices
400 4th St
La Crosse 608-785-9563
www.co.la-crosse.wi.us
Chamber of Commerce
712 Main St
LaCrosse 608-784-4880
www.lacrossechamber.com
La Crosse County is bordered by the Mississippi river. The county is home to more than 115,000 residents. The largest city and county seat is La Crosse. The county is also home to several villages and small towns.
Lifestyle
Water plays a major role in the lifestyle of La Crosse County, with the Mississippi river, The Black River and the La Crosse River surrounding the city of La Crosse and the many lakes and streams that dot the countryside. The Mississippi and Black rivers offer water-skiing, jet skiing, sandbar camping, house boating and sailing. Dozens of beaches provide picnicking, and camping. La Crosse boasts many boat landings, marinas and other facilities including restaurants and stores. And for the family fisherman, anglers fish the Mississippi and local lakes year-round for fish such as walleye, bass, perch, crappies, sunfish and catfish. More than three million annual visits to the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge are for fishing. For the family bike enthusiast, the county is home to miles of off road biking trails that follow the county’s outstanding terrain. In addition the county is home to several parks that the entire family can enjoy, the city of La Crosse alone has 42 parks, with four of them situated on the banks of the Mississippi and Black rivers. Golfers will find themselves able to choose from more than a dozen area golf courses, both public and private.
Shoppers don’t have to worry in La Crosse County, with a selection of malls offering everything from jewelry to home furnishings and national retailers. Residents looking for a more traditional experience can search antique shops or historic downtown shopping districts throughout the county. The county’s ideal location and picturesque beauty, along with the diverse choice of housing options, contribute to its reputation as an ideal place to live. Residents stroll through neighborhoods revealing the best in quality housing, ranging from spacious rentals to 120-year-old, stately Victorians. Everything from immaculate homes, nestled along quiet, tree-lined streets, to 100 year old farmhouses on an open pastures are available. Contemporary housing options are also available for area residents, who can choose from custom homes built by area developers and a variety of community living options such as townhomes and apartments. La Crosse County is the perfect place to raise a family and enjoy the exceptional lifestyle the area has to offer.
Services
The County is served by an efficient transportation system. It is bisected by Interstate Highway 90, has Mississippi River barge freight service, two major airlines, and freight and passenger rail, along with a well maintained system of roads, trails, and public transportation options. The county boasts a strong economy. Some of the largest employment sectors in the county are in the educational and healthcare fields. The county is also home to a strong manufacturing industry – thanks in large part to its location along the Mississippi. The more rural parts of the county feature thriving agricultural and timber industries.
La Crosse County schools offer a variety of enrichment programs which take students beyond the normal curriculum. Academic enrichment in music, drama and art broaden the cultural awareness of local students and community. Accredited private schools that offer classes in kindergarten through grade twelve are also available. There is close coordination between the public and private schools. La Crosse County K-12 public and private schools enjoy an excellent reputation throughout the state. The County is served by eight school districts .For those looking to expand their education La Crosse County is home to three excellent institutions of higher learning. These three institutions work alongside one another to offer a wide-ranging array of academic programs. The University of Wisconsin La Crosse is an exceptional university with a wide range of academic programs, both undergraduate and graduate. It is consistently ranked among the best public colleges in the country and as an outstanding value. Viterbo University is a Catholic University, which is considered to be one of the finest liberal arts institutions in the Midwest. Western Technical College caters to a diverse population of students whether it is to prepare students for a first-time job, a change in careers, a reentry back into the workforce, or just an update of current skills. They offer a wide range of courses for “lifelong learning.”
Health care is a priority in the county and is well represented by two excellent full service healthcare facilities: Gundersen Lutheran Health System a, comprehensive healthcare network including one of the nation’s largest multi-specialty group medical practices, regional community clinics, hospital, home care, behavioral health services, vision centers, pharmacies, and air and ground ambulances. And Mayo Health System – Franciscan Healthcare, La Crosse serves as a hub for a healthcare network serving residents including hospitals, clinics, and related services in mental health, home-based health and senior housing. The facilities serve residents from more than seventy communities across the area. The county also has human service agencies that offer a continuum of care, resources and support to meet the physical, mental and developmental needs of the community. Nursing care and assisted living for long and short-term patients, as well as postoperative, elderly, ambulatory/bedfast and chronically ill patients, and Alzheimer’s care is available. Residents of La Crosse County have an enviable amount of options available to them, whether in employment opportunities, recreation or lifestyle.
La Crosse
City Hall
400 Lacrosse St.
LaCrosse
www.cityoflacrosse.org
Chamber of Commerce
712 Main St
LaCrosse 608-784-4880
www.lacrossechamber.com
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River. La Crosse is home to more than 55,000. 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 more than 134,000. La Crosse is a college town and is the home to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and Western Technical College. 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.
Residents enjoy a high quality of life that is enhanced by the stunning scenery of the area, combined with the natural beauty and resources of the rivers that surround it. Water based activities are a big part of the community. As are many other outdoor activities. The area is known for its extensive riverside mountain bike trail network as well as for its boating adventures. Also, 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. There is a lot of unspoiled and open land that surrounds the city. For those looking for more relaxed entertainment, 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 national retailers 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. La Crosse is the cultural center for South Western Wisconsin. For a community of its size, La Crosse boasts a diverse arts scene for both participants and audience members, with 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. Viterbo University Fine Arts building, UW–La Crosse Art Gallery and Theater, and the La Crosse Center schedule of top national performers in the arts rival that of a much larger city.
New residents will find a small city with an active lifestyle, helped in part by its great natural resources and by its active population. Residents can find everything they need right on their doorstep, making La Crosse a great place to settle down.
Onalaska
City Hall
W7052 Second St
Onalaska 608-783-4958
http://www.townofonalaska.org
Chamber of Commerce
1101 Main St
Onalaska 800-873-1901
www.discoveronalaska.com
Onalaska is home to more than 17,800 residents who enjoy a relaxed pace of life in a riverside paradise of natural beauty.
Onalaska is built on a slightly elevated ridge above the Black River. Natural areas include river bottomland as well as high, heavily wooded, scenic bluffs. A manmade reservoir at the city’s western edge is known as Lake Onalaska. And the city overlooks the Mississippi River Valley. This river and lakeside location means that water plays a big role in the local recreation options, Onalaska is famous for its fishing. The community is known as the “Sunfish Capital of the World.” It’s also a great place to fish for walleye, northern pike, bass and panfish. The Mississippi River and 7,700-acre Lake Onalaska also offers boating, canoeing and kayaking. The 200,000 acre Upper Mississippi Wildlife Refuge is located directly to the west of the city and provides opportunities for waterfowl hunting, fishing, canoeing, boating, sailing and camping on the many sand bars. Biking is a popular outdoor activity in the city, and residents and visitors can bike or hike the Great River State Trail along the Mississippi River. The trail is connected to 101 miles of interconnected state trails as well. And close to home, the city offers many parks that feature a variety of year-round recreational opportunities for its’ residents and visitors. Park facilities include tennis courts, playgrounds, volleyball courts, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, shelters, athletic fields, picnic sites, walking paths, skating rinks, a sledding hill, and an outdoor pool. For those looking for a more sedate adventure, shoppers will find that Onalaska has the largest retail district in a nine-county region, offering everything from small local business to large national retailers.
Newcomers will enjoy a city that is full of quiet streets that reflect a great quality of life. City ordinances requiring trees and appropriate landscaping have created many pleasant streets and neighborhoods. The combination of clean environment, good schools, convenient shopping, a large number of parks, a thriving job market and low crime make this a wonderful city to call home.
West Salem Village
Village Hall
N505 N Leonard
West Salem 608-786-1858
http://westsalemwi.com
Chamber of Commerce
712 Main St
LaCrosse 608-784-4880
www.lacrossechamber.com
West Salem is a village along the La Crosse River. It is part of the La Crosse Metropolitan area and home to more than 4,700 residents. Lake Neshonoc is located in the village as well. The lake covers more than 700 acres and is an extremely popular fishing spot for anglers from around the country. West Salem offers its residents a small town lifestyle, surrounded by natural beauty and in close proximity to all of the amenities of nearby La Crosse. West Salem is rich in history. Founded by Thomas Leonard in 1851, the village is the home of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hamlin Garland. Historic points of interest include two octagon homes, Thomas Leonard’s colonial-style home (Historic Salem), and the Hamlin Garland Homestead. The surrounding Region’s bluffs and valleys provide for some of the most scenic areas in western Wisconsin, known as “God’s Country.” The nearby La Crosse River meanders through forests and farmlands winding its way to the Mississippi river. These scenic areas set the stage for exceptional opportunities for recreation, including boating and fishing on Lake Neshonoc, camping and picnicking at Veterans’ Memorial Park, biking and hiking on the La Crosse River State Trail and many other outdoor activities. The Village is home to a school district that supports grades K through 12. The Village offers a quaint downtown lined with unique shops and restaurants. Residents don’t have to look far to find what they need in this quiet community, mother nature has provided a scenic backdrop and a quick trip from home will provide everything else they might need.
