Onalaska, Wisconsin

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]

This article is about the city. For the adjacent town, see Onalaska (town), Wisconsin.
Not to be confused with Unalaska, Alaska.

Onalaska, Wisconsin
City
Downtown Onalaska
Downtown Onalaska
Location of Onalaska in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
Location of Onalaska in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
Coordinates: 43°53′04″N 91°14′07″W
CountryUnited States
StateWisconsin
CountyLa Crosse
Government
 • MayorKim Smith
Area
[1]
 • Total10.97 sq mi (28.43 km2)
 • Land10.38 sq mi (26.88 km2)
 • Water0.60 sq mi (1.55 km2)
Elevation
700 ft (200 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total18,803
 • Estimate 
(2022)[3]
18,975 Increase
 • Density1,825.30/sq mi (704.77/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (Central)
Zipcode
54650
Area code608
FIPS code55-59925
Public TransitLa Crosse MTU
Websitewww.cityofonalaska.com

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."

History

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.

Geography
Lake Onalaska

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.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880826—
18901,58792.1%
19001,368−13.8%
19101,146−16.2%
19201,066−7.0%
19301,40832.1%
19401,74223.7%
19502,56147.0%
19603,16123.4%
19704,90955.3%
19809,24988.4%
199011,28422.0%
200014,83931.5%
201017,73619.5%
202018,8036.0%
2022 (est.)18,975[3]0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 2020census[9]

2020 census

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.

2013 income statistics

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]

2010 census

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.

2000 census

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.

Education
Luther High School

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.

Media
  • Onalaska's newspaper is the Onalaska/Holmen Courier-Life.
  • Onalaska's tourism Instagram is @discoveronalaska

Economy
Onalaska Omni Center

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.

Altra Federal Credit Union headquarters at 1700 Oak Forest Dr. Onalaska
Gundersen Health System in Onalaska, Wisconsin
Empire Screen Printing
L.B. White in Onalaska, Wisconsin

Transportation

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.

Buildings, sites, structures, districts, and objects in Onalaska listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Notable people

Images
  • Onalaska, Wisconsin commercial area on Highway 16
    Onalaska, Wisconsin commercial area on Highway 16
  • A landscape photo of Onalaska Wisconsin taken in the fall from Lake Onalaka shows a sunny sky of blue above with clouds and the cool blue waters of Lake Onalaska below in the foreground. Sandwiched between is a horizontal ribbon that shows the city elevated 100 feet above the water and tree covered bluffs in the not to distant background. A few houses along highway 35 are barely visible.
    View of Onalaska Wisconsin from Lake Onalaska.
  • Looking north at the welcome sign on Wisconsin Highway 35
    Looking north at the welcome sign on Wisconsin Highway 35
  • Monument on the edge of town on Wisconsin Highway 35
    Monument on the edge of town on Wisconsin Highway 35
  • Welcome sign coming from Interstate 90 on Highway 16
    Welcome sign coming from Interstate 90 on Highway 16
  • Onalaska City Hall
    Onalaska City Hall
  • Onalaska by Air
    Onalaska by Air
  • Onalaska 2022 City Budget
    Onalaska 2022 City Budget
  • Onalaska long term debt
    Onalaska long term debt
  • YMCA in Onalaska, Wisconsin
    YMCA in Onalaska, Wisconsin

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  3. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau. May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  4. "Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. February 28, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  5. "circle alaska hotel tour airline at historyofonalaska.com". Archived from the original on June 8, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
  6. "The Pleasures of Hope (excerpt) by Thomas Campbell". Poemhunter.com. January 1, 2004. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  7. "2020 Gazetteer Files". census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Onalaska city, Wisconsin; United States". www.census.gov. Retrieved January 23, 2023.https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/onalaskacitywisconsin,US/PST045219 {
  10. "2020 Decennial Census: Onalaska city, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  11. "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. "Luther High School".
  14. "MTU Rider Guide". Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  15. "Tom Newberry Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards". databaseFootball.com. December 20, 1962. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  16. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1882,' Biographical Sketch of Frank Pooler, pg. 550
  17. RANDY ERICKSON. "Courierlifenews". Holmencourier.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  18. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1952,' Biographical Sketch of Harry W. Schilling, pg. 52
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