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La Crosse, Kansas
Welcome Sign (2010)
Welcome Sign (2010)
Location within Rush County and Kansas
Location within Rush County and Kansas
KDOT map of Rush County (legend)
Country United States
State Kansas
County Rush
Founded 1876
Incorporated 1886
Named for La Crosse, Wisconsin
Area
 • Total 1.04 sq mi (2.68 km2)
 • Land 1.04 sq mi (2.68 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
2,057 ft (627 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,266
 • Density 1,217/sq mi (472.4/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
67548, 67553
Area code 785
FIPS code 20-37500
GNIS ID 475488

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.

History

La Crosse was founded in 1876, was named after the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin. La Crosse subsequently became the intended county seat, and county records were transferred there from the temporary county seat, nearby Rush Center. A county seat war ensued between the two communities, lasting until La Crosse was declared the permanent county seat and the construction of the county courthouse in 1888.

In the 1960s, La Crosse became a regional center of barbed wire collecting, leading to the establishment of the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum and the nicknaming of the city as "The Barbed Wire Capital of the World".

Tornado of 2012

On May 25, 2012, an EF-1 tornado caused about four blocks of significant damage, and two businesses were destroyed. A third of the businesses sustained major damage. No injuries were reported.

Geography

La Crosse is located at 38°31′55″N 99°18′31″W / 38.53194°N 99.30861°W / 38.53194; -99.30861 (38.532014, -99.308614) at an elevation of 2,057 feet (627 m). It lies in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains, approximately 12 miles (19 km) south of the Smoky Hill River and 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Walnut Creek, a tributary of the Arkansas River. Sand Creek, a tributary of Walnut Creek, flows southeast around the southwestern and southern portions of the city. Mule Creek, a small tributary of Sand Creek, flows southeast through the city. Located in west-central Kansas at the intersection of U.S. Route 183 and K-4, La Crosse is 125 miles (201 km) northwest of Wichita, 261 miles (420 km) west-southwest of Kansas City, and 314 miles (505 km) east-southeast of Denver.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.05 square miles (2.72 km2), all land.

Climate

On average in La Crosse, July is the hottest month, January is the coldest month, and May is the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in La Crosse was 115 °F (46 °C) in 1954; the coldest temperature recorded was -24 °F (-31 °C) in 1989.

Climate data for La Crosse, Kansas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 81
(27)
86
(30)
95
(35)
103
(39)
107
(42)
112
(44)
115
(46)
114
(46)
112
(44)
100
(38)
89
(32)
83
(28)
115
(46)
Average high °F (°C) 41
(5)
47
(8)
57
(14)
67
(19)
76
(24)
87
(31)
94
(34)
92
(33)
83
(28)
72
(22)
55
(13)
44
(7)
68
(20)
Average low °F (°C) 15
(−9)
19
(−7)
28
(−2)
38
(3)
50
(10)
60
(16)
65
(18)
63
(17)
54
(12)
41
(5)
27
(−3)
19
(−7)
40
(4)
Record low °F (°C) −23
(−31)
−17
(−27)
−23
(−31)
9
(−13)
21
(−6)
36
(2)
43
(6)
42
(6)
23
(−5)
14
(−10)
−8
(−22)
−24
(−31)
−24
(−31)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.66
(17)
0.83
(21)
2.09
(53)
2.27
(58)
3.65
(93)
3.35
(85)
3.40
(86)
2.55
(65)
1.88
(48)
1.42
(36)
1.22
(31)
0.76
(19)
24.08
(612)
Source: The Weather Channel

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 513
1900 536 4.5%
1910 806 50.4%
1920 808 0.2%
1930 1,355 67.7%
1940 1,407 3.8%
1950 1,769 25.7%
1960 1,767 −0.1%
1970 1,583 −10.4%
1980 1,618 2.2%
1990 1,427 −11.8%
2000 1,376 −3.6%
2010 1,342 −2.5%
2020 1,266 −5.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,342 people, 606 households, and 350 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,278.1 inhabitants per square mile (493.5/km2). There were 722 housing units at an average density of 687.6 per square mile (265.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.5% White, 0.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.

There were 606 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.2% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% 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 2.72.

The median age in the city was 47.7 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.3% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 26.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

Transportation

U.S. Route 183 runs north-south through La Crosse, intersecting Kansas Highway 4 (K-4) which runs east-west along the northern edge of the city.

Rush County Airport is located northeast of the city on the north side of K-4. Publicly owned, it has one asphalt runway and is used for general aviation.

A line of the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad runs southeast-northwest through La Crosse.

Culture

Events

  • Rush County Fair

Points of interest

  • Kansas Barbed Wire Museum
  • Post Rock Museum
  • Historical Museum

Education

The community is served by La Crosse USD 395 public school district, and operates three schools in the city:

  • La Crosse High School (9-12)
  • La Crosse Middle School (7-8)
  • La Crosse Elementary School (K-6)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: La Crosse (Kansas) para niños

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