RECREATION
Grandad Bluff sits 600 feet above the city providing views of the Mississippi River Valley of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. The park was voted by Wisconsin Trails as the most scenic view in the state. Great River Road is a national scenic byway spanning 250 miles and passing through 33 towns and villages. Van Loon Wildlife Area near Holmen, WI features 4,000 acres of bottomland forest divided by the Black River. Pump House Regional Arts Center, Weber Center for the Performing Arts and La Crosse Symphony Orchestra provide arts/cultural entertainment. Brewing is a strong tradition in La Crosse, WI dating back to the 1800s. Vineyards and wineries are also numerous in the Coulee Region. You’ll also find one of the nation’s premier Oktoberfest festivals as well as Riverfest, Deke Slayton Airfest and Three Rivers Roleo here.
HISTORY
Fur traders were attracted to the region in the mid-1800s. La Crosse, WI was platted in 1851 and incorporated five years later. In the late 19th century, the city became one of the largest in the state as a center of education, lumber and brewing. Settled by Norwegian immigrants in 1862; Holmen, WI was incorporated in 1946.
AMENITIES
Ranking among the nation’s best small cities for doing business, La Crosse features top employers like Gunderson Health System, Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc., Mayo Clinic Health System, Trane and Fort McCoy. Port of La Crosse is an international gateway where more than 1 million tons of commodities are transported annually. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University and Western Technical College offer higher educational opportunities, while the School District of La Crosse is comprised of 19 schools serving more than 7,000 students. Logistics Health and Camp Douglas are also significant institutions locally.
CLIMATE
Temperate/continental weather is typical in the Upper Midwest including La Crosse County, WI. 84 degrees is the average high temperature in July. In January the high temperature averages around 25 degrees. Average precipitation totals are 42 inches of snow and 34 inches of rain with sunshine on 190 days out of the year.