La Crosse

Formed January 1, 1851 (33^rd county)

La Crosse County (120,796), La Crosse (52,682)                

The Modern concrete and glass building was constructed in 1997.  There were 1904 and 1964 versions earlier.  It is sited on Vine Street between 3^rd and 4^th streets.  United States Highway 52 passes in front of the courthouse.  Dana Larson Roubal & Associates are the architects.  The building has been enlarged in 2011.  A 1990 Administration Building supports the courthouse.  The county was created on January 1, 1851 as the 33^rd county with La Crosse as the only county seat.  The county and county seat were named for the game.  La Crosse County is the birthplace of 1 Wisconsin Governor, Patrick J. Lucey. 

La Crosse County government consists of a sheriff and 29 Supervisors.  Five Circuit Court Judges and Two Municipal Court Judges serve La Crosse County.  The county is on the western border with Minnesota.  Minneapolis, Minnesota is northwest and Madison, Wisconsin is southeast of the county.  The Mississippi River forms its western border.  The county center is 7.3 miles Northeast of La Crosse nearer Barre Mills.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Jackson, Monroe, and Vernon counties and Minnesota and Trempealeau County. 

The area of the county is 451.7 square miles.  It is 61 out of 72 in the state.  It ranks 12 out of 72 in population in the state.  It has a density of 267.4 persons per square mile making it 11 out of 72 in the state.  La Crosse County has 74.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 90 passes east to west in the county from Monroe County to Minnesota.  United States Highways 14/61 clip the southwest corner from Minnesota, west, to Vernon County, south.  United States Highway 53 enters from the north, Trempealeau County and terminates.  The county is a rectangle with the southwest corner sliced away.  The City of La Crosse is located on the southwest border of the county.  La Crosse is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 43.6% of the county population.  The county and county seat are pronounced LA KROS.  This county is in the La Crosse Metropolitan Statistical Area.