Viroqua, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Viroqua is the county seat
of Vernon County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 5,079 at the 2010 census. The city is located within the Town of Viroqua
.
inhabited the area now known as Vernon County and the area of Viroqua. The Ho-Chunk, formerly known as the Winnebago, are a Siouan-speaking people and lived in the western Great Lakes region for thousands of years. The Ho-Chunk were removed westward beginning in the 1820s.
There was a sharp rivalry between Viroqua and Springville to be named the county seat of Vernon County. A deed for 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of land was promised by pioneer Moses Decker, on condition that Viroqua be chosen as the county seat. The land constituted what became known as the County Addition to the city of Viroqua.
Decker was one of the early settlers in the area. He arrived in 1847 and laid out the village of Viroqua. He died in 1860. Earlier settlers arrived in 1844 and built lumber mills on the Kickapoo River. Farmers began arriving in 1846, some of whom were John Graham, T.J. Defreese and William C. McMichael.
In early 1851, the act authorizing the organization of Bad Axe, now Vernon County, was approved by Governor Nelson Dewey
. Viroqua was awarded the county seat, pending a permanent location to be determined by a vote. In May 1852, residents voted in favor of Viroqua.
On June 28, 1865, Viroqua was hit by a deadly tornado that left 22 dead.
, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), all land. The city is situated in the Driftless Region, near the western end of the Ocooch Mountains
.
of 2000, there were 4,335 people, 1,990 households, and 1,112 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,327.3 people per square mile (511.9/km²). There were 2,105 housing units at an average density of 644.5 per square mile (248.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.73% White, 0.07% Black or African American
, 0.16% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.18% from other races
, and 0.39% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,990 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples
living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.1% were non-families. 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 82.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,804, and the median income for a family was $35,475. Males had a median income of $29,589 versus $20,046 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,172. About 9.8% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
Viroqua is a Wisconsin Main Street City and its downtown is listed on the Wisconsin and National Register of Historic Places
.
The Temple Theatre is an example of the town's resurgence. The US$1.6 million restoration of the 1922 classical revival style vaudeville
and movie theater was driven by volunteers. The building now serves as an arts and cultural center for the surrounding counties.
, U.S. Highway 61
, Wisconsin Highway 27, Wisconsin Highway 56, and Wisconsin Highway 82.
Recently, the highways and major streets in Viroqua were redone. Highways 14, 61, and 27 had lanes added to them to become four lanes, except for the four block section of downtown. That was kept two lanes to allow for parallel parking on the side of the road.
Viroqua was on the new airways route between La Crosse
, Wisconsin, and Rockford
, Illinois
, when it was established in June 1932. The beacon light had about fifteen large 36 inches (914.4 mm) revolving beacons of 2,000,000 candle power when it was installed on the Mahlon Lepley farm, four miles (6 km) northeast of Viroqua.
The Vernon County Broadcaster editorially criticized Macgregor's study, because her analysis of "The Regulars" in Viroqua was done while spending 800 hours as a part-time bartender and her conclusions were analogous to what could be found in any small city where people were drinking alcohol.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Vernon County
Vernon County, Wisconsin
Vernon County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2009, the population estimate was 29,324. Its county seat is Viroqua.-History:...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,079 at the 2010 census. The city is located within the Town of Viroqua
Viroqua (town), Wisconsin
Viroqua is a town in Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,560 at the 2000 census. The City of Viroqua is located within the town.-Geography:...
.
History
The Native American Ho-ChunkHo-Chunk
The Ho-Chunk, also known as Winnebago, are a tribe of Native Americans, native to what is now Wisconsin and Illinois. There are two federally recognized Ho-Chunk tribes, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska....
inhabited the area now known as Vernon County and the area of Viroqua. The Ho-Chunk, formerly known as the Winnebago, are a Siouan-speaking people and lived in the western Great Lakes region for thousands of years. The Ho-Chunk were removed westward beginning in the 1820s.
There was a sharp rivalry between Viroqua and Springville to be named the county seat of Vernon County. A deed for 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of land was promised by pioneer Moses Decker, on condition that Viroqua be chosen as the county seat. The land constituted what became known as the County Addition to the city of Viroqua.
Decker was one of the early settlers in the area. He arrived in 1847 and laid out the village of Viroqua. He died in 1860. Earlier settlers arrived in 1844 and built lumber mills on the Kickapoo River. Farmers began arriving in 1846, some of whom were John Graham, T.J. Defreese and William C. McMichael.
In early 1851, the act authorizing the organization of Bad Axe, now Vernon County, was approved by Governor Nelson Dewey
Nelson Dewey
Nelson Dewey was a politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin; he was the first Governor of Wisconsin, serving from 1848 until 1852.- Early life :...
. Viroqua was awarded the county seat, pending a permanent location to be determined by a vote. In May 1852, residents voted in favor of Viroqua.
On June 28, 1865, Viroqua was hit by a deadly tornado that left 22 dead.
Geography
Viroqua is located at 43°33′23"N 90°53′15"W (43.556534, -90.887663). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), all land. The city is situated in the Driftless Region, near the western end of the Ocooch Mountains
Ocooch Mountains
The Ocooch Mountains is the Native American name given to the portion of the Driftless Region falling within southwest Wisconsin roughly between Belmont and Mineral Point to the south and Viroqua on the west. Encompassing Richland, Crawford, Vernon, and parts of Iowa, Sauk, and Grant counties. The...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,335 people, 1,990 households, and 1,112 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,327.3 people per square mile (511.9/km²). There were 2,105 housing units at an average density of 644.5 per square mile (248.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.73% White, 0.07% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.16% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.18% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.39% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 1,990 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.1% were non-families. 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 82.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,804, and the median income for a family was $35,475. Males had a median income of $29,589 versus $20,046 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,172. About 9.8% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
- Western Technical CollegeWestern Technical CollegeWestern Technical College is part of the Wisconsin Technical College System. The main campus is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin.The school was previously known as Western Wisconsin Technical College , but the "Wisconsin" part of the name was officially dropped on March 29, 2006.-Other...
offers classes in Viroqua. - Driftless Folk School
- Youth Initiative High School
- Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School
- Viroqua Elementary School
- Viroqua Middle School
- Viroqua High School
- Laurel High School
- Better Futures High School
- English Lutheran School
Economy and revitalization
Viroqua was dubbed "The Town That Beat Walmart" by Smithsonian Magazine in 1992 because it fostered businesses that co-exist with the retail giant. The city promoted small business development through several state and federal programs.Viroqua is a Wisconsin Main Street City and its downtown is listed on the Wisconsin and National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The Temple Theatre is an example of the town's resurgence. The US$1.6 million restoration of the 1922 classical revival style vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
and movie theater was driven by volunteers. The building now serves as an arts and cultural center for the surrounding counties.
Transportation
Viroqua is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 14U.S. Route 14
U.S. Route 14 , an east–west route, is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It currently has a length of 1,398 miles , but it had a peak length of 1,429 miles . For much of its length, it runs roughly parallel to Interstate 90.As of 2004, the highway's eastern terminus is in...
, U.S. Highway 61
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61 is the official designation for a United States highway that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River, and is designated the Great River Road for much of its route. As of 2004, the highway's...
, Wisconsin Highway 27, Wisconsin Highway 56, and Wisconsin Highway 82.
Recently, the highways and major streets in Viroqua were redone. Highways 14, 61, and 27 had lanes added to them to become four lanes, except for the four block section of downtown. That was kept two lanes to allow for parallel parking on the side of the road.
Viroqua was on the new airways route between La Crosse
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 52,485...
, Wisconsin, and Rockford
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, when it was established in June 1932. The beacon light had about fifteen large 36 inches (914.4 mm) revolving beacons of 2,000,000 candle power when it was installed on the Mahlon Lepley farm, four miles (6 km) northeast of Viroqua.
Notable natives and residents
- Joseph D. BeckJoseph D. BeckJoseph David Beck was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1921 until 1929.-External links:...
- U.S. Representative - Andrew H. DahlAndrew H. Dahl-Biography:Dahl was born on April 13, 1859 in Lewiston, Wisconsin. He attended high school in Viroqua, Wisconsin.-Career:Dahl was Supervisor of Westby, Wisconsin from 1896 to 1897 and was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1899 to 1901 and again from 1903 to 1907. Additionally, he was...
- Wisconsin State Legislature - John FieldJohn Field (American football)John Field was an American football player and coach. Field played college football for Yale University from to and was captain of Yale's football team. He also served as the head coach of the 1911 Yale football team...
- football player and coach, businessman - Frederick C. FinkleFrederick C. FinkleFrederick C. Finkle was an American consulting engineer and geologist. He was Chief Engineer or Consulting Engineer on eighteen major dams to impound water for domestic use, power and irrigation in California and other Western States.-Background:Frederick C. Finkle was born in Viroqua, Wisconsin...
- geologist - Amos FriesAmos FriesAmos Alfred Fries was a general in the United States Army and 1898 graduate of the United States Military Academy. Fries was the second chief of the army's Chemical Warfare Service, established during World War I. Fries served under John J. Pershing in the Philippines and oversaw the...
- United States Army general - James GillettJames GillettJames Norris Gillett was an American lawyer and politician. A Republican involved in federal and state politics, Gillett was elected both a member of the U.S...
- former Governor of CaliforniaGovernor of CaliforniaThe Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced... - Frank Bateman KeefeFrank Bateman KeefeFrank Bateman Keefe , was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1939–1951, serving Wisconsin's 6th District....
- U.S. Representative - Mark C. LeeMark C. LeeMark Charles Lee USAF Colonel, is a former NASA astronaut who flew on four Space Shuttle missions. He retired from the Air Force and NASA on July 1, 2001.-Early life:...
- United States astronaut - Craig MinowaCraig MinowaCraig Minowa is the singer/songwriter/frontman for the alternative rock band, Cloud Cult. He is also the founder of Earthology Records. Minowa was born Craig Richardson in February 1973. Minowa grew up in Owatonna, Minnesota, along with Sean Tillman . Minowa is the middle child. He has two sisters,...
- musician and environmental activist - Chris MulkeyChris MulkeyChris Mulkey is an American actor who most recently appeared in Against the Wall, Cloverfield, the NBC TV movie Knight Rider, and as a corporate executive in season 7 of 24...
- actor and musician, born in Viroqua - Brian RudeBrian RudeBrian Rude is a Wisconsin politician and businessman.Born in Viroqua, Wisconsin, Rude graduated from Luther College. Prior to being elected to the Wisconsin State Legislature, he worked at Trane. He was elected first to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1982 and then the Wisconsin State Senate in...
- Wisconsin State Legislature - Jeremiah McLain RuskJeremiah McLain RuskJeremiah McLain Rusk was the 15th Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin from 1882 to 1889 and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1889 to 1893.-Biography:...
- Governor of Wisconsin, Secretary of Agriculture - Gerald L. K. SmithGerald L. K. SmithGerald Lyman Kenneth Smith was an American clergyman and political organizer, who became a leader of the Share Our Wealth movement during the Great Depression and later the Christian Nationalist Crusade...
- founder of Share Our WealthShare Our WealthShare Our Wealth was a movement begun during the Great Depression by Huey Long, a governor and later United States Senator from Louisiana.-Major provisions of "Share Our Wealth":The key planks of the Share Our Wealth platform included:...
Movement, grew up in Viroqua - Richard TubbRichard TubbRichard Tubb was the personal physician to President George W. Bush as well as being personal physician to Vice President Al Gore during the Clinton Administration. He is a brigadier general in the United States Air Force...
- personal physician to former President George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000.... - Butch VigButch VigButch Vig is an American musician and record producer, best known internationally as the drummer of the Madison, Wisconsin-based alternative rock band Garbage and the producer of multi-platinum selling album Nevermind by Nirvana....
- record producer and musician - William V. WeberWilliam V. WeberWilliam V. Weber was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives.-Biography:Weber was born on November 9, 1901 in Viroqua, Wisconsin. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy. Weber passed away in 1989. He was a Congregationalist....
- MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
State Representative
Further reading
- Habits of the Heartland: Small-Town Life in Modern America by Lyn C. Macgregor (Cornell University Press; 2010); 280 pages; sociological study of how differing notions of community shape social groups in Viroqua.
The Vernon County Broadcaster editorially criticized Macgregor's study, because her analysis of "The Regulars" in Viroqua was done while spending 800 hours as a part-time bartender and her conclusions were analogous to what could be found in any small city where people were drinking alcohol.