Trempealeau County, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Trempealeau County
|
|
|---|---|
Carnegie library in Arcadia, Wisconsin.
|
|
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
|
|
 Wisconsin's location within the U.S. |
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| Founded | 1855 |
| Named for | Trempealeau River |
| Seat | Whitehall |
| Largest city | Arcadia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 742 sq mi (1,920 km2) |
| • Land | 733 sq mi (1,900 km2) |
| • Water | 9.0 sq mi (23 km2) 1.2%% |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 30,760 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
30,899  |
| • Density | 41.46/sq mi (16.006/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
Trempealeau County (/ˈtrɛmpəloʊ/ trem-PƏ-loh) is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,760. Its county seat, or main town, is Whitehall.
Contents
History of Trempealeau County
Early Times and Native Americans
Long ago, this area was covered with light forests and brush. Native Americans lived here. They would sometimes burn parts of the woodlands. This helped berries grow better. By 1837, most Native Americans had left the area. The land was given up by the Dakota people in a treaty signed that year.
French Explorers and the County's Name
French fur traders were the first Europeans to explore this land. They traveled by river. When they reached where the Trempealeau River meets the Mississippi River, they saw a bluff. It was a tall hill surrounded by water. They called it La Montagne qui trempe à l’eau. This means "mountain steeped in water."
Today, this bluff is known as Trempealeau Mountain. The name was later shortened to Trempealeau. The county was created in 1854 and officially started in 1855. It was named after the river.
Immigration and New Communities
In the 1800s and 1900s, many Norwegian people came to Trempealeau County. They were looking for cheap land, a better life, and more chances. Many people in the county today are still of Norwegian background. They celebrate their heritage by making traditional Norwegian foods. They also take part in Norwegian Constitution Day events.
In the late 1850s, Polish settlers from a region called Upper Silesia also came. They wanted to escape problems in their homeland. They built churches, schools, and new communities. This area became the second-largest Polish settlement in the United States. These settlements were mainly around Independence, Arcadia, Whitehall, and Pine Creek. Many people in Trempealeau County today are still of Silesian Polish descent.
More recently, in the early 2000s, many Hispanic and Latino people moved to the county. Trempealeau County continues to be a place where different cultures come together.
Geography of Trempealeau County
The U.S. Census Bureau says the county covers about 742 square miles. Most of this, 733 square miles, is land. About 9 square miles (1.2%) is water. The county is part of the Driftless Zone. This means it was not flattened by glaciers long ago.
Neighboring Counties
- Buffalo County - to the west
- Eau Claire County - to the north
- Jackson County - to the east
- La Crosse County - to the southeast
- Winona County, Minnesota - to the southwest
Main Roads and Highways
|
|
Railroads
Protected Natural Areas
- Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge (part of it)
- Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (part of it)
Population and People (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 2,560 | — | |
| 1870 | 10,732 | 319.2% | |
| 1880 | 17,189 | 60.2% | |
| 1890 | 18,920 | 10.1% | |
| 1900 | 23,114 | 22.2% | |
| 1910 | 22,928 | −0.8% | |
| 1920 | 24,506 | 6.9% | |
| 1930 | 23,910 | −2.4% | |
| 1940 | 24,381 | 2.0% | |
| 1950 | 23,730 | −2.7% | |
| 1960 | 23,377 | −1.5% | |
| 1970 | 23,344 | −0.1% | |
| 1980 | 26,158 | 12.1% | |
| 1990 | 25,263 | −3.4% | |
| 2000 | 27,010 | 6.9% | |
| 2010 | 28,816 | 6.7% | |
| 2020 | 30,760 | 6.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 2020 census |
|||
2020 Census Information
In 2020, the county's population was 30,760 people. This means there were about 42 people living in each square mile. There were also 13,270 homes.
Most people in the county (85.5%) were White. About 1.2% were Native American, and 0.4% were Asian. A small number (0.3%) were Black or African American. About 7.9% were from other races, and 4.7% were from two or more races. About 12.9% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Gallery
Communities in Trempealeau County
Trempealeau County has several different types of communities.
Cities
- Arcadia
- Blair
- Galesville
- Independence
- Osseo
- Whitehall (This is the county seat, or main town)
Villages
Towns
Census-Designated Place
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller places that are not officially cities, villages, or towns.
Ghost Towns or Old Neighborhoods
These are places that used to be communities but are no longer active.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Trempealeau para niños
