Vernon

Formed March 1, 1851 (38^th county)

Vernon County (30,715), Viroqua (4,504)

The tan brick and stone Gothic and Late 19^th Century Revival building was erected in 1880.  It is on the square at Court Street and Dunlap Avenue.  The courthouse is two blocks west of United States Highway 14.  Carl F. Struck provided the building designs.  The building has been enlarged.  It features a tower and veteran memorials on the grounds.  The county was formed on March 1, 1851 from Richland and Crawford counties as the 38^th county with Viroqua as the only county seat.  Vernon County is named for the estate of United States President George Washington.  The county seat was named for a paddleboat. 

Vernon County government consists of a sheriff and 29 Supervisors.  One Circuit Court Judge and One Municipal Court Judge serve Vernon County.  The county is situated on the western border with both Minnesota and Iowa.  The Mississippi River forms its western border.  Madison, Wisconsin is southeast and Green Bay, Wisconsin is northeast of the county.  The county center is 5 miles Northeast of Viroqua.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Monroe, Juneau, Sauk, Richland, and Crawford counties and Iowa and Minnesota and La Crosse County. 

The area of the county is 791.6 square miles.  It is 32 out of 72 in the state.  It ranks 43 out of 72 in population in the state.  It has a density of 38.8 persons per square mile making it 43 out of 72 in the state.  Vernon County has 40.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 14 enters the county from the north, La Crosse County, and exits to the southeast, Richland County.  United States Highway 61 is joined with United States Highway 14 from La Crosse County, splits and continues south into Crawford County.  The county looks like the number 7 lying on its face.  Viroqua is located in the western third of the county.  Viroqua is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 14.7% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced VI-ROE-KA.