Onalaska, Wisconsin | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 43°53′04″N91°14′07″W / 43.88444°N 91.23528°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Wisconsin |
County | La Crosse |
Government | |
• Mayor | Kim Smith |
Area | |
• Total | 10.97 sq mi (28.43 km2) |
• Land | 10.38 sq mi (26.88 km2) |
• Water | 0.60 sq mi (1.55 km2) |
Elevation | 700 ft (200 m) |
Population | |
• Total | 18,803 |
• Estimate (2022) [3] | 18,975 |
• Density | 1,825.30/sq mi (704.77/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (Central) |
Zipcode | 54650 |
Area code | 608 |
FIPS code | 55-59925 |
Public Transit | La Crosse MTU |
Website | www.cityofonalaska.com |
Onalaska is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 18,803 at the 2020 census. It borders the larger La Crosse, Wisconsin, and is a part of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Area. [4]
Onalaska is built on a slightly elevated ridge above the Black River. Natural areas include both river bottom land and high, heavily wooded, scenic bluffs. A man-made reservoir at the city's western edge is known as Lake Onalaska. Onalaska is known as "The Sunfish Capital of the World."
The original village (now city) was platted by Thomas G. Rowe (New York) and John C. Laird (Pennsylvania) in 1851. In its early days, lumbering and related industries served as a basis for its economy. [5]
The name for the city comes from the poem "The Pleasures of Hope", by the Scottish poet Thomas Campbell. The original spelling of the name in Campbell's poem was "Oonalaska" (an Aleutian island and fishing village). [6]
Other places named Onalaska are in Arkansas (now defunct), Texas and Washington; they are historically linked to one another through the lumber industry. In Alaska, the modern day city of Unalaska and Unalaska Island are linked to the Onalaskas through Thomas Campbell's poem. Unalaska is the original Oonalaska or Onalaska or "Ounalashka" (Russian spelling) immortalized by Campbell.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.97 square miles (28.41 km2), of which 10.38 square miles (26.88 km2) is land and 0.60 square miles (1.55 km2) is water. [7]
Onalaska lies immediately north of La Crosse, on the Black River. It is the second-largest city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
Named streams within the current corporate limits of the city include the Black River, the La Crosse River and Sand Lake Coulee Creek. In the 1930s, the construction of Lake Onalaska resulted in the flooding and eventual disappearance of a shallow, natural body of water, Rice Lake, and several smaller ponds in the Black River bottoms area.
Brice Prairie is an urban reserve area within the City of Onalaska, located below the ridge on which most of the city is situated. It lies to the northwest of the city's current northern border and is directly on Lake Onalaska.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 826 | — | |
1890 | 1,587 | 92.1% | |
1900 | 1,368 | −13.8% | |
1910 | 1,146 | −16.2% | |
1920 | 1,066 | −7.0% | |
1930 | 1,408 | 32.1% | |
1940 | 1,742 | 23.7% | |
1950 | 2,561 | 47.0% | |
1960 | 3,161 | 23.4% | |
1970 | 4,909 | 55.3% | |
1980 | 9,249 | 88.4% | |
1990 | 11,284 | 22.0% | |
2000 | 14,839 | 31.5% | |
2010 | 17,736 | 19.5% | |
2020 | 18,803 | 6.0% | |
2022 (est.) | 18,975 | [3] | 0.9% |
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 2020census [9] |
As of the census of 2020, [10] the population was 18,803. The population density was 1,811.8 inhabitants per square mile (699.5/km2). There were 8,241 housing units at an average density of 794.1 per square mile (306.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.6% White, 8.0% Asian, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.9% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.6% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
According to 2009–2013 ACS estimates, the median household income was $55,982 and the median family income was $74,182. Males had a median income of $47,745 versus $35,292 for females. The per capita income for the city was $31,491. About 3.4% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over. [11]
As of the census [2] of 2010, there were 17,736 people, 7,331 households, and 4,792 families living in the city. The population density was 1,750.8 inhabitants per square mile (676.0/km2). There were 7,608 housing units at an average density of 751.0 per square mile (290.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.7% White, 1.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 5.7% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.
There were 7,331 households, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96.
The median age in the city was 38.5 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.9% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.
As of the census [12] of 2000, there were 14,839 people, 5,893 households, and 4,036 families living in the city. The population density was 1,631.6 people per square mile (630.3/km2). There were 6,070 housing units at an average density of 667.4 per square mile (257.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.17% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 2.80% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,893 households, out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,800, and the median income for a family was $57,264. Males had a median income of $41,335 versus $25,316 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,066. About 4.5% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Onalaska is served by two school districts, Onalaska and Holmen. Onalaska School District schools include Onalaska High School, Onalaska Middle School, Eagle Bluff Elementary School, Northern Hills Elementary School and Irving Pertzsch Elementary School.
Parochial schools in the city include Luther High School, [13] a Lutheran high school of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, St. Patrick Elementary School, part of La Crosse Aquinas Catholic Schools, and St. Pauls Lutheran School, serving grades Pre-K through 8.
Onalaska Omni Center is Onalaska's convention center and indoor arena. It is the second largest convention center in southwest Wisconsin, after the La Crosse Center.[ citation needed ]
Onalaska is served by the La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility, which provides public transit on three routes in Onalaska. [14] Until 1963, Onalaska had a train station which served the Dakota 400.
La Crosse Regional Airport is nearby.
Buildings, sites, structures, districts, and objects in Onalaska listed on the National Register of Historic Places
La Crosse County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At the 2020 census, the population was 120,784. Its county seat is La Crosse. La Crosse County is included in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area with a population of 139,627 and is the most populous county on Wisconsin's western border.
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of Rush County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,266. La Crosse proclaims itself the "Barbed Wire capital of the world.
Caledonia is a city and the county seat of Houston County, Minnesota, United States and is part of the La Crosse, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,847 at the 2020 census.
Hokah is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 580 at the 2010 census. Hokah is located near the confluence of the Root and Mississippi rivers, opposite La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Spring Grove is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,330 at the 2010 census. It is part of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Dakota is a city in Winona County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 295 at the 2020 census.
Brice Prairie is a census-designated place (CDP) in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,887 at the 2010 census. Brice Prairie is located in the Town of Onalaska.
Campbell is a town in the middle of the Mississippi River in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the La Crosse, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,284 as of the 2020 Census.
French Island is a census-designated place (CDP) in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,207 at the 2010 census. It lies on an island of the same name, though they are not coextensive; a portion of the island is part of the city of La Crosse. All of the island is part of the La Crosse Metropolitan Statistical Area. French Island is part of the town of Campbell and contains all of its population, because the balance of Campbell is uninhabited.
Holland is a town in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,756 at the 2010 census. It is part of the La Crosse, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The unincorporated community of Council Bay is located in the town.
Holmen is a village in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,661 as of the census of 2020. It is part of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Shelby is a town in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the La Crosse, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,715 at the 2010 census. The unincorporated community of Shelby is located in the town.
West Salem is a village in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, along the La Crosse River. It is part of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,277 as of the 2020 census.
Lake Delton is a village located on the Wisconsin River in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,501 at the 2020 census. Lake Delton, along with the nearby Wisconsin Dells, is a resort area and a center for tourism in the upper Midwest. Lake Delton is included in the Baraboo Micropolitan Area which comprises part of the larger Madison Combined Statistical Area.
Galesville is a city in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,662 at the 2020 census. A dam on Beaver Creek is located at Galesville, forming Lake Marinuka north of the city. The mayor is Vince Howe.
Westby is a city in Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,332 as of the 2020 census. The name "Westby" is a Norwegian name and literally translates to "Western city".
La Crescent is a city in Houston and Winona counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 5,276 at the 2020 census.
Rockland is a village in eastern La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, along the La Crosse River. It is part of the La Crosse, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 765 at the 2020 census.
Bangor is a village in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, along the La Crosse River. It is part of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,437 as of the 2020 Census. The village is located partially within the Town of Bangor.
Onalaska is a town in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,623 at the 2010 census. The City of Onalaska borders the town, as does the village of Holmen. The CDP of Brice Prairie is located in the western part of the Town of Onalaska. The unincorporated community of Midway is also located in the town. Onalaska (town), Wisconsin is part of the La Crosse, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area.