Onalaska, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Onalaska, Wisconsin
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Downtown Onalaska
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| Nickname(s):
Ona
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Location of Onalaska in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | La Crosse |
| Founded by | Thomas G. Rowe |
| 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
(2020)
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| • Total | 18,803 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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18,975  |
| • Density | 1,825.30/sq mi (704.77/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (Central) |
| Zipcode |
54650
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| Area code(s) | 608 |
| FIPS code | 55-59925 |
| Public Transit | La Crosse MTU |
| Website | www.onalaskawi.gov |
Onalaska is a city located in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, in the United States. In 2020, about 18,803 people lived there. It is right next to the larger city of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Onalaska is part of a bigger metropolitan area that includes La Crosse and parts of Minnesota.
The city of Onalaska is built on a slightly raised area near the Black River. It has natural areas with river bottom land and tall, wooded hills called bluffs. There is also a human-made lake on the western side of the city called Lake Onalaska. Onalaska is sometimes called "The Sunfish Capital of the World" because of its great fishing!
Contents
Discover Onalaska's Past
How Onalaska Got Started
The city of Onalaska was first planned out in 1851 by two men, Thomas G. Rowe and John C. Laird. In its early days, the main business was lumbering, which means cutting down trees and processing wood.
Where the Name Onalaska Comes From
The city's name, Onalaska, comes from a poem called "The Pleasures of Hope." This poem was written by a Scottish poet named Thomas Campbell. He mentioned Unalaska Island in Russian Alaska in his poem. Other places in the United States, like towns in Texas and Washington, also share this unique name.
Exploring Onalaska's Geography
Onalaska covers about 10.97 square miles (28.43 square kilometers) in total. Most of this area, about 10.38 square miles (26.88 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.60 square miles (1.55 square kilometers), is water.
The city is located just north of La Crosse, right on the Black River. It is the second-largest city in La Crosse County. Important streams in the city include the Black River and the La Crosse River. In the 1930s, Lake Onalaska was created. This new lake covered up a smaller, natural lake called Rice Lake and other small ponds in the Black River area.
There's also an area called Brice Prairie within Onalaska. It's located below the main part of the city and is right on Lake Onalaska.
Understanding Onalaska's Population
How Many People Live in Onalaska?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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 | 7.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020census | |||
The population of Onalaska has grown a lot over the years. In 1880, there were only 826 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 18,803 people.
Who Lives in Onalaska?
In 2020, the city had 18,803 residents. Most people (84.6%) were White. There were also significant numbers of Asian (8.0%) and Black or African American (1.1%) residents. About 2.6% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In 2010, there were 17,736 people living in Onalaska. The average age of residents was 38.5 years old. About 24.9% of the people were under 18 years old.
Learning in Onalaska
Onalaska has two main school districts: Onalaska and Holmen. The Onalaska School District includes:
- Onalaska High School
- Onalaska Middle School
- Eagle Bluff Elementary School
- Northern Hills Elementary School
- Irving Pertzsch Elementary School
There are also private schools in the city. These include Luther High School, St. Patrick Elementary School, and St. Pauls Lutheran School.
Onalaska's Economy and Businesses
The Onalaska Omni Center is a large convention center and indoor arena in the city. It's the second-largest convention center in southwest Wisconsin.
Many businesses and organizations have a presence in Onalaska. Some of these include:
Getting Around Onalaska
Public transportation in Onalaska is provided by the La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility. They offer bus services on three different routes within the city. The La Crosse Regional Airport is also located nearby, making travel easier.
Famous People from Onalaska
Many notable individuals have connections to Onalaska:
- Biddy Dolan, a professional baseball player
- Tim Gullikson, a tennis player
- Carlie Hanson, a singer-songwriter
- Theresa Knutson, an ice hockey player
- Sandra Lee, a television chef
- Misty Lown, a dance teacher and author
- Shane Mauss, a stand-up comedian
- Tom Newberry, a professional football player
- Frank Pooler (Wisconsin politician), a businessman and politician
- Frank Pooler, a choral director and songwriter
- Mark Proksch, an actor and comedian
- Clayton Rand, a journalist and writer
- Harry W. Schilling, a farmer and state legislator
- William H. Stevenson, a U.S. Representative
- Matt Thomas, a professional basketball player
- Leila Usher, an artist
Images for kids
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Onalaska, Wisconsin commercial area on Highway 16
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View of Onalaska Wisconsin from Lake Onalaska.
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Looking north at the welcome sign on Wisconsin Highway 35
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Welcome sign coming from Interstate 90 on Highway 16
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Onalaska City Hall
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Onalaska by Air
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YMCA in Onalaska, Wisconsin
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Onalaska library
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Onalaska Omni Center
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Lake Onalaska
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Onalaska High School
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Gundersen Hospital
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Sunny the Sunfish
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Onalaska 2022 City Budget
See also
In Spanish: Onalaska (Wisconsin) para niños
