La Crosse, Wisconsin

La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.

The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 51,357. 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 133,665. La Crosse is a college town and is the home to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and Western Technical College.

History
La Crosse was incorporated as a city in 1856, but its history dates further. 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, however, 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 when he saw the Native Americans playing a game with sticks that resembled a bishop's crozier or la crosse in French.

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 (Episcopalian 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 two thousand 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. At that time, it was a major economic center in the state, especially 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 22.2 square miles (57.4 km²), of which, 20.1 square miles (52.2 km²) of it is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²) of it (9.12%) is water.

Surrounding the relatively flat prairie valley where La Crosse lies are towering 500 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".

Several smaller cities and towns are located in the La Crosse area, including Onalaska, Holmen, and West Salem, Wisconsin.

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 85 °F (29 °C), with overnight low temperatures averaging 63 °F (18 °C). January is the coldest month, with high temperatures averaging 26 °F (-4 °C), with the overnight low temperatures around 6 °F (-14 °C).

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
 * Goosetown (UW–La Crosse campus district)

Suburbs include French Island in the Town of Campbell, the Town of Medary, City of Onalaska and the Town of Shelby.

Diversity
The first Southeast Asian refugees to arrive in La Crosse came in 1974. It was a Vietnamese family of five. Then in 1975, the first Cambodian family (of three) settled in this area. The first Hmong refugees arrived in June 1976. During the next few years, the number of refugees from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam continued to increase. By 1982, there were approximately 800 Southeast Asian refugees in La Crosse.

To meet the needs of the increasing refugee population, the La Crosse Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association (HMAA) was formed and incorporated as a non-profit, tax exempt agency in December 1982. Today, the Asian population of La Crosse is over 4,000.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,818 people, 21,110 households, and 10,217 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,573.4 people per square mile (993.4/km²). There were 22,233 housing units at an average density of 1,104.1 per square mile (426.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.58% White, 1.56% African American, 0.51% Native American, 4.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.

There were 21,110 households out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.6% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 24.4% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% 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 85.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $31,103, and the median income for a family was $43,047. Males had a median income of $30,996 versus $22,076 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,650. About 7.8% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

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.

La Crosse is a Democratic stronghold in local, state and national politics. Both the City of La Crosse and La Crosse County have voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1988. In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama won 69% of the City of La Crosse and 61% of La Crosse County.

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 coterminous with the 95th Wisconsin State Assembly District and has been represented by a Democrat since 1974. The seat is currently vacant. Additionally, Democrat Steve Doyle has represented suburban and rural La Crosse County in the 94th Assembly District since 2011. La Crosse is part of the State Senate District 32 and has been represented by Democrat Jennifer Shilling since 2011.

In 2009, the La Crosse Common Council’s Committee along with La Crosse County supervisors overwhelmingly voted in support of the "City of La Crosse and La Crosse County Strategic Plan for Sustainability." The overview of the plan is to reduce consumption of fossil fuels, lessen impacts to the natural environment, and ensure that the citizen’s needs are met fairly, efficiently, and cost effectively.

Economy
La Crosse is the original home and international headquarters of several corporations, including: La Crosse also has relocated businesses such as:
 * City Brewing Company, former Heileman Old Style brewery
 * Kwik Trip, gas and convenience stores
 * Logistics Health Incorporated, healthcare
 * Trane, air conditioning company, acquired by Ingersoll-Rand in 2008
 * Ace Hardware, which operates a regional distribution center
 * S&S Cycle, motorcycle engines, parts and supplies

Largest employers
La Crosse County’s 10 largest employers, as ranked by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and Office of Economic Advisors, based on March 2007 statistics:


 * 1) Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center: A health care system that includes Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse and other facilities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. It has about 3,900 full-time employees and nearly 2,100 part-time employees in La Crosse County, for a total of about 6,000 employees. System-wide, Gundersen Lutheran has slightly more than 4,200 full-time employees and about 2,300 part-time employees, for a total of about 6,500 employees.
 * 2) Franciscan Skemp Medical Center: A health care system that includes Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse and other facilities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. It has about 2,065 full-time employees and 797 part-time employees in La Crosse County, for a total of 2,862 employees. Systemwide, Franciscan Skemp has about 2,493 full-time and 985 part-time employees, for a total of 3,478 employees.
 * 3) Trane: The company was founded in La Crosse. In La Crosse, it makes water chillers for commercial air conditioning products. As of June 23, its La Crosse facilities had about 2,130 full-time employees and 30 part-time employees, for a total of about 2,160 employees.
 * 4) School District of La Crosse: The school district, which educates students through grade 12, has about 1,052 employees, including about 977 full-time and 75 part-time employees. An additional 150 to 200 non-staff members help in such areas as coaching and advising.
 * 5) La Crosse County government: The county has about 935 full-time employees and about 511 part-time employees, for a total of 1,446 employees.
 * 6) University of Wisconsin–La Crosse: The university has about 785 full-time employees and 568 part-time employees, for a total of 1,353 employees.
 * 7) Kwik Trip: A La Crosse-based convenience store/gasoline retailer. In La Crosse County, the company has about 1,183 full-time employees and 322 part-time employees, for a total of 1,505 employees.
 * 8) CenturyLink: The telephone company’s Midwest Region headquarters is in La Crosse. In the county, the company has about 762 full-time and 69 part-time employees, for a total of 831 employees.
 * 9) Wal-Mart: The discount retailer in La Crosse County operates two Wal-Mart Supercenter stores and a Sam’s Club store. A corporate spokesman said Wal-Mart has about 780 employees in the county.
 * 10) City of La Crosse: The city has about 540 full-time employees. The number of part-time employees ranges from about 220 in January to about 330 in June, so employee totals range from about 760 in January to about 870 in June.

Tourism
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 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 continued to grow in recent years, providing shopping, farmers' markets, hotels, restaurants, specialty shops, and events at La Crosse Center alongside the Mississippi River.
 * Shopping

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 21600 sqft of exhibit space, a 45 ft ceiling height, a 60-by-40-foot stage, two locker rooms and three dressing rooms. There is also a 14935 sqft North Hall which can open up to be used in combination with the arena, and a 38740 sqft South Exhibit Hall. The three venues total 75275 sqft of exhibit space. The complex also contains 9432 sqft of meeting room space in five meeting rooms, which can be divided into nine meeting rooms.
 * Convention Center

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. 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.
 * Newspapers

La Crosse is well served by television. Its major network television affiliates are: ABC affiliate WXOW; CBS affiliate WKBT; Fox affiliate WLAX and PBS affiliate WHLA. Also two NBC affiliates; WEAU, from Eau Claire and KTTC from Rochester, Minnesota. An independent station, KQEG-CA, is also in La Crosse.
 * Television


 * AM Radio
 * WKTY AM 580
 * WIZM (AM) 1410
 * WLFN AM 1490
 * FM Radio
 * WLSU FM 88.9
 * WHLA FM 90.3
 * KXLC FM 91.1
 * WIZM-FM 93.3
 * KCLH FM 94.7
 * WRQT FM 95.7
 * WCOW FM 97.1
 * KQYB FM 98.3
 * WKBH-FM 100.1
 * KQEG-FM 102.7
 * WLXR FM 104.9
 * WQCC FM 106.3

Education
La Crosse is home to three regional colleges and universities. These include the public University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and Western Technical College, as well as 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.

For primary and secondary education, the La Crosse area is served by the School District of La Crosse, with 21 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. With a total enrollment of 7,213 students in 2006, making it the 16th largest school district in the state. The La Crosse School District has 635 teachers of which 73% hold a master's degree or higher.

La Crosse is also served by a Waldorf School, Three Rivers School.

In addition, La Crosse Aquinas Catholic Schools, a Roman Catholic school district affiliated with the Diocese of La Crosse, is centered in the city and includes Aquinas High School, and Aquinas Middle School.

Another Roman Catholic school, the Providence Academy, is independent from Coulee Catholic Schools and has no affiliation with the Diocese of La Crosse.

Health Care
Two major regional health care facilities are located in La Crosse: Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center and Franciscan Skemp Medical Center.

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center is a regional health care facility located in La Crosse, Wisconsin 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. The Gundersen Lutheran Health System, headquartered in La Crosse, manages 23 locations throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa with nearly 6,000 employees. Since 2005, the system has annually been ranked by Thomson Reuters Healthcare in the Top 100 National Hospitals, as well as received HealthGrades 2011 5-star rating award.

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 Wisconsin–La Crosse campus, is a combined effort of both medical centers, UW–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.

Tap Water
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 faced off 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 treated with polyphosphate.

Transportation
The La Crosse Municipal Airport provides direct scheduled passenger service to Minneapolis, Detroit and Chicago through Delta Air Lines and its Northwest links, Mesaba, Compass, and Pinnacle, as well as American Airlines link American Eagle Airlines. Sun Country and Xtra Airways provide charter service to Laughlin and Elko, Nevada, and other destinations. The airport also serves general aviation for the La Crosse region.

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 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 rivals that of a much larger city.

Bars and clubs
La Crosse has many bars and nightclubs in the downtown central business district, as well as many neighborhood bars and grills. Third Street, a main traffic and tourist route downtown, is well known for at one time having the most bars on a one mile stretch of road in the United States. For this reason the town's social life revolves mostly around drinking. The near by brewery makes the town smell like molded barley.

Annual events

 * La Crosse Oktoberfest
 * La Crosse RiverFest
 * Deke Slayton Airfest/Airshow
 * Great River Jazzfest
 * Irish Fest
 * Wienerfest
 * Downtown Mardi Gras
 * Downtown Cameron Park Farmers Market
 * Historic Downtown La Crosse Days
 * Sand On The Riverfront
 * Winter Rec Fest
 * New Years Eve Celebration with The Skyrockers
 * Hmong New Year Parade
 * Holiday Lights Display

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.

Protestant
Multiple churches of various denominations including 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.

Orthodox
St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church is the city's Eastern Orthodox Church.

Episcopal
Christ Church of La Crosse is the city's Episcopal church.

Muslim
Islamic Society Othman Bin Afaan is the city's Islamic mosque.

Other
Congregation Sons of Abraham

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) has an active congregation, La Crosse Ward, in neighboring community Onalaska.

Sports
La Crosse has multiple semi-professional sports teams. 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 Wisconsin–La Crosse (UW–L) Eagles. The university's 10,000 seat Veterans Memorial Field for football (turf field) and outdoor timed track opened in the 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. 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 - National Trust for Historic Preservation Great American Main Street Award
 * 2003 - Milken Institute Best Performing Cities (20th Overall)
 * 2005 - Inc. magazine's 4th Best Small City for Doing Business
 * 2005 - Inc. magazine's 15th Best City in America to Do Business
 * 2005 - Forbes 25th Best Place
 * 2006 - 7th Safest Metropolitan Area in the Nation - Morgan Quitno Press
 * 2006 - Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked La Crosse 16th "Smartest Place to Live in U.S.
 * 2007 - Country Home magazine ranked La Crosse 12th Best Green City in America and second among small cities, behind Corvallis, Ore.
 * 2009 - U.S. News ranked La Crosse 6th best place to live in the country.
 * 2009 - Farmers Insurance Group ranked La Crosse - Winona, MN area the 20th most secure place to live in the United States among small towns.
 * 2010 - Most Secure Places to Live in the US (Small Towns) - Sperling's Best Places

Notable residents and natives

 * David Ackert, actor, writer, producer
 * George Addes, founder of United Auto Workers
 * John Ake, professional baseball player
 * Elmer E. Barlow, Wisconsin Supreme Court justice
 * Charles S. Benton, U.S. Representative from New York
 * Raymond Bice, Sr., Wisconsin State Legislature and businessman
 * Fred Biermann, U.S. Representative from Iowa
 * Thea Bowman, Roman Catholic nun
 * Orville Buckner, professional boxer
 * Cardinal Raymond Burke, Former Archbishop of St. Louis and now the Cardinal Prefect of the Vatican's Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura
 * Timothy Burns, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
 * Chris Bury, Nightline correspondent
 * Ole Amundsen Buslett, author
 * Angus Cameron, U.S. Senator
 * James Cameron, noted civil rights activist
 * Erasmus D. Campbell, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
 * Frank P. Coburn, U.S. Representative
 * George Dahlgren, NFL player
 * Charles G. Dawes, Vice President of the United States
 * Alexa Demara, model, actress
 * Charles Dierkop, actor
 * Chip Dunham, cartoonist
 * Minnie Dupree, actress
 * John J. Esch, U.S. Representative
 * Bob Fitzke, NFL player
 * Paul Fitzke, baseball player
 * George A. Garrett, U.S. diplomat
 * Ed Gein, American killer and necrophiliac, born in La Crosse
 * Tony Ghelfi, MLB player
 * Gerald Greider, Wisconsin legislator
 * Adolph Gundersen, physician
 * Tim Gullikson, professional tennis player
 * Tom Gullikson, professional tennis player
 * Tom Hanneman, sports broadcaster
 * Hal Hanson, NFL player and head coach
 * Gottlieb Heileman, founder of G. Heileman Brewing Company
 * Gideon Hixon, Wisconsin State Legislature and businessman
 * Chuck Hockenbery, MLB player
 * Wayne J. Hood, Executive Director of the Republican National Committee
 * Merlin Hull, U.S. Representative
 * Hugo Jan Huss, orchestra conductor
 * Don Iverson, professional golfer
 * Matt Joyce, NFL player
 * John Azor Kellogg, U.S. military leader and Wisconsin politician
 * Mark Kellogg, reporter
 * Ron Kind, United States House of Representatives
 * Tom Klawitter, MLB player
 * Milo Knutson, mayor of La Crosse and Wisconsin State Senate
 * Ed Konetchy, MLB player
 * Arthur Kreutz, composer
 * Robert E. Kreutz, composer
 * Ty Loomis, volleyball player
 * Joseph Losey, film & theater director (1909–1984) A main north-south street on La Crosse's east side (Losey Boulevard) is named in his honor.
 * Patrick Joseph Lucey, U.S. diplomat
 * James T. McCleary, U.S. Representative from Minnesota
 * John Medinger, former Mayor of La Crosse and former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
 * John Mengelt, NBA player
 * Curt Michel, NASA astronaut, professor
 * Damian Miller, MLB player for the Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and the Milwaukee Brewers
 * Robert Moevs, composer (1920–2007)
 * Thomas Morris, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
 * Eddie Murphy, Olympic medalist
 * Tom Newberry, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL all-pro guard
 * Mike O'Callaghan, Governor of Nevada
 * Paul Offner, Wisconsin State Legislature and educator
 * John Oestreicher, legislator
 * Charles M. Palmer, organizer of the Associated Press
 * John Joseph Paul. Roman Catholic bishop
 * George Wilbur Peck, Governor of Wisconsin
 * Augustus Herman Pettibone, U.S. Representative from Tennessee
 * George Poage, Olympic medalist, first African American to win an Olympic medal.
 * Brandon Ratcliff, actor
 * Nicholas Ray, film & theater director (1911–1979, a.k.a. Raymond Nicholas Kienzle)
 * Edwin W. Rice, President of General Electric
 * Walter Ristow, head librarian of the Library of Congress
 * Scott Servais, MLB player
 * Philip Saunders, NBA coach
 * John Shuman, Army Distinguished Service Medal recipient
 * Frank Skaff, MLB player and manager
 * Thomas Benton Stoddard, first mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin; Wisconsin State Assembly
 * Ford Sterling, actor
 * William H. Stevenson, U.S. Representative
 * Woodrow Swancutt, U.S. Air Force Major General
 * Jim Temp, NFL player
 * Clark W. Thompson, U.S. Representative from Texas
 * John Toland, author, recipient of the Pulitzer Prize
 * Clarence Tommerson, NFL player
 * James Trane, co-founder of Trane
 * Reuben Trane, co-founder of Trane
 * Danielle Trussoni, author
 * Dave Umhoefer, journalist, Pulitzer Prize recipient
 * Gysbert Van Steenwyk, Sr., Mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin legislator, and businessman
 * D. Russell Wartinbee, legislator and educator
 * Cadwallader C. Washburn, Civil War General, Wisconsin Governor, U.S. House
 * Jarrod Washburn, Major League Baseball Player, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
 * George Williams, MLB player
 * Gardner R. Withrow, U.S. Representative
 * Gilbert Motier Woodward, U.S. Representative

Sister cities
La Crosse has sister city relationships with six foreign cities:
 * 🇮🇪 Bantry, Ireland
 * 🇷🇺 Dubna, Russia
 * 🇫🇷 Epinal, France
 * 🇩🇪 Friedberg, Bavaria Germany
 * 🇳🇴 Førde Norway
 * 🇨🇳 Luoyang, China